U.S. patent application number 10/798927 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-11 for method and apparatus for compacting sail cars.
This patent application is currently assigned to Harken, Inc.. Invention is credited to Blackburn, Dane, Luedtke, Matthew, Piontek, Michael.
Application Number | 20040221786 10/798927 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33423744 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040221786 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Luedtke, Matthew ; et
al. |
November 11, 2004 |
Method and apparatus for compacting sail cars
Abstract
The invention relates to method and apparatus for compactly
stacking batten or sail cars above a boom when a very tall sail is
stowed, furled or fully lowered. More specifically, most of the
cars are compacted or stacked by diverting cars onto several lower
tracks, such that the height of the stacked cars is approximately
halved. If more than two lower storage tracks are used, the height
reduction of the stacked cars can be greater.
Inventors: |
Luedtke, Matthew;
(Milwaukee, WI) ; Blackburn, Dane; (Waukesha,
WI) ; Piontek, Michael; (Chicago, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Russell W. Pyle
Suite 850
221 N. LaSalle St.
Chicago
IL
60601
US
|
Assignee: |
Harken, Inc.
1251 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Pewaukee
WI
53072
|
Family ID: |
33423744 |
Appl. No.: |
10/798927 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60468501 |
May 7, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/105 ;
114/102.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63H 9/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/105 ;
114/102.24 |
International
Class: |
B63H 009/04; B63B
009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for stacking sail cars comprising a track along
which cars of the sail ride, the track comprising a vertical upper
section and a lower section including at least a port and a
starboard tracks; the cars each having guide structure thereon for
guiding cars to opposite tracks of the lower section, effectively
reducing the vertical height of the stacked cars when the sail is
stowed.
2. A method for stacking sail cars to effectively reduce a vertical
height of the sail cars when stacked upon stowage of the sail, the
method comprising the steps of: creating a track for engaging the
sail cars, the track having an upper vertical centerline section
and a lower section including at least a port and starboard tracks;
creating track and the cars with guide structure thereon for
guiding cars to opposite tracks of the lower section; and stowing
the sail by lowering same along the track until the cars are
received within the port and starboard tracks, serving as stowage
tracks.
3. An apparatus for compacting sail cars comprising a mast track
along which cars of the sail ride, the track comprising a vertical
upper section and a lower section including at least a port and a
starboard storage track; the cars and tracks having switch means
for alternately switching cars to opposite tracks of the lower
section, effectively reducing the vertical height of the stacked
cars when the sail is stowed, the track also incorporating
structure for maintaining at least the bottom cars of the sail
along a centerline of the mast rather than to either side thereof.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] The present invention claims the priority of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/468,501, filed May 7, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The following is a provisional United States patent
application.
[0003] The invention relates to method and apparatus for compacting
or stacking sail cars above a boom when a very tall sail is lowered
or furled. More specifically, most of the cars are compacted by
diverting alternating cars onto a split track, to port or
starboard, such that the height of the stacked cars is
approximately halved.
PRIOR ART
[0004] Heretofore, when a sail of a sailboat has been stowed,
furled or fully lowered, the sail or batten cars connecting the
sail to the mast have been singly stacked along a centerline of the
mast. This is not suitable when a sail is of great height, such as
approximately 250 feet, is used since the singly stacked cars would
reach approximately 20 feet above the boom, making storage of the
dropped sail cumbersome at best.
[0005] Thus there exists a need for a method and apparatus for
compacting the height of the cars which the present invention
addresses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus
for compacting sail cars comprising a track along which cars of the
sail ride, the track comprising a vertical upper section and a
lower section including a port and a starboard track; each car or
track having guide structure thereon for, preferably but not
necessarily alternately, guiding adjacent cars to opposite tracks
of the lower section, effectively halving the vertical height of
the stacked cars when the sail is stowed.
[0007] Further, according to the invention there is provided a
method for compacting sail cars to effectively half a vertical
height of the sail cars when stacked upon stowage of the sail, the
method comprising the steps of:
[0008] creating a track for engaging the sail cars, the track
having an upper vertical centerline section and a lower section
including at least a port and starboard track;
[0009] creating the cars with guide structure thereon for,
preferably alternately, guiding adjacent cars to opposite tracks of
the lower section; and
[0010] stowing the sail by lowering same along the track until the
cars are, preferably alternately, received within the port and
starboard tracks, serving as stowage tracks.
