EP1908679A2 - Multi-hull sail boat with lift ailerons and sailing method - Google Patents

Abstract

The boat has transversal beams (3, 4) connecting hulls (1, 2), and a mast (6) carrying a sail (7). A tail fin (8) integrates to a rudder blade (9), and lateral support fins (10, 11) are fixed on a same beam. A control device is provided with an actuating distributor to allow the fin (10) to have a slope with respect to a plane of symmetry of the boat, where the fin (10) is different from the fin (11). The device moves the fins between two positions in which the fins form an angle ranging from -15 to +15 degrees and from 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the plane of symmetry, respectively. An independent claim is also included for a method for navigating a sail boat.

Description

The invention relates to the field of sailing, in particular the field of navigation on sailboats with several hulls and lift fins also referred to as English "foils" or "hydrofoils".

It has been known for a long time to provide a sailboat with lifting fins. In this respect, mention may be made of the patent application published under the number FR 2,678,333 which describes a sailboat with load-bearing wings or fins comprising a control device for fins and force detection designed to simultaneously drive and symmetrically rotate the two fins around respective axes parallel to the alignment of the stabilizers and the central hull main sailboat.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is to propose a sailboat having an excellent adaptability enabling it, in particular, to have good performances in the Archimedean regime, ie at low speed, as well as in hydrodynamic regime, that is to say after passage to the advanced position.

• plusieurs coques;
• au moins deux poutres transversales reliant lesdites coques ;
• une barre centrale ;
• au moins un mât portant une voile;
• au moins un aileron de queue solidaire d'un safran;
• au moins deux ailerons de sustentation latéraux fixés sur une même poutre transversale ;

et se distinguant en ce qu'il comprend en outre des moyens permettant à l'un desdits ailerons de sustentation latéraux d'avoir une inclinaison, par rapport au plan de symétrie du voilier, qui est différente de celle de l'autre aileron.Thus, according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a sailboat comprising:

• several hulls;
• at least two transverse beams connecting said shells;
• a central bar;
• at least one mast carrying a sail;
• at least one tail fin secured to a saffron;
• at least two lateral lifting fins fixed on the same transverse beam;

and being distinguished in that it further comprises means allowing one of said lateral lifting fins to have an inclination, with respect to the plane of symmetry of the sailboat, which is different from that of the other fin.

The inventors have indeed noted with surprise that such an asymmetry of the inclinations of the fins of lateral levitation provided the sailboat with very interesting advantages. Indeed, thus constituted, the sailboat according to the invention has a great adaptability, which is reflected in particular by performances comparable to those of catamarans when the wind speed is low to moderate and, when the wind speed is moderate to high, by keeping the "overspeed rates" high (speed higher than that of the wind).

In addition, the boat according to the invention has a reduced weight because we can do without drifts.

• plusieurs coques ;
• au moins deux poutres transversales reliant lesdites coques;
• une barre centrale ;
• au moins un mât portant une voile;
• au moins un aileron de queue solidaire d'un safran;
• au moins deux ailerons de sustentation latéraux fixés sur une même poutre transversale :
• des moyens permettant auxdits ailerons de sustentation latéraux de se déplacer entre une position A où ils forment un angle compris dans la plage allant de -15 à +15 degrés par rapport au plan de symétrie du voilier et une position B où ils forment un angle compris dans la plage allant de 30 à 60 degrés par rapport au plan de symétrie du voilier;

et se distinguant en ce que lesdits moyens sont aptes à permettre aux distances respectives entre les extrémités supérieures des ailerons de sustentation latéraux et les coques sur lesquelles ils sont respectivement fixés, d'être plus petites en position A qu'en position B.According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a sailboat comprising:

• several hulls;
• at least two transverse beams connecting said shells;
• a central bar;
• at least one mast carrying a sail;
• at least one tail fin secured to a saffron;
• at least two lateral lifting fins fixed on the same transverse beam:
• means enabling said lateral lifting fins to move between a position A where they form an angle in the range of -15 to +15 degrees with respect to the plane of symmetry of the sailboat and a position B where they form an angle in the range of 30 to 60 degrees from the plane of symmetry of the sailboat;

and being distinguished in that said means are adapted to allow the respective distances between the upper ends of the lateral lifting fins and the hulls on which they are respectively fixed, to be smaller in position A than in position B.

These characteristics have the advantage of allowing the sailboat to turn easily when sailing in Archimedean regime.

