(19)
(11) EP 2 147 887 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
27.01.2010 Bulletin 2010/04

(21) Application number: 08425506.6

(22) Date of filing: 24.07.2008
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B66D 1/04(2006.01)
B66D 1/74(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA MK RS

(71) Applicant: Harken Italy S.p.A.
22070 Lurago Marinone (CO) (IT)

(72) Inventors:
  • Merello, Andrea
    16145 Genova (IT)
  • Cazzaro, Michele
    21023 Besozzo (Varese) (IT)

(74) Representative: Castiglia, Paolo et al
Porta, Checcacci & Associati S.p.A. Via Trebbia, 20
20135 Milano
20135 Milano (IT)

   


(54) Winch for nautical use


(57) A winch (1) for nautical use comprises a stator body extending along a longitudinal axis (X-X) and adapted to be mounted on a sailing boat; a rotary body (20) rotatably associated with the stator body so as to be free to rotate with respect to the stator body in a first direction of rotation (R) and to be locked with respect to the stator body in an opposite direction of rotation, and a circumferential throat (30) for locking a line (100) for manoeuvring a sail of the sailing boat, the throat (30) being fixedly mounted onto the rotary body (20). The winch also comprises, in a first operative configuration thereof, an element (40) for guiding the line (100) in the throat (30). The element (40) defines, at the throat (30), a maximum radial dimension of the winch. According to the invention, in a second operative configuration of the winch the maximum radial dimension of the winch at the throat (30) is given by the maximum diameter of the throat (30). Such a winch operates, in the first operative configuration thereof, like a conventional self-tailing winch. With respect to these, however, the winch of the invention allows the line (100) to be released and completely freed from the winch by simply pulling the line upwards, and thus in an extremely quicker and easier way. Indeed, in the second operative configuration of the winch the guide element (40) is removed or moved away from the position taken up in the first operative configuration, so as not to hinder the unwinding of the line (100) from the rotary body (20) when the line is pulled upwards.




Description


[0001] The present invention relates to a winch for nautical use. More specifically, the invention relates to a winch for nautical use provided with means for locking a sailing boat manoeuvring line. The winch of the invention has a preferred, although not exclusive, application in competition sailing boats, particularly in high-performance sailing boats, like for example the boats for the America's Cup.

[0002] As known, winches are used in sailing boats to facilitate the operations under high load of manoeuvring and adjusting the sails, like for example the positioning and hoisting of the sails. Such operations are carried out by manoeuvring suitable lines or lines (commonly indicated with the term: sheets or halyards) suitably connected to the sails; the lines, in particular, are recovered (pulled) and released (loosen) by winding and unwinding them onto and from suitable winches suitably positioned on the deck of the boat.

[0003] Known winches essentially comprise a stator body, or support, adapted to be fixed onto the deck of the boat and a rotary body, or drum, rotatably associated with the stator body and adapted to receive the windings of the line for manoeuvring the sail during the operations under high load of line pulling. The rotary body is fitted coaxially onto the stator body along a longitudinal shaft thereof and is free to rotate with respect to the stator body in a first direction of rotation (for example, in the clockwise direction), so as to wind the line on the rotary body, but on the other hand being locked in the opposite direction of rotation.

[0004] In order to facilitate the high load pulling operations of the manoeuvring line and to allow the sail to be kept in the desired position, it is necessary to suitably hold the manoeuvring line, so as to prevent it from unwinding from the winch.

[0005] In the absence of systems suitable for allowing the manoeuvring line to be held during the pulling thereof, the line should be held manually. This, however, would be quite disadvantageous since it would require the constant attention of a sailor, who could not therefore perform other tasks on the boat.

[0006] In order to overcome this drawback, alternative systems have been proposed that are based upon the use of suitable devices for locking the line, which are suitably positioned on the boat and on the winches.

[0007] Amongst the systems for locking the line positioned directly on the boat, a functional system that is widely used is the one that provides for the use of an element, commonly known by the term cam cleat, suitably positioned on the deck of the boat.

