Turnbuckle with electronic display device

Abstract

Shroud tensioner (1) with a power supply and a display (40) for indicating the applied shroud tension, with a sensor system (100) for detecting the applied shroud tension and displaying the shroud tension as a measured value on the display (40), characterized in that the shroud tensioner (1) has a ball bearing (70) which is arranged on a web of a sleeve-shaped ball bearing carrier (80), wherein the ball bearing carrier (80) has an internal thread, in which a chain plate (10) for a shroud can be screwed, with an outer ring (90) which rests with its housing top on the ball bearing (70), wherein the outer ring (90) is cylindrically continued downwards and connected to a lower part (130), wherein the lower part (130) has a central internal thread, in which a threaded rod (120) is screwed, wherein the threaded rod (120) is connected to a connecting fork (150).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a shroud tensioner with the further features according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Devices for measuring tensile forces are well known. For example, US 2003 / 0 074 978 A1 shows a turnbuckle equipped with a strain gauge that can be used to determine the tensile forces acting on the turnbuckle.

[0003] From US 2009 / 0 169 291 A1, a shroud tensioner is also known, the length of which can be adjusted via a cylindrical housing, for example by hand, and thus allows a quick change of the shroud tension.

[0004] DE 31 02 121 A1 shows a pressure-medium-operated tensioning device for stays, shrouds or the like of a sailing ship rig, with a cylinder part, piston part and a pivoting lever connected to the pumping device.

[0005] The object of the invention is to simplify the adjustment of a shroud tension.

[0006] This object is achieved by the shroud turnbuckle according to the invention. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0007] Advantageously, a shroud tensioner is provided with a power supply and a display to indicate the applied shroud tension, with a ball bearing arranged on a web of a sleeve-shaped ball bearing carrier, the ball bearing carrier having an internal thread, in which a chain plate for a shroud can be screwed in, with a sensor to detect the applied shroud tension and display the shroud tension as a measured value on the display, with an outer ring, which rests on the ball bearing with its housing top, the outer ring being cylindrically continued downwards and connected to a lower part, the lower part having a central internal thread, in which a threaded rod is screwed in and the threaded rod is also connected to a connecting fork.

[0008] This approach has the advantage that, in addition to the turnbuckle, no additional measuring devices are required to adjust the appropriate shroud tension. In particular, the turnbuckle according to the invention has the advantage that the shroud tension can be adjusted quickly and reliably, even during a sailing trip or during a sailing maneuver.

[0009] It is particularly useful to provide the lower part of the turnbuckle with an annular recess and a measuring ring arranged on it and to design both in such a way that the lower part and the measuring ring are reversibly deformable by a shroud tension acting on the turnbuckle. wherein the sensor system is designed in such a way that the shroud tension can be determined via the detected deformation of the measuring ring.

[0010] The design of the recess makes it possible to advantageously optimize the shroud tensioner with regard to the shroud tensions to be measured.

[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment, the connecting fork of the shroud turnbuckle has a measuring mark to simplify the adjustment of the relative position between the lower part and the connecting fork.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the lower part also has a sleeve and the connecting fork has a measuring coil, wherein the measuring coil dips into the sleeve of the lower part to different depths when the position of the connecting fork changes.

[0013] The sensor system is advantageously designed in such a way that, based on a measuring signal from the measuring coil, an immersion depth of the measuring coil into the sleeve of the lower part and thus the position of the connecting fork in relation to the lower part of the shroud tensioner can be determined.

[0014] This approach has the advantage that the position of the connecting cable can be displayed, for example, on the turnbuckle display. Another advantage is that the position can also be monitored during operation, so that a warning can be issued if the position is adjusted.

[0015] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0016] They show schematically: Fig. 1 a shroud tensioner according to the invention in perspective view, Fig. 2 the shroud turnbuckle according to the invention in cross section, Fig. 3 a detailed view of the lower part with measuring ring and sensors, Fig. 4 a top view of the solar cell with display, Fig. 5 an inventive shroud turnbuckle with measuring markings, Fig. 6 a shroud turnbuckle according to Fig. 5 in cross section, Fig. 7 a connecting fork with measuring coil.

