Patent Application
20250136257
The present disclosure relates to an assembly comprising a profiled sail, a mast and a plurality of cambering devices for a profiled sail, and a system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind.
Such a reducing system is advantageously configured to adjust the surface area of the profiled sail in use, in particular during navigation for a sailboat, so as to adapt the useful surface area of the profiled sail to the force of the wind.
The present disclosure also relates to a method for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind.
The present disclosure relates to the field of rigging, and more particularly to profiled sails, also called “wing sails” or “thick sails”, “double-skin thick sail”, or “wing” by a person skilled in the art, and more particularly mechanisms, internal to the sail, allowing changing the profile of the sail.
An assembly is known from the document WO2021/148734A1 of the present Inventor comprising a profiled sail; a mast and several cambering devices for a profiled sail, the cambering devices comprising:
According to the document WO 2021/148734, actuating means connect together, on the one hand, the two free ends of the semi-rigid structure, or at least one of the two free ends, and, on the other hand, the U-shaped connecting section, configured to camber the first length section and the second length section of the semi-rigid structure by tensioning the two free ends with the U-shaped connecting section of the semi-rigid structure, or at least by tensioning one of the two free ends with the U-shaped connecting section of the semi-rigid structure, and the generation of an offset between the two free ends. In such an assembly, the mast extends inside the semi-rigid structure, between the two length sections formed by the first length section and the second length section of the semi-rigid structure.
The actuating means are configured to camber the semi-rigid structure selectively:
The cambering devices according to WO 2021/148734 are configured to be easily movable along the mast, which allows easily hoisting the profiled sail or, on the contrary, sprawling it in a low position.
Nonetheless, the present disclosure focusses on the problem of reducing the useful surface area of the sail by folding it in order to adapt its dimensions in heavy weather. Thus, it is known to reduce the sail by folding it on the boom and according to a procedure known to a person skilled in the art as “reefing”.
The teaching of WO 2021/148734 provides no information concerning a system for reducing the surface area of a sail used exposed to the wind, and configured to adapt the surface area of the sail according to the force of the wind.
According to the prior art of rigging, in particular for classic (non-profiled) mainsails, the triangular sails comprise on the upper part a head to which the halyard is attached and a tack and a clew on the lower part of the sail. When the sail is hoisted to the high position, the sail is adjusted so that the luff (the front edge between the head and the tack) and the leech (the rear edge between the head and the clew) are strained as desired depending on the wind conditions.
In order to reduce the useful surface area of the (main) sail in a high wind, the cloth of the sail is typically equipped with reefs (and in particular a first reef, a second reef, a third reef) conventionally respectively consisting of lacing holes located at different heights above the clew and the tack.
After having eased the halyard and partially lowered the sail until the reef (first reef, second reef, etc.) lies at the height of the boom; the lacing holes of the reefs are used for strain the edge of the sail. To this end, a rope so-called “reefing pendant”, present in particular on the leach of a sail, can be used. Second ropes typically called “reef points” attached to the cloth of the sail, are then used to furl the surplus, unused part of the sail, to the base thereof after reefing. The reef points typically pass through the lacing holes and have enough length to hold the surplus of the sail on the boom, surrounding the boom.
Booms with drums are known from the prior art, said drum allowing automation of reefing, by winding the lower portion of the sail of a desired size, always in order to reduce the surface area of the sail in the wind.
According to the observations of the Inventor, conventional reefing systems, with lacing holes according to the prior art of triangular sails, or with a drum, are not suitable for a profiled sail of an assembly as disclosed in WO2021/148734A1.
In particular, it should be noted that the prior art with reefing lacing holes with reef points comprise ropes directly attached to the cloth of the sail, used for furling the surplus part of the sail, and which generate local stresses on the cloth of the sail, which local stresses might cause ripping off in a strong wind with tearing of the sail.
The present disclosure improves the situation.
An assembly is provided comprising a profiled sail; a mast and several cambering devices for a profiled sail, all or part of the cambering devices comprising:
According to the present disclosure, said assembly comprises a system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind, configured to reduce the surface area of the profiled sail in an intermediate position along the mast between said high position of the profiled sail and the low position, comprising:
Optionally, the features disclosed in the next paragraphs may be implemented. They may be implemented independently of one another or in combination with one another.