[0008] In order to allow the cam cleat to effectively perform its function of holding the line, it is necessary for it to be positioned on the boat in such a way that the line coming from the winch arrives at the cam cleat with zero or negative angle of inclination with respect to the support plane of the cam cleat itself. This is achieved by positioning the cam cleat at a certain distance from the winch and/or by using accessories, like for example appropriate guides and leading blocks, arranged on the boat upstream of the cam cleat and adapted for directing the line correctly towards the cam cleat.

[0009] The presence of such accessories and/or the distance between cam cleat and winch does, however, prevent the sailor from quickly and easily carrying out further sail adjustment manoeuvres, once the line is free from the cam cleat. Indeed, in this case, it is necessary to free the line also from the guides or leading blocks, so as to be able to directly manoeuvre the line wound on the drum of the winch.

[0010] In order to overcome this drawback systems for locking the line which are positioned directly on the winch have been proposed.

[0011] Amongst such systems, a first system provides for a line locking top cleat on the upper surface of the winch; the line is wrapped many times around the top cleat according to various directions, so as to secure it to the winch.

[0012] A second system for locking the line directly on the winch provides on the upper portion of the side surface of the winch for a circumferential throat (hereafter also indicated with the term: pulley), typically with a V-shaped section, adapted to at least partially house a winding of the manoeuvring line (self-tailing winches). Such a throat is fixedly connected to the drum of the winch and has opposite surfaces, lower and upper, provided with suitable knurls adapted to grip onto the line, so as to allow the line to be clamped and prevent it from unwinding from the winch. In order to facilitate housing of the line in the throat, a guide element is used having a substantially S or inverted Z shaped profile. Such a guide element is arranged in a radially outer position with respect the circumferential throat and is made integral with a bracket fixedly connected to the stator body of the winch.

[0013] Self-tailing winches allow the line to be locked on the winch more quickly and easily than top cleat winches. In the latter case, indeed, it is necessary to make a series of twists of the line around the top cleat; moreover, it is only possible to lock the line when the winch is still. In self-tailing winches, on the other hand, it is sufficient to clamp the line in the circumferential throat making the line perform a partial turn in the throat; moreover, the system is capable of holding the line even when the winch is moving.

[0014] Both systems for locking the line directly on the winch described above, whilst being efficient in pulling the line, do not however allow the line to be released and completely freed from the winch quickly and easily, which may sometimes be suitable to obtain the optimal adjustment of the sails.

[0015] Indeed, in the case of winches with top cleat, before carrying out the winding of the line on the drum it is necessary to repeatedly move the line around the top cleat so as to be able to free it; this last operation is particularly long and laborious. Conversely, however, once the line has been freed from the top cleat, the unwinding and complete freeing of the line from the drum is extremely quick and easy, since it can be carried out by simply pulling the line upwards.

[0016] On the other hand, in the case of self-tailing winches, in order to be able to unwind the windings of the line on the drum it is necessary to first free the line from the circumferential throat by unwinding it for almost one turn: this last operation is certainly quicker and easier than that required for winches with top cleat, but the unwinding and complete freeing of the line from the drum are more problematic since they are hindered by the presence of the guide element of the line in the circumferential throat. Such a guide element, indeed, projects radially to a pronounced extent with respect to the drum and prevents the athlete from being able to quickly free the line from the winch by simply pulling it upwards.

[0017] The Applicant has felt the need to provide a winch that, as well as being particularly efficient in the line pulling manoeuvres, allowing the line to be quickly and easily locked directly on the winch, also allows the line to be released and completely freed from the winch extremely quickly and easily. The Applicant has felt this need above all with reference to the competition sailing boats, where it is necessary that the line release operations are carried out in the shortest possible time, in order to allow a quick passage from one racing trim to another, so as to always maintain high speeds and precise trajectories.

