GB2082127A

GB2082127A - Sailing craft

Info

Publication number: GB2082127A
Application number: GB8115707A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TIJOIX PIERRE
Current assignee: TIJOIX PIERRE
Priority date: 1980-05-27
Filing date: 1981-05-21
Publication date: 1982-03-03
Also published as: GB2082127B; DE3120752A1; IT8121945A0; IT1207555B; FR2483351A1; JPS5758583A; FR2483351B1

Abstract

A sailing craft has a hull of lenticular or saucer-like form. In one embodiment the hull is filled, at least in part, with expanded polystyrene, and has a lower convex wall and an upper flat cover. A section of tube 6, which extends along the axis of revolution of the hull, allows a tubular shaft 12 carrying a rudder 13 and a steering wheel to rotate. A sail 6 is mounted on a mast 9 joined by means of a ball and socket 10 to a mast-carrier 11 which turns in the tubular shaft 12. Various hull shapes are described. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sailing craft The present invention concerns a new type of sailing craft.

The invention has the aim of achieving a craft able to accept self-contained means of propulsion, and able to carry at least one passenger on the water.

A sailing craft according to the invention is characterised in that its hull is constituted by a floating lens-shaped form of revolution which gives it the shape of a saucer.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the hull comprises on the one hand a lower convex wall, and on the other hand an upper almost flat wall or cover.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the periphery of the cover is fixed to a rim projecting upwards, which has at its base, at intervals, holes allowing the evacuation of water.

According to a variant of the invention, the hull comprises on the one hand a lower convex wall and on the other hand an upper wall or cover convex in the opposite direction.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the lower convex wall of the hull has the shape of a portion of a sphere.

According to a variant of the invention, the lower convex wall of the hull comprises on the one hand a central part in the shape of a portion of a sphere, and on the other hand around its periphery a raised edge of which the generating line has a radius of curvature smaller than that of the spherical portion.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the cavity formed inside the hull is empty and sealed.

According to a variant of the invention, the cavity formed inside the hull is filled, at least in part, with expanded polystyrene.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the craft is fitted with a sail mounted on a fixed mast which extends along the axis of revolution ofthe hull.

According to a variant of the invention, the craft is fitted with a sail fitted to a mast of which the base is mounted to swing on the hull by means of a fixed ball anchored in line with the axis of revolution of the hull.

According to another variant of the invention, the hull carries, along its axis of revolution, a well in which a mast is fitted so as to turn, the upper part of the mast carrying a sail, whilst the lower part of the mast carries a rudder.

According to another variant of the invention, the hull carries, along its axis of revolution, a well in which a tubular shaft is fitted so as to turn, the upper part of this tubular shaft carrying a wheel whilst its lower part carries a rudder, a mast fitted with a sail being mounted to turn in the tubular shaft.

According to another variant of the invention, the hull carries, along its axis of revolution, a well able to accept the vertical transmission shaft of a motor with a driving screw of the outboard motor type, the cover of the hull carrying a support for attaching this motor near to the well.

By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of one embodiment of sailing craft according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of this embodiment; Figures 3 to 7 are side views of alternative embodiments of sailing craft according to the invention; Figures 8 to 11 are views in axial section of further embodiments of sailing craft according to the invention; and Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the use of a sailing craft according to the invention.

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown a sailing craft according to the invention in its most simple form.

This craft comprises a hull 1 constituted by a floating lens-shaped form of revolution which gives it the shape of a saucer. This hull may be filled, at least in part, with expanded polystyrene. It may also simply form an empty sealed cavity.

The hull 1 comprises, in the case of Figure 1, on the one hand a lower convex wall 2 in the shape of a portion of a sphere, and on the other hand an upper flat wall or cover 3, the walls 2 and 3 being welded along their edges 4. The hull comprises also, along its axis of revolution, a well 5 formed inside a section of tube 6 welded at its ends on the one hand to the wall 2 and on the other hand to the wall 3.

According to a variant shown in Figure 3, the lower wall 2 of the hull may comprise on the one hand a central part 2a in the shape of a portion of sphere, and on the other hand, around its periphery, a raised edge 2b of which the generating line has a radius of curvature smaller than that of the spherical portion.

According to a variant shown in Figure 4, the cover 3 can carry around its periphery, a rim 6 which extends upwards and which has at intervals at its base holes 7 allowing the evacuation of water.

