Device for positioning the anchoring chain, particularly for sailboats and motor boats

Abstract

 A device for positioning the anchoring chain, particularly for sailboats and motor boats, comprising means (2) for funneling the chain (20) of the anchor which are adapted to allow the passage of the chain in a guided manner, the funneling means (2) being actuated by at least one motor (4) to perform an oscillating motion about an axis which passes through the center of the inlet of the funneling means, the oscillating motion allowing the distribution of the chain (20) in an orderly fashion, within the windlass well, transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vessel.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for positioning the anchoring chain, particularly for sailboats and motor boats.

[0002] As is known, in most leasure sailboats and motor boats there is an electric windlass which allows to raise and lower electrically the anchor, which is connected to the end of a chain whose length varies according to the requirements.

[0003] The electric windlass is therefore designed to move the chain downwardly and upwardly, and in case of upward motion the chain is pushed into a windlass well, with the effect that the chain is accumulated below the electric winch and a problem in chain positioning arises.

[0004] The chain accumulated in the windlass well commonly does not distribute itself uniformly on the bottom of the well, but forms a sort of pyramid, which tends to collapse as the chain accumulates, with the drawback that portions of chain arrange themselves below portions of chain recovered earlier, thereby causing tangles which lead to considerable problems when the chain is lowered into the sea again.

[0005] Entanglement of the chain can in fact cause the chain to be inappropriately dropped in a subsequent anchoring operation, or to disengage from the winch, with jamming and/or escape of the chain into the sea.

[0006] Currently, in order to avoid the effect of accumulation of the chain in the windlass well, the only solution is to grip the boat hook and, with its tip, spread the chain manually on the bottom of the well as the chain is recovered by the winch of the windlass.

[0007] However, this operation is extremely awkward to perform, especially if the crew is limited in number and therefore the tasks to be performed are already onerous.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for positioning the chain of the anchor of a vessel, particularly for sailboats and motor boats, which allows to distribute in an orderly fashion the chain on the bottom of the windlass well, without the need for manual intervention of the operator.

[0009] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an anchor chain positioning device which allows to make the chain slide and distribute it in the deepest and most central part of the well, avoiding its accumulation below the electric winch.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an anchor chain positioning device which allows to distribute the chain completely on the bottom of the well, both transversely and longitudinally.

[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an anchor chain positioning device which is highly reliable, relatively simple to provide and at competitive costs.

[0012] This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an anchor chain distribution device, particularly for sailboats and motor boats, characterized in that it comprises means for funneling the chain of the anchor which are adapted to allow the passage of the chain in a guided manner, said funneling means being actuated by at least one motor to perform an oscillating motion about an axis which passes through the center of the inlet of said funneling means, said oscillating motion allowing the distribution of the chain in an orderly fashion, within the windlass well, transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vessel.

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the device according to the present invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device according to the invention in two different operating positions;

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the device according to the present invention.

[0014] With reference to the figures, the device according to the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises means for funneling the chain of the anchor, which are conveniently provided for example by a funnel which allows the anchor chain 20 to pass inside it, the chain being guided by the windlass winch (not shown in the figures).

[0015] The chain funneling means are conveniently actuated by at least one motor in order to perform an oscillating motion about a vertical axis, which passes through the mouth of the funnel, so as to perform an oscillating motion to the right and to the left so as to distribute the chain 20 in a transverse position with respect to the well 22 of the chain, i.e., transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vessel.

[0016] This allows to distribute the chain on the bottom of the well, avoiding its pyramid-like accumulation which causes the drawbacks cited earlier.

[0017] Conveniently, it is possible to provide a second motor which allows to lengthen and shorten the funnel, so as to distribute the chain 20 also longitudinally, as well as transversely, within the well 22.

[0018] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 2 designates the chain funneling means, provided in particular for example by the funnel described above.

[0019] The funnel, as can be seen from Figure 2, can oscillate to the right and to the left with a swiveling motion, so as to distribute the chain 20 transversely within the well 22.

[0020] The funnel is connected to an oscillating plate 3, which is actuated by at least one motor 4.

[0021] Conveniently, the oscillating plate 3 is provided with at least three notches 5, 6, 7 for detection by means of proximity sensors 8 and 9, used respectively to detect the notch 5 and the notch 7, while the central notch is detected by both sensors.

[0022] The sensors are connected to means 10 for discriminating the right, left and central position, which in turn are connected to reversing means 13 which are adapted to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 4 connected to the reversing means.

[0023] The position discrimination means 10 are actuated by an upward actuation button 11 and a downward actuation button 12, which are adapted respectively to be actuated if the anchor chain 20 is wound or if one wishes to drop the chain of the anchor.

[0024] Substantially, operation of the device according to the invention is as follows.

[0025] When the chain takeup button 11 is pressed, the device is actuated so that the motor 4 turns the oscillating plate 3, and when the right and left notches 5 and 7 are detected, the direction of rotation of the motor is reversed, and this allows therefore to perform an oscillating motion whose extent can be adjusted depending on the position of the notches 5 and 7 on the plate 3. Such notches can be moved by the user in order to adjust the extent of the movement.

[0026] When the button 11 is released and the button 12 is pressed, the device seeks the central position and stops, in order to facilitate the exit of the chain.

[0027] The device "remembers" the last command of the direction of motion so as to continue in the preceding direction in order to have a uniform chain distribution within the well 22.

[0028] If two motors are used, the preceding sequence is the same also on the second motor, with the difference that the second motor allows to elongate and shorten the funnel 2 so as to perform a longitudinal distribution of the chain 20 within the well 22, as well as a transverse one as described earlier in the case of a single right and left oscillating motion.

[0029] The device has a supporting plate 15, which can be fitted both on the sides and at the center of the well 22, so as to be able to position at will the chain positioning device.

[0030] In practice it has been found that the device according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to position the chain automatically within the windlass well, by distributing it in an orderly fashion on the bottom of the well, avoiding unwanted accumulations and consequent entanglements thereof.

[0031] The device thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0032] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0033] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. MI2007A001125, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

[0034] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A device (1) for positioning the anchoring chain, particularly for sailboats and motor boats, characterized in that it comprises means (2) for funneling the chain (20) of the anchor which are adapted to allow the passage of the chain (20) in a guided manner, said funneling means (2) being actuated by at least one motor (4) to perform an oscillating motion about an axis which passes through the center of the inlet of said funneling means (2), said oscillating motion allowing the distribution of the chain (20) in an orderly fashion, within the windlass well, transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vessel.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one motor (4) is connected to reversing means (13) which are adapted to reverse the direction of rotation of said motor (4) in order to perform said oscillating motion of said funneling means (2).

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said funneling means comprise a funnel (2) which is adapted to allow said chain (20) to pass within it, said funnel (2) being provided with an upper oscillating plate (3) which has position detection notches (5, 6, 7).

4. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said position detection notches (5, 6, 7) are right, central and left position notches.

5. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises sensor means (8, 9) for detecting the position of said oscillating plate (3).

6. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said oscillating plate position sensing means (8, 9) comprise at least one left position sensor (8) and at least one right position sensor (9).

7. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (10) for discriminating the position of the oscillating plate (3) which are connected to said sensor means (8, 9) and are connected to said reversing means (13) of said motor (4).

8. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two actuation buttons (11, 12) for the upward and downward actuation of said chain (20) of the anchor.

9. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a second motor which is adapted to allow the elongation and shortening of said funneling means (2), for a longitudinal distribution of said chain (20) within said windlass well, in combination with the transverse distribution thereof.

Drawing