AU613630B2

AU613630B2 - Improvements in or relating to mainsail furling and raising devices

Info

Publication number: AU613630B2
Application number: AU16705/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Donald Bruce Baverstock
Original assignee: Leisure Furl International Ltd
Current assignee: Leisure Furl International Ltd
Priority date: 1987-05-28
Filing date: 1988-05-27
Publication date: 1991-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-27
Also published as: NZ220482A; AU1670588A

Description

1.25 1111. 1.6 =L8Q 0N 1, I Q1-2 71I I 17 T 1.6 613630 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The Patents Act 1952-1969 0 0see go@* 0 0 a to Name of Applicant(!x): Donald 0*ohli BAVERSTOCK Address of Applicant(s): 163 Mellons Bay Road, Howick, Auckland, New Zealand Donald John Baverstock Actual Inventor(s): Address for service: *5

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G.R. CULLEN COMPANY Dalgety House 79 Eagle Street BRISBANE QLD. 4000

AUSTRALIA.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MAINSAIL FURLING AND RAISING DEVICES" 'The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to us: V 2 This invention relates to yacht mainsail furling and raising devices and in particular is concerned with a device to fulfil both of these functions.

A drawback with sailing, particularly yachts having a large mainsail, can be the difficulties or awkwardness associated with the manual raising, reefing and/or furling of the mainsail.

Often this required considerable manual strength and/or dexterity in handling the mainsail to achieve raising and/or furling on an associated boom. Similarly, it is often desirable to reef-in a sail to reduce the sail area and conversely raise a mainsail to its full extent to meet changes in weather .t conditions. This also can require considerable strength and 0*O* skill. These factors can detract from non-competitive leisure e sailing and cruising.

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.0 @0090 0 ooo° °oooo S An object of this invention is to provide a mainsail furling and raising device which it is envisaged will considerably reduce the skill and effort required in operating a mainsail 0:0S00 eee 0 Sas aforesaid or at least provide a more mechanised means of so 00 S o• operating a mainsail.

*00 0 According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided o0 a mainsail furling device comprising a boom adapted at a first 0000 end to be articulately mounted to a mast and adapted at a second end to axially support a drum extending longitudinally of the boom with a mast associated end of the drum incorporating a means to couple the drum to rotation means via a universal joint, the drum carrying mainsail attachment means whereby a foot of a mainsail can be attached to the drum and furled thereabout with rotation of the drum.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a yacht mainsail, mast and boom assembly wherein the boom is adapted at a first end to be articulately mounted to the mast and adapted at a second end to axially support a drum extending longitudinally of the boom with a mast associated end of the drum incorporating means to couple the drum to a reversible prime mover mounted to the mast and rotatively i coupled to the drum via a universal joint, the drum carrying mainsail attachment means being a track extending longitudinally of a central zone of the drum and entrapping an associated central section of the foot of the mainsail and end attachment oooeo means including, limited rotative sliding means retaining the luff and leech extremities of the mainsail foot in sliding relationship to the respective ends of the boom such that with initial furling rotation of the drum a central section of the 0o mainsail will be taken up thereon ahead of the luff and S leech sections thereof, a power driven winch to operate a halyard for the hoisting of the mainsail with controls to the winch and the prime mover being interconnected to provide at go0 least two operating modes, a first mode providing that with the winch drawing in the halyard to raise the mainsail the drum prime mover is allowing the drum to rotate to unfurl the mainsail and a second operating mode providing that with the drum prime -,.mover rotating the drum to furl in the mainsail the winch is 4 allowing the halyard to be played out.

In further describing the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly truncated and partly schematic depicting a yacht mainsail, mast and boom assembly incorporating the mainsail furling device, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mainsail furling device unassembled to the mast, Fig. 3a and 3b. are truncated perspective views of the junction between a mast and a boom in accordance o with the invention, 0O Fig. 3a including a prime mover and @0 .00.

Fig. 3b depicting the assembly with the prime mover ooooo replaced by a manually operable crank handle.

A mainsail 3 furling device is provided for a yacht 5. It is ooooo envisaged the furling device will be suitable for yachts of *5 lengths in the range of 9-18 metres with yacht 5 incorporating a mast 6 and boom 7 of commensurate dimensions. Preferably mast 6 and boom 7 are fabricated from aluminium or glass fibre with the mast 6 being hollow as will accommodate various 6005 o halyards including a mainsail halyard 8.

