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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC SAIL HANDLING
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/048250
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The proposed invention addresses the connection of used and new deck equipment and electronics to automatically control sail handling during sailing. System consists of a rig with electric rewind winches mounted on mast, jib sheet track mounted on deck in a position to allow correct rope alignment with winch and other fittings on deck and mast, sheet slack retrieve system inside the mast, away from guest onboard the yacht, control unit which electronically controls the commands from 8 buttons on steering position.

Inventors:
KOGOJ ROMAN (SI)
Application Number:
PCT/SI2014/000055
Publication Date:
March 31, 2016
Filing Date:
September 26, 2014
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
SEAWAY YACHTS D O O (SI)
International Classes:
B63H9/10
Foreign References:
US5271351A1993-12-21
US20070157864A12007-07-12
EP0823372A21998-02-11
US20120031319A12012-02-09
Other References:
None
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ITEM D.O.O. (Ljubljana, SI)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Patent claims

1. System for automatic sail handling characterised in that it consists of:

- rig with electric rewind winches mounted on the mast;

- jib sheet track mounted on deck to enable rope alignment with winch and other fittings on deck;

- sheet slack retrieving system inside the mast, consisting of burgees and blocks;

- control unit on steering station which electronically controls the commands from eight control knobs on steering position;

- electronic unit to convert and control commands from steering station.

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that, the rig is an A-rig, with both masts laterally positioned on the flybridge aft as far laterally as possible and the angle from the masthead vertical line dropped vertically down from the aft face of the masthead to the aft backstay must be at least 10 degrees.

3. System according to previous claims, characterized in that, a jib track is mounted at the side of the flybridge on each side and extended as far back as possible still to allow fair exit to the electric winch mounted on the mast.

Description:
System for Automatic Sail Handling

Subject of the invention

Subject of the invention is a system for automatic sail handling. System is very user friendly and suitable for sailboats and power multihulls used in charter business as well as for private users who want to spend their time onboard their yacht knowing that their guest are safe from any rope work. System uses rewind electrical winches which are produced by world biggest deck hardware manufacturers, some simple deck hardware and gear that is onboard, but have never been used for purpose like this one. It is controlled with 4 pairs of buttons connected with electronics and furling mechanism.

The invention falls in field of vessel usage. Technical problem

Technical problem solved by the invention is automatic control of sails over the electronic device, i.e. brain box and the protection of the users from ropes going on and off the winch. Leading dead ends of the jib sheets into the mast tube prevents people from hurting while using the ropes and potential accidents caused by day to day situations onboard. If any electrical system failure prevents the use of power winches, they can be manually overridden.

The current state of the technology

The established systems are familiar with rewind winches, but are not adequately automatically controlled so complete automatic sail handling is not possible. The user needs to push buttons as long as it takes to feed in sheet on one side and feed out on the other. In most cases both hands are occupied for this procedure. With automated sail control currently used there is big chance of piled ropes or sheets getting jammed into the winch and piling with bits and things in cockpit of the yacht. On the other hand there are some sail handling systems that use hydraulic power for operating, which is extremely expensive and dangerous for its unstoppable brutal force. Solution of the technical problem

The above mentioned technical problem was solved with automatic sail handling system according to the invention.

System for automatic sail handling consists of:

- rig with electric rewind winches mounted on the mast; the rig is an A-rig, with both masts laterally positioned on the flybridge aft as far laterally as possible, but on a spot when compression forces can be transferred down to the hull. The angle from the masthead vertical line dropped vertically down from the aft face of the masthead to the aft backstay must be at least 10 degrees. The forestay has an electric furling system; two electric rewind (FWD and REVERSE) winches are mounted on mast, one per side as low as possible to allow an equal entry sheet angle at all positions of the jib sheet car. Size of the winch is suitable to sail area in control and per manufacturer's specifications. Winches must be mounted at correct angle to avoid any rope chafing on mast or any other deck equipment;

- jib sheet track mounted on deck in a position to allow correct rope alignment with winch and other fittings on deck and mast; the jib area must be maximized for the foretriangle, possibly 90 to 95% flat area. There is a jib track mounted at the side of the flybridge on each side. Turning block is on the track with a mechanical stop button. The track goes as far back as possible still to allow fair exit to the electric winch mounted on the mast;

- sheet slack retrieve system inside the mast consisting of burgees and blocks; inside the mast tube there is a system of retrieving the slack of the sheet by the use of the rubber bungees. The system works this way:

a. The sheet is only one, going from

i. a knot on the jib tack point back to the

ii. turning block on the jib sheet track

iii. back to the electric winch on the mast

iv. up into the mast profile to the block of the upper bungee

v. down to the block of the lower bungee

vi. up the mast profile to the masthead and around a block in the masthead leading down to the opposite mast profile

vii. down to the lower bungee block on the other side viii. up to the upper bungee block on the other side

ix. down to the electric winch on the other side

x. forward to the jib sheet track roller on the other side

xi. forward to the jib tack point (knot) b. Per each mast profile : There is a fixed point at the bottom of the mast tube where the lower bungee starts. The bungee is thick and strong, but capable to expend to double length for numerous times. It is 3,5 m long and carries a block (for 10 mm rope) at the end. These blocks are fairly small as there is no force from sails working on them. There is a fixed point at the mast head where the upper bungee starts, again 3,5 m long, with a 10 mm block at the end. c. Fixed roller is mounted in the masthead which turns the sheet coming up in one profile down to the profile on the other side. d. This system easily retrieves a slack of up to 14 m per side assuming the mast profiles are 14 m long. The slack needed for furling in is 10 m per side, and the additional slack for wide open jib is 4 m per side.

- control unit on steering station which electronically controls the commands from eight control knobs on steering position; there are eight control knobs on the electrical steering console: a) FURL IN and FURL OUT, controlling the furling device

b) STB IN and STB OUT, controlling the starboard winch

c) PORT IN and PORT OUT, controlling the port winch

d) TACK/JIBE, starting pre set sailing manoeuvre

e) EMERGENCY SHUT OFF, cutting all the power off from the system;

- electronic unit to convert and control commands from steering station.

Sailing situations which can be automatically controlled by said eight control knobs are as follows: a) FURL IN; jib is furled in, sheets are nearly all out, bungees are extended 3/4, 10m per side; this situation is in port, at anchor or when motoring;

b) FURL OUT; when the control knob is pressed and hold jib goes to one side, bungees are at same position as in a); c) Start sailing; situation of close reach or close haul is adjusted by pressing STB or PORT IN as needed;

d) TACK or JIBE:

i. Ease winch which is holding tensioned sheet for 15cm, press and hold for 3 seconds TACK/JIBE button. This activates pre set maneuver, setting sail from one tack to another.

ii. Change direction of the boat to the new tack

iii. When tacking/jibing is finished, micro adjust sail trim (ie. up to 15cm).

e) FURL IN at the end of sailing

i. Ease winch which is holding tensioned sheet fully out

ii. Press and hold FURL IN button until sail is furled.