• celui situé au vent se trouve dans une position A où il forme un angle compris dans la plage allant de -15 à +15 degrés par rapport au plan de symétrie du voilier et
• celui situé sous le vent se trouve dans une position B où il forme un angle compris dans la plage allant de 30 à 60 degrés par rapport au plan de symétrie du voilier.

The invention also relates to a method or a method of sailing, called "asymmetrically inclined foil navigation method", in which a sailboat according to the invention is used and at a given time the lift fins are oriented side, so that

• the windward one is in a position A where it forms an angle in the range of -15 to +15 degrees from the plane of symmetry of the sailboat and
• that located downwind is in a position B where it forms an angle in the range of 30 to 60 degrees from the plane of symmetry of the sailboat.

• figure 1: un voilier selon l'invention, dans lequel l'aileron de sustentation de gauche sur la figure est incliné à la verticale (en position A) et celui de droite est incliné à environ 45 degrés (en position B);
• figure 2 : la fixation à une poutre du voilier de la figure 1 d'un aileron de sustentation en position B;
• figure 3 - la fixation à une poutre du voilier de la figure 1 d'un aileron de sustentation en position A:

• figure 4 : une vue en perspective agrandie correspondant à la figure 2 ;
• figure 5 : une vue en perspective agrandie correspondant à la figure 3 ;
• figure 6 : la fixation d'un bras de fixation à une poutre ;
• figure 7: la fixation d'un bras du système de fixation au fourreau d'aileron de sustentation ; et
• figure 8: la jonction des tubes de fixation reliés au fourreau entre eux, à l'extrémité des bras de fixation (l'extrémité de la tige du vérin visible sur la figure 5 a été omise ici).

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will now be described in detail in the following description, which is given with reference to the appended figures which show, schematically:

• figure 1 : a sailboat according to the invention, wherein the left lift fin in the figure is inclined vertically (in position A) and the right one is inclined at about 45 degrees (in position B);
• figure 2 : the attachment to a beam of the sailboat of the figure 1 a lift wing in position B;
• figure 3 - the attachment to a beam of the sailboat of the figure 1 a lift fin in position A:

• figure 4 : an enlarged perspective view corresponding to the figure 2 ;
• figure 5 : an enlarged perspective view corresponding to the figure 3 ;
• figure 6 : fixing a fixing arm to a beam;
• figure 7 : attaching an arm of the fastening system to the lifting fin sheath; and
• figure 8 : the junction of the fixing tubes connected to the sleeve between them, at the end of the fixing arms (the end of the cylinder rod visible on the figure 5 has been omitted here).

Detailed exposition of the invention

The sailboat according to the invention is represented on the figure 1 according to a preferred embodiment. It comprises two shells 1,2, two transverse beams 3,4 connecting said shells 1,2, a central bar 5, a mast 6 carrying a sail 7 and if necessary other sails, a tail fin 8 generally called " tail foil "and which is integral with a saffron 9, and two lateral lifting fins 10, 11 generally called" foils ", each generally provided with an end fin 12, 13 often referred to as a" winglet "and anti-ventilation rings 14 called "fence".

The boat can obviously include other elements well known to those skilled in the art.

According to the invention and as can be seen on the figure 1 , the sailboat is provided with means for fixing and tilting of the lifting fins which will now be described in detail.

Beam extensions 15, 16 are provided at each of the longitudinal ends of the beam 3. Preferably, they rise slightly preferably with respect to the longitudinal axis of the beam 3. These beam extensions 15, 16 have, beam side, a square section and, aileron side, a trapezoidal section. The largest side of the trapeze is on the sky side and the smaller side is the sea side.

Each extension 15, 16 forms, on the aileron side, a plane inclined with respect to the axis of the respective extension. The slope forms, on the mast side, an acute angle with the axis of the respective extension (cf. Fig. 3 ).

As can be seen in particular on Figures 2 to 5 , fixing arms 17 project from the trapezium forming the free end of the extension 15. These fixing arms 17 may be hollow tubes of carbon fibers.

Referring to the figure 4 in particular, it can be seen that two fastening arms 17 extending from each end of the long side 24 of the trapezium meet at a point of articulation E shown in greater detail on the figure 8 , while two fixing arms 18 starting from the center of the short side 21 of the trapezium diverge to reach respectively the lower lateral ends of a sheath 19.

