Rig for a nautical means

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rig (2) for a nautical means comprising: —a reference plane intended to coincide with a symmetry plane extending in longitudinal and vertical direction of the hull of the nautical means; —at least one wing; —at least one rigid support capable of supporting said wing and transmitting a propulsive thrust to the hull of the nautical means given by the aerodynamic lift generated by the wing when it takes wind; —the wing comprising a first and a second main face opposite to each other, —the rigid support being capable of supporting the wing at least in a first operating configuration in which at least a main portion of the first or second face is facing a first side of the reference plane and in a second operating configuration in which said main portion is facing the opposite side of the reference plane; —the rigid support comprising a wing sliding path for switching from the first to the second operating position and vice versa.

Claims

1. Rig (2) for a nautical means, comprising: a reference plane (P1) that coincides with a symmetry plane extending in longitudinal and vertical direction of a hull (6) of the nautical means; at least one wing sail (4), that differs from a traditional sail in that has a wing profile for the generation of aerodynamic thrust (L) also provided with a thickness that is influential on the same aerodynamic thrust, wherein the wing can be rigid, semi-rigid, soft or inflatable, in the case of a rigid wing has articulated modules; at least one rigid support (3) capable of supporting said wing and transmitting a propulsive thrust to the hull of the nautical means given by the aerodynamic thrust generated by the wing when it takes wind; wherein the wing comprises a first and a second main face (4a, 4b) opposite to each other; the rigid support (3) being capable of supporting the wing at least in a first operating configuration in which at least a main portion of the first or second face is facing a first side of the reference plane (P1) and in a second operating configuration in which said main portion is facing the opposite side of the reference plane; the rigid support comprising a wing sliding path (18) for switching from the first to the second operating position and vice versa; wherein the support is capable of supporting the wing or a main portion thereof alternately from one side or the other of the reference plane switching from one operating configuration to the other so as to allow the wing to take wind always on the same side, which then acts as a tack in both configurations; wherein the rigid support comprises at least one mast with at least two opposed portions with respect to the reference plane and at least one connecting portion of the two opposed portions, where said two opposed portions and the connecting portion define said sliding path to generate the overturning of the wing with respect to said reference plane, said path causing the overturning of the orientation of the wing with respect to said reference plane, and said wing sail having an asymmetrical wing profile; and wherein the articulating modules are hinged to each other along adjacent edges thereof so that the articulating modules move with respect to each other during the overturning of the wing sail along the sliding path.

2. Rig according to claim 1, characterized in that each support supports a single wing only.

3. Rig according to claim 1, further comprising a means for modifying the aerodynamic thrust, to be transmitted to the hull of the nautical means through the rigid support to generate the propulsive thrust, the modification means comprise at least actuating means (17) for the wing (4) displacement between the two operating configurations, further comprising means for adjusting the thrust.

4. Rig according to claim 1, wherein said two opposed portions (9) each comprise at least one linear stretch, and wherein said connecting portion (10) comprises at least one curved stretch.

5. Rig according to claim 1, characterized in that the mast is in the shape of “U” or “O” that are symmetrical with respect to said reference plane.

6. Rig according to claim 1, wherein said wing profile comprises a proximal portion (11) to said support (3) and a distal portion (12) from said support (3), wherein said proximal portion (11) has a width greater than said distal portion (12), said wing profile being concave on one of the main faces and preferably convex on the other.

7. Rig according to claim 1, characterized in that the wing is coupled to the support and oriented in order to generate at least one maximum aerodynamic thrust directed towards the reference plane both in the first and in the second operating configuration, or is oriented in order to generate an aerodynamic thrust directed away from the reference plane both in the first and in the second operating configuration.

8. Rig according to claim 7, characterized in that the wing can be attached and detached from the support to switch from one of said maximum aerodynamic thrust directions to the other and vice versa.

9. Rig according to claim 1, wherein said wing (4) comprises a plurality of modules (13) divided along planes perpendicular to said reference plane, and wherein the association means (14) for the association, are configured to allow each module (13) to be removeable with respect to an adjacent module, each module (13) being free in rotation, at least by a predetermined angle, with respect to an adjacent module.

10. Rig according to claim 9, wherein said two opposed portions (9) each comprise at least one essentially linear stretch, wherein said driving means (17) comprise a plurality of connecting elements for the removable connection between said wing (4) and said mast (3) and at least one connecting element for each of said modules (13).

11. Rig according to claim 10, wherein said connecting elements are free in rotation on a plane essentially perpendicular to said mast (3) at least by a predetermined angle of 180°, said wing (4) being able to rotate with respect to said mast (3) by a stretch at least equal to said predetermined angle.

12. Rig according to claim 10, wherein said connecting elements are free in rotation on a plane essentially perpendicular to said mast (3) at least by a predetermined angle.

13. Rig according to claim 10, wherein said connecting elements are removable from said wing (3) and/or from said mast (4), said connecting elements having a T-shape and being rotatable with respect to said wing (3) and/or with respect to said mast (4) for the attachment of said connecting elements, and a release of the same, to/from said mast.

