Furling group

Abstract

A furling group ( 1 ) for furling flexible bodies (FB) includes a frame ( 10 ) which supports a mandrel ( 20 ) in an angularly rotatable manner about a fixed axis ( 22 ); an actuating unit ( 30 ) being mechanically connected to the mandrel ( 20 ) in order to rotate the mandrel ( 20 ) axially so as to furl a flexible body (FB); a transmission unit ( 40 ) being arranged between the actuating unit ( 30 ) and the mandrel ( 20 ), in order to transmit a torque to the mandrel ( 20 ) according to a given transmission ratio (τ) sufficient to control a furling action for furling the flexible body (FB), and with the transmission unit ( 40 ) having a mechanical control device ( 50 ) suitable to cooperate with the actuating unit ( 30 ) in order to condition an unfurling of the flexible body (FB) from the mandrel ( 20 ).

1 . A furling group ( 1 ) for furling flexible bodies (FB), comprising a frame ( 10 ) supports a drum ( 20 ) in an angularly rotatable manner around a fixed axis ( 22 ); an actuating unit ( 30 ) being mechanically connected to said drum ( 20 ) in order to rotate the drum ( 20 ) axially so as to furl said flexible body (FB); a transmission unit ( 40 ) being arranged between said actuating unit and said drum ( 20 ), in order to transmit a torque to said drum ( 20 ) according to a given transmission ratio (τ) sufficient to control a furling action for furling said flexible body (FB); wherein said transmission unit ( 40 ) comprises a mechanical limiting device ( 40 ) for limiting the speed of unfurling of said drum ( 20 ). 
   
   
       2 . A group according to  claim 1 , further comprising mechanical control means ( 50 ) suitable to cooperate with said actuating unit ( 30 ) in order to condition an unfurling of said flexible body (FB) from said drum ( 20 ) only after having applied a tangential traction on the flexible body (FB). 
   
   
       3 . A furling group according to  claim 2 , wherein said actuating unit ( 30 ) comprises at least a rotary actuator ( 32 ) of the reversible type, provided with its own drive shaft ( 32 ); said transmission unit ( 40 ) comprising a first transmission member ( 42 ) arranged between said drum ( 20 ) and a respective drive shaft ( 36 ) in order to exchange torque between a respective actuator ( 32 ) and said drum ( 20 ); said control means ( 50 ) comprising a second transmission member ( 52 ) arranged between said first transmission member ( 42 ) and said drive shaft ( 36 ); said second transmission member ( 52 ) being designed so as to allow inverse free rotations of said drum ( 20 ) at a limited rotation speed which can be calculated as the product of a maximum value of an inverse rotation speed of each said drive shaft ( 36 ) and of said transmission ratio (τ). 
   
   
       4 . A group according to  claim 3 , wherein each said second transmission member ( 52 ) comprises a free wheel ( 52 ) direct-drive mechanically connected with said drive shaft ( 36 ) of said rotary actuator ( 32 ) in order to transmit a torque produced by said rotary actuator ( 32 ) in a given direction of rotation to said first transmission member ( 42 ) and selectively to block an inverse rotation of said first transmission member ( 42 ) with respect to said drive shaft ( 36 ) and to allow said drum ( 20 ) to rotate in an opposite direction if the actuator is actuated in a direction opposite to the direction which causes the furling of the drum ( 20 ) avoiding interferences between said drum ( 20 ) and said flexible body (FB). 
   
   
       5 . A group according to  claim 4 , wherein said actuating unit ( 30 ) and said transmission unit ( 40 ) are longitudinally and radially contained inside said drum ( 20 ), in order to minimize the total bulk along said axis ( 22 ). 
   
   
       6 . A group according to  claim 5 , wherein said transmission unit ( 40 ) comprises a solar wheel ( 44 ) coaxial and rigidly connected to said integral drum ( 20 ), and a plurality of satellite wheels ( 42 ) contained inside said solar wheel ( 44 ) and engaging with said solar wheel ( 44 ). 
   
   
       7 . A group according to  claim 6 , wherein said actuating unit ( 30 ) comprises said actuator ( 32 ) for each said satellite wheel ( 42 ); and wherein each said actuator ( 32 ) carries said satellite wheel ( 42 ) keyed on its drive shaft ( 36 ). 
   
   
       8 . A group according to  claim 4 , wherein said control means ( 50 ) comprise at least a thrust member ( 54 ) carried by said frame ( 10 ) in combination with said drum ( 20 ) in order to contrast a movement of axial rotation thereof. 
   
   
       9 . A group according to  claim 8 , wherein said drum ( 20 ) is axially delimited by a pair of faces ( 24 ) substantially transverse to said axis ( 22 ); and wherein said thrust member ( 54 ) comprising a rudder rope ( 54 ) axially adjustable through a screw against one of said two faces ( 24 ) of said drum ( 20 ) parallel to said axis ( 22 ), in order to produce a resistant torque by friction suitable to dissipate energy of rotation of said drum ( 20 ). 
   
   
       10 . A group according to  claim 3 , wherein each said free rotation of said drum ( 20 ) can be obtained by subjecting said flexible body (FB) to traction tangentially to said drum ( 20 ). 
   
   
       11 . A group according to  claim 10 , wherein said drum ( 20 ) presents fastening means ( 60 ) associated with said drum ( 20 ) in order to guide each said flexible body (FB) while furling on said drum ( 20 ). 
   
   
       12 . A group according to  claim 11 , wherein said fastening means ( 60 ) comprise a helical groove ( 60 ) dimensioned so as to house said flexible cable (FB) in a substantially exact manner. 
   
   
       13 . A group according to  claim 3 , further comprising an electronic control unit ( 70 ) connected to said actuating unit ( 30 ) in order to actuate simultaneously each said rotary actuator ( 32 ); wherein said actuators ( 32 ) are arranged in as uniform manner around said axis ( 22 ) in order to give driving power to said drum ( 20 ) in a balanced manner. 
   
   
       14 . A group according to  claim 13 , wherein said electronic control unit ( 70 ) is suitable to control each said actuator ( 32 ) in clockwise and anticlockwise rotation according to speeds adjustable at will. 
   
   
       15 . A group according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuating unit ( 30 ) and said transmission unit ( 40 ) are longitudinally and radially contained inside said drum ( 20 ), in order to minimize the total bulk along said axis ( 22 ). 
   
   
       16 . A group according to  claim 5 , wherein said control means ( 50 ) comprise at least a thrust member ( 54 ) carried by said frame ( 10 ) in combination with said drum in order to contrast a movement of axial rotation thereof. 
   
   
       17 . A group according to  claim 6 , wherein said control means ( 50 ) comprise at least a thrust member ( 54 ) carried by said frame ( 10 ) in combination with said drum ( 20 ) in order to contrast a movement of axial rotation thereof. 
   
   
       18 . A group according to  claim 7 , wherein said control means ( 50 ) comprise at least a thrust member ( 54 ) carried by said frame ( 10 ) in combination with said drum in order to contrast a movement of axial rotation thereof.