Automated Sail Luff Coupling for In-Boom Furling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The luff of a sail and its connection to the mast in existing systems experience significant friction and warping issues during hoisting and reefing, limiting the smooth operation and efficiency of sail management, especially in regatta settings where performance is critical.
Innovation Solution
An automated coupling and decoupling system using luff holders made of hard aluminum or stainless steel, pivotably mounted on mast guide carriages, which enable the sail to be separated from the mast guide way for winding, with a high-strength luff strap and button rivets forming a positive-locking connection, allowing for seamless hoisting and reefing without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a luff feather made of woven plastic with smaller end diameter is used to be windable, then the luff can be wound onto the mandrel, but friction in the mast groove increases and the sail distorts
Solution Approach 1:
The luff connection system is divided into separate functional components: the luff feather for winding, the luff holder for attachment, and the mast guide carriage for guidance. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the luff feather can be designed for smooth winding while the luff holder provides stable attachment without wave patterns that cause friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection function is extracted from the luff feather itself and transferred to a separate luff holder device. The luff holder is detachably connected to the luff feather, allowing the luff feather to be simple and smooth for low-friction movement in the mast groove, while the luff holder provides the secure attachment mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the luff is sewn in a wave pattern to allow winding, then the luff can be wound wider next to each other, but friction in the mast groove increases and the sail distorts
Solution Approach 1:
The winding function is separated from the attachment function. The luff feather provides smooth winding capability while the luff holder provides secure attachment. This eliminates the need for wave patterns in the luff feather itself, allowing it to run straight and smooth in the mast groove with minimal friction and no distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The luff holder acts as an intermediary between the luff feather and the mast guide carriage. It provides the attachment point that allows the luff feather to be simple and smooth, while still enabling secure connection and controlled release during hoisting and furling operations.
3Reliability
If manual reefing is used with a racing crew, then the sail can be tied to the boom, but it requires strong crew and manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service reefing and hoisting operations. The automated coupling mechanism with luff holders that detachably connect to mast guide carriages allows the sail to be automatically secured and released without manual intervention. The mechanical design provides reliable sail securing through the positive engagement of the luff holders with the mast guide carriages.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual tying operations are replaced by an automated mechanical coupling system. The luff holders with their detachable connections to mast guide carriages provide automatic engagement and disengagement, replacing the need for manual cord tying and cutting operations.
4Ease of operation
If a battened mainsail with high mast and smooth-running carriages is used, then sail guidance is improved, but coupling and uncoupling from the mast requires manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling function is merged into the mast guide carriage system itself. The luff holders detachably connect to the mast guide carriages, combining the guidance function with the coupling function in a single integrated mechanism that operates automatically during hoisting and furling.
Solution Approach 2:
The mast guide carriage is given multiple functions: it provides smooth guidance of the sail along the mast and simultaneously serves as the coupling point for the luff holders. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate coupling mechanisms while maintaining smooth sail guidance.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for automatically coupling and decoupling the luff (14) of a battened mainsail (1) and stackable luff holders (16) as the connecting link between the sail luff (14) and mast guiding slides (3), thereby allowing the now free sail luff (14) to be reefed up by means of an in-boom furling boom (8) and allowing the battened mainsail (1) to be hoisted and reefed by means of mast guiding slides (3) (Fig. 1).