14. Rig according to claim 10, wherein each of said modules (13) is selectively associable to, and removable from, said mast (3), said connecting elements being slidable along the extension direction of said mast (3).

15. Rig according to claim 1, further comprising a means for modifying the aerodynamic thrust, to be transmitted to the hull of the nautical means through the rigid support to generate the propulsive thrust, the modification means comprise at least actuating means (17) for the wing (4) displacement between the two operating configurations.

16. Rig according to claim 1, wherein said two opposed portions (9) each comprise at least one linear stretch.

17. Rig according to claim 1, wherein said wing (4) comprises a plurality of modules (13), divided along planes perpendicular to said reference plane, wherein each module (13) of the plurality of modules is free to rotate, at least by a predetermined angle, with respect to an adjacent module.

18. Rig according to claim 17, wherein the association is removable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description of a preferred but non exclusive embodiment, shown by way of a non limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a nautical means equipped with a rig comprising a mast, a movable and modular wing comprising a plurality of modules in a first position, and riggings, according to the present invention;

(3) FIGS. 1bis and 1ter schematically show a sectional view according to plane P2 in FIG. 1 of the assembly of the wing on the mast according to two different orientations;

(4) FIG. 2 shows the nautical means in FIG. 1 with the above wing in a second position, with a relative enlarged detail;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view along a plane parallel to the above mast of the wing of the nautical means in FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along a plane perpendicular to the above mast of a module of the wing and of the mast of the nautical means in FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 5 shows the section of FIG. 4 in three different moments during an operation of removing a module from the mast;

(8) FIG. 6 shows the nautical means in FIG. 1 during the removal of a module of the wing from the mast;

(9) FIG. 7 shows the nautical means in FIG. 6 after the removal of a module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) With reference to the above figures, reference numeral 1 generally indicates a nautical means equipped with a rig 2 comprising a mast 3, a wing 4 and means for modifying the thrust, according to the present invention.

(11) The nautical means according to the present invention may be of any type, such as a vessel, a boat or a ship, and according to the examples in the figures it is represented with a main body 5 essentially formed by a hull 6 and a deck 7.

(12) Rig 1 comprises a symmetry plane P1, coincident with the symmetry plane extending in the longitudinal and vertical direction of the nautical means, i.e. a vertical plane extending from bow to stern. However, embodiments in which the symmetry plane of the hull is only a reference plane for an asymmetrical rig with respect thereto are not excluded.

(13) In detail, mast 3 comprises two feet 8 for the association, preferably removable, with the main body 5 of the nautical means 1, from which two portions 9 extend which are opposite with respect to plane P1 and joined together by a connecting portion 10.

(14) According to the examples in the figures, the two opposed portions 9 are essentially linear while the connecting portion 10 is essentially curved and, therefore, mast 3 as a whole has a shape of an inverted U, closed on the main body 5 of the nautical means 1.

(15) The opposed portions 9 and the connecting portion 10 define a sliding path 18 (best seen in FIG. 5) along the entire extension of the mast that allows for the passage by sliding of the wing from one of the opposed portions to the other and vice versa, thus causing the overturning of its orientation with respect to plane P1. The positioning of the wing, or of a main portion thereof, on one or the other of the opposed portions 9 of mast 3 are said first and second operating configurations.

(16) According to the invention, wing 4, which is removably associated with mast 3, is movable between the two opposed portions 9 of mast 3 itself by virtue of the aforesaid modification means which include actuating means (17) for the displacement of the wing at least along mast 3 and active control means (19) on the actuating means, as will become apparent hereinafter.

(17) According to the invention, wing 4 has an asymmetrical wing profile, according to the examples of the figures a concave-convex profile, possibly laminar concave-convex, not being however excluded the possibility to contemplate different wing profiles, such as a plano-convex, biconvex asymmetrical, or even a symmetrical wing profile.

(18) According to the examples in the figures, the wing profile of wing 4, and thus the wing itself, comprises a proximal portion 11 to mast 3 and a distal portion 12 from mast 3, in which the proximal portion 11 has a greater width than the distal portion 12.

(19) Still with reference to wing 4, according to the invention, it should be noted that it comprises a plurality of modules 13 advantageously divided along planes perpendicular to mast 3, and association means 14 for the association of each module 13 with an adjacent module.

(20) The association means 14 allow a removable association of a given module 13 to each module adjacent thereto and may consist, for example, of hinges, snap association means, hooks, adhesive association means, elastic association means, tearing association means or zippers, in the example in the figures the association means 14 being represented by hinges.

(21) In particular, according to the examples in the figures, the association means 14 in the form of hinges include, for two adjacent modules 13, a pair of passages 15 for each module, and then pairs of opposed passages in the adjacent modules, and a pair of pins 16 which removably engage passages 15, not being however excluded the possibility of providing a different number of passages and pins, even a single pin that removably engages all opposed passages in adjacent modules.

(22) According to the invention, it should be noted that each module 13 is free in rotation, at least by a predetermined angle, with respect to an adjacent module, wing 3 thus being able to bend to slide on mast 3 and switch from one to the other of the two opposed portions 9, by virtue of the driving means.

