Angular adjustment device between a mast of a boat and a furling boom

Abstract

An angular adjustment device for adjusting a vertical angle between a mast of a boat and a boom articulated to the mast, the boat having a sail connected to the mast by means of a first luff segment of the sail and a manoeuvring member configured to pivot the boom with respect to the mast so as to vary a vertical angle (α), the device having: a detection member configured to detect a second luff segment mobile on the boom; and a control module configured to control the manoeuvring member to pivot the boom so as to reduce the vertical angle in the event that the detection member detects the displacement of the second luff segment.

1 . An angular adjustment device for a boat, the boat comprising a vertical mast, a furling boom articulated on the mast, a sail connected to the mast by means of a first luff segment of the sail furling on the boom and at least one member for manoeuvring the sail configured to pivot the boom vertically with respect to the mast so as to vary a vertical angle formed, on the side of the sail, between the boom and the mast, the angular adjustment device being configured to adjust the vertical angle and comprising:
 at least one detection member configured to detect a second luff segment of the sail which may move horizontally on the boom;   a control module connected to the manoeuvring members and to the detection member, said control module being configured to control the manoeuvring member to pivot the boom vertically so as to reduce the vertical angle in the event that the detection member detects the displacement of the second luff segment at the level of a first limit position on the boom and configured to control the manoeuvring member to pivot the boom vertically so as to increase the vertical angle in the event that the detection member detects the displacement of the second luff segment at the level of a second limit position on the boom, the first limit position being coincident with the second limit position or closer to the mast than the second limit position.   
     
     
         2 . The angular adjustment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection member comprises at least a first optical sensor attached to the boom opposite the first limit position and a second optical sensor attached to the boom opposite the second limit position, the control module being configured to control the manoeuvring member to pivot the boom vertically so as to reduce the vertical angle in the event that the second luff segment obscures the first optical sensor and to control the manoeuvring member to pivot the boom vertically so as to increase the vertical angle in the event that the second luff segment releases the second optical sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The angular adjustment device according to  claim 2 , wherein the detection member comprises at least a third optical sensor attached to the boom opposite a third limit position, the third limit position being closer to the mast than the first limit position, and a fourth optical sensor attached to the boom opposite a fourth limit position, the fourth limit position being further from the mast than the second limit position, the control module being configured to interrupt a furling of the sail on the boom in the event that the second luff segment obscures the third optical sensor or in the event that the second luff segment releases the fourth optical sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The angular adjustment device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection member comprises a pulley bearing continuously on the second luff segment and a displacement sensor configured to detect the position of said pulley, the control module being configured to control the manoeuvring member to pivot the boom vertically so as to reduce the vertical angle in the event that the displacement sensor detects a displacement of the pulley associated with the first limit position of the second luff segment and to control the manoeuvring member to pivot the boom vertically so as to increase the vertical angle in the event that the displacement sensor detects a displacement of the pulley associated with the second limit position of the second luff segment. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustment device according to  claim 4 , wherein the pulley is secured to at least one rod pivotally connected to the boom, the displacement sensor being configured to measure a pivoting angle of the rod relative to the boom, the first limit position corresponding to a first limit pivoting angle of the rod relative to the boom and the second limit position corresponding to a second limit pivoting angle of the rod relative to the boom. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustment device according to  claim 4 , wherein the pulley is secured to a rod in a ball-and-socket connection with the mast, the displacement sensor being configured to measure a pivoting angle of the rod with respect to the boom, the first limit position corresponding to a first limit pivoting angle of the rod relative to the boom and the second limit position corresponding to a second limit pivoting angle of the rod relative to the boom. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustment device according to  claim 4 , wherein the pulley is secured to a tube attached to the boom and comprising the displacement sensor, said displacement sensor being configured to measure a horizontal displacement of the pulley corresponding to a displacement of the second luff segment at the level of the first limit position or at the level of the second limit position. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustment device according to  claim 4 , wherein the pulley is secured to a tube attached to the mast and comprising the displacement sensor, said displacement sensor being configured to measure a horizontal displacement of the pulley corresponding to a displacement of the second luff segment at the level of the first limit position or at the level of the second limit position. 
     
     
         9 . A system for furling a sail on a furling boom comprising an angular adjustment device according to  claim 1 , said system comprising a furler configured to furl and unfurl the sail on a drum of the boom in the event that the second luff segment is positioned between the first limit position and the second limit position. 
     
     
         10 . A sailing boat comprising a sail connected to a mast of said boat by means of a first luff segment and a furling boom articulated on the mast, said boat further comprising at least one member for manoeuvring the sail configured to cause the boom to pivot vertically with respect to the mast, the boat further comprising a sail furling system according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         11 . The sailing boat according to  claim 10 , wherein the manoeuvring member comprises a topping lift connecting a free end of the boom to a free end of the mast, the topping lift being adjustable between a maximum travel configuration wherein the vertical angle between the boom and the mast on the sail side is maximum and a minimum travel configuration wherein the vertical angle between the boom and the mast is minimum. 
     
     
         12 . The sailboat according to  claim 10 , wherein the manoeuvring member comprises a boom vang connecting an articulation of a foot of the mast to an articulation of the boom, the boom vang being adjustable between a maximum travel configuration wherein the vertical angle between the boom and the mast is minimum and a minimum travel configuration wherein the vertical angle between the boom and the mast is maximum. 
     
     
         13 . The sailboat according to  claim 12 , wherein the articulation of the foot of the mast is movable vertically on the mast and/or the articulation of the boom is movable horizontally on the boom, the boom vang further comprising means for locking the articulations on the foot of the mast and/or on the boom, reciprocally. 
     
     
         14 . The sailboat according to  claim 12 , wherein the boom vang is a telescopic boom vang, an adjusting screw system or a gas-operated cylinder equipped with a rope. 
     
     
         15 . The sailing boat according to  claim 10 , wherein the manoeuvring member comprises a manual member configured to cause the boom to pivot vertically with respect to the mast when a user actuates the manual member.