According to an embodiment, the fastening system may comprise hooking points projecting outwardly along the first length section of the second length section of the structural cambering devices, as well as at least one flexible link, configured to hook the hooking points of two successive cambering devices when the profiled sail is in said intermediate position with the two successive cambering devices being brought close to one another, while holding the section of the sail accumulated and connected to the two successive cambering devices. The hooking points may consist of hooks or lugs in particular with enlarged ends.
According to one embodiment, besides the structural cambering devices of the system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind, said cambering devices comprise secondary cambering devices, cooperating with different sections of the profiled sail, each in an intermediate position of the section of the profiled sail between the upper edge and the lower edge of said section of the profiled sail.
The semi-rigid structure of the intermediate structural cambering devices of the system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind may have a height dimension, along the direction of the mast, larger than the height dimension of the secondary cambering devices. The rigidity (along the direction of the mast, i.e. in particular the vertical direction) of the semi-rigid structure of the structural cambering devices is higher than the rigidity of the secondary cambering devices.
The number of distinct sections of the profiled sail is equal to an integer number N comprised between 2 and 10, such that N is equal to 5, and the number of structural cambering devices for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind is equal to an integer number N.
According to one embodiment, the different sections of the profiled sail consist of cloths having different properties, in particular different materials and/or different basis weights.
According to an embodiment, said assembly comprises actuating means interconnecting, on the one hand, the two free ends of the semi-rigid structure, or at least one of the two free ends, and, on the other hand, the U-shaped connecting section, configured to camber the first length section and the second length section of the semi-rigid structure by tensioning the two free ends with the U-shaped connecting section of the semi-rigid structure, or at least by tensioning one of the two free ends with the U-shaped connecting section of the semi-rigid structure, and the generation of an offset between the two free ends.
In particular, the actuating means configured to camber the first length section and the second length section of the semi-rigid structure may comprise at least one actuator, having two longitudinal ends, said actuator, able to be activated, being retractable when activated with its two longitudinal ends being brought close to one another, said at least one actuator extending along one of the two length sections of the semi-rigid structure, the first length section or the second length section, said actuator being internal to the semi-rigid structure, contained in a plane of the semi-rigid structure,
and wherein one of the longitudinal ends of said at least one actuator is connected to one of the two free ends by an internal tendon while the other one of the two longitudinal ends of said at least one actuator is connected either to an anchor point secured to the U-shaped connecting section, or to the other one of the two free ends via a deflector secured to the U-shaped connecting section by an external tendon, the flexible external tendon passing outside the semi-rigid structure, and the profiled sail between the deflector and respectively said other one of the two free ends.
The actuating means may be configured to camber the semi-rigid structure selectively:
In particular, said at least one actuator of the actuating means may comprise:
According to one embodiment, all or part of the cambering devices have a securing system, able to be activated/deactivated, configured to ensure securing of the cambering device on the mast, the securing system comprising:
According to one embodiment, the actuator system of the securing system comprises at least one actuating member having two longitudinal ends, said actuating member, able to be activated, being retractable when activated with its two longitudinal ends being brought close to one another.
According to one embodiment, the cambering devices comprise all or part of a spacer system comprising a first spacer, interconnecting the first length section and the second length section, as well as a second spacer, interconnecting the first length section and the second length section, parallel to said first spacer, on the one hand, and the second length section, on the other hand,
and wherein the longitudinal ends of the first strand are secured at two attachment points on the first length section at the junction areas between the first and second spacers respectively and the first length section, the longitudinal ends of the second strand being secured at two attachment points on the second length section at the junction areas between the first and second spacers respectively. Thus, the mast extends between the spacers consisting of the first spacer and the second spacer, the first strand and the second strand clasped onto the mast ensuring holding of the mast at a distance from the first spacer, on the one hand, and of the mast from the second spacer, on the other hand.
According to one embodiment, the system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind includes a tightening device, configured to bring two structural cambering devices close to one another, in particular the bottom cambering device with the intermediate cambering devices, or configured to bring two intermediate cambering devices close to one another, the tightening device comprising:
The present disclosure also relates to a vehicle, in particular a sailboat, comprising an assembly according to the present disclosure.
According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind using an assembly according to the present disclosure or belonging to a sailboat according to the present disclosure from a high position of the profiled sail on the mast, the cambering devices in positions spaced apart from one another, and wherein it is proceeded with the reduction of the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind:
Other features, details and advantages will appear upon reading the following detailed description, and upon analysis of the appended drawings, wherein:
The drawings and the description hereinafter essentially contain elements of a certain nature. Hence, they could not only be used to better understand the present disclosure, but also contribute to the definition thereof, where appropriate.
