Articulated fin system for boat

Abstract

The present invention relates to an articulated fin system for a boat (1) having a hull (2), the fin system comprising at least two fins (10) having a respective end fixed to an element of the hull (2) of the boat (1), the two fins (10) being located on either side of a longitudinal axis of the boat (1), each fin (10) being intended to be fully submerged in a deployed position of the fin, each fin (10) further having a folded position in which the fin (10) is intended to come against the hull (2) of the boat (1), and each fin (10) having operating means configured to move the fin (10) between the folded position and the deployed position and vice versa. Abstract figure: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Articulated fin system for a boat Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of boats, in particular offshore sailing boats, and aims at a system of articulated fins movable between a folded position and a deployed position, and vice versa. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] The present invention thus falls within the field of boats, in particular ocean-going boats, such as large sailing ships or cruise ships designed to travel long distances. As is known, this type of boat is configured so that their upper deck is located high above the water and so that all of their decks remain as horizontal as possible, in particular with a heel close to zero degrees. The objective is in fact to ensure the comfort and safety of passengers during periods of navigation which may last several weeks.

[0003] Thus, these boats are generally equipped with transverse fins, located at the rear, whose lifting or diving incidence is automatically corrected in order to create a couple, the axis of which is longitudinal, in order to compensate for the heeling effect caused by the side wind.

[0004] Furthermore, there is also an attempt to improve the speed of boats, particularly large ones. To this end, "foil" systems have been developed. Thus, the most recent racing sailboats are equipped with large foils, either sliding in curved slots in their hull, or articulated above the waterline, with the aim of completely lifting their hull out of the water and considerably accelerating their speed. In operation, these large foils are partially submerged and partially sliding on the surface of the water. These foils are very bulky, whether in the deployed or folded position. Such foils are also vulnerable, even dangerous, when sailing, in the event of encountering and impacting with any drifting object.Their bulk also makes them difficult to maneuver in ports, and poorly suited to recreational offshore sailboats, as they are difficult to pilot and especially to maneuver, especially with a reduced crew. To be efficient, these foils also require the structure and contents of the sailboat to be considerably lightened, in order to allow it to rise almost completely out of the water.

[0005] These constraints are not compatible with large offshore cruising sailboats, which are comfortable, autonomous, very solid in all wind or sea conditions, and generally operated by a reduced crew. Indeed, this type of offshore cruising boat is necessarily quite heavy, because they must also carry a lot of equipment such as furniture, generators, large capacity batteries, heating and air conditioning systems, refrigerators-freezers, dishwashers or laundry washing machines, etc.

[0006] Some offshore cruising sailboats are nevertheless equipped with linear foils, extending transversely from under their hull. These foils, in the form of straight blades, contribute to accelerating the speed of the sailboat, by sliding on the surface to lift the front of the sailboat out of the water, in order to reduce its resistive torque and its wetted surface. But the piloting of these sailboats is delicate, because of the disturbances of the waves on the foils, which also cause a lot of spray. In addition, the incidence of these linear foils is not adjustable, because they are constrained by the slot in which they move to exit or re-enter the hull. Finally, as these foils are almost perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boat and to the direction of travel, they remain particularly vulnerable to drifting objects, encountered while sailing, which can get caught (nets, ropes, branches, plastic films, buoys, etc.) or cause damage to the hull in the event of a violent impact.

[0007] It should also be noted, with regard to offshore sailing boats, powered by sail force, that the latter have a high center of sail, notably located at 30%-40% of the height of their mast. This has several effects on the appearance of these offshore sailing boats. Firstly, this high center of sail contributes to heeling the boat, which reduces the sail force, despite the compensating effects of the keel. When heeling, the center of sail moves to leeward, which also contributes to bringing the boat upwind, and making it stern-hauling, according to the accepted expression; this tendency must be compensated by balancing the sails and by actions on the rudder, which therefore slows the boat down.Finally, this high sail point of ocean-going sailboats also causes the bow to sink, which generates violent braking in swells or waves, especially when the point of sail is not upwind, which delays or compromises its possible ability to plane, that is to say to "plane", and therefore to accelerate beyond its theoretical speed limit.

[0008] The present invention aims to remedy at least in part the aforementioned drawbacks and thus to enable an offshore boat, in particular a long-distance cruising offshore sailboat, which is comfortable, safe and very well equipped internally, to significantly increase its speed, in particular by 2 to 8 additional knots, while reducing its heel and drift at non-bearing speeds, and while facilitating its piloting, despite a reduced crew.

[0009] In this context, the system proposed in this document makes it possible to reduce the heel to increase the sail force, to increase the anti-drift surface to improve, in other words reduce, its heading when sailing close-hauled, to pass better through the waves by lifting the front of the sailboat and taking its bow out of the water, to reduce its tendency to pitch on each wave, to trigger any possible planing earlier, thanks to maximum support on the flat shape of the rear of the hull, and to make the boat's speed more stable by reducing the effect of lifting in the wind (ardence), or falling (limpness) at all speeds, downwind or not. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] More specifically, the invention relates to a system of articulated fins for a boat having a hull, the fin system comprising at least two fins having a respective end fixed to an element of the hull of the boat, the two fins being located on either side of a longitudinal axis of the boat, each fin being intended to be fully submerged in a deployed position of the fin, each fin furthermore having a folded position in which the fin is intended to come against the hull of the boat, and each fin having maneuvering means configured to move the fin between the folded position and the deployed position and vice versa.

[0011] The fins allow in particular to raise the bow of the boat, so as to take it out of the water, to improve the speed of the boat, while ensuring its stability.

[0012] According to one embodiment, each fin has a shape adapted to match a predefined shape of the hull of the boat, in the folded position, in which the fin is pivoted to come against a lateral flank of the hull of the boat.

[0013] Preferably, each fin comprises an anti-list portion having a bearing surface and an anti-drift portion, the anti-list portion being substantially vertical and the anti-drift portion being substantially horizontal in the deployed position of the fin.

[0014] According to one embodiment, for each fin, the maneuvering means comprise pivoting means comprising at least one pivot, adapted to pivot the fin around a pivot axis, between the folded position and the deployed position and vice versa.

[0015] Advantageously, the pivoting means are configured to be fixed to a lower part of the hull, between the keel and the chine of the boat.

[0016] This ensures that the fins always work while submerged, when they are in the deployed position.

[0017] In particular, for each fin, the maneuvering means comprise means for moving the pivot axis of the fin, configured to modify the incidence of the fin.

[0018] The fin system according to the invention may further comprise control means configured to keep the anti-listing portions of the fins horizontal.

[0019] According to one embodiment, each fin comprises a core, in particular made of titanium, and a working portion in one piece fixed to the core by means of pins, the core being fixed integrally to the operating means.

[0020] In particular, for each fin, the pins can be configured to allow separation of the working portion from the core, automatically or in a controlled manner.

[0021] Each fin may in particular comprise a cable connecting the working portion to the core, the cable being configured so that, when the working portion is detached from the core, the cable pulls the working portion to the side and / or to the rear of the boat while sailing.

[0022] According to one embodiment, each fin comprises locking means for locking an angular position of the fin between a plurality of positions including at least the folded position and the deployed position.

[0023] Advantageously, each fin has a front edge, in other words oriented towards the bow of the boat, curved towards the rear, so as to give the fin the shape of a shark or dolphin pectoral fin.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the fin system according to the invention may comprise backup means configured to automatically move each fin into the folded position.

[0025] The present invention also relates to a boat, in particular an offshore sailing boat, comprising a hull having a flat rear portion, and a fin system as briefly described above, the fin system being fixed to the hull of the boat.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the boat comprises a recess and / or a groove adapted to house in a recess of the hull at least part of the thickness of each fin in the folded position. PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and referring to the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting examples, in which identical references are given to similar objects and in which:

[0028] [Fig.l] is a schematic representation of a fin system according to the invention, mounted on a boat, seen in section from the rear of the boat.

[0029] [Fig.2] shows a schematic representation of the fin system according to the invention, according to an example comprising a pair of auxiliary fins, seen from below.

[0030] [Fig.3] shows a schematic representation of the fin system according to the invention, according to another example comprising a pair of auxiliary fins, seen from below.

[0031] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of the attachment and articulation mechanics of a fin on a hull element of the boat, according to one embodiment.

[0032] [Fig. 5] is a partial schematic representation of a longitudinal section of a fin according to an example of a fin system according to the invention.

[0033] [Fig.6] is another schematic representation of a longitudinal section of a fin according to an example of a fin system according to the invention.

[0034] [Fig.7] shows the integration of a part of working portions of fins in folded position in recesses made in the thickness of the boat's hull.

[0035] It should be noted that the figures set out the invention in detail to enable the invention to be implemented, said figures of course being able to serve to better define the invention where appropriate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] [Fig.l] shows a representation, in vertical section, of an example of a system of articulated fins 10 (or "fins" in English) according to the invention, mounted on a boat 1. The system of fins 10 comprises, in this first embodiment, a pair of fins 10 fixed to the hull 2 ​​of the boat 1, laterally, to port and starboard respectively, and matching the shape of the hull 2 ​​when they are folded upwards, in other words when the fins 10 are pivoted against the lateral flanks 21 of the hull 2 ​​of the boat 1, in the direction of the deck 3 of the boat 1. In addition to this pair of fins 10, called main fins, there may be provided, according to particular embodiments, a pair of additional fins, comprising two auxiliary fins 50 at the rear, also located on either side of a longitudinal axis from boat 1.In particular, the auxiliary fins 50 are fixed to the hull 2, close to the rudders 6, either just in front of the rudders 6, as in [Fig. 3], or, preferably, just behind the rudders 6, as in [Fig. 2]. The auxiliary fins 50 are in principle smaller than the other fins 10, and also match the shape of the hull 2 ​​in the folded position.

[0037] Preferably, the shape of the fins 10 is rounded so as to reduce the intensity of possible impacts with floating objects, as will be described in more detail below. The rounding is visible in [Fig.l], [Fig.2] and [Fig.3]. Thus, at least the front edge of each fin 10 is curved backwards, like the pectoral fins of dolphins or sharks.

[0038] With reference to [Fig.l], an embodiment with a single pair of fins 10 is shown. In this vertical sectional view seen from behind, the port fin 10 is in the deployed position while the starboard fin 10 is in the folded position, in other words in the rest position. As can be seen in [Fig.l] in particular, the fins are configured to be completely submerged, at least when in the deployed position, like the port fin 10 in [Fig.l] or like all the fins 10 in Figures 2 and 3. The fins 10 in the deployed position extend mainly in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the boat 1.

[0039] According to the embodiment shown in [Fig.l], housings 19 of reduced dimensions, which will be described in more detail below, are provided in the shell 2 to house a device for fixing and articulating each fin. The fixing and articulation device comprises in particular means 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 for operating the fins 10, which are described in detail below.

[0040] With reference to the embodiment of [Fig.l], as seen in particular with regard to the port fin 10, in the deployed position in [Fig.l], each fin has a so-called anti-drift portion 101, configured to penetrate the water in a substantially vertical manner, in other words orthogonally to the surface of the water when the boat is sailing. The anti-drift portion 101 forms an angle close to a right angle with a contiguous portion and extending to the end of the fin, called the anti-list portion 102. The anti-list portion 102 has a bearing surface capable of bearing in the water and under the surface of the water to “carry” the boat and in particular lift the front of the boat.

[0041] Figures 4, 5 and 6 show an embodiment in which a plurality of pins 12 make it possible to secure the attachment of the working portion 100 of each fin 10 to a core 11, in particular a metal core. It should be noted that this structure according to which each fin 10 comprises a core 11 on which is attached, in particular via pins 12, a working portion 100 is a preferred but non-limiting embodiment. The fins 10 may in fact not include a core and simply consist of a single-piece element connected to a fixing and articulation device attached to the hull 2 ​​of the boat 1.

[0042] With reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the pins 12 are in particular configured to ensure the attachment of the working portion 100 to the core 11. According to one embodiment, in the event of an impact in a direction corresponding substantially to the longitudinal axis of the boat 1, and therefore substantially orthogonal to the direction in which a fin 10 extends in the deployed position, if the intensity of the impact exceeds a predefined threshold, the pins 12 are configured to release and allow the separation of the working portion 100 from the core 11. In this case, a cable 13 is provided to tow the working portion 100 to the side and / or rear of the boat 1, so as to allow the recovery and repair of the fin.

[0043] According to one embodiment, when the pins 12 act in this way, like fuses, by releasing and allowing the working portion 100 to be detached from the core 11, a spring may be provided, fixed to the core 11 or to the hull 2, compressed by default when the working portion 100 is nominally fixed to the core 11, the spring decompressing and therefore pushing the working portion 100 away from the hull 2 ​​of the boat 1 so as to avoid any shock between the working portion 100 and the hull 2 ​​during detachment.

[0044] As shown in [Fig.l], the fins 10 of the fin system according to the invention are fixed to the hull 2, clearly below the water level when the boat 1 is sailing, and articulated by means of a fixing and articulation device fixed to a structural element of the hull 2. Preferably, the fins 10 are fixed to the hull 2 ​​between the chine and the keel 5, as shown in [Fig.l]. It is specified that keel is understood, in the context of the present, to mean the lowest axial part of the boat 1. The keel 5 may have, as in [Fig.l], a ballast which extends it axially downwards, so as to lower the center of gravity of the sailboat.

[0045] In particular, the fins 10 are fixed to the hull 2, on either side of the longitudinal axis of the boat 1, which passes through the keel 5, the device for fixing and articulating each fin 10 being located in the housing 19 provided in the hull 2, above the keel 5 and close to it. For example, the fins 10 are fixed substantially halfway between the keel 5 and the lateral end of the hull 2 ​​of the boat 1, on each side.

[0046] The housing 19 of each fixing and articulation device is designed not to occupy any useful volume and is preferably located under the interior floor of the sailboat, as in [Fig.l]. Each housing 19 is further isolated by a watertight reinforcing envelope 191; only the working portion 100 of each fin 10 is thus, preferably, protruding from the hull 2, when it is in the deployed position. As a variant, it is possible to provide, for the housings 19, a well-profiled half-bulb shape, in particular protruding from the hull 2, to house a part of the fixing and articulation device therein.

[0047] The fins 10 thus work, as already indicated, always entirely under the surface of the water when they are in the deployed position.

[0048] Furthermore, by moving the fins 10 away from the surface of the water, at depth, any cavitation generating a loss of lift is avoided, and no spray is generated. Thus, by tending to keep the anti-listing portion 102 parallel to the surface of the water, the underwater lift produced mainly by the fins 10 is maximized. anti-listing portions 102 of the fins 10, because they are not disturbed by the effects of waves or swell.

[0049] In addition, the anti-drift portions 101 of the fins 10, corresponding to the substantially vertical part of the fins 10 in the deployed position, form a substantial anti-drift surface and thus provide an anti-drift function. Thus, the anti-drift portion 101 of each fin 10 contributes to stabilizing the heading of the boat 1. According to one embodiment, it may be provided that the anti-drift portion 101 of each fin 10 forms a forward pinched angle equivalent to the natural drift of the hull 2, so that the boat tends to move forward strictly along the longitudinal axis of its hull 2, which in particular improves its upwind performance.

[0050] The device for fixing and articulating the fins 10 comprises means 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 for maneuvering the fins 10. The maneuvering means comprise pivoting means for pivoting the fins 10 around a pivoting axis X substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boat 1. Each fin 10 can in particular move, by this pivoting, between a deployed position and a folded position, and vice versa.

[0051] In the folded position, the fin 10 comes against the lateral flank 21 of the hull 2, whose shape it matches. On the other hand, in the deployed position, the fin 10 extends in a direction mainly transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat 1. The working portion 100 is completely submerged and the anti-listing portion 102, the bearing surface of which, is substantially horizontal, in other words parallel to the surface of the water, while the anti-drift portion 101 is substantially vertical, in other words orthogonal to the surface of the water.

[0052] The pivot axis X, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boat 1, can be slightly moved downwards or upwards, as shown in the examples of Figures 5 and 6, to allow the respective angles and directions at which the anti-drift portion 101 and the anti-list portion 102 extend in the water to be adjusted. In particular, it is thus possible, by adjusting the location of the pivoting means and the direction of the pivot axis X, to adjust the incidence of the anti-list portion 102 relative to the horizontal or relative to the orthogonal to the side of the boat 1. To this end, for each fin, the maneuvering means comprise means for moving the pivot axis X of the fin 10.These means for moving the pivot axis X may for example consist of bearings 36 articulated for example by means of axial bearing movement means 33, which may comprise a motor coupled to a worm screw or jacks, as shown in [Fig.5] and [Fig.6].

[0053] According to one embodiment, sensors are provided for measuring stresses exerted on the structure of the boat 1, for example sensors measuring the intensity of a force exerted on the shrouds. Therefore, automatic or manually triggered safeguard means may be provided for moving one or more fins 10 which were in the deployed position into the folded position, in the event of a force exceeding a predefined intensity threshold or in the event of a heel exceeding a predefined limit heel threshold. In addition, the safeguard means may allow a modification of the incidence of the fin(s) 10 in the deployed position in order to make them more or less supporting or more or less plunging.

[0054] With reference to [Fig.7], there is provided, according to one embodiment, a possible recess 23 and / or a rebate 22 arranged in the lateral flank 21 of the hull 2, corresponding to a recess provided in the flank of the hull 2 ​​of the boat 1, on each side, so as to hide in the profile of the hull 2, the shape of which it exactly matches, at least a portion of the thickness of each fin 10 in the folded position, to facilitate its passage in the water and not cause disruptive spray during navigation.

[0055] As shown in [Fig.l], it is further provided in particular that the length of the fins 10 is limited so that, in the folded position, they preferably do not protrude from the deck 3, or at least not from the railing 4 or the lifelines.

[0056] Still with reference to [Fig.l], it should be noted that the fins 10 in the deployed position make it possible to accelerate and stabilize the boat 1. Their lift function, ensured via the bearing surface of the anti-list portion 102, in particular in positive incidence, the incidence of the fins 10 being able in particular to be adjusted, as described below, makes it possible to raise the bow of the sailboat, in particular from 20 cm to 1 m, which reduces the wetted hull surface 2 and the resistant torque of the sailboat, thus improving its passage in the swell and waves, by limiting the pitching effects, and makes it possible to trigger more quickly, if necessary, its planing, by pressing it on the rear of its hull 2, which is preferably quite flat.

[0057] The fins 10 further reduce the heel and contribute to increasing the sail force, and therefore the speed of the boat 1, by means of the anti-heel function provided by the anti-heel portion 102 of each fin.

[0058] Similarly, the optional auxiliary fins 50, located at the rear of the hull 2, and preferably smaller than the pair of main fins 10, already described in detail with regard to [Fig.l], can also contribute on the one hand to stabilizing the course, by making the sailboat neither soft nor ardent, on the other hand to counterbalancing the heel, and also to triggering the planing of the boat more quickly, if necessary. For example, by adjusting their incidence so that it is negative, in other words plunging, by means of means of moving their pivot axis X, it is possible that the auxiliary fins 50 contribute to supporting the sailboat more on the rear of its hull 2, thus facilitating its possible planing.

[0059] The core 11 already briefly described above is in particular metallic, for example titanium. The core 11 forms the “core” of each fin. The core 11 is thus the fin element 10 which is pivotally mounted. The core 11 thus has a pivot axis X substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boat 1. In the case where the structure of the fin 10 does not include a core, the fin 10 being directly articulated by means of a fixing and articulation device, the fin 10 comprises the pivot axis X.

[0060] The pivot axis X, already introduced previously, is produced for example by means of two pivots respectively at the front and at the rear of the core 11, as shown in [Fig.6]. With reference to [Fig.4] and to [Fig.6], the core 11 comprises a main body elongated outwards relative to the shell 2, substantially orthogonal to the pivot axis X. According to one embodiment, the core 11 also comprises an internal protrusion 110 extending inside the shell 2, in the housing 19 housing the fixing and articulation device. This internal protrusion 110 can receive a jack, or a motor 32, or an operating screw, or gear teeth, for example.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the fin system 10 comprises locking means 35 for locking each fin 10 in the deployed position or in the folded position, respectively. These locking means 35 make it possible to relieve the pivoting means and can have several locking positions between the two extreme positions which are the deployed position and the folded position of the fins 10. The core 11 can thus be immobilized by locking means 35 in several positions, including at least the folded position and the deployed position during navigation.

[0062] According to one embodiment, control means are also provided, for example gyroscopes, to keep the anti-listing portions 102 of the fins 10 horizontal, i.e. parallel to the surface of the water when the boat is sailing, so that they remain well submerged, parallel to the surface of the water, whatever the list of the sailboat.

[0063] According to one embodiment, to adjust the incidence of the fin, in particular of the anti-list portion 102, an articulated bearing 36 may be provided on which each pivot, front and rear, is mounted. Each articulated bearing 36 then makes it possible to translate the pivot axis X in a slot, in particular vertical, and substantially perpendicular to the portion of the hull 2 ​​where this articulation is located, for example by means of a jack or a screw, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The angle of incidence of the fin 10 can thus be adjusted between different positions in which the incidence is respectively positive, in other words supporting, neutral, or negative, in other words plunging. In this way, the pivot axis X of the fins 10 can be moved.

[0064] As can be seen in [Fig.2], [Fig.3] and [Fig.6], each fin 10 has a rounded shape, curved towards the rear. In other words, the horizontal profile of each fin 10 has a shape, for example an arc of a circle, in the substantially horizontal plane in which the anti-list portion 102 extends, the arc of a circle being oriented towards the rear of the boat 1. In the preferred embodiment, at least the front edge of the anti-list portion 102 has this curvature. Preferably, the rear edge of the anti-list portion 102 has a curvature substantially parallel to or greater than that provided on the front edge.

[0065] The rearwardly curved shape of the front edge of the fin, in particular of its anti-listing portion 102, makes it possible to prevent drifting objects from getting caught while sailing, such as plastic bags, branches, seaweed, ropes, nets, buoys, etc.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the anti-list portion 102 further has a profiled shape, like an airplane wing, so as to improve its lift.

[0067] The working portion 100 of the fin 10 is preferably made of a very strong synthetic material, for example carbon, in particular lighter than the metal core 11 so as not to unnecessarily weigh down the sailboat. In particular, at least the anti-listing portion 102 is made of a very strong synthetic material, for example carbon.

[0068] The working portion 100 partially, or even completely, envelops the core 11, in particular metallic, to which it is fixed by the pins 12 visible in [Fig.4], [Fig.5] and [Fig.6] in particular. The pins are configured to improve the security of the fixing of the working portion 100 on the core 11. As described previously, in the event of a violent impact with a drifting object, the pins 12 can assume a fuse function and allow the separation of the working portion 100 from the core 11.

[0069] In practice, to move a fin 10 from the folded position to the deployed position, it is possible in particular, first, to unlock it by actuating the locking means 35 in this direction, then to give it a zero or slightly negative incidence to facilitate its descent, by means of a displacement of the pivot axis X. Then, the fin is pivoted, thanks to the pivoting means, to the deployed position. The fin 10 is then locked in the desired deployed position, by means of the locking means 35, so as to inhibit the pivoting, then it is given a desired incidence, positive, neutral or negative.

[0070] Conversely, to move a fin 10 from the deployed position to the folded position, it can be given a zero angle of attack, then unlocked, then possibly given a slight positive angle of attack in order to facilitate its ascent. Finally, it can be pivoted to its folded position before locking it in this position. To facilitate folding, a return spring 320 may be provided which rests for example on the internal protrusion 110 of the core 11, as shown in [Fig.4],

[0071] All, or part, of the means for operating the fins 10, which group together the means for moving the pivot axis X and the means for pivoting each fin 10, may be manual, or hydraulic, comprising hydraulic cylinders 32 and / or rotary motors, or electric, comprising screw-nut assemblies, which can be coupled to a return spring 320, and / or a worm screw 310 mounted on gear teeth or a rotary motor 31, or pneumatic, for example. Preferably, the operating means are controllable, or at least activatable, preferably remotely by means of electric buttons controllable from a cockpit of the boat.According to one embodiment, the various successive means of maneuvering the fins 10 are controlled automatically, by means of a computer or a programmable automaton for example.

[0072] Alternatively or in addition or as a degraded mode, manual auxiliary operating means may be provided, such as a winch handle, a manual hydraulic pump, etc. to ensure the movement of the pivot axis X and / or the pivoting of the fins 10.

Claims

Claims

1. Articulated fin system for a boat (1) having a hull (2), the fin system comprising at least two fins (10) having a respective end fixed to an element of the hull (2) of the boat (1), the two fins (10) being located on either side of a longitudinal axis of the boat (1), each fin (10) being intended to be fully submerged in a deployed position of the fin, each fin (10) further having a folded position in which the fin (10) is intended to come against the hull (2) of the boat (1), and each fin (10) having operating means (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) configured to move the fin (10) between the folded position and the deployed position and vice versa, each fin (10) having a front edge, in other words oriented towards the bow of the boat (1), curved backwards, so as to give the fin (10) the shape of a shark or dolphin pectoral fin,and each fin (10) comprising a core (11), in particular made of titanium, and a working portion (100) in one piece fixed to the core (11) by means of pins (12), and the core (11) being fixed integrally to the operating means.,

2. A fin system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each fin (10) has a shape adapted to fit a predefined shape of the hull (2) of the boat (1), in the folded position, in which the fin (10) is pivoted to come against a lateral flank (21) of the hull (2) of the boat (1).

3. A fin system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each fin comprises an anti-list portion (102) having a bearing surface and an anti-drift portion (101), the anti-list portion (102) being substantially horizontal and the anti-drift portion (101) being substantially vertical in the deployed position of the fin.

4. A fin system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, for each fin, the maneuvering means comprise pivoting means comprising at least one pivot, adapted to pivot the fin (10) around an axis of pivot (X), between the folded position and the deployed position and vice versa.

5. A fin system according to the preceding claim, wherein the pivoting means are configured to be fixed to a lower part of the hull (2), between the keel (5) and the chine of the boat (1).

6. A fin system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, for each fin, the maneuvering means comprise means (33) for moving the pivot axis (X) of the fin (10), configured to modify the incidence of the fin (10).

7. A fin system according to one of the preceding claims combined with claim 3, comprising control means configured to keep the anti-listing portions (102) of the fins (10) horizontal.

8. Fin system according to one of the preceding claims, in which, for each fin, the pins (12) are configured to allow a separation of the working portion (100) from the core (11), automatically or in a controlled manner.

9. A fin system according to claim 8, wherein each fin (10) comprises a cable (13) connecting the working portion (100) to the core (11) and configured so that, when the working portion (100) is detached from the core (11), the cable (13) pulls the working portion (100) to the side and / or rear of the boat (1) under navigation.

10. A fin system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each fin (10) comprises locking means (35) for locking an angular position of the fin (10) between a plurality of positions including at least the folded position and the deployed position.

11. A fin system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising backup means configured to automatically move each fin (10) into the folded position.

12. Boat (1), in particular an offshore sailing boat, comprising a hull (2) having a flat rear portion, and a fin system according to one of the preceding claims, the fin system being fixed to the hull (2) of the boat (1). 15

13. Boat (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising a recess (23) and / or a rebate (22) adapted to house in a recess of the hull (2) at least part of the thickness of each fin (10) in the folded position.

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