U.S. patent application number 10/504971 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-22 for carbon masts.
Invention is credited to Finot, Jean-Marie.
Application Number | 20050204984 10/504971 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27636357 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050204984 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Finot, Jean-Marie |
September 22, 2005 |
Carbon masts
Abstract
A carbon mast includes a tube which is made from, for example, a
pre-impregnated material and which is produced by filament winding
or pultrusion. The tube (1) remains sealed by gluing the pieces for
attaching the different elements that equip the mast thereto, in
particular, the mast head piece (15) , the fitting (16) for
attaching the spinnaker, the fitting (17) for attaching the stay
and shrouds, the fitting (18) for attaching the crosstrees, the
fitting (19) for attaching the boom and the fittings (20, 21) for,
respectively, the mast partner and the mast foot, the
aforementioned fittings being made in such a way as to contribute
to the sealing of the mast.
Inventors: |
Finot, Jean-Marie;
(Jouy-en-Josas, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET
2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Family ID: |
27636357 |
Appl. No.: |
10/504971 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
February 18, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR03/00537 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 15/0083
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/090 |
International
Class: |
B63B 015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 20, 2002 |
FR |
02/02168 |
Claims
1. A carbon mast produced from a tube, in particular consisting of
preimpregnated material, manufactured by filament winding or by
pultrusion, characterized in that said tube (1) is kept leaktight
by securing to it by adhesive bonding the attachment pieces of the
various elements equipping the mast and, in particular, the mast
head piece (15), the fitting (16) for attaching the spinnaker, the
fitting (17) for attaching the stay and shrouds, the fitting (18)
for attaching the crosstrees, the fitting (19) for attaching the
boom and the fittings (20, .21) for the mast hole and for the mast
foot respectively, these various fittings being produced so as to
contribute to ensure the leaktightness of the mast.
2. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
various attachment pieces comprise a horseshoe-shaped fitting which
is designed so as to be laid against the walls of the tube (1)
forming the mast, at the same time fitting snugly with the profile
of these, said horseshoe-shaped fitting having inner dimensions
slightly smaller than the external profile of the mast, and its
installation on this profile being ensured with the aid of a
gripper (27) which comes to bear on the attachment piece (29) by
means of a nose.
3. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the
adhesive bonding of the attachment pieces to the carbon tube (1)
forming the profile of the mast is carried out by the injection of
glue via ducts (36) provided in said pieces.
4. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said
attachment pieces are produced by molding, using a mold core (22),
in which is positioned a countermold (23) consisting, in
particular, of silicone reinforced with glass or carbon fibers,
multidirectional external and internal fabrics (24), between which
are installed unidirectional threads, being stretcher-leveled in
the mold, the assembly subsequently being placed in the silicone
mold (23) and then closed on the mold core (22), before being put
under vacuum and then placed in an oven or in an autoclave.
5. The mast as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, before
the countermold (23) is closed on the mold core (22), a film (26)
consisting, in particular, of ribbed silicone is placed around the
core (22), in order to obtain the ducts by means of which injection
of the glue ensuring the securing of the piece to the profile of
the mast is carried out.
6. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a plastic
tube (3) intended for receiving the halyards (4) is adhesively
bonded to the rear of the profile of the mast (1) and within the
latter, and tubes of smaller diameter (5) may be provided for the
passage of the electrical wires through the mast.
7. The mast as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the
installation and securing of the tube (3) receiving the halyards
are carried out by adhesive bonding, by depositing adhesive tapes
(9) on said tube and by placing the tube on a support (10) equipped
with claws (11) forming a cradle on which said tube rests, this
support being pushed into the profile of the mast and then driven
in rotation in such a way that the tube comes into position at the
appropriate location in the profile of the mast, at the same time
resting on the adhesive tapes, a weight (12, 13) being provided in
order to ensure the pressure necessary for the setting of the
adhesive bond.
8. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it
comprises an external profile (8), fixed to the profile of the mast
(1) in order to ensure the protection of the halyards (4) and of
the electrical wires (6).
9. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the piece
for attaching the stay or for the engagement of, the spinnaker (16)
consists of unidirectional and multidirectional fibers, and it is
composed of a horseshoe-shaped fitting (31) coming into position on
the mast, at the same time fitting snugly with the external shape
of the profile of the latter, this piece adhesively bonded to the
mast receiving a stirrup (32) for anchoring the stay and for
installing the halyard pulleys, this stirrup being held on the
fitting (31) with the aid of a shaft (33), a metal bush (34) being
interposed between said shaft and support bearings (35) forming an
integral part of the fitting (31).
10. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the piece
(17) serving for attaching the stay and shrouds consists of a
horseshoe-shaped fitting (38), the role of which fits snugly with
the external profile of the mast and which comprises two ribs (39,
39') receiving shroud carrier stirrups (40, 40') which are held on
the fitting (38) with the aid of articulation shafts.
11. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the piece
(18) supporting the crosstrees and carrying the shrouds consists of
a horseshoe-shaped fitting (41) which is positioned on the external
profile of the mast, at the same time fitting snugly with the shape
of said profile, this fitting comprising ribs (41, 41') between
which is interposed a shroud carrier stirrup (42) bearing on a
reinforcing tube (43), the crosstrees (44, 44') being supported
with the aid of a bush (45) by means of a threaded rod (46), onto
which is screwed a bush (47) receiving the respective end of the
crosstrees.
12. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the piece
(18) supporting the crosstrees and carrying the shrouds consists of
a horseshoe-shaped fitting (48) which is positioned on the external
profile of the mast, at the same time fitting snugly with the shape
of said profile, this fitting consisting of a corrugated and ribbed
skin, to which are screwed threaded rods (49), at the end of which
is provided a sphere (50) on which a spherical bearing surface
provided at the end of each crosstree (52) comes to bear.
13. The mast as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that each
shroud (53) terminates in a hemispherical head (54) which bears on
a carbon shoulder (55) by means of a friction cup (56), this
shoulder being prolonged forward and rearward in order to receive
the crosstree supports (57), these supports forming part of said
fitting (48).
14. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it
comprises a leaktight mast head (15) which is engaged onto the
upper part of the profile of the mast (1), this mast head
comprising a collar (60) surrounding the upper part of the mast and
also a projecting part (59) for the passage of the halyards.
15. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said mast
hole piece (20) consists of a circular element (64) shaped so as to
receive the profile of the mast 1, this piece bearing on a bush
(65) secured to the deck of the boat, a collar (67) being
adhesively bonded to the profile of the mast so as to cover the
bush (65), a seal (68) ensuring leaktightness between said collar
and said bush.
16. The mast as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the mast
foot support (21) consists of a carbon piece (69) designed so as,
to shut off the lower part of the profile of the mast, a cage (70)
being provided for housing the pulley wheels.
17. The mast as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the
forces of the mast on the boat are transmitted by means of a
support (71) comprising a spherical cavity, in which is housed a
sphere (72) mounted at the end of a threaded shaft (73) in
engagement in a support (64) bearing on the bottom of the boat, the
vertical position of said sphere being adjustable.
18. The mast as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the
forces of the mast on the boat are transmitted by means of a
cylindrical tube (76) onto which the shutoff piece (69) is engaged,
this tube supporting the mast and also the pulley wheel box.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to improvements made to
laminated carbon masts intended for sailing boats. The invention
applies particularly to masts produced from tubes of preimpregnated
material which are manufactured by filament winding or by
pultrusion.
[0002] The carbon masts produced at the present time make use of
techniques employed with light-alloy masts for fastening the
various fittings on which the attachment pieces equipping these
masts are mounted. Thus, these fittings, generally produced from
metal, are affixed with the aid of rivets to tubes previously
manufactured.
[0003] On high-performance boats, that is to say those intended for
competition, the attachment pieces, in particular crosstrees and
shrouds, are produced from laminated material directly on the tube
forming the mast, which is a craft difficult to carry out and very
costly.
[0004] The present invention proposes to dispense with the
disadvantages of the techniques currently employed for the
manufacture of carbon masts, so as to obtain leaktight masts making
it possible to increase the stability of the boat at large list
angles and therefore the safety, while at the same time making
manufacture and mounting easier. According to the technique
afforded by the invention, the tube of the mast is not pierced,
thus making it possible to avoid reducing the resistance of the
mast (the holes made in the tube of the mast reduce the resistance
of the composite material forming the tube by 25 to 50%), and the
various pieces and fittings are designed and secured to the mast so
as to contribute to ensuring the leaktightness of the mast.
