Device for varying a multihull capsizing torque

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for varying the capsizing torque of a multiple-hull vessel ( 12 ), consisting of at least two floats ( 9 ) connected together by at least two beams respectively referred to as the front connecting beam ( 8 ) and the rear connecting beam ( 6 ), characterized in that it comprises a geometric platform ( 15 ) supporting a mast assembly ( 1 ) and a crew nacelle ( 10 ) and in that the said platform ( 15 ) is mounted in a transverse sliding manner on the multiple-hull vessel ( 12 ) in order to allow, depending on the equilibrium sought by the crew, the movement of the mast assembly ( 1 ) and of the crew nacelle ( 10 ) from one edge of the multiple-hull vessel ( 12 ) to the other. It also relates to a multiple-hull vessel equipped with this device.

1 . Device for varying the capsizing torque of a multiple-hull vessel ( 12 ), consisting of at least two floats ( 9 ) connected together by at least two beams respectively referred to as the front connecting beam ( 8 ) and the rear connecting beam ( 6 ), characterized in that it comprises a geometric platform ( 15 ) supporting a mast assembly ( 1 ) and a crew nacelle ( 10 ) and in that the said platform ( 15 ) is mounted in a transverse sliding manner on the multiple-hull vessel ( 12 ) in order to allow, depending on the equilibrium sought by the crew, the movement of the mast assembly ( 1 ) and of the crew nacelle ( 10 ) from one edge of the multiple-hull vessel ( 12 ) to the other.  
     
     
         2 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the geometric platform ( 15 ) is provided with sliding means ( 7 ,  16 ) of the carriages type capable of cooperating with a transverse guide rail mounted firmly on each one of the beams ( 6 ,  8 ) of the multiple-hull vessel.  
     
     
         3 . Device according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the geometric platform ( 15 ) also comprises means ( 22 ,  23 ,  24  and  25 ) allowing its movement, of the pulley-block and sheet type, cooperating with the floats ( 9 ) of the multiple-hull vessel ( 12 ).  
     
     
         4 . Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform ( 15 ) comprises a central habitable structure.  
     
     
         5 . Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the geometric platform ( 15 ) comprises a transverse beam ( 4 ) cooperating with the rear connecting beam ( 6 ) and a mast assembly ( 1 ) located substantially at right angles to the front connecting beam ( 8 ).  
     
     
         6 . Device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the said platform ( 15 ) comprises three fixing points (A, B and C) disposed at the corners of an isosceles triangle whose base is parallel with the transverse beam ( 4 ) of the platform ( 15 ), these three fixing points (A, B and C) each being connected by a stay ( 13 ) to the upper part of the mast assembly ( 1 ) thus ensuring an adequate holding of the latter ( 1 ).  
     
     
         7 . Device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the three fixing points (A, B and C) represent the ends of a rigid, star-shaped structure ( 3 ) in which the area of the junction of the branches corresponds to the area of positioning of the mast assembly ( 1 ) and in which two (B and C) of the three fixing points are located on the transverse beam ( 4 ) of the geometric platform ( 15 ).  
     
     
         8 . Device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the star-shaped structure ( 3 ) is covered with a trampoline ( 21 ) giving the geometric platform the shape of an isosceles triangle.  
     
     
         9 . Multiple-hull vessel consisting of at least two floats connected together by at least two beams, respectively referred to as the front conecting beam and the rear connecting beam, equipped with a device for varying the capsizing torque according to any one of  claims 1  to  9 .  
     
     
         10 . Multiple-hull vessel according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the lateral sliding means of the platform ( 15 ) consist of a carriage ( 7 ) disposed at the front of the platform ( 15 ) substantially at right angles with the mast assembly ( 1 ) and cooperating with a guide rail mounted on the front connecting beam ( 8 ) and of two rear carriages ( 16 ) cooperating between the beam ( 4 ) of the platform ( 15 ) and the rear connecting beam ( 6 ).  
     
     
         11 . Multiple-hull vessel according to  claim 8  or  9 , characterized in that the means of movement of the platform ( 15 ) from one side of the vessel to the other consist of a fixed double-pulley pulley-block on each float ( 9 ), referred to as the left pulley-block ( 22 ) and the right pulley-block ( 23 ), a central pulley-block ( 24 ), also a double-pulley one, integral with the beam ( 4 ) of the mobile platform ( 15 ) and a single strand sheet ( 25 ) arranged over the pulleys of the various pulley-blocks ( 22 ,  23  and  24 ) in such a way that a force in one direction results in the movement of the platform ( 15 ) in the opposite direction.