This sleeve 19 has substantially the shape of a hollow tube with a rectangular section and whose interior matches the hydrodynamic shape of the lifting fin 10.

From the four corners of the rectangular face of the sleeve 19 on the shell side extend hollow carbon fiber fixing tubes 20, which converge at the point of articulation E mentioned above.

A triangular plate 19 whose base has the same length as the short side 21 of the trapezium extends this small side 21. At the free top 22 of this triangular plate is fixed in known manner the lower part of the body of a cylinder 23, leaving the cylinder 23 the ability to rotate about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shells 1, 2 and 5 bar.

The free end 25 of the rod of this cylinder is connected to the articulation E. This connection is similar to that of the fixing tubes 20 which is represented on the figure 8 and which is described below.

Referring to this figure 8 it can be seen that the junction of the fixing arms 17 to the fixing tubes 20 takes place by means of a fork 26 and a connecting piece 27.

The fork 26 has a hole 28 at one end and, at another end, two feet 28 which each fit into the end of a fixing arm 17.

The connecting piece 27 has, at one end, four feet 29 which extend in pyramidal divergence to reach the sleeve 19 and, at the other end, a hole provided to align with the hole 28 and receive a link axis.

Thus, at the joint E, both the connecting piece 27 and the fork 26 and the end 25 of the jack 26 can rotate independently of each other about their common connecting axis.

The figure 6 represents the end of an attachment arm 17 intended to be articulated to the extension 15. This articulation is effected by means of a part having a cylindrical end 30 inserted into the (hollow) end of the arm of fixation 17 and another free end forming a thin wall 31 traversed by a hole in which extends an axis 32. The thin wall 31 is intended to be inserted into a recess (not shown) provided in the inclined end of the extension 15, recess of which two opposite walls have a hole for each receiving an end of the axis 32. Each end of the long side 24 of the trapezium comprises such a recess in order to fix the attachment arms 17 by allowing them to rotate around the axis 32.

On the short side 21 of the trapezium is fixed a piece (not shown) similar to the piece 27 of the figure 8 except that it has only two feet each for insertion into a (hollow) end of an attachment arm 18, and a thin wall-shaped portion for insertion as the thin wall 31 into a recess (not shown) provided at the center of the short side 21.

On the figure 7 is shown fixing the other end of the attachment arm 18 at the sheath 19. A part having a cylindrical end 33 inserted inside a fixing arm 18 and a thin wall forming end 34 comprising a hole is maintained by means of an axis 35 between two flanges 36 receiving the axis 35 and projecting from the face of the sleeve 19 on the hull side. In this way, the fixing arm 18 can rotate relative to the sheath 19.

• des bras de fixation 17 et 18 par rapport au prolongement 15,
• du vérin 23 par rapport au prolongement 15,
• de centre d'articulations E et
• des bras de fixation 18 par rapport au fourreau 19,

permettent-elles toutes une rotation par rapport à un axe parallèle aux coques 1,2 et à la barre 5, ce qui permet au vérin 23 de jouer son rôle qui va maintenant être décrit.Thus, the joints:

• fastening arms 17 and 18 with respect to the extension 15,
• of the cylinder 23 with respect to the extension 15,
• of center of joints E and
• fastening arms 18 with respect to the sleeve 19,

do they all allow rotation relative to an axis parallel to the shells 1, 2 and the bar 5, which allows the cylinder 23 to play its role which will now be described.

From this cylinder 23 a feed pipe joins a control device not shown, well known to those skilled in the art. The latter comprises a manual or possibly electric pump connected to a handle and a distributor independently actuating the cylinder 23 of the extension 15 and the cylinder of the extension 16.

With the above-mentioned hinges, the piston can move from a position where its rod is retracted, to a position where its rod is out, the "retracted position" corresponding to the position A of a lift fin and the "position exit "at position B of this flap.

The person skilled in the art will be able, from the foregoing, to calculate the dimensions of the various parts mentioned above, so that the lateral lifting fins 10, 11 can move between a position A where they form an angle in the range of -15 to +15 degrees with respect to the plane of symmetry of the sailboat, that is to say the plane perpendicular to that formed by the transverse beams 3 and 4, and a position B where they form an angle in the range of 30 to 60 degrees from the plane of symmetry of the sailboat.

Thanks to the cooperation of all the aforementioned means, the lifting fin 10 or 11 performs, during the transition from the retracted position to the extended position, a displacement which is neither a rotation nor a translation but an advantageous combination of two.