[0005] Consequently, the present invention relates to a carbon mast
produced from a tube, in particular consisting of preimpregnated
material, manufactured by filament winding or by pultrusion, which
is characterized in that the tube forming the mast is kept
leaktight by securing to it, by adhesive bonding, the attachment
pieces of the various elements equipping the mast and, in
particular, the shrouding and the crosstree supports, and by
producing the mast head, the mast hole piece and the mast support
in a leaktight way, these various attachment pieces being produced
so as to contribute to ensure the leaktightness of the mast.
[0006] According to one feature of the present invention, the
various attachment pieces comprise a horseshoe-shaped fitting
designed to be laid against the walls of the tube forming the mast,
so as to fit snugly with these, this fitting being installed with
the aid of a gripper and being secured to the profile by adhesive
bonding.
[0007] According to the present invention, the adhesive bonding of
the attachment pieces to the carbon tube forming the profile of the
mast is carried out by the injection of glue via ducts provided in
said pieces.
[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description, with reference to
the accompanying drawings which illustrate some of its exemplary
embodiments having no limiting character. In the drawings:
[0009] FIG. 1a is a sectional view in a horizontal plane of a
carbon mast tube to which the present invention applies;
[0010] FIGS. 1b to 1h are views intended for illustrating the
installation in the tube of means provided for protecting the
halyards;
[0011] FIG. 1i is a view similar to FIG. 1a, illustrating the mast
with its rail on which the carriages of the mainsail travel and
which, moreover, can receive the truss fitting;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows, in side elevation, a boat equipped with a mast
on which the various fittings have been identified;
[0013] FIGS. 3a to 3d illustrate the manufacture of the attachment
pieces;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the gripper employed
according to the invention in order to position the attachment
pieces on the tube forming the mast;
[0015] FIGS. 5a to 5d are partial views illustrating an embodiment
of a system for attaching a stay or for the engagement of a
spinnaker;
[0016] FIGS. 6a and 6b are respectively side elevation and plan
views of the pieces produced according to the invention for
attaching the stay and the shrouds;
[0017] FIGS. 7a and 7b are respectively side elevation and plan
views of the pieces which, according to the invention, carry the
shrouds and also the crosstree supports;
[0018] FIGS. 8a to 8c illustrate another exemplary embodiment of
the piece which, according to the invention, supports the
crosstrees and the shrouds;
[0019] FIGS. 9a to 9d illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the
leaktight mast head equipping the mast according to the
invention;
[0020] FIGS. 10a and 10b show an exemplary embodiment of a mast
hole piece equipping the mast which is the subject of the
invention;
[0021] FIGS. 11a to 11d illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of
a mast support according to the invention, and
[0022] FIGS. 12a to 12c illustrate another exemplary embodiment of
the mast support.
[0023] Reference is made in the first place to FIGS. 1a-1i and to
FIG. 2.
[0024] FIG. 1a illustrates, in horizontal section, a tube from
which the mast according to the invention is produced. This carbon
tube 1 can be manufactured, using the technique known as
pultrusion. It consists of 65 to 75% of unidirectional fibers at
0.degree., surrounded by two layers of fibers at more or less
45.degree.. Furthermore, a layer at 0.degree. may be placed outside
in order to assist friction. The profile thus produced comprises a
rail 2 for the carriages equipping the mainsail. This rail 2 may be
reinforced with respect to abrasion with the aid of a plate
preformed from any material having sufficient hardness, such as, in
particular, aluminum, stainless steel or titanium. This preformed
plate can be held on the rail simply by pressure or else with the
aid of adhesive bonding. This rail 2 may likewise receive the truss
supporting the boom.
[0025] Onto the rear part of the profile of this tube 1 and inside
the latter (FIG. 1b), a polyvinyl chloride tube 3 is adhesively
bonded, which is intended for receiving the halyards, such as 4,
and this tube may be completed by two tubes of smaller diameter,
such as 5, for the passage of the electrical wires 6 (supply for
the lights, transmission of information from the various sensors,
such as anenometers etc., to the instruments). In the variant
illustrated in FIG. 1c, these tubes are replaced by a partition 7
likewise adhesively bonded to the inner walls of the profile of the
mast.
[0026] In the variant illustrated in FIG. 1d, an external profile 8
is provided, which is affixed to the mast 1 in order to ensure the
protection of the halyards 4 and of the electrical wires 6.
[0027] FIGS. 1e to 1h show an example of the installation and
fastening of the tube 3 receiving the halyards 4. This tube 3 (FIG.