Referring in particular to Fig. 2 boom 7 preferably comprises a channel section housing of a generally "U"-shaped in cross- 3'q ii if 2 7 s- 1 ii- section with an opening 9 thereof disposed uppermost. At a first and mast 6 mounting end 7a of the boom 7 mounting means 10 are provided for articulately mounting of the boom 7 to a mast 6 enabling the boom 7 to swing in conventional manner. Preferably the mounting means 10 comprises a bracket 12 extending beyond the boom end 7a to, in assembly to a mast 6, space the end 7a clear of the mast 6. An aperture 11 is disposed uprightly through bracket 12 to receive an attachment pin 13 touching the boom 7 via corresponding over and under brackets 12a and b fixed to mast 6.

Preferably a cantilevered arm or half saddle 14 is mounted to o one side of the boom 7 to extend partway over the opening 9 @600 i: thereof. Arm 14 is disposed approximately 1/3rd of the way 0@ along the boom 7 from a free or second end 7b thereof. The role of the arm 14 is described in more detail hereinafter. End 7b of oo••o boom 7 incorporates an end cap 15 adapted as hereinafter described to axially support an associated mainsail furling drum 16. Apertures 7d are preferably provided in boom 7 to see**: discharge water which can collect therein.

ee go g Drum 16 extends longitudinally of boom 7 and is generally disposed within the void thereof. Drum 16 is of an elongate .tubular form and at a rear end thereof is rotatably mounted at e g.

end plate 15 of boom 7. Preferably a mounting of drum 16 is marginally off-set to one side 7e, being the side supporting arm 14, of boom 7 to provide additional clearance between drum 16 and side 7c of boom 7. It is from this side of drum 16 that a mainsail 3 feeds on and off drum 16 and the additional A, 7 I- 6 clearance reduces contact, which can result with flogging of a mainsail 3, with the side 7c.

Drum 16 incorporates mainsail 3 attachment means to couple a foot 3a of a mainsail 3 thereto. Preferably a foot 3a is attached to the drum 16 in three positions, being a longitudinally extending central section and at the luff edge 3c and leech 3b corners of the sail foot 3a. To that end a track 18 preferably formed from a length of captivating channel section is attached longitudinally of a central zone of the drum 16 enabling a bolt rope or similar sail foot 3a finish to be longitudinally slid therethrough and retained over the central 'zone of the foot 3a. At each end drum 16 has peripherally o.'extending rods 19 which extend partway about the periphery of drum 9. More particularly relative to the furling direction of rotation of drum 16 depicted by arrow 22 on Fig. 2 rods oo o s 19 are disposed to trail from a point substantially in longitudinal alignment with the out-track 18.

*06049 Thus, with initial furling rotation of drum 16 a central section of the mainsail 3 will be taken up on the drum 16 ahead the luff edge 3a and leech 3b sections thereof as the attachment of the associated corner sections will slip along the rods 19 .""before take up on drum 16 commences.

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Preferably rod 19a at free end of drum 16 stands proud of the periphery of the drum whereas rod 19b at the other end of drum 16 is disposed essentially flush with the periphery of the drum.

£4s ~i 4,.z Yb 6 7 4I- i Further at that inner end of drum 16 a cut-out 20 is provided in the drums periphery adjacent to rod 19b enabling, with furling, a luff edge 3c, conventionally of more bulky form owing to the provision of a bolt rope or similar tracking means therein, to collapse thereinto thus reducing the bunching which can result with the overlaying of the luff edge 3c on itself. Preferably a universal joint 21 or similar multi-directional coupling is mounted at the inner end of boom 16 adapting the boom 16 for rotational attachment to drum rotating means as described In more detail hereinafter.

Referring in particular to Fig. 1 and Figs. 3a and 3b boom 7 is mounted to mast 6 as aforesaid. A drum rotating prime mover ses preferably an electric motor 23 operating through a suitable 0* 1 gear box 24 is mounted to mast 6 substantially opposite boom 7.