(23) As regards the driving means, indicated with reference numeral 17, it should be noted that they advantageously comprise a plurality of connecting elements for the removable connection of wing 4 to mast 3, and preferably comprise at least one connecting element for each module 13 of wing 4, thus being able to selectively remove a desired module 13 from wing 4 and then from mast 3, or associate a module 13 to wing 4, and then to mast 3, even when wing 4 is associated to mast 3, and thus while sailing (reefing), not being however excluded the possibility of providing a number of connecting elements less than the number of modules of the wing, the modules being however mutually associated.

(24) In detail, the moving means 17, and thus the connecting elements, are slidable along the sliding path 18 defined by mast 3 along its development direction, for example thereon or therein, as shown in the examples in the figures, the sliding path having in the latter case a profile provided with a groove having a widened bottom, the groove for example having a T section.

(25) In addition, the moving means 17, and thus the connecting elements, are free in rotation with respect to mast 3, in particular on an plane essentially orthogonal to mast 3, at least by a predetermined angle A (FIGS. 1bis and 1ter), preferably an angle of about 180°, i.e. an angle of between about −90° and about +90° with respect to an alignment position in which wing 4 is essentially parallel to plane P1.

(26) Angle A affects the thrust, so it can be adjusted as desired by the user by means for adjusting the aerodynamic drift 90, such as ropes 91 that secure the wing relative to the hull.

(27) In this way, wing 4 can rotate with respect to mast 3 by a distance equal to the above angle, the connecting elements being movable with respect to mast 3 and also fixed to wing 4 itself.

(28) In this regard, it should be noted that for the above removable association of wing 4, thus of modules 13, to mast 3, the driving means 17, and thus the connecting elements, are removable from the wing and/or from the mast.

(29) According to the examples in the figures, the driving means 17, and thus the connecting elements, are shown removable from mast 3, and in particular they are shown rotatable with respect to the wing and the mast and with a T-shape, for hooking or releasing the same to/from mast 3.

(30) With regard to the active control means on the driving means 17, it should be noted that they may be manual actuation means, such as cables, ropes and lines, or mechanical actuation means, electrical actuation means, pneumatic actuation means as well as means comprising a system of counterweights or a combination of such means.

(31) The examples in the figures show control means 19 in the form of ropes.

(32) The examples in the figures also show, by means of arrows, the movements that the wing, the modules of the wing itself, the wing and module driving means and the control means can perform.

(33) With reference to FIG. 1bis, it schematically shows that when the wind impinges the wing in the direction of arrow W, the latter generates an aerodynamic thrust, that is, a thrust in the direction of arrow L. This thrust is transmitted to the hull by the mast, thus generating the propulsive thrust T, also maintained in the desired direction by means of rudder 95.

(34) In this example, wing 4 is associated with mast 3 with such an orientation that thrust L is directed away from plane P, according to an angle with respect thereto that depends on the adjustment angle A. In the case of wind aft, one might get to have a thrust L parallel to P1.

(35) Wing 4 has a main face 4a used as tack facing plane P1 both in the first and in the second operating configuration, and another main face 4b opposite to 4a.

(36) In the example in FIG. 1ter, the orientation of the wing (in particular of faces 4a and 4b of the asymmetric concave/convex example shown) is opposite compared to that in FIG. 1bis in the two operating configurations. This causes thrust L to be in this case directed towards plane P1 in the same wind conditions.

(37) It is possible to contemplate rigs in which wing 4 can be disassembled from the mast and reassembled with reversed faces 4a and 4b to switch from the orientation in FIG. 1bis to that in FIG. 1ter and vice versa, as well as wigs in which the wing can be coupled to mast 3 with only one of said two orientations.

(38) The advantages of the present invention already appeared in the above description can be summarized by observing that a rig for a nautical means and a nautical means comprising the same rig are provided, which allow higher overall performance compared to those achieved by nautical means equipped with rigs according to the prior art.

(39) The rig and the nautical means according to the present invention allow, in fact, to take the wind always on the same side of the wing, with a significant increased aerodynamic thrust (predictably from 20% to 50%), thereby increasing the performance both as regards speed and in terms of upwind that can follow routes of various degrees closer to the wind direction.

(40) Moreover, with particular reference to the embodiment of the present rig as an inverted U, the more distant is the wing from the reference plane P1 in the operating configurations (i.e. the wider the U in the illustrated example), up to the preferred case of having the mast joined to the hull at the edges as in the illustrated examples, the greater is the floor area of the nautical means compared to single-mast solutions, and the location of the sailors is no longer bound or limited by the arrangement of the mast, the boom and/or some riggings with respect to the main body of the nautical means.

(41) Moreover, due to the modularity of the wing, the operations of rigging and derigging of the nautical means are considerably facilitated compared to current wings.

(42) The wing modularity also allows varying the surface of the wing itself, and thus of the element which generates the aerodynamic thrust as desired, even during navigation with rigged nautical means and wing mounted and associated with the mast.

(43) Several changes and modifications may be made by the man skilled in the art to the present invention, in the illustrated and described embodiments, in order to meet contingent and specific requirements, all falling within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.