1e) has placed on it discontinuously double-faced adhesive tapes or
strips or spots of glue, such as 9. The tube 3 (FIG. 1e) is placed
on a support 10 provided with claws 11 forming a cradle so as to
hold the tube 3, this support 10 (FIG. 1f) is pushed into the
profile of the mast 1, and, when this tube is in its correct
location, the support 10 is rotated such that the tube 3 comes into
position in the appropriate place in the profile of the mast 1, at
the same time resting on the adhesive tapes or spots of glue 9
(FIG. 1g). A weight 12 is then introduced into the tube 3 (FIG.
1h). so as to ensure the pressure necessary for the setting of the
adhesive bond of the tube 3. Alternatively or additionally, the
adhesive bonding pressure may be ensured with the aid of an
external weighting means 13.
[0028] The ball-mounted carriages 14 equipping the mainsail can
travel on the rail 2 provided as a consequence of manufacture on
the tube 1 of the mast (FIG. 1i), and this rail 2 can likewise
receive the truss fitting.
[0029] Reference is now made to FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings
which illustrate diagrammatically a boat equipped with a mast 1
according to the invention, the latter being provided with all its
fittings and attachment pieces which contribute to ensuring
leaktightness and which will be described later.
[0030] In this FIG. 2, therefore, the mast 1 comprises a mast head
piece 15, a fitting 16 for attaching the spinnaker, a fitting 17
for attaching the stay and the shrouds, a fitting 18 for attaching
the crosstrees, a fitting 19 for attaching the boom and fittings 20
and 21 for the mast hole and for the mast foot respectively.
[0031] All these pieces are prefabricated by hand either in male
and female molds or on male molds with robotized winding, either
from composite material or from cast stretch-leveled resin.
According to the present invention, these various pieces are
produced so as to contribute to ensuring the leaktightness of the
mast on which they are held by adhesive bonding.
[0032] The manufacture of these attachment pieces and the way in
which they are installed on the profile of the mast 1 will now be
described.
[0033] Reference is made in the first place to FIGS. 3a to 3d which
illustrate the various manufacturing steps and in which FIGS. 3a
and 3c are views in horizontal section, FIG. 3b is a view in
vertical section of FIG. 3c and FIG. 3d is a diagrammatic plan view
illustrating one of the steps.
[0034] According to the present invention, the starting point is to
use a real or simulated profile intended for serving as a mold core
22, which core may be produced from carbon or from metal, for
example from aluminum or from steel. A countermold 23, preferably
consisting of silicone, is positioned on this mold 22. This
countermold is reinforced with the aid of glass or carbon fibers,
in order to preserve some rigidity. The mold thus obtained has
stretch-leveled in it multidirectional external and internal
fabrics, such as 24 (FIG. 3d), between which are placed, around
lost bushes 25, unidirectional threads intended for distributing
the force around the piece. The assembly thus consisting of the
external fabrics, the bushes and the internal fabrics is placed in
the silicone mold 23 (FIGS. 3b and 3c). The whole is closed on the
mold core 22, and the assembly is placed under vacuum and, if
appropriate, placed in an oven or an autoclave. Before the
countermold 23 is closed on the mold core 22, the core 22 may have
placed around it a silicone film 26 ribbed so as to obtain ducts
via which the adhesive bonding of the piece will be carried out
after the latter is installed on the profile of the mast 1, as will
be described below.
[0035] The attachment pieces produced as described above have inner
dimensions slightly smaller than the outer profile of the mast 1.
They are installed on this profile with the aid of tooling
illustrated in FIG. 4, which takes the form of a gripper designated
as a whole by the reference 27. This gripper 27 bears on the piece,
such as 29, by means of a nose 28. The gripper thus makes it
possible to keep the attachment piece open so as to make it easier
to introduce the latter on the profile of the mast 1, and, when it
is positioned in its intended location, it is sufficient to release
the pressure on the handles of the gripper so that the piece 29
assumes its place on the mast exactly, without moving from it.
After this installation, it is sufficient to inject glue via the
holes 30 provided for this purpose (these holes being obtained, for
example, by virtue of the installation of the ribbed silicone film
26 described above).
[0036] Reference is now made to FIGS. 5a to 5d which illustrate an
embodiment of the piece for attaching a stay or for the engagement
of the spinnaker 16 (see FIG. 2).