Thus, the present disclosure relates to an assembly comprising a profiled sail; a mast and several cambering devices for a profiled sail.
All or part of the cambering devices comprise (for each cambering device):
The cambering device 1 may also comprise, according to a first possibility (illustrated in particular in
According to a second possibility (not illustrated in the present application, but illustrated in particular in
As illustrated for indication in
The flexible profiled sail extends from one of the free ends 23, 24 to the other, passing in front of the connecting section 22; a U-like shape forming the leading edge BA. The profiled sail may be fastened by two sail edges to the free ends 23, 24 via fastening means 6, in particular by pinching the sail edges.
Control means are configured to control, together in the same direction, the different actuating means 4 of the cambering devices to camber the first surface S1 of the profiled sail and the second surface S2 of the profiled sail. For example, the cambering devices may take on a (in particular first) cambered position for which the first length section 20 takes on a concave profile when the second length section takes on a convex profile and/or a (in particular second) cambered position in which said second length section 21 has a concave profile when said first length section 20 has a convex profile.
It should also be noted that an assembly in particular a rigging according to the present disclosure advantageously allows sprawling the profiled sail V, along the mast M, the cambering devices (with the possible exception of that one forming the boom); secured to the profiled sail, descending with the profiled sail along the mast, in particular when the halyard is relieved namely in the direction opposite to that of hoisting of the profiled sail.
Thus, the mast extends inside the semi-rigid structure, between the two length sections and wherein the profiled sail is configured to be:
The present disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising such a rigging: and in particular a sailing ship or sailing boat, or a sand-yacht.
The cambered position can be set during manoeuvres, for example by switching from the first cambered position Pc1 into the second cambered position Pc2 of the cambering devices (with opposite concavity) during edge change manoeuvres, whether tack manoeuvres or gybe manoeuvres.
The actuators used for the actuating means may be progressive (and not all or nothing) and take on several positions allowing cambering more or less strongly the first and the second sail surface, in either direction. It is possible to set the concavity of the surface of the sail exposed to the wind in order to maximise the force necessary for advancing the vehicle according to the wind conditions.
The lowest cambering device may simultaneously form a boom, in particular hinged to the mast, allowing orienting the profiled sail. The boom is oriented according to wind condition in the direction of travel of the ship.
The semi-rigid structure 2 comprising the connecting section 22 and the two length sections 20, 21, may be formed by a semi-rigid element made in one-piece, kept bent by the spacer system 3; and, where appropriate, a flexible connection system 5, which is described hereinafter.
For example, said one-piece element is a rod, in particular rectilinear at rest and bent to form the semi-rigid structure 2, or a blade in particular planar at rest and bent to form the semi-rigid structure. The rod or the blade is bent to form the first length section 20, the second length section 21 and the U-shaped connecting section 22. For example, the semi-rigid structure may be formed by a bent blade for the boom of the rigging and bent rods for the semi-rigid structures of the other cambering devices (located above the boom).
Alternatively, the different sections of the semi-rigid structure 2, including the first length section 20 and the second length section 21 and the connecting section 22, may be formed by several structural elements assembled together.
According to one embodiment, the cambering devices comprise all or part of the spacer system 3 which may comprise a first spacer 30, interconnecting the first length section 20 and the second length section 2, as well as a second spacer 31, interconnecting the first length section 20 and the second length section 21, parallel to said first spacer 30. The spacers have fixed or possibly telescopic lengths, as described in WO2021/148734A1 of the present Inventor. It should be noted that the mast extends between the spacers formed by the first spacer and the second spacer. The spacers (first and second) are configured to work in tension and in compression.
The features previously described in the detailed description are known per se from the document WO2021/148734A1. Nonetheless, the present disclosure focusses on the problem of reducing the useful surface area of the sail by folding it in order to adapt its dimensions in heavy weather. In sailing navigation, it is known to reduce the sail by folding it on the boom and according to a procedure known to a person skilled in the art as “reefing”.
