CA1240563A - Sail assist unit - Google Patents

Sail assist unit

Info

Publication number
CA1240563A
CA1240563A CA000474677A CA474677A CA1240563A CA 1240563 A CA1240563 A CA 1240563A CA 000474677 A CA000474677 A CA 000474677A CA 474677 A CA474677 A CA 474677A CA 1240563 A CA1240563 A CA 1240563A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
yard
mast
arms
yard arms
sail
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000474677A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David L. Prior
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA000474677A priority Critical patent/CA1240563A/en
Priority to AU53418/86A priority patent/AU5341886A/en
Priority to EP86301017A priority patent/EP0198577A1/en
Priority to NO860574A priority patent/NO860574L/en
Priority to DK75686A priority patent/DK75686A/en
Priority to JP61034944A priority patent/JPS61191497A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1240563A publication Critical patent/CA1240563A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B15/00Superstructures, deckhouses, wheelhouses or the like; Arrangements or adaptations of masts or spars, e.g. bowsprits
    • B63B15/0083Masts for sailing ships or boats
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63HMARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H9/00Marine propulsion provided directly by wind power
    • B63H9/04Marine propulsion provided directly by wind power using sails or like wind-catching surfaces
    • B63H9/08Connections of sails to masts, spars, or the like
    • B63H9/10Running rigging, e.g. reefing equipment
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B15/00Superstructures, deckhouses, wheelhouses or the like; Arrangements or adaptations of masts or spars, e.g. bowsprits
    • B63B2015/0016Masts characterized by mast configuration or construction
    • B63B2015/0033Multipodded masts, e.g. tripod-type

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Agricultural Machines (AREA)
  • Porous Artificial Stone Or Porous Ceramic Products (AREA)
  • Mechanical Operated Clutches (AREA)
  • Braking Arrangements (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
  • Cyclones (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Water By Ion Exchange (AREA)
  • Radiation-Therapy Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A B S T R A C T
This invention relates to an improved arrangement for mounting a sail on a rotatable mast. The rotatable mast is provided with an upper pair of yard arms pivotally connected to an upper portion of the mast and a lower pair of yard arms pivotally connected to a lower portion of the mast. Each of the upper and lower pairs of yard arms are movable between an open position in which the yard arms are substantially in alignment and a closed position in which the yard arms are folded to be substantially parallel to the mast. An essentially rectangular sail connected to each of the yard arms is compactly folded when the yard arms are in folded position and a sleeve which preferably is stored at the base of the mast slides over the yard arms and sail when the yard arms and sail are in folded position. This arrangement provides a simple, rugged and practical arrangement which is suitable for small sail boats and larger vessels. It can be used as the sole means of propulsion or as an auxiliary source of power.

Description

SPECIFICATION

This invention relates to novel means for raising, lowering and furling sails on all vessels from the smallest sail-boats to vessels of any suitable length. All other sails on the market today suf~er from the following defects, namely, some are labour intensive, that is, they require additional manpower with the attendant problems. Others depend on complicated and highly technical devices to operate their sails. The high initial costs and dif~icult maintenance problems and failures in a marine environment of these devices make them difficult, if not impossible, for the small vessel owner to use same on his vessel. Other sail units require too much working of the sail, either by winch means or the necessary presence of complicating rigging. This present invention overcomes the past problems by supplying and simplifying the method of furling and setting ths fabric forming the sail. This lends itself to ~eing lnstalled in a variety of configuration, namely, mast supported by a tri-pod structure, free standing masts or a mast guyed with wires or a mast supported by any other suitable means. It also lends itself to being remotely controlled from the wheel house or any other appropriate location on the vessel or lt can be fully automated using a micro-processor.
The folding mechanism is simple and rugged as opposed to other sa~l devices utilizing parts with closely machined tolerances, which provide many mechanical failures and problems with attendant danger to crew and attendants.
In this present lnvention, many of the above difficulties are ellmlnated as rOllOwS:
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a mast mounted for rotation about a vertical axis on the hull of a ship, an upper pair of yard arms pivotally connected to 135~3 an upper portion of the mast and a lower pair of yard arms pivotally connected to a lower portion of the mast, each of the upper and lower pairs of yard arms being movable between an open position in which the yard arms are substantially in alignment to set a sail extending between said yard arms and a closed position in which the yard arms are folded to be sub-stantially parallel to the mast so that the sail will be compactly furled, the upper pair of yard arms being pivoted downwards for folding and the lower pair of hard arms being pivoted upwardly for folding, means for moving said yard arms between open and closed positions and a sleeve adapted to slide over the yard arms and sail when said yard arms and said sail are in folded position.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, said sleeve is stored at the base of the mast when not in use and is raised to slide over the yard arms and sail when they are in folded position.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the upper and lower pairs of yard arms are mirror images of each other.
In accordance with the preferred aspect of this invention, a strut is pivotally connected to each of the yard arms and a first slidable means, such as a collar, movable axially of the mast is pivotally connected to the struts of the upper pairs of yard arms and a second slidable means movable axially of the mast is pivotally connected to the struts of the lower pair of yard arms.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the means for moving said yard arms between open and closed position is hydraulic means connected between said first and second slidable means.