[0018] With this in mind, the Applicant has observed that, with particular reference to the release and complete freeing manoeuvres of the line from the winch, self-tailing winches are particularly advantageous in the initial steps of such manoeuvres (indeed, it is sufficient in this step to free the line from the circumferential throat by unwinding it for almost one turn), whereas they are less practical in the subsequent steps. In these last steps are instead it would be more advantageous to use winches without any guide element of the line in the circumferential throat of the winch (like for example winches with top cleat or winch which does not have at all any system for holding and locking the line on the winch) so as to allow the line to be freed by simply pulling it upwards.

[0019] The invention therefore relates to a winch for nautical use, comprising:
  • a stator body extending along a longitudinal axis and adapted to be mounted on a sailing boat;
  • a rotary body rotatably associated with the stator body so as to be free to rotate with respect to the stator body in a first direction of rotation and to be locked with respect to the stator body in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation;
  • a circumferential throat for locking a line, fixedly mounted onto the rotary body;
the winch also comprising, in a first operative configuration thereof, a guide element of the line in the throat, wherein said guide element defines, at the circumferential throat, a maximum radial dimension of the winch;
characterised in that, in a second operative configuration of the winch, the maximum radial dimension of the winch at the circumferential throat is given by the maximum diameter of said circumferential throat.

[0020] Advantageously, the winch of the invention is able to take up two different operative configurations based upon the specific manoeuvres to be carried out. In a first operative configuration the winch of the invention operates as a conventional self-tailing winch: i.e. it is able to hold the line, counteracting the push of the wind on the sail, by simply securing it in the circumferential throat that is provided for this purpose.

[0021] On the other hand, with particular reference to the operations of releasing and completely freeing of the line, the winch of the present invention has, in addition to the typical advantages of self-tailing winches, the typical advantages of winches which does not have any system for locking and holding the line, without however having the respective drawbacks.

[0022] Indeed, in the initial step of such manoeuvres, the winch advantageously operates as a conventional self-tailing winch, whereas in the subsequent steps the winch advantageously operates as a conventional winch which does not have any system for locking the line on the winch. In particular, in the winch of the present invention a second operative configuration can be provided in which the guide element is removed and moved so as not to be anymore located in a radially outer position with respect to the circumferential throat. In this operative configuration the winch of the invention allows the line to be completely freed from the drum of the winch by simply pulling it upwards (after having freed it from the throat). The operations of releasing and completely freeing the line from the winch are therefore made easier overall and can advantageously be carried out in much shorter times compared to what is possible with conventional winches provided with systems for locking the line on the winch.

[0023] Preferably, the circumferential throat comprises a lower surface and an upper surface, the upper surface having a maximum diameter not greater than the maximum diameter of the lower surface. Advantageously, such a provision ensures that the line, whilst it is pulled upwards to free it from the winch, does not encounter any obstacle once the lower surface of the circumferential throat has been passed.

[0024] Preferably, the rotary body of the winch of the present invention comprises a base portion, a top portion at the circumferential throat and an intermediate portion, wherein the lower surface of the circumferential throat has, on the opposite side to the upper surface, a joining surface to the intermediate portion having a large radius of curvature. Advantageously, the provision of a large radius of curvature at the joining area between intermediate portion of the rotary body and lower surface of the throat makes it easier to release the line when it is pulled upwards.

[0025] The guide element can be associated with a bracket mounted stationary with respect to the sailing boat and arranged above the upper surface of the circumferential throat. Alternatively, the guide element can be associated with a support mounted stationary with respect to the sailing boat and arranged between the upper surface and the lower surface of the circumferential throat.

[0026] Throughout the present description and in the subsequent claims, the expression "bracket mounted stationary with respect to the sailing boat" and/or "support mounted stationary with respect to the sailing boat", is used to indicate that the bracket/support is substantially still with respect to the deck of the boat, apart from the presence of small mechanical clearances. Therefore, both the case in which the bracket/support is fixed with respect to the deck of the boat - since for example it is fixedly mounted onto the stator body of the winch - and the case in which the bracket/support is movable with respect to the stator body of the winch, but with a speed such as to be substantially still with respect to the deck of the boat (for example because it is kinematically associated with the rotary body and movable with a speed substantially equal and opposite to that of the rotary body) are covered.

