Sailing Boat Furling Ratchet for External Torque Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furling systems for sailing boats require large and over-dimensioned motor packs due to high external torques, necessitating bulky and costly components that are space-demanding and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A ratchet mechanism arrangement with a motor-controlled ratchet mechanism and electronic control unit that allows the outgoing shaft to switch between engaged and disengaged modes, reducing the need for oversized motors and gearboxes by managing high external torques through a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a brake system is located at the motor in known furling systems, then the system can handle high external torques, but the motor pack and gear-box must be over-dimensioned and space-demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the torque management function into two separate components: a friction device (brake) located at the outgoing shaft and a ratchet mechanism located at the motor shaft. This segmentation allows the motor pack to be smaller since it only needs to overcome friction during rotation, not hold static torque, while the friction device handles the high external torques at the outgoing shaft position.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction device acts as an intermediary between the outgoing shaft and the motor pack. It absorbs and dissipates the high external torques through friction, allowing the motor pack to operate with reduced size while maintaining the ability to handle high torque loads during furling operations.
2Reliability
If the motor pack is over-dimensioned to handle high external torques, then reliability is improved, but the system becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the torque management into a friction device at the outgoing shaft and a ratchet mechanism at the motor shaft, the motor pack itself becomes simpler and less complex, while the overall system maintains reliability through the combined action of both mechanisms for handling high external torques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for an oversized motor pack with a mechanical friction device that handles torque dissipation. This substitution allows the motor pack to be smaller and less complex while maintaining reliability through the mechanical friction-based torque management system.
3Force
If a friction device is added to the system, then torque management is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the friction device with the existing ratchet mechanism into a unified torque management system. The friction device is positioned to work in conjunction with the ratchet, creating a coordinated system where both mechanisms work together to manage torque, thereby reducing overall system complexity compared to having separate, independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction device serves as an intermediary that simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a mechanical means of torque dissipation that works seamlessly with the ratchet mechanism, allowing for a more integrated and less complex system design.
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 the use of smaller and more efficient motor packs that can handle higher static torque loads, reducing space requirements and operational costs while maintaining reliability and flexibility across various sailing conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a friction device (200) with friction elements arranged to frictionally engage with, and frictionally act on, the outgoing shaft (11) when viewed in a radial direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
AI summary
The present invention relates to an arrangement (100) for a sailing boat furling system, and for reception of or comprising an outgoing shaft (11) exposed to external torque loads. It comprises a furling drive unit (20) with a gear mechanism (22) and a motor unit (23) connected to an ingoing, motor, shaft (21) and a ratchet mechanism (10) comprising a locking functionality. The ratchet mechanism comprises a housing (17A,17B) and takes up the outgoing shaft (11).The furling drive unit (20) is connectable to ratchet mechanism (10) and is so arranged that the motor unit (23) will be located distant from the outgoing shaft (11), and it further comprises a control unit (30) arranged to control the motor unit (23) driving the ingoing shaft (21). The outgoing shaft can be switched between an engaged mode, in which the outgoing shaft (11), when exposed to external torque loads in a first direction, is allowed to rotate in an opposite, second, direction but prevented from rotating in a said first direction, hence protecting the motor unit and the gear mechanism (22) from external torque loads on the outgoing shaft (11) which are transferred to or taken up by the ratchet mechanism (10), and a disengaged mode in which the outgoing shaft (11) and the ingoing shaft (21) are allowed to rotate in both directions, by controlling, by means of the control unit (30), the movement of the ingoing shaft (21), and thereby, via the ratchet mechanism (10), the outgoing shaft (11) between being in the engaged mode and in the disengaged mode.