According to the prior art of mainsails, the triangular (non-profiled) sails comprise on the upper part a head to which the halyard is attached and a tack and a clew on the lower part of the sail. When the sail is hoisted to the high position, the sail is adjusted so that the luff (the front edge between the head and the tack) and the leech (the rear edge between the head and the clew) are properly strained to the desired tension.
In order to reduce the useful surface area of the mainsail in a high wind, the sail cloth typically comprises reefs (a first reef, a second reef, a third reef) respectively consisting of lacing holes, located at different heights above the clew and the tack.
After having eased the halyard and partially lowered the sail down to the reef (first reef/second reef), namely to the height of the boom, the lacing holes of the reefs are used for strain the edge of the sail. To this end, a rope, present on the leach of a sail, can be used. Second ropes typically called “reef points” are then used to furl the surplus and unused part of the sail to the base thereof after reefing. The reef-points typically pass through the lacing holes and have a sufficient length to hold the surplus of the sail by winding it around the boom.
Booms with drums that allow the reefing to be automated are also known. According to the observations of the Inventors, conventional reefing systems, with lacing holes according to the prior art of triangular sails, or with a drum, are not suitable for a profiled sail of an assembly according to the present disclosure and in particular disclosed in WO2021/148734A1.
The prior art with reefing lacing holes with reef points comprises ropes directly attached to the sail cloth, used for furling the surplus part of the sail, and which create local stresses on the cloth of the sail likely to cause ripping off in a strong wind with tearing of the sail.
The present disclosure improves the situation.
According to the present disclosure, said assembly advantageously comprises a system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind, configured to reduce the surface area of the profiled sail in an intermediate position along the mast between said high position of the profiled sail and the low position.
Such a system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind comprises, in particular, a plurality of sections SV1, SV2, SV3, SV4, SV5 of the profiled sail, distinct and separate, depending on the direction of the mast, made of a flexible cloth, with at least a first section SV1 of the profiled sail and a second section SV2 of the profiled sail.
By convention, the first section SV1 of the profiled sail, the second section of the profiled sail and more generally the kth section SVk of the profiled sail are arranged, along the height of the mast, one after another, from the bottom to the top of the mast M.
In general, the number of distinct sections SV1 to SV5 of the profiled sail is equal to an integer number N which may conventionally be comprised between 2 and 10, such that N is equal to 5.
The different sections SV1 to SV5 of the profiled sail can be made of the same material, in particular of the same cloth, or more advantageously of cloths having different properties, in particular of different materials and/or of different basis weights.
For example, the basis weight of the used cloth may be variable, for example increasing over the height of the mast (from the bottom to the top of the mast), in order to take into account, the gradient of the wind speed, generally increasing over the height of the mast.
In general, each section SV1 to SV5 of the profiled sail forms a portion of the first surface S1 and a portion of the second surface S2 of the profiled sail V and so as to be able to cooperate respectively with the first length section 20 and the second length section 21 of one or more of cambering devices 1, the section of the sail circumventing the U-shaped section 22.
The system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail V exposed to the wind also comprises a plurality of said cambering devices 1 which are structural cambering devices.
The structural cambering devices comprise a bottom structural cambering device 10, typically forming a boom, and at least one intermediate cambering device 11, 12, 13, 14, said at least one intermediate cambering device 11, 12, 13, 14 ensuring the transmission of the forces due to the pressure of the wind on the profiled sail between two successive, separate and distinct sections of the profiled sail.
The number of structural cambering devices 10 to 14 of the system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind is equal to the integer number N of the sections of the profiled sail. Thus, in
Besides the structural cambering devices of the system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail, the cambering devices may comprise secondary cambering devices 100, typically of less height along the height, distributed above the bottom cambering device 10, interposed between the intermediate cambering devices 11, 12, 13, 14, and possibly distributed above the highest intermediate cambering device 14, i.e. the fourth intermediate cambering device 14.
The secondary cambering devices 100 cooperate with the different sections SV1 to SV5 of the profiled sail, each in an intermediate position of the section of the profiled sail between the upper edge and the lower edge of said section of the profiled sail.
In general and as visible in
In general, a lower edge of the first section SV1 of the profiled sail is connected to the upper edge of the bottom cambering device 10, and an upper edge connected to the lower edge of the first intermediate cambering device 11, a lower edge of the second section SV2 of the profiled sail connected to the upper edge of the first intermediate cambering device 11, so that in the hoisted position of the profiled sail, the tensioned cloth of the first section SV1 of the profiled sail and the tensioned cloth of the second section SV2 of the profiled sail, extend along the direction of the mast, in a discontinuous manner.