[0027] For the sake of simplicity of explanation, hereafter explicit reference to the case in which the bracket/support is firmly fixed to the stator body of the winch is made.

[0028] In the case in which the bracket mounted above the upper surface of the throat is provided, preferably, the guide element has, at a radially inner surface thereof referring to the first operative configuration of the winch, a lip having, in a section thereof taken in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the winch, a half-moon shape, the lip being housed in the circumferential throat when the winch is in the first operative configuration thereof. The aforementioned lip acts as a expulsion member for the line, replacing in such a function the expulsion member typically provided in the circumferential throats of conventional self-tailing winches.

[0029] In the case in which the support mounted between the upper surface and the lower surface of the circumferential throat is provided, preferably, in a first embodiment of the winch of the present invention, such a support has, in a section taken in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the winch, a portion preferably shaped like a half-moon. Such a portion constitutes the expulsion member typically provided in circumferential throats of conventional self-tailing winches.

[0030] In a first embodiment of the winch of the present invention, the guide element is removably associated with the aforementioned bracket or with the aforementioned support. For example, the aforementioned coupling can be a snap coupling or a fixed coupling. In any case, the use of other conventional coupling systems that ensure a quick and easy de-coupling of the guide element from the winch is foreseen. In this way, the passage from the first operative configuration to the second operative configuration of the winch (and vice-versa) is carried out by simply removing (applying) the guide element from (onto) the winch.

[0031] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the winch of the present invention, the guide element is hinged to the aforementioned bracket or to the aforementioned support and can be flipped up to pass from a first operative position, defined at the first operative configuration of the winch, to a second operative position, defined at the second operative configuration of the winch. Advantageously, the passage from the first operative configuration to the second operative configuration of the winch is carried out by simply pushing the guide element upwards; such a pushing action can advantageously be produced, when the line is pulled upwards, by effect of the upward movement of the portion of line wound around the rotary body of the winch .

[0032] Preferably, in the embodiment of the winch described above, the maximum diameter of the lower surface of the circumferential throat is at least equal to the sum of the maximum diameter of the upper surface and of the length in the radial direction of the portion of guide element that, being the guide element in the flipped up position, projects canti-levered from the upper surface of the throat. In this way, advantageously, the guide element in the flipped up position does not project radially with respect to the lower surface of the circumferential throat; such a guide element therefore does not hinder the unwinding of the line from the rotary body of the winch when the line is pulled upwards.

[0033] Preferably, in the case in which the guide element is hinged to the aforementioned bracket or to the aforementioned support, the winch also comprises an elastic element acting on the guide element to keep the guide element at rest in the flipped up position (i.e. in the second operative position thereof). In this way, the guide element is prevented from accidentally returning into the first operative position thereof, where it would hinder the unwinding of the line from the rotary body of the winch.

[0034] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention shall become clearer from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments thereof, made with reference to the attached drawings. In such drawings:
  • figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a winch in accordance with the present invention in a first operative configuration thereof, a second operative configuration of the winch being indicated with a broken line;
  • figure 2 is a schematic side view of the winch of figure 1 in the second operative configuration thereof, the first operative configuration of the winch being indicated with a broken line;
  • figure 3 is a schematic view corresponding to that of figure 2 and relative to an alternative embodiment of a winch in accordance with the present invention;
  • figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of a winch in accordance with the present invention in a first operative configuration thereof, a second operative configuration of the winch being indicated with a broken line;
  • figure 5 is a schematic side view of the winch of figure 4 in the second operative configuration thereof (the first operative configuration being indicated with a broken line).


[0035] In figures 1 and 2, a winch for sailing boats in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is indicated with 1. Preferably, the winch 1 is intended to be used on competition sailing boats, particularly high-performance boats (for example the boats for the America's Cup).