[0011] It should be understood that a different arrangement than
strictly alternately stacking cars could be used and yet fall
within the scope of the invention.
[0012] Still further according to the invention there is provided
an apparatus for compacting sail cars comprising a track along
which cars of the sail ride, the track comprising a vertical upper
section extending up the mast and a lower section including a port
and a starboard track; the cars each having guide structure thereon
for preferably alternately guiding adjacent cars to opposite tracks
of the lower section, effectively halving the vertical height of
the stacked cars when the sail is stowed. The track may also
incorporate structure for maintaining one or more bottom cars
adjacent the boom of the sail along a centerline of the mast rather
than to either side thereof so as to provide sail symmetry.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0013] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a sailboat having a very
tall mast and sail with battens in the sail, with the battens
mounted to batten cars sliding on a mast track.
[0014] FIG. 2A is an end view of the prior art method and apparatus
presently used for stacking of sail cars when the sail is
lowered.
[0015] FIG. 2B is an end view of the apparatus and method of the
present invention for compact stacking of sail cars.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an end view of an enlarged of the new apparatus
and method for compact stacking of sail cars.
[0017] FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the area where the cars
are switched onto one or the other of the lower port and starboard
track sections.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view through the upper track
section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view through the area where a
bottom tip of the top track section is adjacent to a top tip of a
bottom track section and is taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a top end view of the upper track section.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a bottom end view of the lower track sections.
[0022] FIG. 9 is an enlarged end view of the lower track sections
and shows an optional guide placed to the outside side of each of
the lower track sections against which edges of a car body bear
with the guides keeping the car body from twisting and becoming
lodged in the junction area before completely engaging on the lower
track section.
[0023] FIG. 10 is an end view of another embodiment of the
apparatus and method of the present invention wherein a section of
the upper track adjacent the lower track sections is capable of
moving or pivoting from side to side to deliver adjacent cars to
alternating bottom tracks.
[0024] FIG. 11 shows the pivoting track section is a centerline or
neutral position thereof.
[0025] FIG. 12A is an enlarged elevational view showing one
embodiment of a sail or batten car for engagement to the track.
[0026] FIG. 12B is a bottom plan view of the sail car of FIG.
12A.
[0027] FIG. 12C is a side view of the sail car of FIG. 12A.
[0028] FIG. 13A shows a first accessory comprising a batten
attachment fitting for receiving a batten and engaged to a rail
car.
[0029] FIG. 13B shows another accessory comprising a headboard for
a sail engaged to a rail car.
[0030] FIG. 13C shows a further accessory comprising a vertical
bridge structure engaged to double rail cars.
[0031] FIG. 14 is an end view showing two bottom cars adjacent the
boom riding on their own vertical path by being engaged on the
insides of and between the port and starboard tracks.
[0032] FIG. 15 is an end view showing two bottom cars adjacent the
boom riding on their own centerline track between the bottom track
sections.
[0033] FIG. 16 shows a horizontal bridge formed between the bottom
two cars adjacent the boom which are on opposite bottom track
sections, the bridge incorporating structure thereon for
maintaining the sail in a centerline position between the bottom
track sections.
[0034] FIG. 17 is yet another alternative having a track with two
lower portions, one of which is on the mast centerline, while the
other is offset to one of port or starboard.
[0035] FIG. 18 is a construction used in conjunction with the
pivoting track structure of FIG. 10 and shows cam means in the form
of a wing on the track to permit the ascending cars to pivot the
pivoting track carrying the wing to align the pivoting section to
receive the ascending car.
[0036] FIG. 19 is a schematic view of another embodiment showing a
mast having three storage tracks below a pivoting track section
which can pivot to send descending cars to any one of the three
tracks.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] Referring now to the drawings in greater detail there is
illustrated therein a large sailboat 10 having a mast 12 which
supports a battened main sail 14, having a plurality of battens
11.