The semi-rigid structure of the first intermediate cambering device 11, extends the first section SV1 of the profiled sail and the second section SV2 of the profiled sail in the high position of the profiled sail ensuring the transmission of the forces due to the pressure of the wind on the profiled sail between the first section SV1 of the profiled sail and the second section SV2 of the profiled sail.
When the system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail comprises a second intermediate cambering device 12, the latter is connected to the upper edge of the second section SV2 of the profiled sail and to a lower edge of the third section SV3 of the profiled sail.
In general, and when the system for reducing the useful surface area comprises a kth intermediate cambering device, the latter is connected to an upper edge of the kth section SVk of the profiled sail and a lower kth+1 section SVk+1 of the profiled sail.
In particular, the system for reducing the useful surface area of the profiled sail also comprises a removable fastening system, ensuring connection between the structural cambering devices, at least between the bottom cambering device 10 and said first intermediate cambering device 11, and possibly the connection between two successive intermediate cambering devices 11, 12, 13, 14, when the profiled sail is in an intermediate position between said high position of the profiled sail and the low position of the profiled sail, the structural cambering devices 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 then in positions close to one another on all or part, with at least the bottom cambering device 10 and the first intermediate cambering device 11 brought close to one another.
The accumulated surplus cloth of the first section SV1 of the sail is then preferably held by a link L1 of the fastening system joining the semi-rigid structure of the bottom cambering device 10 to the semi-rigid structure of the first intermediate cambering device 11.
Thus and in the view on the left of
The view at the middle of
Afterwards, a link of the fastening system is placed between at least the bottom cambering device 10 and the first intermediate cambering device 11 brought close to one another, the cloth of the first section SV1 of the sail, accumulated and held at least by the link L1 joining the semi-rigid structure of the bottom cambering device 10 to the semi-rigid structure of the first intermediate cambering device 11.
Afterwards, a link of the fastening system is placed between the bottom cambering device 10 and the first intermediate cambering device 11 brought close to one another, the cloth of the first section SV1 of the sail, accumulated and held at least by the link L1 joining the semi-rigid structure of the bottom cambering device 10 to the semi-rigid structure of the first intermediate cambering device 11, as well as at least one additional link L2 joining the first intermediate cambering device 11 and the second intermediate cambering device 12.
In general, and as it should be understood from the present description, for a profiled sail having an integer number N of sections of the profiled sail, a bottom cambering device 10 and N−1 intermediate cambering devices, it is possible to proceed with N−1 reductions of the surface area of the profiled sail, by N−1 successive decreases of the sections of the profiled sail.
Advantageously, the fastening system typically comprises hooking points PT such as lugs or hooks projecting outwardly along the first length section 20 and the second length section 20 of the semi-rigid structures of the structural cambering devices 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, as well as at least one flexible link L1, L2 configured to hook on the hooking points PT of two intermediate cambering devices when the profiled sail is in said intermediate position with the two successive cambering devices approaching one another, while holding the section of the sail accumulated and connected to two successive cambering devices.
The two successive structural cambering devices may be the bottom cambering device 10 and the first intermediate cambering device 11, connected by the link L1, or two successive intermediate cambering devices 11, 12, 13, 14 connected by an additional link L2.
According to the present disclosure, the link L1 (or the additional link L2) directly hooks on the semi-rigid structures of the structural cambering devices, without creating any local tension on the sections SV1, SV2, SV3, SV4, SV5 of the profiled sail and therefore without creating any local stresses on the cloth that might be at the origin of ripping off in a strong wind.
The structural cambering devices, i.e. the bottom cambering device 10 and the intermediate cambering devices 11, 12, 13, 4 thus advantageously ensure a homogeneous transmission of the force to the different sections of the profiled sail, over the entire profile of the section SV1 to SV5 of the sail, seen along a perpendicular to the mast. The hooking points may consist of hooks or lugs with widened ends.
Optionally, all or part of the cambering devices may have a securing system 7, able to be activated/deactivated, configured to ensure securing of the cambering device 1 on the mast, the securing system 7.
In its activated state, the securing system 7 is advantageously configured to keep the mast at a distance from the semi-rigid structure of the device while ensuring deflection of the lateral support due to the pressure of the wind on the profiled sail on the mast. The securing system 7 positions the profiled sail while avoiding impacts between the mast M and the semi-rigid portions of the cambering device that could be damaged.