[0036] The winch 1 comprises an inner stator body (not illustrated, being per sé conventional), adapted to be fixed, through a base 10 thereof, on the deck of a sailing boat (also not illustrated), and a rotary body 20 or drum, also of the conventional type, rotatably associated with the stator body and adapted to receive the windings of a line 100 for manoeuvring a sail of the sailing boat.

[0037] The rotary body 20 is fitted coaxially on the stator body, along a main shaft of symmetry which imparts the rotation (the longitudinal axis of which is indicated with X-X), through the interposition of a plurality of rolling bearings (not illustrated) adapted to allow the relative rotation of the rotary body 20 with respect to the stator body. Such a rotation can be imparted, for example, through a handle (not illustrated since it is conventional) which is removably mountable in a suitable housing 21 provided at the upper surface 15 of the winch 1; alternatively, the rotation can be imparted through a pedestal, also of the conventional type and not illustrated, arranged on the boat in a remote position with respect to the winch 1 and suitably connected to the main shaft of the winch.

[0038] The rotation is then transferred to the rotary body 20, in a per sé known way, through a plurality of conventional gears that are not illustrated. The rotary body 20 is free to rotate with respect to the stator body in a single direction of rotation (for example in a clockwise direction of rotation, indicated with ω in figures 1 and 4), which corresponds to the direction of winding of the line 100 on the drum 20.

[0039] The rotary body 20 of the winch 1 comprises a base portion 20a, a top portion 20b defining an area for housing and locking the line 100 and an intermediate portion 20c defining a winding area of the line 100.

[0040] At the top portion 20b a circumferential throat 30 (or pulley) is formed, for example with a V-shaped section, adapted to at least partially house a winding of the line 100 for locking it. The throat 30 is integral with the rotary body 20 and comprises opposite surfaces 50, 60, lower and upper respectively, provided with suitable knurls 65 adapted to grip onto the line 100, so as to allow locking of the line 100 and preventing the line 100 from unwinding from the winch 1. The knurls 65 are advantageously orientated so as to tend to push the line 100 in traction towards the inside of the throat 30, i.e. towards the axis X-X of the winch 1.

[0041] The lower surface 50 has a maximum diameter D greater than the maximum diameter d of the upper surface 60, as clearly illustrated in figure 2.

[0042] Again with reference to figure 2, the joining surface S between the intermediate portion 20c of the rotary body 20 and the lower surface 50 of the throat 30 has a large radius of curvature, for example equal to about 3 times the diameter of the line.

[0043] The winch also comprises a bracket 70 arranged above the upper surface 60 of the throat 30. The bracket 70 is fixedly mounted onto the stator body of the winch 1 and thus is substantially fixed with respect to the deck of the boat.

[0044] In a different embodiment, the bracket 70 can be movable with respect to the stator body of the winch: in particular, it can be kinematically associated with the rotary body 20 and movable with a speed substantially equal and opposite to that of said rotary body, so as to be substantially still with respect to the deck of the boat.

[0045] At a free end of the bracket 70, around a respective pivoting axis Y-Y, an element 40 is pivoted for guiding the line 100 in the throat 30. The element 40 can take up a first operative position, illustrated with a continuous line in figure 1 and with a broken line in figure 2, and a second operative position, illustrated with a broken line in figure 1 and with a continuous line in figure 2. The first operative position of the element 40 defines a first operative configuration of the winch, whereas the second operative position of the element 40 defines a second operative configuration of the winch.

[0046] In the first operative configuration of the winch, the element 40 is orientated downwards (first operative position of the element 40) and defines a maximum radial dimension of the winch at the throat 30; in such an operative position the element 40 is in a position suitable for facilitating the entry of the line 100 in the throat 30.

