Trimaran

Abstract

A trimaran type of sailboat is provided wherein the two outrigger hulls are resiliently and pivotally connected to the central hull in such a way as to permit the central hull to heel under the force of the wind much as an ordinary sailboat. A crank-operated pulley system is provided to operate the outriggers and bodily to raise them or force them downwardly to change the buoyancy force exerted by the leeward outrigger hull and the outrigger hulls may be hoisted to positions elevated off the water or inboard of the main hull for tacking, docking, mooring, or trailering purposes.

Parent Case Text

This is a continuation-in-part of my application, Ser. No. 397,969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,440, filed Sept. 17, 1973, in turn a continuation-in-part of my abandoned application, Ser. No. 183,357, filed Sept. 24, 1971.

Description

This invention relates to trimaran sailboats and more particularly provides a new and improved multi-hull which is faster than the fastest mono-hull, has tacking agility at least equal to that of conventional mono-hulls and greater than that of conventional multi-hulls. The novel trimaran of the invention has speed equal to that of conventional multi-hulls but greater stability at large angles of heel and provides for adjustment of the stabilizing effect of the leeward outrigger hull and desirably the raising to positions off the water or inboard of the central hull of either or both outrigger hulls, as for docking or mooring purposes or to enhance tacking agility.

In accordance with the invention, in a trimaran having one central and two outrigger hulls, each outrigger hull being connected to the central hull by a pair of mutually spaced arms which are resiliently pivoted to the central hull to premit the central hull to heel to the wind with respect to the outrigger hulls in the manner of a single hull sailing vessel, I provide adjusting means operatively connected to each of the pairs of arms to forcibly lower at least the leeward outrigger hull to increase the bouyancy force exerted thereby and correspondingly to adjust its stabilizing effect on the central hull. A further feature is the provision of means for pivotally raising both outrigger hulls to positions above the water and, if desired, inboard of the central hull. Each pair of arms is preferably mounted to pivot with a rod extending parallel to a side of the central hull and resilient means are provided acting between each rod and the central hull. The adjusting means preferably comprises at least one winch mounted on the central hull and having an entrained line connected to pivot at least one pair of arms. Separate winches may be employed for operating each pair of arms or a single winch may be used with its line disposed and arranged to operate both pairs of arms simultaneously. In a preferred embodiment I mount a sheave to pivot with each rod, I provide a winch mounted on the central hull and a line entrained about the winch and in driving engagement with the sheave to pivot the rod in the desired direction or directions.

Springs may also be provided acting between each of the rods and the central hull so as resiliently to oppose the action of the winch or winches, and, if desired upon release of the winch, automatically to raise the outrigger hulls from the water. The winch may include a quick release so that the outrigger hulls will rise quickly and automatically under the influence of the springs to facilitate tacking.

In one form of the invention the adjusting means for lowering the outrigger comprises at least one winch and an entrained elastic line arranged to pivot a rod, and the resilient means acting between each rod and the central hull comprises the elastic line itself.

In the form of the invention wherein the outrigger hulls may be swung to positions inbaord of the central hull, I preferably mount the pairs of arms to pivot with rods extending parallel to each side of the central hull and I further provide levers connected to the rods for pivoting the same to raise the outrigger hulls to their inboard positions.

By way of example, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the annexed drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trimaran of the invention having winch means for adjusting the stabilizing force exerted by the leeward outrigger hull;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of outrigger hull adjusting mechanism useful in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic view showning alternative outrigger hull adjusting mechanism employing a single winch to operate both outriggers;

FIG. 4 is a perspective on an enlarged scale showing a portion of a modified outrigger adjusting mechanism wherein a winch is employed to lower each outrigger hull and separate means are provided for raising each such hull to a position inboard of the central hull, the outrigger supporting arms being shown in their lowered position; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the outrigger arms in their upper positions wherein each outrigger hull is swung to a position inboard of the central hull.