In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention, rotation of the mast is controlled by a microprocessor.

1~05~3 In the drawings illustrating the embodiments of my invention:
FIGURE 1: illustrates a plan view of this invention in a tri-pod configuration, showing the yardarms and the struts in extended position.
FIGURE 2: illustrates a lateral view of Figure 1.
FIGURE 3: illustratesa front view of the invention, showing the yardarms and the struts in closed position and showing a protective sleeve around the yardarms and struts.
FIGURE 4: illustrates details of nylon bushings at thetop and bottom of rotating mast to facilitate easy rotation.
In the drawings, Figure 1, the number 1 illustrates the top and bottom hinged yardarms. The number 2 illus-trates a conventional hinging mechanism. The number 3 illustratçs two sliding collars to allow struts ~ to push or pull the yardarms 1 to desired position on the mast 5.
The number 6 lllustrates the legs of the tri-pod. The number 7 illustrates a cap fitting over the top of the rotatable mast 5.

In Figure 2, the number ~3 illustrates a hydraulic cylinder attached to the lower collar 3 by means and to a spacer bar 8a. The number 9 illustrates a tiller bar welded to a rotating mast 5 to ~acilitate the rotating of the mast 5.
In Figure 3, the number lO illustrates a protect~ve sleeve, disposed over the struts 4 and the yardarms 1, and the sail, (not shown), when in closed position.
In Figure 4, the number 11 illustrates a nylon bushing inside the cap 7 fitting over the top of the rotating mast 5. The number 12 illustrates a threaded bolt welded to the top end o~ plate 13 on the mast 5. The number 14 illustrates a nut fitting over the threaded bolt 12. The nu~ber 15 lllustrates another mounting plate on the deck of the ship ~2~0SÇi3 or vessel. The number 16 illustrates an access port to attach another nut 14, (not shown), to threaded bolt 12 welded to mounting plate 15 on the deck.
~ he mode of use and the operation of this invention are as follows:
The mast5, on which are disposed and adapted the two collars 3, attached to the struts 4, which are attached to the yardarms 1, is affixed to the deck of the ship, Figure 4. The cap 7 is placed over the mast 5 and the two legs 6 are attached to cap 7 and extended to the deck in a tri-pod position where they are affixed to the deck by conventional means.
A sail, not shown, is conventionally attached to the top hinged yardarm 1 and to the bottom hinged yardarm 1.
The lnvention is then ready to be used.
The sail may be furled by actuating the hydraulic cylinder 8 by conventional means, which brings the two collars 3 together on the mast 5, thus drawing the two struts 4 into a closea position, which automatically draws the two hinged yardarms 1 at the top and at the bottom of the mast 5 into a closed po~ition against the mast 5, Figure 3, thus furling the sail, attached as aforesaid to the yardarms 1, against the mast S. A protective sleeve lO is provided at the bottom of the mast 5, disposed and adapted to be hauled up and over the furled ~ail, the folded struts 4 and the folded yardarms 1, holding the sail in a turled position against the mast 5, in a compact protected unit.
The rotating mast 5, Figure 4, turned by the tiller bar 9, facllitated by the bushings 11, permits the mast 5 to be turned in any direction, $n order that the sail, atfixed to the yardarms 1, as atoresaid, may catch the prevaillng winds ~rom any direction.

05'~
The sail may be quickly unfurled and set by removi~lg the sleeve and actuating the collars by the hydraulic cylinder to move apart from each other. It may be seen that the operation of this invention could be automated by micro-processor means or, in case of mechanical or electrical failure and in emergency, the collars could be actuated by conventional rope and pulley manual means, on order to furl and unfurl the sail.