[0037] FIG. 5a is a sectional view in a horizontal plane, FIG. 5b
is a side elevation view, FIG. 5c is a sectional view in a vertical
axial plane of FIG. 5a, and FIG. 5d illustrates a detail of FIG. 5b
on an enlarged scale.
[0038] As can be seen from these figures, this attachment piece 16
consists of a horseshoe-shaped fitting 31 designed so as to be
positioned on the mast, at the same time fitting snugly with the
external shape of its profile, as described above. This piece is
adhesively bonded to the mast, using the technique described above,
and receives a stirrup 32 for anchoring the stay and for
.installing the halyard pulleys (.see FIG. 5d). This stirrup 32 is
held on the fitting 31 with the aid of a shaft, such as 33, a metal
bush 34 being interposed between the shaft 33 and support bearings
35 forming an integral part of the fitting 31. This attachment
piece 16 consists of unidirectional and multidirectional fibers
which absorb the forces exerted on the stirrup 32 in order to
transfer them to the mast 1. Ducts, such as 36, are provided for
injecting the glue onto the mast, the glue being introduced into
the ducts via the injection holes 37.
[0039] FIGS. 6a and 6b show the fitting 17 (see FIG. 2) serving for
attaching the stay and the shrouds. This piece 17, like the piece
16 described above, consists of a horseshoe-shaped fitting 38, the
wall of which fits snugly with the external profile of the mast 1
and which comprises two ribs, upper 39 and lower 39, respectively,
which receive shroud carrier stirrups, such as 40 and 40', these
stirrups being held on the fitting 38 with the aid of articulation
shafts, as seen clearly in FIGS. 6a and 6b. Installation is carried
out with the aid of a gripper 27 (FIG. 4), and securing is carried
out by adhesive bonding, as described above.
[0040] FIGS. 7a and 7b show an exemplary embodiment of the piece 18
which, according to the invention, makes it possible to support the
crosstrees and likewise to carry the shrouds. This piece likewise
consists of a horseshoe-shaped fitting 41 which is positioned on
the external profile of the mast, at the same time fitting snugly
with the shape. It comprises two ribs 41 and 41', between which is
interposed a shroud carrier stirrup 42 which bears on the
reinforcing tube 43 making it possible to transfer the force of the
shroud to the stirrup 42 in its lower and upper parts. The
crosstrees (in this exemplary embodiment, they consist of two tubes
44, 44') are supported.by an ovalized bush 45 by means of a
threaded rod 46 which is welded to the bush and onto which is
screwed another bush 47 receiving the end of the crosstree tube 44
or 44'. The installation of this fitting 18 on the mast 1 and its
securing by adhesive bonding are carried out in the way described
above.
[0041] Reference is now made to FIGS. 8a to 8c which illustrate
another exemplary embodiment of the piece supporting the crosstrees
and the shrouds. In these figures, FIG. 8a is a side elevation view
of this piece, FIG. 8b is a sectional view in a horizontal plane
and FIG. 8c is a partial front elevation view. In this exemplary
embodiment, this piece also consists of a horseshoe-shaped fitting
composed of a corrugated and ribbed skin 48. On this skin 48 are
screwed threaded rods, such as 49, at the end of which a sphere 50
is provided. A spherical bearing surface, such as 51, provided at
the end of each crosstree, such as 52, comes to bear on this sphere
50. This spherical bearing surface 51 can be slipped onto the
sphere 50 by means of what is known as a quarter-turn system. The
spherical bearing surface 51 thus makes tit possible to hold the
tubular crosstrees, such as 52.
[0042] Each shroud, such as 53 (FIG. 8c), terminates in a
hemispherical head 54 bearing on a carbon shoulder 55 by means of a
friction cup 56 preferably consisting of stainless steel. The
shoulder 55 is prolonged forward and rearward so as to receive the
crosstree supports 57, as can be seen in FIG. 8b, these supports
forming part of the horseshoe-shaped fitting 48.
[0043] The installation of this fitting and its securing to the
profile of the mast are carried out in the way described above.
[0044] Reference is now made to FIGS. 9a to 9d which illustrate an
embodiment of the leaktight mast head (designated by the reference
15 in FIG. 2). FIG. 9a is a section through this mast head in a
horizontal plane, and FIGS. 9b, 9c and 9d are respectively side
elevation, plan and front elevation views.