[0038] The sail 14 is held or engaged to the mast 12 by a plurality
of cars 16 which can be attached to the battens (batten cars 16A)
or the sail (sail cars 16B) which ride up and down the mast 12
along a track 18. The cars sometimes are referred to as "16A/B,"
meaning it could be either a sail or batten car.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 2A, present day methods and apparatus only
accommodate vertical stacking of sail cars, as the track is aligned
along a vertical centerline of a mast. This is not conducive to
efficient storage of a very tall sail, such as one rising on a mast
250 or so feet above a boom 17 and having perhaps twelve batt cars
and another forty sail cars thereon. Such tall sail would produce a
vertical elevation of about 20 feet of stacked cars upon lowering
of the sail. For that matter, boats with masts on the order of 75
to 80 feet could benefit from the present invention.
[0040] Accordingly, the method and apparatus of the present
invention address the problem of stacking of the cars to a height
approximately half, say 10 feet or less, of that previously
obtained.
[0041] Turing now to FIG. 2B it will be seen that a novel
configuration for the track 18 is proposed which will drop the sail
14 in a novel configuration as shown. As better illustrated in
FIGS. 3, 4 and 9-11, the track 18 is a singe track 18 along the
greater upper length of the mast. However, along a lower portion of
about 10 feet or so, the track 18 is split into port and starboard
sections, 18a and 18b, respectively. As alternating cars 16A or B
are guided to either track section 18A or 18B, it will be
understood that the excessive height of vertically stacked cars 16A
or B will be approximately halved. It should be understood that the
track 18, 18A and 18B can be assembled, say, from convenient 6 foot
lengths 18D to the desired lengths.
[0042] It will be seen that some of the methods and apparatus 20
for producing such alternate stacking are illustrated in FIGS. 3
and 4 and 9-11. In a first embodiment 20A, all track sections 18,
18A and 18B are stationary while in a second embodiment 20B, a
small track section 18C adjacent and above the track sections 18A
and 18B is movable, and in this instance, pivotable about pivot
point 22.
[0043] Turning now to the first embodiment 20A wherein all track
sections are fixed in position, it will first be understood that
the mast 12 may be provided with a mounting flat 24 (FIG. 8) along
a circumferential or perimeter area 26 (FIG. 8) thereof to which
the base 24A (FIG. 8) of apparatus 20 and/or track 18 is
mounted.
[0044] From FIGS. 3 and 4 further, it will be seen that the bottom
track sections 18A and 18B are formed in a "y" or wishbone
configuration and have a switch means 21 where alternating cars 16
can follow along the same track section, such as 18A, while
adjacent cars 16 (or 16A/B) can follow opposite track sections 18A,
18B, producing two stacks of cars 16 which will approximately half
the height of cars stacked vertically. To accomplish this
alternative stacking, a switch means or section 21 is provided with
port and starboard guide tracks 21A and 21B respectively, which
engage respective port or starboard guide pins 40 (see FIGS. 12A, B
and C) formed on or provided on the cars 16A/B. One way to achieve
this is to use screw ended 40A guide pins means that can be screwed
into either the two port or two starboard threaded holes 40P/40S
provided in the inner and mast side of the track car. Other means
could be provided and achieve such stacking. For example, magnets
could be arranged on the track and cars to attract or repel,
alternatively, if desired, the cars to the desired storage tank.
Yet another means would be to use cam means for motioning the cars
to appropriate track, be it ascending or descending the track
sections, be it the upper section on the mast or the lower storage
sections on the mast. Where guide pins are used, the upper edge of
each of the port and starboard guide tracks 21A and 21B can be
provided with entering ramp 40D (FIGS. 10 and 11) to "rerail" the
descending guide pins onto upper end of the guide track. Thus, the
two lower stacks of cars 16 produce a lower height, a more
manageable stowage of the sail 14, decreasing the amount of sail 14
exposed to the elements such as wind. Also, covering of the sail is
eased due to the decreased exposed area.
[0045] Also, as will be better described below when the sail cars
16 are defined, it will be understood that no user input is
required to produce the desired stacking of the cars 16 when the
sail is being lowered and no user input is required when raising
the cars 16 to return them to a single file, centerline
configuration, above the switch portion of the track.
[0046] In this embodiment, also, there are no moving parts required
except for the cars 16 moving along the track 18, 18A or 18B, etc.,
and the guide pins moving in the guide tracks.