As visible for indication in
Thus, the mast extends between the first strand 71 and the second strand 72.
The securing system further comprises an actuator system, able to be activated, internal to the structure, configured to pass the first strand and the second strand in a retracted state configured to tighten the cambering device onto the mast M, clasped between the first strand 71 and the second strand 72, inside the semi-rigid structure.
According to one embodiment, the cambering devices comprise all or part of the spacer system 3 with a first spacer 30, interconnecting the first length section 20 and the second length section 21, as well as a second spacer 31, interconnecting the first length section 20 and the second length section 21, parallel to said first spacer (30).
Advantageously, the mast thus clasped by the first strand 71 and the second strand 72 is held at a distance from the two length sections 20, 21 by the tensioned first strand 71 and second strand 72, as well as held at a distance from the spacers, the first spacer 31 and the second spacer 32 when present. The force of the wind on the profiled sail is diverted to the mast by the tensioned first strand 72 and second strand 72.
Conversely and when the actuator system is deactivated, the latter is configured to cause a deployed state of the first strand and second strand configured to release the mast; and to enable movement of the cambering device along the mast.
In order to optimise the synergy between the spacers 30, 31 and the strands 71, 72:
Each spacer consisting of the first spacer and the second spacer 30, 31 of the spacer system 3 can be pivotably hinged at its ends, respectively to the first length section 20 according to an axis perpendicular to the plane of the semi-rigid structure and to the second length section 21 according to an axis perpendicular to the plane of the semi-rigid structure, the or each spacer 30, 31 being configured to pivot relative to the two length sections, the first length section 20 and the second length section 21 during cambering and offset of the free ends 23, 24; under the effect of the actuating means 4.
To this end, the cambering device may comprise hinged connectors 32, comprising a first portion 33 secured to the first length section 20 or to the second length section 21, and possibly a second portion 34 receiving one end of the spacer 30; 31, the second portion 34 being hinged to the first portion 33 according to a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the semi-rigid structure 2 to pivot relative to the two length sections during cambering and offset of the free ends 23, 24; under the effect of the actuating means.
Besides, the longitudinal ends of the first strand 71 may advantageously be attached to the first portions 33 of the connectors 32 secured to the first length section 20 and the longitudinal ends of the second strand 72 are attached to the first portions 32 of the connectors 32 secured to the second length section 21.
According to one embodiment, the actuator system of the securing system 7 comprises at least one girding actuating member m having two longitudinal ends e1, e2, said actuating member, able to be activated, being retractable when activated with its two longitudinal ends e1, e2 brought close to one another.
Said girding actuating member may be an artificial muscle, in particular a pneumatic muscle. Such an actuator has an envelope internally receiving a balloon supplied with or discharged from the fluid. The flexible envelope retracts lengthwise when its section increases under the increase of the balloon supplied with fluid (contraction of the muscle), and deploys lengthwise when its section decreases when the balloon is discharged from the fluid (decrease in the pressure of the fluid). The retraction of the actuator may be progressive by controlling the amount of the fluid supplied into the balloon.
Such pneumatic actuation systems are commonly referred to as “artificial muscles” consisting of inflatable tubes inserted into protective braids forming an envelope, such that the artificial muscle contracts or expands depending on whether its internal fluid pressure increases or decreases. Such artificial muscles are described, for example, by B. Tondu and P. Lopez in “Compte Rendu de l'Académie des Sciences”, t. 320, PP 105-114, 1995.
Such an artificial muscle is schematically illustrated in its deployed position in
When the balloon B is supplied with pressurized fluid (for example air), the section of the balloon increases, which causes an increase in the section of the envelope Ev in the form of a braid in
Under the effect of the increase in the section of the envelope, braiding of the envelope generates a force ensuring the retraction of the artificial muscle, by bringing the longitudinal ends e1 or e2 close to one another.
Such an actuator has the advantage of:
According to a first embodiment illustrated in
All or part of the cambering devices 1 may have a flexible connection system 5 joining together the first length section 20 and the second length section 21. This flexible connection system is arranged in an intermediate position of the structure between the two free ends 23, 34 and said spacer system 3, said flexible connection system 5, working in tension to keep a spacing between the two length sections.
