AXLE

Field of the invention

This invention regards the field of articles for sailing crafts and in particular a device which includes a mast with two oscillating fulcrums to be used according to the sailing requirements and at least one polar axle. State of the art

In the patent application PCT/IB2004/001081 , in the name of the same Applicant, a device is described, indicated as mechanical polar axle, made up by a polar rotating axle to which are integrally connected the mast, the drift, the winches, the running rope compressors and other possible rings to tie the riggings. The above mentioned device offers remarkable advantages as it gives great manoeuvring facilities allowing the release of the mast from the hull of the craft thus allowing it to oscillate having as the fulcrum the above mentioned mechanical polar axle.

However the described device claimed in the above mentioned patent application is only useful for racing sailing crafts as the oscillations of the mast around the polar axle, which is below deck along the keel, take up useful space below deck, which is always naturally limited, and therefore makes it not suitable for a cruising boat. On the other hand, it would be extremely useful to have a device that will make possible to enjoy the same speed advantages (even if a little more limited) on a cruising boat and which could easily be modified if one wanted to use the same craft for racing navigation; even more important the device should offer the enormous advantage of increased safety for the boat should it capsize making it much more difficult to sink guaranteeing therefore a safe refuge for the crew awaiting help. Description of the figures

Figure 1 schematically shows the whole: mast, polar axle, drift and connecting mechanisms of the device according to the invention; Figure 2 shows in detail the hinge between the mast below deck and the deck mast; Figures 3a and 3b show the different ways in which the masts oscillates according to the invention respectively in the case of a racing craft and a cruising one;

Figure 4 schematically shows the mast according to the invention and the relative polar axle as placed on a cruising craft;

Figure 5 schematically shows the mast according to the invention and the relative polar axle as placed on a racing craft; Figures 6 a and 6 b show (respectively in the front view and side view) a particular embodiment of the stay attachment;

Figure 7 (a - c) show, respectively the front view (7 a) and side (7 b - c), the oscillations stern/bow of the mast with its relative rigging;

Figure 8 shows a view from the top of the outside part of a cruising craft with the transmission rope pulleys on the polar axle and the winches near the cockpit;

Figures 9 a and 9 b show respectively a view from the top and in a transversal section of a sail table equipped with the device according to the invention;

Figure 10 (a - e) shows a particular execution of the invention with the device for the automatic opening of the running rope compressor; Figures 11 a and 11 b show the different behaviour when capsizing of, respectively, a traditional craft and a craft with the device according to the invention;

Figure 12 (a - c) shows the action of the couple of listing forces in a traditional craft

(12 a), and a cruising craft (12 b) and in a racing craft (12 c) equipped with the device according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

This invention will overcome the above problems thanks to a device that allows to easily adapt the mast to racing or cruising sailing requirements and offers a greater security against the sinking of the craft if it should capsize.

As can be seen in figure 1 , the device according to the invention includes the oscillating mast 10 that presents three parts hinged between them (starting from the base): mast below deck 1 1 , mast on deck 12 (the part of the mast which is between the deck of the craft and below the boom), mast with sails 13 (the part of the mast between under the boom and the head of the mast, which bears the sails).

The mast below deck 11 is hinged, on its lower end, to a polar axle 14, made up by round tubular pipe with variable diameter and thickness depending on the size of the craft, that runs from stern to bow and is kept in position passing through some hinges

15, fixed to the hull of the craft 16, where it is free to rotate thanks to the presence of some ball bearings 17, placed inside the hinges 15.

The top end of the mast below deck, that is outside, on level with the deck of the craft, is connected with the lower end of the deck mast 12 by a hinge 18 that permits the oscillation of the above mast on a perpendicular plane to the axle bow/stern of the craft (oscillation larboard/starboard) and which can be blocked by a check pin 19

(see figure 2).

The mast on deck 12 finishes under the boom and is connected to the mast with sails

13 with a hinge 20 that allows the oscillation of the mast with sails on a plane perpendicular to the maximum beam (oscillation bow/stern).

On the hinge pin 18, externally to the mast there is firmly connected a gear 21 that engages with a reduction gear mechanism 22, which is worked manually and is on the deck mast above the mentioned gear 21 , which serves to facilitate the necessary manoeuvres; one must bear in mind, in fact that the mast bends under the wind pressure counterbalanced by the opposite bend of the drift with the relative bulb

(for example if the mast bends 20 °C towards larboard the group drift/bulb will bend towards starboard by 20 °C).

Manoeuvring the reduction gear one can move the mast and the bulb varying their inclination so as to change their inclination so as to increase the lever force of the bulb on the rotation fulcrum of the mast (the polar axle 14). The mast, to balance the thrust of the bulb, will return towards the centre of the boat exposing more of the sail's surface to the wind, giving more push.

