Ships – Spars – Masts and masting
Patent
1998-01-26
1999-10-19
Sotelo, Jesus D.
Ships
Spars
Masts and masting
11410217, B63B 1500
Patent
active
059670738
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a system for controlling the jibe movements of a sailboat boom , which boom has an outer free end connected to the boat via a sheeting arrangement, and an inner end fixed to the mast via a pivot joint.
CLOSET PRIOR ART
The crossover of the boom is traditionally initiated by a rudder controlled change in the sailing direction of the boat, and by hauling and subsequent releasing of the sheeting arrangement to force the boom over the centerline of the boat. When the jibing manoeuvre is carried out with a larger sailboat, the crossover of the boom is normally very sudden and violent, especially because the high and dangerous boom velocities is reached at angular boom move-ments around the centerline. When the manoeuvre is carried out in strong winds and rough sea conditions, it may be intentional or unintentional, the result can be disastrous, both for the rigmaterial as well as for a person, who is hit by the boom, sheet or other moving parts.
A system that avoids a violent action of the boom at an unintentional gibing manoeuvre, is the well known preventer system comprising a fixed line arrangement attached to the boom, and which runs forward to a safe attachment point on the boat, so that the boom is kept fixed at that perpendicular position in question. At an unintentional jibe this system leaves one with a backwinded sail and an uncontrolled vessel, which can only be brought under control by releasing the arrangement whereafter the boom is totally uncontrolled. Further uncontrollable situations arises if the outer boom end and the sail is dipped into the water caused by rolling movements of the boat.
Other known systems acts as springs by urging the boom into a substantially perpendicular position. These systems does not either give any control of the boom movements, mainly because they are out of function when the boom is approaching the centerline of the boat. The passover of the boom will therefore still be violent and uncontrolled with this system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,567 describes yet another system comprising a passive reacting pneumatic cylinder, the one end of which is connected to the boom and the other end of which is connected to a fixed point on the boat in distance behind the mast. The distance between the connection point on the boom and the fixed point on the deck of the boat will therefore change when the boom is pivoted and the piston of the cylinder will have to move so that a pressure is build up in the cylinder by the instant closure of a throttle opening and the cylinder actuates a passive force during further swinging of the boom. This system is unable to control the boom movement when the boom is approaching the centerline. When the boom has reached the centerline it is totally out of control. Remembering that the high unwanted boom velocities initiated around the centerline position, the system is of limited use.
OBJECT
To put forward a simple and reliable system for controlling the jibe movement of a boom.
THE NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION
The novel system is characterized in that a hydraulic actuator is connected with the inner boom end at the pivot joint, which hydraulic actuator is transferring a passive momentum to the inner boom end acting against boom movements.
Hereby is obtained an unforeseen simple system, which controls the jibe movements of a sailboat boom in a reliable manner, without any risk of damaging the rigging or enduring any persons. The system gives the total control of the angular motion of the boom within every angular section of the 180 degrees travel of the boom from the one side perpendicular position, passing the centerline position and to the other side perpendicular position.
The hydraulic actuator transfers a pivoting momentum to the boom directly in the pivot joint at every angular motion of the boom. When the boom is swung from a perpendicular position at the one side of the boat and to a perpendicular position at the other side passing the centerline position, the boom movement will have to
REFERENCES:
patent: 4630564 (1986-12-01), Duckman
patent: 5333567 (1994-08-01), Danzer
Simon Petersen Boats AB
Sotelo Jesus D.
LandOfFree
Sailboat system for controlled gibing does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sailboat system for controlled gibing, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sailboat system for controlled gibing will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2043956