[0047] In the second operative configuration of the winch, the element 40 is flipped upwards (second operative position of the element 40). In such an operative configuration, the maximum radial dimension of the winch at the throat 30 is given by the maximum diameter D of the lower surface 50 of the throat 30; in particular, when the element 40 is in the second operative position thereof (i.e. when the element 40 is flipped upwards), the maximum diameter D of the lower surface 50 is greater than or equal to the sum of the maximum diameter d of the upper surface 60 of the throat 30 and of the length in the radial direction of the portion L of the element 40 that projects canti-levered with respect to such an upper surface 60. The length of the bracket 70 is therefore calculated so as to respect the aforementioned size relationships.

[0048] At the pivoting axis Y-Y a spring is provided (not visible) acting on the element 40 to keep it, at rest, in the position flipped upwards (second operative position).

[0049] As can be seen more clearly in figure 2, the pivoting axis Y-Y is located outside, in the radial direction, and/or substantially tangent, to the upper surface 60 of the throat 30. However, different orientations of the aforementioned axis, such that the element 40 in the flipped up position does not project radially beyond the lower surface 50 of the throat 30, are not excluded.

[0050] As illustrated in figure 2, referring to the element 40 in the first operative position thereof, it comprises a radially outer surface 41 and a radially inner surface 42, both with a substantially S or inverted Z shaped profile. At the element 40, the throat 30 has a member 44 having, in a section taken in a plane perpendicular to the axis X-X, a half-moon shape. Such a member, which is of the conventional type, is provided also in conventional winches of the self-tailing type and is commonly known as "peeler".

[0051] Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a winch 1 in accordance with the present invention. In such a figure, structural elements identical or equivalent from the structural and functional point of view to those of the winch described above with reference to figures 1 and 2 shall be given the same reference numerals and they shall not be described any further.

[0052] The winch 1 of figure 3 differs from the one illustrated in figures 1 and 2 for the sole fact that the throat 30 does not have the peeler 44 and that the element 40 comprises, fixedly connected to the radially inner surface 42 thereof, a lip 45 having, in a section taken in a plane perpendicular to the axis X-X, a half-moon shape. The lip 45, when the element 40 is in the first operative position thereof, is housed in the throat 30 and performs the same function carried out by the member 44 in the winch of figures 1 and 2. Apart from that, the winch of figure 3 is totally identical to that of figures 1 and 2.

[0053] Figures 4 and 5 show a further alternative embodiment of a winch 1 in accordance with the present invention. In such figures, structural elements that are identical or equivalent from the structural and functional point of view to those of the winch described above with reference to figures 1 and 2 shall be given the same reference numerals and they shall not be described any further.

[0054] The winch 1 of figure 4 and 5 differs from the one illustrated in figure 1 and 2 for the sole fact that the element 40 is hinged, instead of to the plate 70, to a support 80 mounted between the upper surface 60 and the lower surface 50 of the throat 30. The support 80 has a radially outer portion having, in a section taken in a plane perpendicular to the axis X-X, a half-moon shape and adapted to perform the same function carried out by the member 44 in the winch of figures 1 and 2. Apart from that, the winch of figures 4 and 5 is totally identical to that of figures 1 and 2.

[0055] In a further alternative embodiment (not illustrated) of the winch of the present invention, the element 40, instead of being hinged to the bracket 70 or to the support 80, is removably associated with the aforementioned bracket or with the aforementioned support, for example through a snap or fixed coupling.

[0056] In operation, in the first operative configuration (configuration with element 40 orientated downwards, illustrated with a continuous line in figures 1 and 4 and with a broken line in figures 2, 3 and 5) the winch 1 of the invention acts as a conventional self-tailing winch: in such a configuration, the line 100 is clamped in the throat 30. The sailor uses such a configuration during the line pulling operations.

[0057] When it becomes necessary to release and completely free the line from the winch, the sailor passes to the second operative configuration (illustrated with a broken line in figures 1 and 4 and with a continuous line in figures 2, 3 and 5), by freeing the end 100a of the line 100 from the throat 30. The element 40 is flipped upwards by the sailor (arrow F in the attached figures) and the end 110a of the line 100 is pulled upwards. The flipping upwardly of the element 40 can be obtained by the effect of the upward movement of the windings of the same line 100 around the intermediate portion 20c of the rotary body 20 whereas the end 100a of the line 100 is pulled upwards. The release and complete freeing of the line 100 from the winch 1 is in this way facilitated and can advantageously be carried out in extremely short times.