It may be seen that the mast may be held up~ig~t un 1~ the deck of the ship by other than the leg means described.
It may further be seen that, in case of mechanical fallure of the hydraulic cylinder, or in case of emergency, or in the case of the use of this lnvention in undeveloped countries, where advanced technology may be lacking, the collars of this invention could be actuated by conventional rope and pulley manual means, thus raising and lowering the sail, as described above and resulting in the easy and rapid raising, furling and setting of sails, which ~s the ob~ective of this invention.
The above disclosure and specification describes the embodiments of my invention and discovery, but as same may be used or adapted to use in forms, other than, or similar to, or varying from, the features set forth in the above disclosure and specification, I claim as my inventlon and discovery all forms of same which may be deemed to fall fairly within the s~ope of my appended claims.

Claims (6)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A mast mounted for rotation about a vertical axis on the hull of a ship, an upper pair of yard arms pivotally connected at one end of each yard arm to an upper portion of the mast and a lower pair of yard arms pivotally connected at one end of each yard arm to a lower portion of the mast, each of the upper and lower pairs of yard arms being pivotable between an open position in which the yard arms are sub-stantially perpendicular to the mast and defining a single vertical plane to set a sail extending between said yard arms and a closed position in which the yard arms are folded to be substantially parallel to the mast so that the sail will be compactly furled, the upper pair of yard arms being pivoted downwards for folding and the lower pair of yard arms being pivoted upwardly for folding, means for moving said yard arms between open and closed positions and a sleeve adapted to slide over the yard arms and sail when said yard arms and said sail are in folded position.
2. A combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said sleeve is stored at the base of the mast when not in use and is raised to slide over the yard arms and sail when they are in folded position.
3. A combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the upper and lower pairs of yard arms are mirror images of each other.
4. A combination as claimed in claim 1 in which a strut is pivotally connected to each of the yard arms and a first slidable means movable axially of the mast is pivotally connected to the struts of the upper pair of yard arms and a second slidable means movable axially of the mast is pivotally connected to the struts of the lower pair of yard arms.
5. A combination as claimed in claim 4 in which the means for moving said yard arms between open and closed position is hydraulic means connected between said first and second slidable means.
6. A combination as in claims 4 and 5 in which each of the slidable means is a collar.
CA000474677A 1985-02-19 1985-02-19 Sail assist unit Expired CA1240563A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000474677A CA1240563A (en) 1985-02-19 1985-02-19 Sail assist unit
AU53418/86A AU5341886A (en) 1985-02-19 1986-02-12 Sail assist unit
EP86301017A EP0198577A1 (en) 1985-02-19 1986-02-14 Sail assist unit
NO860574A NO860574L (en) 1985-02-19 1986-02-17 SAIL MANUAL DEVICE.
DK75686A DK75686A (en) 1985-02-19 1986-02-18 RIGHT TO SAILBOAT
JP61034944A JPS61191497A (en) 1985-02-19 1986-02-19 Mast device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000474677A CA1240563A (en) 1985-02-19 1985-02-19 Sail assist unit

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1240563A true CA1240563A (en) 1988-08-16

Family

ID=4129865

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000474677A Expired CA1240563A (en) 1985-02-19 1985-02-19 Sail assist unit

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0198577A1 (en)
JP (1) JPS61191497A (en)
AU (1) AU5341886A (en)
CA (1) CA1240563A (en)
DK (1) DK75686A (en)
NO (1) NO860574L (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102004018814A1 (en) * 2004-04-19 2005-11-03 Skysails Gmbh Setting system for a flying kite-like wind attack element in a watercraft with wind propulsion
FR2909636B1 (en) * 2006-12-12 2009-02-13 Frederic Jouffroy DEVICE FOR FASTENING AND QUICK DEPLOYMENT OF PROPELLANT VEIL AND VEHICLE COMPRISING IT
US20180127075A1 (en) 2016-10-15 2018-05-10 Alistair JOHNSON Tig rig sail system
CN118124778B (en) * 2024-05-10 2024-07-05 山东省科学院海洋仪器仪表研究所 But sail of automatically regulated sail size and unmanned sailing boat

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB888132A (en) * 1960-07-26 1962-01-24 Proelss Wilhelm Sailing vessel with square-rigged masts
NL7109187A (en) * 1971-07-02 1973-01-04
FR2572051A1 (en) * 1984-10-22 1986-04-25 Ducrocq Louis NEW TYPE OF SUPPORT DEVICE FOR SAIL

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK75686A (en) 1986-08-20
JPS61191497A (en) 1986-08-26
DK75686D0 (en) 1986-02-18
NO860574L (en) 1986-08-20
EP0198577A1 (en) 1986-10-22
AU5341886A (en) 1986-08-28

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