FIG. 1 illustrates a trimaran sailboat having central hull 60, mast 61, and boom 63 adapted to carry a sail or wing (not shown). The hull 60 carries a pair of outrigger hulls 62, 64. Each outrigger hull is held by a pair of arms, in the case of the hull 62 by arms 66, 67, and, in the case of hull 64, arms 68, 69. The arms are pivoted to suitable brackets 72, 74 and 76, 78, the brackets 74 and 78 being located in the fore portion of the hull 60 and the brackets 72, 76 being aft of the center of the hull.

In this embodiment the outrigger arms are rigidly attached by pins 81, 83 to rotate with rotatable rods 80, 82 which in turn are journaled at each end in the corresponding brackets. Amidships each rod 80, 82 carries a pulley or sheave 84, 86 keyed or otherwise affixed to it about which is entrained elastic line 88, 89 several turns of which pass about winches 90, 91 in turn hand-operated by cranks 92, 93.

Due to the elasticity of lines 88, 89 the central hull is permitted to heel to the wind in the manner of a single-hulled sailing vessel while simultaneously being stabilized by the leeward outrigger hull. In addition the outrigger hulls may be raised or forcibly lowered simultaneously or separated by operating the winches 90, 91 thus forcing the leeward hull down into the water to increase its buoyancy effect or raising it to decrease such effect. While the windward outrigger hull may be simultaneously raised or lowered, the adjustment will have no substantial effect on the stability of the central hull because the windward hull will normally be raised at least to some degree out of the water.

In FIG. 3 I have illustrated an alternative form of the invention employing a single winch 110 and line 112 fitted with springs 113 connected so as to operate both outriggers simultaneously, raising or lowering them in unison.

Manifestly, the presence of independent raising and lowering devices for the two outriggers and of resilient hinges independent of the elastic raising and lowering lines provides greater flexibility in the operation of the boat, all as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2. In this view only a portions of the starboard outrigger is shown. Surrounding the portions of the rod 80 which extend between the pulley 84 and the pivots 94, 96 in brackets 72, 74, are coils springs 98, 100. One end 102 of spring 98 is offset from the shaft 80 and is engaged in an opening in the bracket 72. The other end of spring 98 has an outwardly extending portion engaged with pulley 84 as indicated by broken lines at 104. Spring 100 similarly has offset ends 106, 108 engaging pulley 84 and bracket 74, respectively. Manifestly the spring ends 104, 106 could engage the rod 80 rather than the pulley 84. The pulley is mounted to rotate with the rod by set screw 105. The winch 90 operates a line 88 in turn connected to opposite ends of a belt 114 which passes around pulley 84 and drives it and correspondingly rod 80 in either direction. Arms 66, 67 are pinned to the rod 80 by pins 107, 109.

In operation of this embodiment the heeling to the wind function of the central hull against resilient resistance of the leeward outrigger is permitted by the coil springs. The outriggers may be independently raised or forcibly lowered by separate winches. The line 88 may optionally provide further elasticity to the system, as by spring connections 130 which may be tension springs or pneumatic cylinders.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 the ends 116, 118 of the brackets 72, 74 act as abutments limiting the downward swinging of th members 66, 67, which may be swung upwardly to bring the outrigger hulls inboard of the central hull by suitable operation of the winches. The belt 114 may be suitably affixed to the sheave 84 to prevent slippage.

Turning now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown an alternative arrangement by which the outrigger hulls may be resiliently urged upwardly by a set of springs and resiliently forcibly lowered by a winch driving elastic line. The outrigger hulls may be swung to positions inboard of the central hull by hand operated levers independent of the winches.

In this embodiment the numerals employed in FIGS. 1 and 2 have generally been followed, with additions as shown. The operation is generally the same with the following exceptions. The line 88 is spring connected at 130A to a belt 114A which is fastened at 116 to the sheave 84. A lever 120 is pinned to the rod 80. At the outer end of the rod 120 a line 22 passes through eye 128. The line 122 is resiliently connected at oppsite ends to brackets 72, 74 by springs 124, 126. The line 122 may be adjusted in length as desired so that the springs 124, 126 resiliently limit the downward motion of the outrigger hulls. Such hulls may be forced downwardly by tightening the winch 90 operating against the counter-force exerted by the two springs.

