GB2122155A

GB2122155A - Sail winder

Info

Publication number: GB2122155A
Application number: GB08316942A
Authority: GB
Inventors: J Marie Goiot
Original assignee: GOIOT SA
Current assignee: GOIOT SA
Priority date: 1982-06-22
Filing date: 1983-06-22
Publication date: 1984-01-11
Also published as: FR2528792B1; FR2528792A1; IT1163564B; GB2122155B; GB8316942D0; IT8321725A0

Abstract

A sail winder has a shaft (4) with means for rotating this shaft in order to wind and unwind a sail (5), a casing (3) surrounding the shaft and the sail wound on this shaft and means for making the casing rigid with a support spar (1). Herein the casing (3) of the sail winder has extensions (12), shown along the spaced corners facing the spar (1), articulated (8, 9, 11) to the casing. The extensions (12) can be fixed to lateral faces of a range of sizes of support spar (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sail winder The present invention relates to so-called sail winder devices generally comprising a casing and therewithin a rotatably mounted shaft which may be caused to rotate by any means in order to reduce the surface area of the sail by winding it around this shaft on which one edge of the sail is fastened. It relates more particularly to sail winders which are or can be fixed to, preferably made rigid with, a spar, and specific application to masts in order to wind the mainsail will be described.

A prior sail winder of this general type is described in the German Patent Specification 607.045 granted on 1 5th December 1934, which patent discloses that this sail winder may act as a mast or spar or may be disposed parallel to the spar.

In practice it is nowadays desirable to be able to provide boats which have already been launched with a sail winder, which boats are not designed to receive masts forming sail winders of types available on the market. For example, if the teaching of the German Patent Specification 607.045 is followed, it is only practicable for such sail winders to be fastened by shackles or the like.

This leads to drawbacks, in particular as to causes substantial aerodynamic disturbances at the leading edge of the sail. This drawback, which is serious in the case of competition boats, could be remedied by constructing a sail winder having a casting which fitted snugly on the rear portion of the mast but this requires the design of a specific profile for each mast section to be equipped, which is prohibitive in view of the fact that it would have to be manufactured in single units on demand as a result of the multiplicity of mast sections encountered in existing boats.

The present invention is designed to remedy these drawbacks by providing a sail winder which may be adapted to a wide range of mast sections and which reduces disturbance of the aerodynamics of the mast compared with the shackles etc. The sail winder of the invention may also be fitted to other spars even if the problems of aerodynamics are less critical with respect to those spars.

In accordance with the invention a sail winder casing has articulated extensions by which it is securable to a said spar. Spaced parallel plate-like such extensions can conveniently embrace part of the spar and be secured thereto at sides thereof.

Preferred articulation is at or near corners of the casing nearest the spar. In accordance with the degree of freedom of the articulation the same casing may be fitted to different sizes of masts having sections in a certain range. In addition, as the mast section is associated with the sail volume to be wound, the width of the casing has a certain degree of correspondence with the mast section such that a winder for a sail of a given volume will fit all the masts designed to receive the wound sail.

The articulations may be embodied by sequences of hinges or by using the actual flexibility of the metal constituting the plate which may possibly be weakened along the said line.

However, as the sail winder casings are preferably constructed using a running hollow profile, the articulation is preferably constructed using a fitting element rigid with the casing which may be fitted, with a certain degree of freedom, into a corresponding fitting element rigid with the rear edge of the plate. In the case of this type of embodiment and in particular when the fitting element rigid with the blade is a retainer ring engaged in a groove-shaped profile of a split cylinderical type rigid with the casing, the plates may be interchanged between casings of different dimensions and may be constructed by rolling.

Fastening in a rigid manner to the lateral surfaces of the spare may be carried out by any means having sufficient mechanical strength, but preferably by riveting.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the winder casing has, on its rear face between two articulations of the lateral plates, a profiled projection which may be fitted in the bolt rope rail of the mainsail of the mast.

One embodiment of the invention is now described in detail, by way of example, in the following with reference to the attached drawing in which: Figure 1 is a horizontal section through the sail winder fitted to a mast having a first section; and Figure 2 is a coresponding view of the winder fixed to a mast having a greater section.

In the drawing, mast sections are designated by 1 and an integral formation or rail for the mainsail bolt rope by 2. The sail winder casing is designated overall by 3, its shaft by 4 and the sail by 5. The winder casing has a generally trapezoidal section with its apex, corresponding to the smallest side, having a rounded shape. A slot 6 for passage of the sail is provided in the centre of the rounded apex. Its base 7 is substantially plane and, along its two edges (corresponding to corners of the casing 3) there is provided split cylindrical grooves 8 whose slot 9 is substantially opposite to and aligned with the lateral faces 10 of the casing.

In each of the cylindrical grooves 8 there is threaded a retainer 11 as a head or heads (or rings) rigid with a blade 12 which, as a result of this assembly, may swing between two positions on either side of the position in which it is aligned with the faces 10. Free edges of the plates 1 2 are fastened to the rear of the lateral faces of the mast by rivets 13.

In the centre of the face 7 there is provided a longitudinal protruding web 14 with a head or heads 1 5 which may be inserted in the bolt rope rail 2 of the mast. This insertion positions the sail winder before it is fastened by rivets and ensures mechanical transmission to the mast of the bending efforts transmitted to the winder by the sail without relying only on the rivetting 1 3 via extension plates 1 2.

The above description relates to a preferred

Claims

embodiment involving a winder for a mainsail on the mast, but the invention may be used on other spares if desired, usually, but not necessarily, with a load transmission and location web 14. CLAIMS

1. A sail winder comprising a shaft with means for rotating this shaft in order to wind and unwind the sail, a casing about the shaft and sail wound on that shaft and means for fixing the casing to a support spar, characterised in that the casing of the sail winder has articulated extensions by which it is securable to said spar.

2. A sail winder as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each articulation is by a interfitting element one rigid with the casing at or near corners thereof to be parallel with said spar and the other rigid with an edge of a plate consistuting a said extension.

3. A sail winder as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the fitting element rigid with the plate is a head element captive in a groove rigid with the casing.

4. A sail winder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the winder casing has, on a rear face between articulated said extension, a profiled formation to interfit with a longitudinal groove or rail of said spar.

5. A sail winder arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.