[0017] In the following description of the preferred embodiments, like reference numerals designate like or comparable components.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a shroud turnbuckle 1 according to the invention. On the underside is a connecting fork 150 for attaching the shroud turnbuckle 1 to a ship's chainplate. On the top of the shroud turnbuckle 1, a chainplate 10 is provided for receiving a shroud. The shroud tension is adjusted via a rotatable outer ring 90, which moves an internal threaded area and thus shortens or lengthens the distance between the chainplate 10 or shroud and the connecting fork 150. Furthermore, a display 40 for displaying the set shroud tension is provided on the top side. The top side preferably has an area with solar cells 50 for power supply.

[0019] Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through the shroud turnbuckle 1 according to the invention. The chain plate 10 has an external thread and is screwed into an internal thread of a ball bearing carrier 80. The position of the chain plate 10 is fixed against the ball bearing carrier 80 by a lock nut 20. The ball bearing carrier 80 has a collar with a ball bearing 70 at its lower end, via which a sensor housing 100 and a cup-shaped outer ring 90 are rotatably mounted, and is fixed at its upper end with a lock washer 20. The cylindrical outer side of the outer ring 90 is guided downwards and connected to a lower part 130. The sensor housing 100, outer ring 90, and lower part 130 are connected to one another in such a way that by rotating the outer ring 90, the components 90, 100, and 130 are moved together.

[0020] The lower part 130 is connected to the connecting fork 150 via a threaded rod 120 or fine-thread screw 120 in such a way that by rotating the outer ring 90 the distance between the lower part 130 and the connecting fork 150 can be shortened or lengthened and thus the shroud tension can be adjusted when the shroud is tied in.

[0021] The sealing of the turnbuckle against environmental influences is achieved by shaft seals 60, 140 in the upper and lower areas of the turnbuckle 1.

[0022] Opposite the sensor system 100, a measuring ring 110 is provided on the lower part 130, via which the sensor system 100 can detect deformations of the lower part 130.

[0023] As in Fig. As shown in detail in Figure 3, the lower part 130 of the shroud tensioner has an annular recess 135 or bending area 135 over which a measuring ring 110 is arranged. When the shroud is tensioned, the lower part 130 and thus also the measuring ring 110 connected to it are deformed by the acting force. The sensor system 100 is designed such that, based on the detected measuring ring deformation, a force or shroud tension acting on the shroud tensioner and thus also the shroud tension can be determined. The sensor system can be designed here, in particular, as a capacitive sensor system.

[0024] The power supply of the sensor 100 is as in Fig. 2, by solar cells 50 mounted on the top side of the shroud tensioner. In the area of ​​the solar cells 50, there is also a display 40 for displaying the shroud tension detected by the sensor system 100, as shown in Fig. 4. The solar and display plane is connected to the outer ring and rotates with the outer ring 90 when it rotates.

[0025] Preferably, the turnbuckle is equipped with a battery that can store energy from the solar cell and, if necessary, make it available for nighttime cruising. It is also conceivable to install other power sources instead of a solar cell.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the chain plate 10 and the ball bearing carrier 80 are equipped with a coarse thread and serve for a rough length adjustment of the shroud. A typical chain plate thread is, for example, a 3 / 8" thread with a pitch of 24 / inch. The preselected length setting is fixed via the lock nut and is thus retained even when the shroud turnbuckle is subsequently actuated.

[0027] The thread of the fine-thread screw between the connecting fork 150 and the lower part 130 is preferably designed as a fine thread with a pitch of 0.5 / mm and allows fine adjustment of the shroud tension by turning the outer ring 90. In principle, the fine-thread screw 120 should have a smaller pitch than the chain plate 10.

[0028] Furthermore, it should be noted that when the angle of the shroud changes, the force is no longer transmitted axially from the shroud to the connecting fork 150 and the ship's chainplate, which can lead to incorrect force measurements. To avoid this, the connecting lugs of the connecting fork 150 can be crowned to absorb transverse forces. This procedure prevents additional moments from acting on the measuring device due to changes in the angle of the shroud.

[0029] Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, a sensor system could be provided which measures transversely to the force axis, for example on a conically shaped sleeve.