BOSS A connecting shaft 25 is mounted in and through mast 6 to join r o S" gearbox 24 to drum 16 via joint 21. Thus by operating motor 23 drum 16 can be rotated to furl a mainsail 3 thereabout. In essentially conventional manner halyard 8 is attached to a top 5555.5 of the mainsail 3 and is fed to a winch 26 disposed 555.

conveniently for a helmsman of a yacht 5. Preferably as depicted Swinch 26 incorporates self-tailing means and is operated by a motor 27 having controls interconnected with the controls to motor 23 enabling motors 23 and 27 to be operated in several

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different modes as more particularly described hereinafter. To that end an activating switch 28 and a mode selection switch 29 are provided for operation by the helmsman.

8 Referring in particular to Fig. 3b, motor 23 and gearbox 24 are preferably provided as a single assembly which can be readily removed from its mounting to mast 6. The associated end of shaft 25 is adapted to receive a manually operated crank handle 30 such that if need be such as through mechanical or electrical failure, handle 33 can be substituted for motor 23 and gearbox 24 to rotate boom 16. Mast 6 incorporates a luff retaining track 31 and preferably the lower extremity thereof is inclined downwardly and rearwardly enabling the associated end of drum 16 to be set back from mast 6 in conformity with the spacing formed by mounting brackets 12. Preferably guide blocks and rollers 32 are provided in the spacing between the lower end of track 31 and drum 16 to facilitate aligning the luff 3c of a mainsail 3 with the track 31 in the hoisting of :i a mainsail 3.

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•le• S Preferably a mainsail 3 incorporates full length battens 3d as it is found that this facilitates the furling of a mainsail 3 about drum 16 in maintaining the longitudinal spacing of the &*foe* sail along the drum 3 as it furls thereabout.

Arm 14 acts as a buttress over a partly furled sail 3 on drum 16. More particularly as a mainsail 3 is furled about drum 16 the position of the leech 3b moves forwardly along drum 16 it is found particularly in higher load situations that this can

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cause the drum 16 to bow upwardly throughout its length and arm 14 provides a limit to this.

Vs t-fq Z~~ c 9 In a first mode of operation being a hoisting of mainsail 3 control selector switch 29 is positioned to operate winch 26 to draw in halyard 8 thus hoisting mainsail 3 and at the same time operate motor 23 to provide for unfurling rotation of drum 16. In the lowering of a mainsail 3 control selector switch 29 is positioned to provide essentially the reverse of the aforesaid hoisting mode that is, motor 23 rotating drum 16 to furl in the mainsail 3 and with winch 26 being inoperative and more particularly with the halyard 8 disengaged from the self tailing mechanism of winch 26 and being played out to prevent collapse of the mainsail 3. Preferably control selector 29 switch provides for additional modes of operation. A "tension" mode provides I: that motor 23 holds drum 16 stationary enabling winch 26 via *halyard 8 to tighten up on the mainsail 3. Conversely with the e0 tension on halyard 8 drum motor 23 can be rotated to ease out the mainsail 3 to thus provide for easing of the mainsail 3.

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Claims

1. A mainsail furling device comprising a boom adapted at a first end to be articulately mounted to a mast and adapted at a second end to axially support a drum extending longitudinally of the boom with a mast associated end of the drum incorporating means to .couple the drum to rotation means via a universal joint, the drum s.e carrying a mainsail attachment means whereby a foot of a mainsail can be attached to the drum and furled thereabout with rotation of the drum and a cantilevered arm is mounted on one side of the bool osubstantially set in from the second end thereof to extend partially over the drum in radial spaced relationship thereto.

2. A mainsail furling device as claimed in claim i, wherein the i o°drum incorporates mainsail attachment means at each end thereof and a along a central zone of the drum, the end attachment means S including limited rotative sliding means whereby a foot of a mainsail can be attached along a cenl-il zone thereof to the S associated mounting of the drum and the luff and leech extremities of the mainsail foot in sliding relationship to the respective ends of the boom such that with initial furling rotation of the drum a central section of a mainsail will be taken up thereon ahead of the luff and leech sections thereof.

3. A mainsail furling device as claimed in either of the preceding claims wherein the central zone mainsail attachment means comprises a track extending longitudinally of the drum to entrap an associated section of the foot of a mainsail and the end attachment means peripherally disposed rods extending from a leading point, ii- 11 with respect to the furling direction of the drum, substantially in a longitudinal alignment with the track to a trailing point partway about the periphery of the drum.