According to a variant shown in Figure 5, the cover 3 may itself be constituted by a wall convex in the opposite direction to the wall 2. In this case, the two walls have the same curvature, but the cover could equally well have a less pronounced curve (Figure 6), or a more pronounced one (Figure 7) than that of the wall 2.

The craft may be fitted with a sail 8 (Figure 8), the latter being with advantage mounted on a mast 9 which extends along the axis of revolution of the hull. The mast 9, which may be inserted at its base into the section of tube 6, may be detachable or fixed.

The mast 9 may be mounted to swing by means of a ball joint 10 on a mast-carrying shaft 11 fitted into the section of tube 6 (Figure 9).

The section of tube 6 could equally well accept a revolving tubular shaft 12 (Figure 10) carrying at its lower end a rudder 13 and at its upper end a steering wheel 14, whilst the mast 9 is fitted either directly or by means of the mast carrier 11 inside the tubular shaft 12.

Naturally, the steering wheel 14 could equally well be replaced by any appropriate type of grid, such as a tiller or a pair of diametrically opposed arms.

The rudder 13 could itself equally well befitted directly to the lower part of the mast 9, as shown in broken lines in Figure 8. Similarly, in the case of Figure 10, the mast carrier 11 could be dispensed with and the ball joint 10 fixed directly to the upper end of the tubular shaft 12.

According to another variant shown in Figure 11, the well 5 formed inside the section of tube 6 may be large enough to accept the vertical transmission shaft 19 of a motor of the outboard type 15 fitted with a driving propellor 16. A support 17 is then provided on the hull near to the well 5 for the attachment of the motor 15.

The craft according to the invention is intended to transport a passenger 18 (Figure 12), the latter being able to stand, sit or lie. The proportions of the craft are determined so as to allow easy manual handling of the mast 9 carrying the sail 8 and of the steering wheel 14. In the case in which this steering wheel is replaced by two diametrically opposed arms, the latter could equally be operated by the feet.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments.

Claims

1. A sailing craft comprising a hull constituted by a lens-shaped form of revolution which gives it the shape of a saucer.

2. A sailing craft according to claim 1, in which the hull comprises on the one hand a lower convex wall, and on the other hand an almost flat upper wall or cover.

3. A sailing craft according to claim 2, in which the periphery of the cover is fixed to a rim which extends upwards and which carries at intervals at its base holes allowing the evacuation of water.

4. A sailing craft according to claim 1, in which the hull comprises on the one hand a lower convex wall, and on the other hand an upper wall or cover convex in the opposite direction.

5. A sailing craft according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the lower convex wall of the hull has the shape of a portion of a sphere.

6. A sailing craft according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the lower convex wall of the hull comprises on the one hand a central part in the shape of a portion of a sphere, and on the other hand, around its periphery, a raised edge of which the generating line has a radius of curvature smaller than that of the spherical portion.

7. A sailing craft according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cavity formed inside the hull is empty and watertight.

8. A sailing craft according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the cavity formed inside the hull is filled, at least in part, with expanded polystyrene.

9. A sailing craft according to any one of the preceding claims, fitted with a sail mounted on a fixed mast which extends along the axis of revolution of the hull.

10. A sailing craft according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, fitted with a sail mounted on a mast of which the base is mounted to swing on the hull by means of a ball and socket joint fixed on the axis of revolution of the hull.

11. A sailing craft according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, in which the hull has along its axis of revolution a well in which a mast is fitted so as to turn, the upper part of the mast carrying a sail, whilst its lower part carries a rudder.

12. A sailing craft according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, in which the hull has along its axis of revolution a well in which a tubular shaft is fitted so as to turn, the upper part of this tubular shaft being fixed to means of gripping, such as a steering wheel, whilst the lower part of the tubular shaft carries a rudder, a mast fitted with a sail being mounted so as to turn in the tubular shaft.

13. A sailing craft according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, in which the hull has along its axis of revolution a well able to carry the vertical transmission shaft of a motorwith a driving propellorofthe type of an outboard motor, the cover of the hull carrying a support which allows this motor to be fixed near to the well.

14. A sailing craft constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to Figures 1,2 and 12, or any one of Figures 3 to 11, of the accompanying drawings.