[0030] Fig. 5 shows an embodiment in which the connecting fork 150 has measuring markings 155, so that when the connecting fork 150 is screwed in or out, its position relative to the lower part 130 of the turnbuckle 1 can be read. For this purpose, the underside 130 is preferably equipped with an additional sleeve 132 into which the connecting fork 150 is inserted, facilitating the reading of the measuring markings 155. These measuring markings allow for quick coarse adjustment of the turnbuckle. In particular, markings can be provided that warn, for example, against unscrewing the connecting fork 150.

[0031] Fig. 6 shows a cross section of a shroud turnbuckle according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 5, in which the lower part 130 has a sleeve 132 beyond the shaft seal 140. The connecting fork 150 is, compared to the example according to Fig. 1 longer and has, as in Fig. 5, measuring marks 155. The ball bearing and the sensor system have been omitted to simplify the drawing.

[0032] It should be noted that the locking washer 30 is not mandatory in all embodiments. Although the ball bearing carrier 80 can move slightly into the interior of the turnbuckle without applied shroud tension, the turnbuckle 80 is pulled into the correct position when shroud tension is applied.

[0033] Fig.Figure 7 shows a detail of the lower part 130 with the fine-thread screw 120 and the connecting fork 150. In addition to, or possibly alternatively to, the measuring markings 155, a measuring coil 160 is arranged on an outer region of the connecting fork 150 such that, when a shroud tension is adjusted, the measuring coil 160 dips into the sleeve 132 of the lower part 130. Sleeve 132 and measuring coil 160 thus form an inductive sensor for determining the position of the connecting fork 150 relative to the lower part 130 of the shroud tensioner 1.

[0034] The measuring coil 160 is connected to an evaluation unit of the turnbuckle 1, so that the position of the measuring coil 160 relative to the sleeve 132 can be displayed as a measured value on the display 40 of the turnbuckle 1. This allows for quick adjustment of preferred positions of the connecting fork 150.

[0035] A further advantage is that the position can also be monitored during operation, so that a warning can be issued if the position is changed.

[0036] Sleeve 132 and lower part 130 are typically connected to each other as a single piece. However, it would also be conceivable for sleeve 132 to be screwed onto the lower part. In particular, it is also conceivable for the sleeve to be made of a different material than the lower part. List of reference symbols 1 turnbuckle 10 chainplates 20 lock nut 30 Lock washer 40 displays 50 solar cells 60 shaft seal 70 ball bearings 80 ball bearing carriers 90 outer ring 100 sensors, sensor housings 110 measuring ring 120 threaded rod, fine thread screw 130 lower part 132 sleeve lower part 135 bending range 140 shaft seal 150 connecting fork 155 measuring marks 160 measuring coil

Claims

[1] Shroud tensioner (1) with a power supply and a display (40) for indicating an applied shroud tension, with a sensor system (100) for detecting the applied shroud tension and displaying the shroud tension as a measured value on the display (40), characterized by , that the shroud tensioner (1) has a ball bearing (70) which is arranged on a web of a sleeve-shaped ball bearing carrier (80), wherein the ball bearing carrier (80) has an internal thread, in which a chain plate (10) for a shroud can be screwed, with an outer ring (90) which rests with its housing top on the ball bearing (70), wherein the outer ring (90) is cylindrically continued downwards and connected to a lower part (130), wherein the lower part (130) has a central internal thread, in which a threaded rod (120) is screwed, wherein the threaded rod (120) is connected to a connecting fork (150). [2] Shroud tensioner (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lower part (130) of the shroud tensioner (1) has an annular recess (135) with a measuring ring (110) arranged thereon, and both are designed such that the lower part (130) and the measuring ring (110) are reversibly deformable by a shroud tension acting on the shroud tensioner (1), wherein the sensor system (100) is designed such that the shroud tension can be determined via the detected deformation of the measuring ring (110). [3] Turnbuckle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting fork (150) has a measuring mark (155). [4] Shroud tensioner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the lower part (130) has a sleeve (132) and the connecting fork (150) has a measuring coil (160), wherein the measuring coil (160) dips to different depths into the sleeve (132) of the lower part (130) when the position of the connecting fork (150) changes. [5] Shroud tensioner (1) according to claim 4, wherein the sensor system (100) is designed such that, starting from a measuring signal of the measuring coil (160), an immersion depth of the measuring coil (160) into the sleeve (132) of the lower part (130) and thus the position of the connecting fork (150) in relation to the lower part (130) of the shroud tensioner (1) can be determined.

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