Sailing Boat Mast Support Bracket for Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sailboat designs with a mast foot that moves along a transverse guide member experience inefficiencies due to mast tilting towards the rear, disrupting the balance between the anti-drift center and the center of sail thrust, leading to increased torque and capsizing risks.
Innovation Solution
The sailboat incorporates a mast support bracket with articulation means parallel to the longitudinal axis, featuring a triangular shape with separate articulation members, allowing the mast to slide relative to the upper end and be attached to the sailboat's longitudinal plane of symmetry, which prevents rear tilting and maintains balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mast foot moves along the transverse guide member using prior art attachment means, then the mast can be positioned and adjusted, but the mast tilts towards the rear of the sailboat, reducing sail efficiency and disrupting balance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the attachment system by introducing a mast support bracket with specific triangular configuration and articulation axes. The bracket's upper articulation axis is positioned at a specific height and the lower articulation axis is positioned differently, creating a constrained motion path that prevents rearward tilting while allowing fore-aft adjustment. This parameter change transforms the mast's degrees of freedom to eliminate the harmful tilting motion.
2Ease of operation
If the mast foot moves along the transverse guide member, then the mast can be adjusted for positioning, but the center of sail thrust shifts longitudinally towards the rear, disturbing the balance between anti-drift center and center of sail thrust
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the kinematic parameters of the mast attachment system through the mast support bracket geometry. The specific positioning of upper and lower articulation axes creates a motion constraint that maintains the center of sail thrust in a stable longitudinal position relative to the anti-drift center, preventing the balance disruption that occurs with conventional attachment means.
3Ease of operation
If the mast foot moves along the transverse guide member, then the mast can be repositioned, but the center of sail shifts transversely to the windward side, increasing capsizing torque
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric constraints of the mast attachment system through the mast support bracket with its specific triangular shape and articulation axis configuration. This parameter change restricts the transverse movement of the center of sail, preventing it from shifting to the windward side during mast repositioning, thereby reducing the harmful capsizing torque.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional attachment means are used with mast foot movement along transverse guide member, then the mast can be mounted and adjusted, but the structure allows harmful tilting and displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a mast support bracket with specific geometric parameters - triangular configuration, upper articulation axis at a defined height, and lower articulation axis at a different position. These parameter changes create a kinematic constraint system that maintains mast stability while allowing necessary adjustment, resolving the contradiction between ease of mounting and operational stability.
Data Source
AI summary
This sailing boat (1), of the type comprising a float structure to which is fitted at least one mast (5) of which the foot (7) comprises means (8) for guiding its movements along a transverse guidance member (9) of the sailing boat (1) and of which the intermediate portion between its foot (7) and its free end is connected, through means (10) of articulation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sailing boat (1) to means (11) of attaching this means of articulation to the remainder of the sailing boat (1), is characterized in that the means of attachment (11) comprise means (12) in the form of a bracket (12) for supporting the mast (5) of which the upper end (13) comprises the means (10) of articulating the mast and of which the lower end (14) comprises means (16, 17) of articulation to the remainder of the sailing boat (1), about an axis that is likewise parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sailing boat (1).