Ships – Sail or control means therefor – Mast travelers
Patent
1994-12-09
1996-08-20
Basinger, Sherman
Ships
Sail or control means therefor
Mast travelers
114204, B63H 908
Patent
active
055468810
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a track system to be fastened to a groove in a spar, preferably in the groove on the back of a mast, comprising a track formed to receive cars in an axially slidable manner and provided with tranverse openings for receiving fastening means and a plurality of slide members adapted to be slidably arranged, however, prevented from rotating in the groove and having a base being engaged in the interior of the groove in the mounted state of the slide member, and a shaft extending through the slot of the groove and being provided with an axial opening adapted to coact with the fastening means inserted through the corresponding transverse opening in the track.
BACKGROUND ART
A track system is known, wherein the track is essentially U-shaped and adapted for mounting on the mast with the cavity facing the groove. The fastening means are screws being inserted through transverse openings in the track. For fastening the track onto the mast, each individual slide member is to be slid in the groove, until its threaded hole is aligned with the corresponding transverse opening in the track, whereafter a screw is inserted through the transverse opening to engage the threaded hole in the slide member. This is a rather difficult and time-consuming operation, and it is particularly difficult to bring the screw into engagement with the threaded hole. Further, said system has the drawback that the slide member slides downwards, until it abuts the subjacent slide member, if a screw is unscrewed after the track has been mounted. It is not possible to mount this slide member again without loosening all of the remaining slide members which have been used to fasten the track to the mast. This operation is often very time-consuming, since 200 slide members are sometimes used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a track system of above type which is easier to mount on a spar having a groove than the hitherto known track systems.
In order to obtain the above object the track system according to the invention is characterised in that it is provided with recesses arranged coaxially with the transverse openings on the side intended to face the groove, and that said recesses are adapted and dimensioned for receiving the protruding portion of the shaft of said slide members in a circumscribing manner. As a result, the recesses act to position the slide members in such a manner that the axial opening thereof is essentially coaxial with the transverse opening of the track, when the protruding portion of the slide member is engaged in the corresponding recess, whereby the axial opening is easily caught by the fastening means, which according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is a screw, the axial openings in the slide members thus being threaded holes.
When mounting the tracks on a upright mast, the number of slide members corresponding to the number of transverse openings in the track are arranged in the groove, and a fastening means, such as a screw, is inserted through the lowermost transverse opening to engage the axial opening in the lowermost slide member. The row of slide members are then moved upwards by means of a tool, for instance a screwdriver inserted in between the track and the mast. When the lowermost slide member is aligned with the second lowermost opening, the outermost end of the protruding portion of the slide member falls into the recess in the track, when the track is slightly preloaded towards the mast. The preload may be provided by pressing lightly against the track with the hand or by tightening the lowermost screw. This procedure is continued in an upward direction, until all of the slide members engage the corresponding transverse openings in the track. For every fourth to eighth slide member, it may be advantageous to fasten a screw in order to control the track more easily.
According to the invention, the recesses may have a circular cross-section. This embodiment is particularly advantageous, as the recesses may be made by dri
REFERENCES:
patent: 5044294 (1991-09-01), Kronich et al.
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