It should also be noted that both the spacer system 3 and the flexible connection system 5 extend inside the semi-rigid structure 2, in the inter-space between the first length section 20 and the second length section 21, and preferably entirely in the plane of the semi-rigid structure 2.
The flexible connection system 5 includes two flexible links, including a first flexible link 50 secured by its two ends to the first length section 20, and a second flexible link 51 secured by its two ends to the second length section 21. The two flexible links, the first flexible link 50 and the second flexible link 51, are interleaved at a contact area Zc between the two links 50, 51. The contact area Zc between the two flexible links is configured to slip along the flexible links 50, 51 during cambering and offset of the free ends 23, 24; under the effect of the actuating means 4.
Thus, and whether the spacer system, when the or each spacer is hinged at its ends to the two length sections (first length section 20 or second length section 21), or the flexible connection system with the possibility of slipping of the contact area between the two flexible links, these two systems promote the offset between free ends 23, 24, when the actuating means 4 are activated.
The semi-rigid structure 2 may have a profile having a plane of symmetry, in a rest position Pr of the semi-rigid structure 2 in which the first length section 20 and the second length section 21 have a convex profile. As visible in
In the rest position Pr of the semi-rigid structure, one could notice that the first spacer 30 and the second spacer 31 extend respectively substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry AS.
In at least one cambered position Pc1 and/or Pc2 of the semi-rigid structure 2 under the action of the actuating means 4, said first length section 20 has a concave profile when said second length section 21 has a convex profile, or said second length section 21 has a concave profile when said first length section 20 has a convex profile.
According to one embodiment, the actuating means 4 are configured to selectively camber the semi-rigid structure:
According to one embodiment (in particular illustrated in
Said at least one deflector 43 is located on the side of the plane of symmetry (and not on the latter) of the semi-rigid structure 2 the profile of the length section of which is to be changed (the first length section or the second length section) of the convex profile towards the concave profile.
When the actuating means allow obtaining the two cambered positions Pc1 and Pc2, two deflectors arranged on both sides of the plane of symmetry respectively allow cambering the semi-rigid structure in these two cambered positions
Said actuator 40; 41 is configured to retract into an active state and pull on the two free ends 23, 24 respectively connected by the external tendon 42 and the internal tendon 44, on the one hand, and on the deflector 43 of the connecting section 22, on the other hand, until creation of the offset d, the free end connected by the internal tendon 44 advancing towards the leading edge BA relative to the free end connected by the external tendon 42 while causing cambering of the semi-rigid structure, the loaded external tendon 42 moving away from the length section, the first length section (or the second length section, immediately contiguous to the external tendon 42), which then takes on a concave profile, and while the other length section, the second length section or the first length section, takes on a convex profile.
The offset of the free ends 23, 24 allows initiating the change in profile of the length section—the first length section 20 or the second length section—from the convex profile in the rest position Pr of the structure semi-rigid 2, and up to the concave profile in said cambered position, in particular the first cambered position Pc1 or the second cambered position Pc2.
The change in the profile of the first length section 20, in particular from the convex profile in the rest position Pr up to a concave profile in the first cambered position Pc1, is initiated by offset of the free end 24 of the second connecting section 21 towards the leading edge BA relative to the free end 23 of the first connecting section 20.
Henceforth, the concavity of the first length section 20 may be accentuated by the actuating means 4, by the tension of the external tendon 42 connecting the first deflector 431 and the free end 23 (like a bowstring).
The change in the profile of the second length section 21, in particular the convex profile in the rest position Pr up to a concave profile in the first cambered position Pc2 is initiated by offset of the free end 23 of the first length section 20 towards the leading edge BA relative to the free end 24 of the second length section 21.
Henceforth, the concavity of the second length section 21 may be accentuated by the actuating means 4, by the tension of the external tendon 42 connecting the second deflector 432 and the free end 24 (like a bowstring).
By “external tendon” 42, it should be understood the fact that the flexible tendon passes outside the semi-rigid structure 2, and outside the sail between the deflector 43—the first deflector 431 or the second deflector 432—and respectively the end free, respectively the free end of the first length section 20 and the end 24 of the second length section 21, and even in the case where the flexible tendon is partially internal to the structure between the deflector and the actuator (the first actuator 40 or the second actuator 41).
According to one embodiment (illustrated in
When the first sail surface S1 takes on a concave surface under the action of the first length section 20, the external tendon 42 also deviates from this first surface S1 of the profiled sail.