[0045] As can be seen from these figures, the mast head comprises a
molding 58 which is produced so as to ensure leaktightness and to
engage onto the upper part of the profile of the mast 1. This
molding has a general `hat`-shaped configuration, and it comprises
inner and outer ribs so as to ensure its hold on the mast. It
comprises a collar 60 surrounding the upper part of the mast in
order to ensure engagement on the latter, and also a projecting
part 59 for the passage of the halyards. The top of this
leaktightness piece 58 is shaped so as to receive directly either a
halyard pulley or a pulley support 61. This support may be produced
in the form of a tube or of a tube portion receiving the shafts 62
of the pulleys and the pulleys, such as 63. The pulley support 61
is held in the leaktightness piece 58 by adhesive bonding.
[0046] A cover may be provided, making it possible to mask the
pulley shafts and to house the position lights and the sensors
provided at the mast head, while at the same time ensuring the
aerodynamism of the mast head.
[0047] It can be seen that the halyards 4 redescend within the tube
3, as described above with reference to FIG. 1b. FIG. 9a likewise
shows the tubes 5 which are provided for the passage of the
electrical wires (supply for the lights, transmission of
information from the various sensors, such as anenometers etc., to
the instruments). As already mentioned above, the tubes, such as 5,
adhesively bonded to the inside of the profile of the mast may be
replaced by a partition 7, likewise adhesively bonded in this
profile.
[0048] The mast hole piece (designated by the reference 20 in FIG.
2) will now be described, which equips the mast according to the
invention and an exemplary embodiment of which has been illustrated
in FIGS. 10a and 10b FIG. 10a being a view in vertical axial
section and FIG. 10b being a plan view.
[0049] This mast hole piece consists of a circular element 64 which
is cut in such a way as to receive the profile of the mast 1. It
comes to bear on a bush 65, itself bolted to the deck 66 of the
boat. On the profile of the mast, a collar 67 is provided, which is
adhesively bonded to the profile in its part located above the deck
66, at the same time covering the bush 65, leaktightness between
the collar 67 and the bush being ensured by a lip seal 68 being
interposed.
[0050] It will be noted that, by virtue of this arrangement, the
mast benefits from some freedom of upward displacement (of the
order of a few centimeters), while at the same time the mast hole,
leaktightness and bearing functions being maintained.
[0051] Reference is now made to FIGS. 11a to 11d in order to
describe a first exemplary embodiment of a mast foot support
according to the present invention, this support having been
designated by the reference 21 in FIG. 2. In these figures, FIGS.
11a and 11b are respectively a view in vertical axial section, a
side elevation view and a front view, and FIGS. 11c and 11d are
respectively a plan view and a view in horizontal section.
[0052] In this first exemplary embodiment, the mast support
consists of a carbon piece designated as a whole by the reference
69. This piece is designed so as to shut off the lower part of the
profile of the mast 1, as can be seen clearly in FIGS. 11a and 11b,
and also the lower part of the tube 3, said lower part being
provided for the passage of the halyards. This piece has a general
`hat`-shaped configuration, and it comprises inner and outer ribs
so as to ensure its hold on the mast.
[0053] At the exit of the tube 3 for passage of the halyards, a
cage 70 for housing the pulley wheels is provided, this cage making
it possible to extract the halyards. The forces of the mast on the
boat are transmitted by means of a support 71 comprising a
spherical cavity dimensioned so as to house a sphere 72 mounted at
the end of a threaded shaft 73 screwed into a support 64 bearing on
the bottom of the boat. The vertical position of this sphere is
therefore adjustable in this way. For this purpose, a flat is
provided on the sphere 72, in order to rotate the latter and to
make it possible to raise and lower the mast. The shutoff piece, 69
comprises ribs, such as 75 (FIG. 11d), in order to ensure the
stability of the profile.
[0054] FIGS. 12a to 12c illustrate an alternative embodiment of the
mast hole piece. In this variant, the component elements of the
mast hole piece described above with reference to FIGS. 11a to 11d
are found again, but, here, the spherical support of the mast foot
is replaced by a cylindrical tube 76 which can be produced from
laminate or from cast aluminum and onto which the shutoff piece 69
is engaged, this tube supporting the mast and also the pulley wheel
box 70.
[0055] It becomes apparent from the foregoing description that the
invention makes it possible to produce carbon masts, all the
fittings of which contribute to ensuring leaktightness, this
manufacture being easy and economical to implement.
[0056] It goes without saying that the present invention is not
limited to the exemplary embodiments described and illustrated
above, but that it embraces all the variants of these.
* * * * *