When it is desired to swing one or both outrigger hulls into positions inboard of the central hull it is only necessary to swing the lever 120 inboard to the position shown in FIG. 5 wherein it is clear that the outrigger hulls at the ends of the arms 66, 67 will be inboard of the central hull and in an elevated position.

It is pointed out that in the embodiments herein shown and described the placement of the resilient connections between the inboard ends of the outrigger arms and the central hull permit gross movements of the outrigger hulls. Thus in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3, and 4 and 5, either outrigger assembly may be raised vertically, or both may be raised, sufficiently to position one or both of them inboard of the central hull for mooring and docking purposes or for loading and carrying the boat on a trailer. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 the operation of the single winch swings both outrigger hulls vertically simultaneously, but the windward hull tensd to be raised at least partly out of the water by heeling action, so, for practical purposes, the working adjustment is of the leeward hull.

In any of the embodiments, it will be seen that the outrigger hulls can be raised from the water to facilitate tacking. Further, to facilitate tacking quick release mechanism (e.g. lever release 90A) may be provided whereby the downward pull of lines 88, 89, 112 can quickly be released, allowing outrigger hulls 62, 64 to rise from the water in response to the lifting forces of springs 98, 100, and of springs, line, and lever mechanisms 120, 122, 124, 126, 128.

Other embodiments of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a trimaran having one central and two outrigger hulls, each outrigger being connected to the central hull by a pair of mutually spaced arms which are resiliently pivoted to the central hull to permit the central hull to heel to the wind with respect to the outrigger hulls in the manner of a single hull sailing vessel, the improvement wherein

there are provided ajusting means operatively connected to each of said pairs of arms forcibly lower at least the leeward outrigger hull thereby to increase the bouyancy force exerted thereby and correspondingly to adjust its stabilizing effect on the central hull and means for pivotally raising said outrigger hulls out of the water, and

wherein each of said pairs of arms is mounted to pivot with a rod extending parallel to a side of the central hull and resilient means are provided acting between each rod and the central hull to permit gross movements of said outrigger hulls with respect to said central hull.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said adjusting means comprises at least one winch mounted on said cental hull and having an entrained line connected to pivot at least one pair of said arms.

3. The combination of claim 2 including a separate winch for operating each pair of arms.

4. The combination of claim 2 employing a single winch with its line disposed and arranged to operate both pairs of arms simultaneously.

5. The combination of claim 1 including a member mounted to pivot with each rod, a winch mounted on the central hull and a line entrained about said winch and in driving engagement with said member to pivot said rod in at least one direction.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said resilient means comprises springs acting between each of said rods and the central hull so as to resiliently to oppose the action of said winch.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said adjusting means comprises at least one winch and an entrained elastic line arranged to pivot a rod and said resilient means comprises said elastic line.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein levers are provided connected to said rods for pivoting the same to raise the outrigger hulls to positions inboard of said central hull.

9. The combination of claim 8 including springs connected between the central hull and said levers yieldingly to urge the outrigger hulls upwardly in opposition to said adjusting means.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said adjusting means comprises an elastic line entrained about a winch and arranged to urge at least one of said pairs of arms downwardly.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said adjusting means is disposed and arranged to pivot said rods in either direction so as when pivoted in one direction for forcibly lower one outrigger hull and when pivoted in the other direction to raise said hull out of the water.

12. The combination of claim 2 wherein said resilient means are arranged to raise the outrigger hulls from the water when the downward force exerted by said winch and line is released.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said winch includes quick release mechanism whereby said downward force can be quickly released.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said means for pivotally raising said outrigger hulls is arranged to operate automatically when said downward force is released.