WATERCRAFT HAVING A WIND-POWERED DRIVE UNIT

Abstract

A watercraft incorporating a wind propulsion system, revealing a main mast and an auxiliary mast. According to the invention, provision is made for a length of the auxiliary mast between a flexible joint and the deck as well as an included angle from the main mast and deck capable of being locked in position on variable lines.

Claims

1. A watercraft revealing a hull, a main mast and an auxiliary mast arranged on the main mast by means of a flexible joint and an auxiliary mast extending from an area of the deck in the bow of the watercraft, whereby the main mast is connected to the hull of the watercraft on the starboard side and port side, wherein a length of the auxiliary mast between the flexible joint and the deck as well as an angle between the main mast and the deck is capable of being locked in various positions.

2. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary mast reveals flexibility, preferably having an elastic modulus of less than 15 GPa, the elastic modulus preferably is in a range from 1 to 10, beneficially in a range from 1 to 6.

3. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary mast extends from an orifice in the deck or in the hull and designed to be at least partially retractable in the hull.

4. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary mast comprises tubular components arranged coaxially to one another in one section with one length of the coaxial section capable of being locked in position on various positions and the length of the section is indirectly proportional to the length of the auxiliary mast.

5. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the main mast comprises components, which show essentially elongates shape connected to the hull or deck of the watercraft at one initial end on the starboard side and portside and firmly bonded together, in particular materially-bonded, at another end.

6. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein an angle between the auxiliary mast and the main mast is in the range of 0 to 90.

7. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the main mast and the deck less than 90.

8. The watercraft according to claim 1, revealing further at least one sail fastened by means of a connecting device to the hull and/or deck, wherein the sail is joined to the main mast on a side facing away from the connecting device.

9. The watercraft according to claim 8, wherein the sail is essentially trigonal or trapezoidal shaped and which is joined, directly or indirectly, to the main mast on one side opposite the corner by means of the connecting device.

10. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the watercraft reveals a plurality of sails arranged adjacent to each other and/or on both sides of the auxiliary mast, wherein adjacent sails revealing an overlap not exceeding a 20 area percentage, referencing to the sail area with the sail in the hoisted state.

Description

[0046] The invention will now be described in closer detail by way of example using figures.

[0047] Figures used to describe the invention:

[0048] FIG. 1 Schematic top view of a watercraft according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0049] FIG. 2 Schematic side view of a watercraft according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0050] FIG. 3 Schematic side view of a watercraft according to another embodiment of the invention designed as a yacht.

[0051] FIGS. 1 and 2 each show a schematic view of a watercraft 10 according to the invention in a preferred embodiment. FIG. 1 shows the watercraft 10 as a top view, FIG. 2 as a side view.

[0052] The watercraft can be designed as a yacht, especially as an engine-powered or sail yacht, further as a dinghy, a keel boat, a keel and centreboard yacht and as a cargo or container ship.

[0053] The watercraft 10 comprises a hull 5 on which a deck 12 is set up. Arranged on the deck 12 of the watercraft 10 is a mast structure for attaching sails 4. This comprises a main mast 1 and an auxiliary mast 2.

[0054] The main mast 1 is designed as a tiltable component in the extension direction of the hull 5 towards the bow 6 and is capable of being locked in at least two positions, a maximum position (shown in FIG. 1) and a minimum position (mast lowered). The main mast 1 preferably comprises two mast components 1a and 1b essentially elongated. Preferably, the main mast 1 reveals no further elongated mast components as is apparent in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this case the two mast components 1a and 1b are firmly joined together at one end (materially and/or frictionally bonded). At another end one mast component 1a on the starboard side is joined to the hull 5 and/or the deck 12 by means of a connecting device, the other mast component 1b on the portside being joined to the hull 5 and/or the deck 12 by means of a connecting device 3. The connecting device 3 is preferably rotatable, designed for example as an articulated joint.

[0055] As an alternative to the two-piece embodiment of the main mast 1, the main mast reveals an additional elongated mast component (not illustrated) which is then arranged centrally. In this embodiment the two components 1a and 1b are arranged on a further component. This embodiment allows a compact arrangement to be applied to the main mast 1. Nevertheless, it claims more space when lowering or tilting the main mast in a central area of the deck.

[0056] The main mast 1 reveals a connection 8 with an auxiliary mast 2 in an end section facing away from the connecting device. This joint 8 is rigid or flexible, in particular rotatable.

[0057] The auxiliary mast 2 is arranged at an end facing away from the connection 8 in the bow of the watercraft on the deck 12 or on the hull 5. The auxiliary mast 2 is distinguished by revealing a variable length L. This length L corresponds to a spacing distance between the connection 8 of the main and auxiliary mast 2 and the deck 12 or hull 5 at the point where the auxiliary mast 2 it is assembled with it. The variability can be attained by the embodiment of the auxiliary mast 2 itself and/or by the possibility of retracting the auxiliary mast 2 through an orifice in the deck 12 or inside location of the hull 5, i.e. below the deck of the watercraft 10.

[0058] On the first-mentioned version the auxiliary mast 2 reveals articulated sections which allow the auxiliary mast 2 to be folded. Alternatively or additionally, it is constructed from several tubular sub-components, at least section-wise, in which case adjacent ones or at least those relevantly located form a coaxial overlap. This coaxial arrangement allows adjacent sub-components to be placed against each another and retracted into one another.

[0059] The auxiliary mast 2 is preferably designed on flexible lines. This is advantageous when retracting the auxiliary mast 2 below the deck 12 as illustrated especially in FIG. 1.

[0060] The watercraft 10 also possesses at least one sail 4 which preferably reveals a sail cloth having a trapezoidal or trigonal shape. The sail 4 is arrangeddirectly or indirectly on deckon the main mast 1, preferably on one of the sub-components 1a or 1b.

[0061] Optionally installed in the keel of the watercraft 10 is an engine forming a link to the propeller connected to the hull.

REFERENCE LIST

[0062] 1. Main mast [0063] 1a, 1b Sub-components [0064] 2 Auxiliary mast [0065] 3 Connection; joint [0066] 4 Sail [0067] 5 Hull [0068] 6 Bow [0069] 7 Keel [0070] 8 Connectionmain mast/auxiliary mast [0071] 9 Connecting devicesail deck/hull; rope winch [0072] 10 Watercraft [0073] 12 Deck [0074] L Length