When on the other hand there is not much wind the mast can be moved windward, diminishing the angle between mast and drift, so as to obviously make boat glide, once the required inclination is reached, the mechanism is blocked with a pin.

The mentioned gear 21 is in turn firmly connected to a pulley 23 that through a belt or chain 24 is connected to a similar pulley 25 which is near the mast's foot below deck

11 and firmly connected to the rotating polar axle 14.

Along the rotating polar axle 14, at the required distance from the foot of the mast below deck 1 1 , the drift 26 is firmly connected and it immerses in the water through an opening 27 in the keel of the craft. This opening 27, will represent 4 bulwarks 28

and a top closure 29 to avoid water penetration.

Each of the two bulwarks 28 is contra positioned in the direction of the bow/stern will obviously produce a bore, with its relative ball bearing, so that the polar axle can pass 14, furthermore the mentioned bores will have a stuffing box 30 to guarantee a water seal.

From the above description it is evident how at a rotation, for example, towards the larboard of the mast on deck 12 will correspond rotation towards starboard of the drift 26 and the bulb 31 integral to it and vice versa. If preferred, the top pulley 23 and the belt or chain 24 can be protected by a shield 32. Between the pulley 25 and the drift 26, if desired, you could install a small electric motor 33 that working on a gear integral with the polar axle 14, helped by a suitable reduction gear of forces, can help or substitute the manual reduction gear 22 mentioned above. To end on the mast below deck 1 1 rests a reinforced bulb 34, which is transversal to the craft's axle, on which can glide two cursors 35 which have a pin 36 to block them at either the two ends of the bulb beam or in a central position next to the mast itself so as to keep the vertical position fixed.

In light of the drawings and of what is described above, the functioning and the advantages offered by the mast and the relative device according to the present invention are evident.

In the case of a racing boat (Figure 3 a), where the use of space below deck is not a problem and it is on the other hand necessary to take at most advantage of the maximum oscillation possible of the mast to guarantee the maximum speed and manoeuvrability of the boat, the two cursors 35 will be positioned at the opposite ends of the reinforced bulb beam (therefore next to the sides of the craft) and the hinge 18 will be blocked with the pin 19; in this way the mast below deck 11 and the one on deck 12 (with its relative mast with sails 13) form an all rigid ensemble from the fulcrum (polar axle 14) to the head of the mast and all the mast will therefore be able to oscillate round all the arch between the larboard and the starboard (and vice versa) of the craft.

It is to note (fig. 12) how in this way the couple of listing forces that in a traditional boat

is very wide (fig. 12 a) in a cruising boat (12 b) is considerably reduced and in a speed boat (fig. 12 c) is annulated.

Therefore, in a racing boat the mast's oscillations eliminate the inclinations of the hull and therefore it can remain perfectly parallel with the water surface and therefore not loose speed.

Furthermore, also in a cruising boat the presence of the couple of reduced listing forces will allow an increased speed with respect to a traditional boat. In the case of a cruising boat (Figure 3 b) the two cursors 35 will be positioned at the side of the mast below deck, keeping it fixed in its vertical position, freeing the hinge 18 (by removing the blocking pin 19) it will be possible to tilt the mast in the desired position enjoying in this way similar advantages (even if slightly less) obtained with the total oscillation of the mast but without compromising the living conditions below deck. Apart from the above mentioned advantages, as already pointed out above, the device according to the invention allows, in both cases considered, to make it much more difficult for the craft to sink should it capsize.

In fact (see figure 11 ) a traditional boat capsizes when under the force of the wind the mast and the sail touch and immerse in the water (Figure 11 to Il and III) as the water running on the sail imprisons it under its weight, preventing it returning to its vertical position, and it flows into the boat making it' sinking unavoidable (Figure 1 1 to IV) under the weight of the bulb and the hull that drag it down.

But in a boat that has mounted the device according to the invention the mast can immerse itself partially in the water allowing the hull to take up such an inclination as to maintain an optimum float (fig. 11 b II'). Even if the water should cover the sail, thanks to the small inclination of the deck (Figure 4 b II'), the crew will easily be able to cut or free the running ropes that tie the sail to the boom and to the mast straightening the boat (Figure 11 b III') (this manoeuvre is very difficult in a traditional boat capsized in bad weather conditions); furthermore in this case, also capsizing with open hatches and windows there is no danger (because of the inclination) of water penetrating into the craft (fig. 4 b II').

The device according to the invention allows furthermore to adopt, quite easily, a

further device (which is also part of this invention) that allows to open automatically the running rope compressor of the boom sheet, freeing it, in the case of the mast listing excessively (which could cause the craft to capsize).