Of course, all the intermediate positions of the rod of the cylinder between the retracted position and the extended position can be obtained by providing in known manner the cylinder of appropriate stops. In addition, the cylinders can be replaced by an equivalent system, for example a worm, screw-nut, etc.

It is also possible to provide sliding means such as (son, crank, etc.) to effect a sliding of one and / or the other lateral lifting fins along its respective longitudinal axis, to the inside its sheath.

Since the control device is provided with a distributor which actuates the cylinders independently, it is possible to obtain an asymmetrical inclination of the lifting fins, which means that one of the lift fins may have an inclination, compared to the predefined plan of symmetry of the sailboat, which is different from that of the other fin.

This peculiarity of the invention makes it possible to define a new method of navigation which advantageously takes advantage of stronger winds and consequently results in navigation at higher speeds.

In addition, and this constitutes the second aspect of the invention, the means for inclining the lift fins may be provided to obtain the respective distances between the upper ends of the lateral lifting fins and the hulls on which they are respectively fixed. , are smaller in position A than in position B (this possibility appears by comparing the figures 2 and 3 ).

Moreover, as can be seen by comparing in particular the figures 2 and 3 , the aforementioned fixing and tilting means allow, during the transition from position B to position A, to reduce the immersed part of the lifting fins, because they are then partially pulled out of the water by the cylinders.

Alternatively, it is possible to provide a device allowing only a translation of the lifting fins to bring them closer or away from the hulls to which they are attached. This device may, for example, comprise a rail or a slide and it may replace or supplement the aforementioned fixing / tilting means.

It goes without saying that the invention applies to all kinds of multihulls, including the trimarans, a hull then replacing the central bar.

Of course, the means allowing one of the levitation fins to have an inclination, with respect to the plane of symmetry of the sailboat, which is different from that of the other fin, are not necessarily as they have been described in the embodiment shown. Any means making it possible to obtain such asymmetry of the inclinations must be considered as falling within the scope of the invention.

Likewise, any means allowing the respective distances between the upper ends of the lateral lifting fins and the hulls on which they are respectively fixed, of being smaller in position A than in position B, must also be understood as belonging to the present invention.

Claims (7)

Sailboat comprising: - several shells (1,2); - At least two transverse beams (3,4) connecting said shells (1,2); - a central bar (5); - at least one mast (6) carrying a sail (7); - at least one tail fin (8) integral with a saffron (9); at least two lateral lifting fins (10, 11) fixed on the same transverse beam (3); characterized in that it further comprises means enabling one (10) of said lateral lift fins (10,11) to have an inclination, with respect to the plane of symmetry of the sailboat, which is different from that of the other fin (11). Sailboat comprising: - several shells (1,2); - At least two transverse beams (3,4) connecting said shells (1,2); - a central bar (5); - at least one mast (6) carrying a sail (7); - at least one tail fin (8) integral with a saffron (9); at least two lateral lifting fins (10, 11) fixed on the same transverse beam (3); means for allowing said lateral lifting fins (10, 11) to move between a position A where they form an angle in the range of -15 to +15 degrees with respect to the plane of symmetry of the sailboat and a position B where they form an angle in the range of 30 to 60 degrees from the plane of symmetry of the sailboat; characterized in that said means are adapted to allow the respective distances between the upper ends (38) of the lateral lifting fins (10,11) and the shells (1,2) to which they are respectively fixed, to be smaller in position A than in position B. Sailboat according to claim 2, wherein said means are adapted to incline the lateral lift fins (10,11) independently of one another. Sailboat according to claim 1, wherein said means are further adapted to allow the respective distances between the upper ends (38) of the lateral lift fins (10,11) and the hulls (1,2) on which they are respectively fixed. , to be smaller in position A than in position B. Sailboat according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a translation device for translating the levitation fins (10,11) in order to bring them closer to or away from the hulls (1,2) to which they are attached. . Sailboat according to one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising sliding means for sliding one and / or the other lateral levitation fins (10,11) along its respective longitudinal axis, to the inside its sheath. Sailing method, in which a sailboat is used according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step during which the lateral lifting fins (10, 11) are oriented in such a way that the windward one (10) is in a position A where it forms an angle in the range of -15 to +15 degrees with respect to the plane of symmetry of the sailboat and the downwind one (11) is in a position B where it forms an angle in the range of 30 to 60 degrees from the plane of symmetry of the sailboat.

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