Horizontal Axis Cam Cleat for Rope Release Under Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cam cleats for sailing boats are difficult to release when the rope is under high load or when the operator is at an incorrect angle, as they require easing tension and flicking the rope upwards, which can be challenging and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A cleat design featuring two cams with parallel vertical axes of rotation, allowing the rope to be trapped and released by rotating the cams using a horizontal axis below the rope's tension line, facilitated by a lever arm and adjustable components to manage rope height and tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rope is pulled in the direction in which the gap between the cams widens to trap the rope, then the rope is securely held, but the rope cannot be released when under large load or when the operator is at the incorrect angle
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional cam axis orientation from vertical to horizontal. This inversion changes the mechanical advantage direction, allowing the rope's own tension to automatically rotate the cams outward for release when the rope is pulled upward, eliminating the need for manual manipulation against the load direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The horizontal axis configuration enables the rope's tension itself to perform the release function. When the rope is pulled upward, the tension automatically creates the moment needed to rotate the cams outward and release the rope, making the system self-releasing without requiring external manual intervention.
2Ease of operation
If the operator pulls the rope in the opposite direction to ease tension before release, then the rope can be freed from the cams, but this process is extremely difficult under large load or incorrect operator angle
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the cam axis to horizontal orientation, the invention reverses which direction provides mechanical advantage. The rope tension in the upward direction now provides the releasing moment, rather than requiring downward pulling to reduce tension first.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the rope's own tension to perform the release function. The upward pull on the rope automatically creates the rotational moment needed to open the cams, eliminating the need for the operator to manually ease tension against the load.
3Area of stationary object
If the cam axes extend vertically in the rope-trapping position, then the structure is compact, but the rope cannot be easily released when the operator is leaning out of the boat or far away from the cleat
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional vertical axis arrangement to a horizontal axis arrangement. This changes the operational geometry so that rope tension in any direction can effectively rotate the cams for release, accommodating operators in various positions including when leaning out or positioned away from the cleat.
Solution Approach 2:
The horizontal axis configuration makes the cleat universally operable from multiple positions. The rope can be pulled from various angles and the tension will always create the appropriate moment to release the cams, providing adaptability to different sailing situations and operator positions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient release of the rope using the rope's own tension, improving usability under high loads and varying operator angles by positioning the cams to rotate and release the rope when lifted above the center of rotation.
Implementation Method 1
Generally helical springs for urging the cams towards each other may be located around axes which extending substantially vertically in the rope-trapping position.
Implementation Method 2
each cam also being mounted to a horizontal cylinder for rotation about the horizontal axis of the cylinder in order to allow the rope to rotate the arcuate surfaces by pulling in a line above this horizontal axis. The horizontal axis of rotation is below the line of action of the tension in the rope.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A cleat includes two cams (36) comprising mutually opposed convex surfaces rotatable about parallel axes which extend vertically in a rope-trapping position of the cleat, to bring the arcuate surfaces together and apart. The cams (36) are urged towards each other to trap a rope (66) therebetween. Each cam is also mounted to a horizontal cylinder (2) for rotation about an axis of the cylinder, in order to allow the rope (66) to rotate the arcuate surfaces by pulling in a line above this horizontal axis and to free the rope.