4. A mainsail furling device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the drum incorporates a recess in the periphery at a first end thereof whereby in use a luff of a mainsail will tend to collapse thereinto. g@ 0000

5. A mainsail furling device as claimed in any one of the 0000 preceding claims wherein the boom is of an upwardly opening channel section open at the first end thereof and with an end plate at the second end thereof, the associated end of the drum being axially mounted in the end plate with the drum disposed substantially *000 eo within the void of the channel section.

6. A yacht mainsail, mast and boom assembly incorporating a mainsail furling and hoisting device as claimed in any one of the 000S preceding claims wherein a reversible prime mover is mounted to the S0"0 mast and coupled to the drum as the rotative means therefor and a power driven winch is provided to operate a halyard for hoisting the mainsail with controls to the winch and the prime mover being interconnected to provide at least two operating modes, a first being that if the winch is drawing in the halyard to raise the mainsail the drum prime mover is allowing the drum to rotate to unfurl the mainsail and vice-versa.

7. A yacht mainsail, mast and boom assembly wherein the boom is ,,_,adapted at a first end to be articulately mounted to the mast and adapted at a second end to axially support a drum extending longitudinally of the boom with a mast associated end of the drum incorporating means to couple the drum to a reversible prime mover mounted to the mast and rotatively coupled to the drum via a universal joint, a cantilevered arm mounted on one side of the boom substantially set in from the second end thereof to extend partially over the drum in radial spaced relationship thereto, the drum carrying mainsail attachment means being a track extending 0SS* S longitudinally of a central zone of the drum and entrapping an associated central section of the foot of the mainsail and end *.eO attachment means including limited rotative sliding means retaining S the luff and leech extremities of the mainsail foot in sliding relationship to the respective ends of the boom such that with initial furling rotation of the drum a central section of the 0 i mainsail will be taken up thereon ahead of the luff and leech sections thereof, a power driven winch to operate a halyard for the hoisting of the mainsail with controls to the winch and the prime mover being interconnected to provide at least two operating modes, 0000 o a first mode providing that with the winch drawing in the halyard 0 to raise the mainsail the drum prime movers allowing the drum to rotate to unfurl the mainsail and a second operating mode providing that with the drum prime mover rotating the drum to furl in the mainsail the winch is allowing the halyard to be played out.

8. A yacht mainsail, mast and boom assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the prime mover is mounted to a face of the mast opposite that of the boom with a connecting shaft being mounted in the mast to extend therethrough to join the drum to the prime mover, the prime mover associated end of the connection shaft being adapted, So 13 with the prime mover removed, to receive a handle enabling manual rotation of the drum.

9. A yacht mainsail, mast and boom assembly as claimed in any one of the claims 6 to 8, wherein the controls provide additional operating modes enabling the winch and prime mover to act as brakes against the rotation of the other.

10. A yacht mainsail, mast and boom assembly as claimed in any one f0v. of the claims 6 to 9 wherein the winch incorporates a self-tailing means.

11. A yacht mainsail, mast and boom assembly as claimed in any one the claims 6 to 10 wherein the mainsail incorporates full length battens.

12. A yacht mainsail, mast and boom assembly as claimed in any one of the claims 6 to 11 wherein the mast incorporates a continuous 0 track to receive and retain a luff of the mainsail, guide blocks 2C "Oand rollers being mounted on the mast between a lower extremity of the track and thn drum to guide the luff of a mainsail to the track.

13. A yacht mainsail, mast and boom assembly as claimed in any one of the claims 6 to 12 wherein a lower section of the luff receiving track and the associated blocks and rollers are mounted in a rearwardly and downwardly inclined disposition to the mast with the mast associated end of the drum being correspondingly spaced away _--from the mast. r-~-j m 14

14. A mainsail furling device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A yacht mainsail, mast and boom assembly incorporating a mainsail furling and hoisting device substantially as herein 66 described with reference to the accompanying drawings. C C 000 0 CSG* S 0000 S. S 00S :1P'. gee. 0 e.e.c. S DATED this seventeenthay c )f May 1991 DONALD JOHN BAVERSTOC( By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO e @00000 e SO OS S em 0 eec e.g. S. 6 00 00 ,kt> IA V~A4VS §v 1 L