[0047] It will be understood that with either embodiment 20, the
sail 14 when stowed, flakes or folds in a normal manner as shown in
FIG. 2B. The sail 14 is pulled to one side or the other of track 18
in FIG. 2B by the car 16 leading the particular following section
of sail 14 to its own side, i.e., toward track 18A or 18B, once
past switch section 21, which is either fixed as in the first
embodiment 20A or is pivotable as in the second embodiment 20B, to
be defined further hereinbelow. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to
9 are and operate similar to a "frog" of a railroad switch.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 9, an enlargement of the section similar
to that of FIG. 3 is shown, and has optional wing guides 50 to help
guide by inner car facing surface 52 with the sides of the cars 16
through the switch section 21 of apparatus 20 of the present
invention. In other respects, this is similar to the structure
shown in FIG. 4. These wing guides 50, like track sections 18, 18A,
18B, etc., can be secured to the base 24A and/or mast 12, by a
plurality of fasteners, such as screws or rivets, etc. 54.
[0049] Turning now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is illustrated therein
the second embodiment 20B wherein the switch section 21, in the
form of a movable portion 18C of the track 18 is pivotable about a
pivot point 22 to feed cars 16 to one or the other of bottom or
lower track sections 18A and 18B, the switch section 18C having a
neutral position as shown in FIG. 11. To help maintain alignment,
the lower end 18D of the pivoting sections can slide under the
cut-away lip 18E formed on the upper end of the lower sections.
[0050] Pivoting of the switch section 18c to one side or the other
is accomplished through use of cars 16 which include a guide pin 40
thereon cooperating with port and starboard guide tracks, to be
described below; with the guide pin 40 and guide tracks also
functioning in a similar manner as in the first embodiment 20A.
[0051] While the guide pins and guide track will guide descending
cars and move the pivot track, upon ascending a different means is
used. For ascending a cam mechanism can be used (see FIG. 19). That
is, the pivoting track 18C at its lower end is fitted with a cam
arm which is engaged by the ascending car's side to move the
pivoting track section 18C in alignment to accept the ascending
car.
[0052] While a pivoting track section is shown that pivots at the
top, it would be within the scope of the present invention to
provide a pivoting track section that pivots at the bottom thereof.
Likewise, a movable track section could have a motion other than
pivoting. For example, this movable track could slide so that first
one section of storage track was aligned with one upper most
section of track, then another section of storage track was aligned
with the upper most section of the track, with the cars
appropriately ascending or descending the upper track sections to
or from the lower storage track sections during raising or furling
the sail.
[0053] Not only can the sail be furled, it can also be reefed to
expose less than its full sail area when sailing. During reefing,
the desired number of cars (and sail) are stacked on the storage
tracks and then the sail is held down with reefing lines at the
reef points in the sail. This same operation also holds the stored
(reefed cars) tightly downward.
[0054] Perusing FIGS. 12A and 12B and 12C, the novel configuration
of one car 16 used with both the embodiments 20A and 20B, it will
be seen that the car has an opening 59 (FIG. 12B) to receive one of
tracks 18, 18A, 18B, etc. On car 16 the guide pin 40 is placed on a
leading or forward edge 42 of each car 16 to one side of center.
Here, two openings 40S and 40P, preferably threaded, are provided
in each the leading and trailing edges 42 within one of which the
pin 40 is secured, such as by screw threading as shown best in FIG.
12B. It should be understood that when the sail is raised, the
leading and trailing edges 42 are reverse from that when the sail
is lowered.
[0055] Such pin or pins 40 when placed to the right (relative to
FIG. 12B) will engage a starboard groove or guide track 21B in the
track section 18, and will be guided onto the starboard track
section 18B, having a continuation of the starboard guide track or
groove 21B therein.
[0056] Alternatively, when the pin or pins 40 is to the left (in
FIG. 12B) it engages in a port guide track or groove in track
section 18 and is guided into a continuation of the port groove or
guide track groove onto port track section 18A. Thus, it will be
understood that pins 40 are placed toward opposite sides on
adjacent cars 16 to produce right, left, right, left, or port,
starboard, port, etc. stowage of the cars on the track sections 18B
and 18A, respectively. Preferably, each car has two pins 40, one at
or adjacent each of its leading and trailing edges 42.
[0057] Turning back to FIGS. 5 through 8, it will be understood
that the cars 16 ride along the various track sections in guided
position due to engagement of pins 40 within either guide track as
provided on an anterior (outside) port or starboard, interior (mast
side) face 60 of car 16. The removable pin 61 is provided to
receive a sail or batten attachment.