[0058] In the case in which the element 40 is removably associated with the winch 1, before pulling the line 100 upwards the element 40 is removed from the winch.

[0059] The return back to the operative configuration of figures 1 and 4 takes place by simply flipping down the element 40 or, in the case in which such an element 40 is removably associated with the winch, by coupling once again the element 40 with the winch.

[0060] Of course, a man skilled in the art can bring numerous modifications and variants to the winch described above, in order to satisfy specific and contingent requirements, all of which are also within the scope of protection of the present invention as defined by the following claims.


Claims

1. Winch (1) for nautical use, comprising:

- a stator body extending along a longitudinal axis (X-X) and adapted to be mounted on a sailing boat;

- a rotary body (20) rotatably associated with the stator body so as to be free to rotate with respect to the stator body in a first direction of rotation and to be locked with respect to the stator body in a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation;

- a circumferential throat (30) for locking a line, the throat being fixedly mounted onto the rotary body (20); the winch (1) also comprising, in a first operative configuration thereof, a guide element (40) of the line in the throat (30), wherein said guide element (40) defines, at the circumferential throat (30), a maximum radial dimension of the winch (1);

characterised in that, in a second operative configuration of the winch (1), the maximum radial dimension of the winch

(1) at the circumferential throat (30) is given by the maximum diameter of said circumferential throat (30).


 
2. Winch (1) according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential throat (30) comprises a lower surface (50) and an upper surface (60), the upper surface (60) having a maximum diameter (d) no greater than the maximum diameter (D) of the lower surface (50).
 
3. Winch (1) according to claim 2, wherein the rotary body (20) comprises a base portion (20a), a top portion (20b) at the circumferential throat (30) and an intermediate portion (20c), wherein the lower surface (50) of the circumferential throat (30) has a joining surface (S) to the intermediate portion (20c) having a wide radius of curvature (R).
 
4. Winch (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the guide element (40) is associated with a bracket (70) mounted stationary with respect to the sailing boat and arranged above the upper surface (60) of the circumferential throat (30).
 
5. Winch (1) according to claim 4, wherein the guide element (40) comprises, at a radially inner surface thereof (41) referring to the first operative configuration of the winch, a lip (45) having, in a section taken in a plane perpendicular to the axis (X-X), a half-moon shape, said lip (45) being housed in the circumferential throat (30) when the winch (1) is in said first operative configuration.
 
6. Winch (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the guide element (40) is associated with a support (80) mounted stationary with respect to the sailing boat and arranged between the upper surface (60) and the lower surface (50) of the circumferential throat (30).
 
7. Winch (1) according to claim 6, wherein said support (80) has a portion having, in a section taken in a plane perpendicular to the axis (X-X), a half-moon shape.
 
8. Winch (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the guide element (40) is removably associated with the winch (1).
 
9. Winch (1) according to claim 8, wherein the guide element (40) is snap associated with the winch (1).
 
10. Winch (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the guide element (40) is pivoted to the winch (1) and can flip up to move from a first operative position, defined at the first operative configuration of the winch, to a second operative position, defined at the second operative configuration of the winch.
 
11. Winch (1) according to claim 10 when depending on claim 2, wherein the maximum diameter (D) of the lower surface (50) of the circumferential throat (30) is at least equal to the sum of the diameter (d) of the upper surface (60) and the length (L) in the radial direction of the portion of guide element (40) that, being the guide element in the flipped up position, projects canti-levered from the upper surface (60) of the throat (30).
 
12. Winch (1) according to claim 10 or 11, comprising an elastic element acting on the guide element (40) to keep the guide element (40) at rest in the flipped up position.
 




Drawing
















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