When the second sail surface S2 takes on a concave surface under the action of the second length section 21, the external tendon 42 also deviates from this first surface S2 of the profiled sail.
According to one embodiment (illustrated in
According to one embodiment, the cambering device comprising a control means configured to selectively:
The first actuator 40 and the second actuator 41 are selectively activated, in particular when the first strand 71 and the second strand 72 are in said retracted state configured to tighten the cambering devices on the mast M by activation of said securing systems 7 when present.
These control means may be external to the semi-rigid structure of the cambering device.
The control means may also allow adjusting the setting of the concavity depth when the actuator, the first actuator 40 and/or the second actuator 41, is a progressive actuator.
Said at least one actuator, where appropriate the first actuator 40 and the second actuator 41, may be an actuator that retracts when supplied with fluid such as an artificial muscle, in particular a pneumatic muscle. Such an actuator, illustrated in
According to one embodiment, the artificial muscles of the actuators 40, 41 and/or of the girding actuating members m1 and m2 of the plurality of cambering devices 1 are supplied with fluid by one or more flexible elastic hose(s) AL1, AL2, AL3, shaped in the form of a serpentine, extending according to the direction of the height of the mast M. The flexible elastic hose(s) is/are configured to be deployed by spacing the turns of the serpentine in the high position of the profiled sail, and to retract by bringing the turns of the serpentine close to one another under the elasticity of the serpentine, in the low position of the profiled sail.
Distinct elastic hoses are used for the actuators 40, 41 configured for cambering and the girding actuating members m1, m2, in order to be able to control these different actuators independently.
The girding actuators or actuating members may be supplied with fluid by a reserve of compressed fluid R in particular compressed air which may be accommodated in the hollow of the mast at its base.
The present technical solutions may find application in particular in the maritime field of sailboats, as an improved rigging solution.
The cambering devices being composed of an elastically-deformable semi-rigid structure, or, where appropriate, of one or more flexible actuator(s) in the form of artificial muscles, it is particularly suitable for a marine environment, where the rigging elements might be subjected to impacts, under the action of wind or of unforeseen manoeuvres.
Advantageously, the system for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind allows reducing the useful surface of the profiled sail, without creating any local tension on the cloth of the profiled sail, thereby limiting the risk of ripping off by a strong wind.
On the contrary, the structural cambering devices, in particular the intermediate cambering devices enable homogeneous transmission and distribution of forces due to the pressure of the wind on the sail between the distinct sections of the profiled sail.
In particular, the homogeneous distribution between each section of the profiled sail and the intermediate, structural cambering devices can advantageously operate preferably continuously along the first length section, and along the second length section of the rigid structure, as well as along the U-shaped connecting section of the structure 2, and in order to distribute the load along the first surface area of the sail and along the second surface area of the sail of each section, as well as along the surface area of the sail circumventing the U-shaped connecting section.
During maintenance, in particular in the case of a deterioration of the cloth of the profiled sail, only the section of the profiled sail featuring an alteration can be disassembled from said assembly, advantageously while keeping assembled, the other, unaltered, sections of the profiled sail. Maintenance of the sail is therefore simplified.
The present disclosure also relates to a method for reducing the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind from an assembly according to the present disclosure or belonging to a sailboat according to the present disclosure from a high position of the profiled sail on the mast, the cambering devices 1 in positions spaced apart from one another.
According to this method, it is proceeded with the reduction of the surface area of the profiled sail exposed to the wind by:
According to an embodiment illustrated as an example in
The tightening device is configured so that a tension on the tightening link 9 causes the two structural cambering devices to be brought close to one another.
In general, in order to bring two structural cambering devices close to one another, and symmetrically with respect to a vertical midplane of the profiled sail, there could be:
The two structural cambering devices are brought close to one another, by simultaneously pulling on the first and second tightening links.
In general, there could be a plurality of tightening systems and in particular:
Such a tightening device may form as such a version of the removable fastening system, ensuring connection between the structural cambering devices. Of course, the approach caused by a tension on the tightening link 9 requires easing the halyard beforehand.
In particular, such a tightening device can enable automation of a partial sprawling manoeuvre of the sail when the tension on the tightening link is motor-driven.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2109908 | Sep 2021 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2022/051760 | 9/19/2022 | WO |