[0058] Further, it will be understood from perusal of FIGS. 13A,
13B and 13C that various sail accessories can also be mounted on
the cars 16. To this end, each car has the track opening 59 for
receiving track 18, 18A, 18B, etc. As examples, a batten attachment
62 is illustrated as engaged to a car 16 in FIG. 13A; a headboard
64 for a sail 14 is illustrated as engaged to a car 16 in FIG. 13B,
in this instance: a vertical double car and a bridge structure 66
is illustrated as engaged to double cars 16 in FIG. 13C.
[0059] When this system is used with the storage tracks off of the
centerline of the mast, there may be some sail nonsymmetry adjacent
the boom due to one or two of the cars and adjacent sail luft of
the sail being off centerline, but such is not sufficient to
seriously effect sail performance and/or efficiency.
[0060] If symmetry is essential, such as in a high performance
racing sailboat, some additional changes are made. To maintain sail
symmetry, the bottom track cars that will be in the raised position
but will be below the switch, say two or three cars 16, adjacent
the boom 17 may be mounted along a centerline of the mast 12 rather
than being fed onto side tracks 18A or 18B so that the sail 14 is
symmetrical when filled with air when hoisted and on either a port
or starboard track.
[0061] Various means can attain this goal, and the illustrative
embodiments of FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 17 are only to be considered as
exemplary and not construed as limiting.
[0062] In FIG. 14, it is proposed to provide a special car 80 which
will ride down inner sides 81 and 82 of the tracks 18A and 18B, to
be positioned therebetween so the cars 16 carry the sail 14 along
the centerline of the mast 12. Alternatively, the car 80 could be
constructed to fully engage both sails or tracks 18A and 18B,
somewhat in the manner like shown in FIG. 16, that is, have two
openings 59 at the necessary spacing of tracks 18A and B.
[0063] Alternatively, in FIG. 15, a center track 18D may be
provided between tracks 18A and 18B onto which the lower cars 16
can be permanently mounted, with higher cars then being guided on
the side tracks 18A and 18B.
[0064] Further, in FIG. 16, a horizontal bridge 90 can be provided
between two parallel cars 16 on side tracks 18A and 18B, with the
sail 14 engaging the center of the bridge 90, rather than the cars
16 to maintain a centerline position.
[0065] Yet another alternative shown in FIG. 17 is to have one or
the two lower tracks on the mast centerline, with the other storage
track on either side to the port or starboard.
[0066] In FIG. 18 is shown cam means for causing ascending cars to
cause the upward motion of the car, to pivot the pivotal section of
track into alignment to receive the reversing car. To this end, the
cam means is in the form of a wing 56 extending from each side of
the pivoting track section 18C that can be engaged by the reversing
car on either storage track. Each of the wings has appropriate
cutouts 58 to permit the car to pass from the lower section 18A or
18B up onto the upper portion of the track on the mast as the sail
is raised.
[0067] In FIG. 19, a version of the present invention is shown
which has three storage tracks 18A, 18B and 18E, with track 18E
being on the centerline with the upper portion of the track 18. In
this version, a pivoting section 18C can be moved or pivoted to
engage or align with any of the track sections 18A, 18B and 18E. As
shown, track 18A is to port and track 18B as to starboard of the
center storage track 18E. This arrangement has the advantage of
reducing the height to 1/3 of that without the invention, but yet
keep the cars closest to the boom on the centerline of the mast.
This arrangement would be useful in a large high performance
sailboat.
[0068] While two and three storage track switch arrangements have
been shown even four or more could be used.
[0069] The three track arrangement has the advantage of further
reducing the stack height from over 20 feet for a single track, to
10 feet with a double track, to less than 7 feet with a triple
track, to about five feet with quadruple track arrangement. While
the invention has been described for a sailboat with a mast of
about 250 feet tall, it is also useful with smaller boats, say
where the mast height is 60 feet or greater and would reduce
stacked height of the furled main or other sail. This invention
would enable shorter persons to more easily reach the headboard and
halyard of a lowered sail. While the invention has been disclosed
in connection with a main sail, it could be used for other type
sails.
[0070] As described above, the method and apparatus of the present
invention provide a number of advantages, some of which have been
described above and other of which are inherent in the invention.
Also modifications may be proposed to the teachings herein without
departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *