System for furling boat sails

Abstract

The system (1) for furling boat sails comprises: at least one mast (2); at least one boom (3) mounted on the mast (2), the boom (3), in use, extending cantilevered from the mast (2); at least one boat sail (4) connected, in use, to the mast (2) and to the boom (3), the sail (4) being provided with at least one hoisting side (5) extending, in use, substantially along the mast (2) and at least one base side (6) extending, in use, substantially along the boom (3); the boom (3) comprising at least one furling body (7) rotating around an axis of rotation (A) and the sail (4) being rolled and / or unrolled around the furling body (7) as a result of the rotation of the latter around the axis of rotation (A); wherein the sail (4) comprises: a wind catching surface (8); photovoltaic means (9), configured to convert solar light radiation into electrical energy and distributed over the catching surface (8).

Description

[0001] SYSTEM FOR FURLING BOAT SAILS

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a system for furling boat sails.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] Some sail gathering systems are known which are employed to enable the sail to be lowered and stored neatly.

[0006] In this way, known systems prevent the lowered sail from being damaged, impairing the use thereof, and / or being in the way of normal boat operations.

[0007] In general, this type of systems makes use of appropriate hauling mechanisms that allow the sail to be folded neatly along the mast or along the boom.

[0008] In addition, such systems make use of special lines or retaining members to tie the lowered sail together with the mast or the boom.

[0009] In this way, the systems of known type allow minimizing the overall dimensions of the lowered sail and preserving the soundness thereof.

[0010] However, this type of systems is susceptible to some refinements.

[0011] In particular, the systems for lowering the sail and tying it to the mast or to the boom are operationally complex to use, particularly in uncomfortable working conditions, e.g. strong winds, rough seas and the like.

[0012] In addition, the use of this type of systems proves inconvenient to gather the new generation of sails provided with, e.g., photovoltaic means.

[0013] In fact, it is well known that the photovoltaic means, such as e.g., solar cells or panels, are composed of modules, often made in the form of panels, which are characterized by a non-negligible stiffness that makes them very fragile and easily prone to breakage, particularly when subjected to folding operations such as those carried out through the known type of gathering systems used to lower the sail and tie it to the mast or to the boom.

[0014] This drawback makes the systems of known type very complex and inconvenient to use. of the Invention

[0015] The main aim of the present invention is to devise a system for furling boat sails which allows the sail to be stored conveniently and quickly. A further object of the present invention is to devise a system for furling boat sails which allows the sail to be stored safely without damaging it.

[0016] An additional object of the present invention is to devise a system for furling boat sails which also allows sails provided with photovoltaic means to be stored safely without damaging them.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to devise a system for furling boat sails which allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome within the framework of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.

[0018] The aforementioned objects are achieved by this system having the characteristics of claim 1.

[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a system for furling boat sails, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example in the attached tables of drawings in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic axonometric view of the system according to the invention;

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic view of a component of the system according to the invention;

[0022] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of some components of the system according to the invention;

[0023] Figure 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a part of the system according to the invention;

[0024] Figure 5 is a detailed view of some elements of the system according to the invention;

[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic view of the sail during the transition from the fully open configuration to the partly open configuration;

[0026] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 6;

[0027] Figure 8 is a schematic view of the sail in the partly open configuration;

[0028] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a detailed view of some components of the system according to the invention;

[0029] Figure 11 is another detailed view of the same components shown in Figure 10. Embodiments of the Invention

[0030] With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a system for furling boat sails.

[0031] The system 1 for furling boat sails comprises at least one mast 2.

[0032] Appropriately, the mast 2 is arranged substantially vertically and is preferably mounted on a boat.

[0033] Preferably, the mast 2 is a boat mast adapted to hold at least part of a sail.

[0034] According to the invention, the system 1 comprises at least one boom 3 mounted on the mast 2.

[0035] Appropriately, the boom 3, in use, extends cantilevered from the mast 2.

[0036] According to the invention, the system 1 comprises at least one boat sail 4 connected, in use, to the mast 2 and to the boom 3.

[0037] Appropriately, the sail 4 is provided with at least one hoisting side 5 extending, in use, substantially along the mast 2 and at least one base side 6 extending, in use, substantially along the boom 3.

[0038] According to the invention, the boom 3 comprises at least one furling body 7 rotating around an axis of rotation A.

[0039] In addition, the sail 4 is rolled and / or unrolled around the furling body 7 as a result of the rotation of the latter around the axis of rotation A.

[0040] Specifically, the sail 4 is rolled and / or unrolled around the furling surface 12 of the furling body 7.

[0041] In other words, the furling body 7 defines a furling surface 12 around which the sail 4 is rolled and / or unrolled.

[0042] Advantageously, the furling body 7 extends longitudinally along the axis of rotation A.

[0043] Preferably, the furling body 7 extends substantially along the boom 3.

[0044] Further embodiments of the system 1 cannot however be ruled out wherein the furling body 7 may coincide with the boom 3. Preferably, the system 1 comprises rotational means, not shown in the figures, of the furling body 7 around the axis of rotation A.

[0045] For example, the rotational means are motorized means, preferably of the electric type, adapted to impart the rotary motion to the furling body 7 around the axis of rotation A.

[0046] Conveniently, the sail 4 comprises a wind catching surface 8.

[0047] Preferably, the term catching surface 8, employed with reference to the sail 4, is intended to refer to the surface area of the sail 4 which, in use, unfolds to the wind and substantially defines the lift of the sail 4.

[0048] Advantageously, the sail 4 comprises photovoltaic means 9 configured to convert solar light radiation into electrical energy and distributed over the catching surface 8.

[0049] Preferably, the term photovoltaic means 9 means any electronic device configured to convert solar light radiation into electrical energy, such as e.g. photovoltaic cells and the like.

[0050] For example, the term photovoltaic means 9 means photovoltaic fabric(s), flexible or semi-flexible photovoltaic cell(s).

[0051] Specifically, the sail 4 defines on the catching surface 8 one or more free portions

[0052] 10 which are free from the photovoltaic means 9 and one or more occupied portions 11 which are occupied by the photovoltaic means 9.

[0053] In addition, the furling body 7, preferably the furling surface 12 thereof, has a furling section 13 which defines at least one supporting stretch 14 and at least one receiving stretch 15 adapted to receive, when the sail 4 is rolled onto the furling body 7, one or more of the occupied portions 11 and one or more of the free portions 10, respectively.

[0054] In other words, when the sail 4 is furled onto the furling body 7, the photovoltaic means 9 are arranged substantially overlapping the supporting stretch 14, as shown in Figure 3.

[0055] Specifically, the sail 4 is furled onto the furling body 7, so as to define several layers overlapping each other and so as to bring one or more occupied portions

[0056] 11 overlapping each other to the supporting stretch 14. This expedient allows the occupied portion 11, i.e., the portion with the photovoltaic means 9, and the free portion 10, i.e., the catching surface 8, to be positioned to compact around the furling body 7 at different stretches of the furling section 13.

[0057] In fact, the supporting stretch 14 and the receiving stretch 15 do have one or more different geometric characteristics from each other.

[0058] Preferably, the geometric characteristics of the supporting stretch 14 and of the receiving stretch 15 make these stretches distinguishable, e.g. visually, from each other.

[0059] Conveniently, the supporting stretch 14 and the receiving stretch 15 are continuous stretches with respect to each other.

[0060] Further embodiments of the system 1 cannot, however, be ruled out wherein the sail 4 may define the free portions 10 and the occupied portions 11 and wherein the supporting stretches 14 and the receiving stretches 15 are the stretches of a furling section 13 having a substantially circular conformation.

[0061] In particular, the photovoltaic means 9 have a predefined folding strength. Preferably, the term folding strength employed with reference to the photovoltaic means 9 is intended to indicate a mechanical (folding) stress beyond which the photovoltaic means 9 are folded to the point of irreversible structural and / or functional damage.

[0062] Advantageously, the supporting stretch 14 has one or more geometric characteristics depending on the predefined folding strength of the photovoltaic means 9, so as to reduce the stress suffered by the latter when they are furled onto the furling body 7.

[0063] In other words, when the sail 4 is furled onto the furling body 7, the photovoltaic means 9 which are pushed under pressure around the furling body 7, in this case at the supporting stretch 14, undergo less mechanical stress than the predefined folding strength.

[0064] Conveniently, the supporting stretch 14 is substantially flat or curved with a greater radius of curvature than the receiving stretch 15. Specifically, the photovoltaic means 9 comprise a plurality of photovoltaic sets 16, each defining a corresponding occupied portion 11.

[0065] In more detail, the photovoltaic sets 16 are spaced apart from each other to define the free portions 10.

[0066] In other words, the photovoltaic sets 16 are separated from each other by one or more free portions 10.

[0067] Preferably, each photovoltaic set 16 occupies an occupied portion 11 extending, in use, substantially parallel to the boom 3 and to the other occupied portions 11 as shown in Figure 1.

[0068] Similarly, the free portions 10 extend, in use, substantially parallel to each other and to the boom 3, as shown in Figure 1.

[0069] It cannot, however, be ruled out that the sail 4 may comprise a surplus, so-called “roach” substantially where the boom 3 is located.

[0070] Such a surplus of sail 4 allows the sail 4 to inflate with the wind without remaining fully taut, i.e., “flat”, between the boom 3 and the mast 2. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that, at such a surplus of sail 4, the occupied portions 11 which are occupied by some photovoltaic sets 16 may extend substantially transverse to the boom 3. In particular, the occupied portions 11 arranged at the surplus of sail 4 are spaced apart by respective free portions 10 and have different inclinations with respect to the boom 3 from each other.

[0071] In particular, the inclination of the occupied portions 11 successively adjacent decreases progressively as the distance from the boom 3 increases, until they become substantially horizontal.

[0072] Conveniently, the sail 4 comprises a plurality of separating bodies 17, where each separating body 17 is placed between two photovoltaic sets 16 to keep the latter separate and ensure the proper placement of the occupied portions 11 at the respective supporting stretches 14.

[0073] In particular, the separating bodies 17 extend, in use, substantially parallel to the hoisting side 5.

[0074] In more detail, when the sail 4 is furled onto the furling body 7 the separating bodies 17 are arranged at corresponding receiving stretches 15. Conveniently, the furling section 13 defines a plurality of supporting stretches 14 and a plurality of receiving stretches 15, preferably arranged alternately with each other. In other words, a receiving stretch 15 is placed between each pair of supporting stretches 14 and vice versa.

[0075] Advantageously, each supporting stretch 14 is adapted to receive one or more corresponding occupied portions 11 and each receiving stretch 15 is adapted to receive one or more corresponding free portions 10.

[0076] Conveniently, the extension of one or more free portions 10 increases (preferably gradually) as the distance from the axis of rotation A increases.

[0077] In other words, the distance between one or more successively adjacent occupied portions 11 increases as the distance from the axis of rotation A increases.

[0078] This expedient makes it possible to offset for the gradual increase in the diameter of the furling body 7 due to the furling of the sail 4 and to keep the occupied portions 11 overlapping each other at the respective supporting stretches 14. Conveniently, the furling section 13 has trilobed conformation.

[0079] Specifically, this conformation is defined by three supporting stretches 14, having equal radius of curvature, and three receiving stretches 15, having equal radius of curvature and less than the radius of curvature of the supporting stretch 14.

[0080] In more detail, the receiving stretches 15 alternate with the supporting stretches 14 and define three lobes of the trilobed conformation.

[0081] Advantageously, the trilobed conformation ensures the smallest circumferential overall dimension.

[0082] Further embodiments of the system 1 cannot however be ruled out wherein the furling section 13 may have different conformation, e.g. to define a larger number of lobes.

[0083] Preferably, the sail 4 has a substantially triangular conformation, that is, it is provided with a leech side 18 that, in use, extends substantially obliquely between the base side 6 (preferably arranged, in use, substantially horizontal) and the hoisting side 5 (preferably arranged, in use, substantially vertical) to define a sail 4 of substantially triangular conformation.

[0084] Therefore, the sail 4 furled around the furling body 7 results in a larger diameter increase onto the furling section 13 as it approaches the mast 2.

[0085] Conveniently, the furling section 13 has a reduced width in the proximity of the mast 2.

[0086] Advantageously, this reduced width offsets for the increase in diameter of the furling section 13 due to the furling of the sail 4.

[0087] In other words, this expedient allows the sail 4 to be furled along a resultant furling body (the diameter of which is defined by the diameter of the furling body 7 added to the diameter increment determined by the sail 4 furled around the same body) having a diameter substantially constant along its extension.

[0088] This expedient allows the sail 4 to be furled around the furling body 7 in a neatly maimer, thus reducing any twisting and mechanical stresses.

[0089] Conveniently, the system 1 comprises at least one base hauling line 19 connected, in use, to the sail 4 at a connecting point 20.

[0090] In addition, the system 1 comprises at least one reefing line 21 connected, in use, to the sail 4 substantially at a reef 22.

[0091] Again, the system 1 comprises at least one hauling sheave 23, associated with the furling body 7 and adapted to receive the hauling line 19.

[0092] In addition, the system 1 comprises at least one reefing sheave 24, which can be coupled movable in rotation around the furling body 7 and adapted to receive the reefing line 21.

[0093] Additionally, the sail 4 is movable between at least one fully open configuration, wherein it is completely unrolled from the furling body 7 and is hauled as a result of the pull of the hauling line 19, and at least one partly open configuration, wherein it is partly rolled around the furling body 7 and is hauled as a result of the pull of the reefing line 21.

[0094] Preferably, the term “to haul” employed with reference to the sail 4 means the operation of pulling tight the base side 6 of the sail 4.

[0095] Specifically, the hauling sheave 19 and the reefing sheave 24 are arranged along the furling body 7 in succession, with the hauling sheave 19 preceding the reefing sheave 24 away from the mast 2.

[0096] Advantageously, the system 1 comprises coupling means 25 for coupling the reefing sheave 24 to the furling body 7.

[0097] Specifically, the coupling means 25 are operable as a result of the rotation of the furling body 7 between at least one coupling configuration, wherein the reefing sheave 24 rotates locked together with the furling body 7, and at least one free configuration, wherein at least the reefing sheave 24 is at least partly free to rotate with respect to the furling body 7.

[0098] More specifically, in the fully open configuration, the coupling means 25 are in the free configuration.

[0099] Conveniently, during the transition from the fully open configuration to the partly open configuration the coupling means 25 remain in the free configuration.

[0100] Specifically, the transition from the fully open configuration to the partly open configuration occurs as the result of the rotation of the furling body 7 around the axis of rotation A in a furling way of rotation.

[0101] Conveniently, during the transition from the fully open configuration to the partly open configuration, the reefing sheave 24 substantially remains in a fixed position, while the furling body 7 rotates in the furling way of rotation.

[0102] In particular, the fixed position is kept thanks to the recovery of the reefing line 21.

[0103] Once the partly open configuration is achieved, an additional rotation of the furling body 7 in the furling way of rotation causes the coupling means 25 to move to the coupling configuration, which in turn causes the reefing sheave 24 to rotate locked together with the rotation of the furling body 7.

[0104] In particular, the sail 4 is movable to a fully closed configuration, wherein it is completely furled around the furling body 7.

[0105] More specifically, during the transition between the partly open configuration and the fully closed configuration, the coupling means 25 are in the coupling configuration.

[0106] Appropriately, the transition between the partly open configuration and the fully closed configuration is caused by the rotation of the furling body 7 in the furling way of rotation.

[0107] Appropriately, the transition from the partly open configuration to the fully open configuration is caused by the rotation of the furling body 7 in an opposite way of rotation and contrary to the furling way of rotation.

[0108] Specifically, the transition from the fully closed configuration to the partly open configuration is caused by the rotation of the furling body 7 in an opposite way of rotation and contrary to the furling way of rotation.

[0109] Conveniently, the coupling means 25 comprise at least one connecting member 26 positioned between the reefing sheave 24 and the furling body 7 and furling substantially around the furling body 7 as a result of the rotation of the latter.

[0110] In addition, in the coupling configuration, the connecting member 26 is completely tightly furled, preferably at maximum tension, substantially around the furling body 7, so as to drag the reefing sheave 24 locked together in rotation with the furling body 7.

[0111] In the free configuration, on the other hand, the connecting member 26 is loosely furled, preferably at minimum tension, by the furling body 7.

[0112] In other words, in the coupling configuration, the connecting member 26 is pulled tight substantially around the furling body 7, substantially defining a rigid joining body between the reefing sheave 24 and the furling body 7.

[0113] In the free configuration, on the other hand, the connecting member 26 is substantially loose, i.e., it defines a surplus as a result of the progressive rotation of the furling body 7 and is gradually rolled up and pulled tight substantially between the reefing sheave 24 and the furling body 7.

[0114] Specifically, the reefing sheave 24 is coupled movable in rotation around the furling body 7 by the interposition of a substantially coupled ring 27, free to rotate, around the furling body, as shown in Figure 8.

[0115] In addition, the furling body 7 comprises a flange element 28 arranged, in use, substantially facing the ring 27.

[0116] Advantageously, the connecting member 26 is placed between the ring 27 and the flange element 28.

[0117] Conveniently, the connecting member 26 is a coil spring.

[0118] Preferably, the coil spring is centered around the furling body 7.

[0119] Conveniently, the furling body 7 is at least partly hollow to define at least one cavity 29 adapted to house at least one part of the hauling line 19 within it.

[0120] Advantageously, the hauling line 19 comprises two movable coupled stretches which are mutually rotating around the axis of development of the hauling line 19 (substantially when the latter is taut) through the interposition of a coupling member, not shown in the figures, arranged along the hauling line itself Specifically, such a coupling member enables the transmission of the pull between the two stretches of the hauling line 19 and simultaneously prevents the rotation from being transmitted between the same stretches.

[0121] Specifically, the hauling line 19 is inserted within the cavity 29 downstream of the hauling sheave 23. This prevents the hauling line 19 from interfering with the reefing line 21.

[0122] Preferably, the system 1 comprises one or more electric cables, not shown in the figures, and configured to conduct electrical energy from the sail 4 to a fixed point on the mast 2.

[0123] Advantageously, the system 1 comprises: at least one electric cable 35 connected to the photovoltaic means 9 and having at least one first end 36 attached to a fixed point 41 of the furling body 7 and at least one second end 37 connected to the mast 2; at least one elastic body 38 placed between the furling body 7 and the electric cable 35, the elastic body 38 retaining at least one portion of the electric cable 35 spaced apart from the mast 2 and substantially dividing the electric cable itself into at least a first running length 39 moving away from the mast 2 starting from the fixed point 41 and into at least a second running length 40, substantially opposite the first running length 39 and moving close to the mast 2.

[0124] In other words, the electric cable 35 extends, within the cavity 29, along a substantially predefined path away from the mast 2 starting from the fixed point of the furling body 7 and then reverses its path and runs the same predefined path in reverse until it reaches the mast 2.

[0125] Conveniently, the electric cable 35 is held by the elastic body 38 at the reversal point of its own path and thus defines the first running length and the second running length.

[0126] Specifically, the extension of the elastic body 38 is elastically increased and reduced as a result respectively of the twisting of the running lengths on themselves and of the stretching of the running lengths 39, 40, caused by the rotation of the furling body 7 depending on the way of rotation of the latter.

[0127] In fact, the running lengths 39, 40 twist together, thus reducing the overall extension of the electric cable 35 within the cavity 29 and stretch, increasing the overall extension of the electric cable 35 within the cavity 29, depending on the way of rotation of the furling body 7.

[0128] As a result, the elastic body 38 holds the electric cable 35 substantially taut between the fixed point and the mast 2, and the portion of the electric cable 35 from the same elastic body moves close to and away from the mast 2 during the twisting and during the stretching of the running lengths 39, 40, respectively.

[0129] Specifically, the extension of the elastic body 38 increases and decreases elastically to offset for the reduction and increase in extension of the electric cable 35 during the rotation of the furling body 7, respectively.

[0130] In this way, the rotation of the furling body 7 causes the electric cable 35 to twist on itself, which twist is distributed over a greater length than the minimum length of cable sufficient to pass through the cavity 29, hence reducing the mechanical stress to which the electric cable 35 is subjected.

[0131] Conveniently, the electric cable 35 extends from the first end 36 along the mast and then detaches, preferably at the tack comer, and enters the cavity 29 at the fixed point 41.

[0132] Advantageously, the furling body 7 defines at least one opening 30, 31 which sets the cavity 29 in communication with the outside of the furling body 7 and crossed by the hauling line 19.

[0133] In addition, the system 1 comprises at least one idler sheave 32, 33 associated with the furling body 7 and adapted to guide the hauling line 19 through the opening 30, 31.

[0134] Specifically, the furling body 7 defines: at least one inlet opening 30 through which the hauling line 19 is inserted within the furling body 7; at least one outlet opening 31 through which the hauling line 19 exits the furling body 7.

[0135] In addition, the system 1 comprises: at least one inlet idler sheave 32 inserted within the cavity 29 and adapted to guide the sliding of the hauling line 19 through the inlet opening 30; at least one outlet idler sheave 33 adapted to guide the sliding of the hauling line 19 through the outlet opening 31.

[0136] Preferably, the inlet idler sheave 32 is arranged in the proximity of the hauling sheave 23.

[0137] Preferably, the outlet idler sheave 33 is arranged in the proximity of one end 34 of the furling body 7, such as the end of the furling body 7 opposite the mast 2. Specifically, the idler sheaves 32, 33 place the hauling line 19 coaxial to the furling body 7, preferably to the axis of rotation A of the same.