The sheet being free allows the boom, dragged by the sail, to settle in the direction of the wind reducing the pressure on the sail making it easier to straighten the boat. The above device (see figure 10) is made up by a small stainless steel wire 39 which, running in its sheath 40 (placed in the cofferdam of the deck), connects the lever 41 of the running rope compressor of the boom sheet with the pulley 23 connecting itself to it loosely so that the pulley can rotate up to a desired point (figure 10 (c)) before putting the small wire into tension and therefore operating the lever that opens the running rope compressor freeing the sheet.

Please note how the above mentioned device is extremely useful, for a safe sailing; it can also be adopted in traditional crafts that do not have oscillating masts and the pulley 23. In these cases the action of the gravity force is used. It will be sufficient in fact to connect the end of the wire 39, opposite to that connected with the lever of the running rope compressor, with a weight 50 oscillating around a pin (see figure 10 d) which will be in the most suitable place in the boat; when, following an inclination, the oscillating weight 50 lists the small wire, which is slack at the beginning, stretches and when the above mentioned list exceeds a certain angle (determined) the weight will drag the wire even further causing the opening of the running rope compressor. If preferred the oscillating weight described above can open the running rope compressor using an electromagnetic mechanism. In this case (see fig 10 Fig. 10 d) the oscillating weight will close an electric circuit when, depending on the side of the list, it touches the relative electric contact 49. Advantageously, as already provided in the described solution in the above mentioned patent application PCT/IB2004/001081 , along the polar axle 14 it is possible to firmly connect the running rope compressors and any rings to manoeuvre the rigging, whilst the winches can be positioned along the polar axle (in which case they will receive the manoeuvring running ropes after these have passed through gears anchored to it) and along the bulwarks of the craft as in the traditional boats (in this case the running ropes arrive to the gears anchored to the polar axle and are then

resent to the winches along the bulwarks) (see Figure 8 as an example of winches placing).

To avoid dangerous clutter the tract of running rope between the axle and bulwarks can be covered with proper protections. According to a preferred version of the invention, the polar axle 14 instead of been built by a single tubular running from bow to stern can be made by more sections perfectly mounted in line from bow to stern and placed wherever needed. In the case of the solution for cruising boats the polar axle 14 (or the relative sections as illustrated above), to which the gears and any rings for rigging manoeuvres that must follow the oscillations of the mast are applied, it will obviously be on deck according to an axle aligned with the centre of the hinge 18 (that functions as fulcrum for the on deck mast and the mast with sails on and the relative supporting clamps can be applied for example on the roof of the of the dinette (as shown in figure 4). In Figure 8 is shown in a schematic way, as an example, a view from above of a cruising boat where highlighted is a possible placement of the winches on the sides (43) or in other places (44) of the boat with suitable pulleys (45) placed on sections (46) of the polar axle that are used as intermediate control to connect the running ropes to the winches. The hinge 20 that joins the mast on deck 12 with the mast with sails on 13, that is used to tilt, of a few grades, the mast towards the stern or towards the bow to improve the advancing speed of the boat, preferably a mechanism of reduction gears 36, to be worked manually, is at the base of the mast with sails on to help the inclination manouver; a single rope 42 (see figure 7) starting from the stern reaches the head of the mast (forming the stay), winds round a pulley which is there, comes back down along the mast (or in its interior) it is threaded into the reduction gear system 36, goes back up the mast with sails on until the head of the mast, it winds round a second pulley and at last comes down towards bow (forming the backstay 43), this system of reduction gear too can be blocked with a pin once the required inclination has been reached. In sailing boats the shrouds cannot obviously be fixed to the craft's deck and end fixed to the same mast with sails on above the hinge 20 and the gearing down

mechanism 36.

As the stay must, obviously, be fixed to the polar axle 14 (having to follow the oscillations of the mast), in speed boats in which the polar axle 14 is placed on the bottom of the deck, it will be necessary to make a transversal opening from one board to the other of the deck.

According to a preferred solution instead of making the above mentioned aperture on the deck (with the evident problem of swamp water following the wave motion) the stay is attached, by a ball bearing saddle 37, to an arch structure 38 (see Figure 6 a and 6 b) having the profile of a circumference segment with its centre on the end of the polar axle 14, placed near the stern and fixed to the bulwarks by its ends. As you can see from figure 6 a and 6 b this solution allows the oscillation of the stay without any interventions on the deck structure; a similar solution, if necessary, can be applied to the backstay. In the case of cruising boats as the polar axle 14 is present also externally it will be enough to attach the stay to the stern and the backstay to the bow with rigid triangular stirrups the top of which must be in line with the polar axle...

Please note (see Figure 9 a and 9 b) that the device according to the invention can easily be applied also to crafts made by a simple table (47) to which one or more seating can be applied (48) for the various members of the crew.