[0138] In this way, during the rotation of the furling body 7, the hauling line 19 rotates substantially on itself without interfering with the reefing line 21.

[0139] Preferably, the sail 4 is a mainsail.

[0140] According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a boat comprising the system 1 described above.

[0141] It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects.

[0142] The fact is particularly emphasized that the furling body allows the sail to be stored conveniently and quickly.

[0143] In addition, the furling body allows the sail to be stored safely without damage.

[0144] In addition, the conformation of the furling body also allows also sails provided with photovoltaic means to be stored safely without damaging them.

Claims

CLAIMS1) System (1) for furling boat sails, comprising: at least one mast (2); at least one boom (3) mounted on said mast (2), said boom (3), in use, extending cantilevered from said mast (2); at least one boat sail (4) connected, in use, to said mast (2) and to said boom (3), said sail (4) being provided with at least one hoisting side (5) extending, in use, substantially along said mast (2) and at least one base side (6) extending, in use, substantially along said boom (3); said boom (3) comprising at least one furling body (7) rotating around an axis of rotation (A) and said sail (4) being rolled and / or unrolled around said furling body (7) as a result of the rotation of the latter around said axis of rotation (A); characterized by the fact that said sail (4) comprises: a wind catching surface (8); photovoltaic means (9), configured to convert solar light radiation into electrical energy and distributed over said catching surface (8).2) System (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that: said sail (4) defines on said catching surface (8) one or more free portions (10) from said photovoltaic means (9) and one or more occupied portions (11) which are occupied by said photovoltaic means (9); said furling body (7) has a furling section (13) that defines at least one supporting stretch (14) and at least one receiving stretch (15) adapted to receive, when said sail (4) is rolled onto said furling body (7), one or more of said occupied portions (11) and one or more of said free portions (10), respectively.3) System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said supporting stretch (14) is substantially flat or curved with a greater radius of curvature than said receiving stretch (15).4) System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said furling section (13) has trilobed conformation.5) System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterizedby the fact that said furling section (13) has a reduced width in the proximity of said mast (2).6) System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises: at least one base hauling line (19) connected, in use, to said sail (4) at a connecting point (20); at least one reefing line (21) connected, in use, to said sail (4) substantially at a reef (22); at least one hauling sheave (23), associated with said furling body (7) and adapted to receive said hauling line (19); at least one reefing sheave (24), couplable movable in rotation around said furling body (7) and adapted to receive said reefing line (21); said sail (4) is movable between at least one fully open configuration, wherein it is completely unrolled from said furling body (7) and is hauled as a result of the pull of said hauling line (19), and at least one partly open configuration, wherein it is partly rolled around said furling body (7) and is hauled as a result of the pull of said reefing line (21).7) System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises coupling means (25) of said reefing sheave (24) to said furling body (7), said coupling means (25) being operable as a result of the rotation of said furling body (7) between at least one coupling configuration, wherein said reefing sheave (24) rotates locked together with said furling body (7), and at least one free configuration, wherein at least said reefing sheave (24) is at least partly free to rotate with respect to said furling body (7).8) System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said coupling means (25) comprise at least one connecting member (26) positioned between said reefing sheave (24) and said furling body (7) and furling substantially around said furling body (7) as a result of the rotation of the latter, said connecting member (26) being: completely furled substantially around said furling body (7) in said coupling configuration, so as to drag said reefing sheave (24) locked together inrotation with said furling body (7); at least partly unrolled from said furling body (7) in said free configuration.9) System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said furling body (7) is at least partly hollow to define a cavity (29) adapted to house within it at least one part of said hauling line (19).10) System (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises: at least one electric cable (35) connected to said photovoltaic means (9) and having at least one first end (36) attached a fixed point (41) of said furling body (7) and at least one second end (37) connected to said mast (2); at least one elastic body (38) placed between said furling body (7) and said electric cable (35), said elastic body (38) retaining at least one portion of said electric cable (35) spaced apart from said mast (2) and substantially dividing the electric cable itself into at least a first running length (39) moving away from said mast (2) starting from said fixed point (41) and into at least a second running length (40) substantially opposite said first running length (39) and moving close to said mast (2); the extension of said elastic body (38) being elastically increased and reduced as a result of the twisting of said running lengths on themselves and the stretching of said running lengths (39, 40) respectively, caused by the rotation of said furling body (7) depending on the way of rotation of the latter.

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