Interesting way to control camber of a batten. I think it could work
--- In harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au, "kimberlydreaming" <clairebarker5@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all i dont write much any more but always keep an eye on the site.
> Mike ive written this before ages ago but here tis again
>
> An idea i had for a soft wing sail that you could reef which would form a perfect shape every time in the lightest of breezes was to have a number of special batterns each made up of short segments, think the classic jigsaw puzzle shape a rounded lobe on one end and a matching rounded indent on the other, each of the sides with a rounded indent. The lobe and the indent on the ends are shaped not to lock into each other but to nest into each other with the distance between the blocks and the relative angles of the sholders either side of the indent and the rounded lobe setting the angle of the blocks relative to each other. Next the blocks have a hole through their center so that they are threaded on some dyneema rope (low /no streach). The mumber of blocks threaded on the rope, the slack of the rope and the relative angles of the sholders of the blochs set the shape. I dont know if you have ever seen one but you used to see kids toy snakes made like this that were very flexible till you bent them so far and then they formed a set curve.
>
> Made out of carbon or ally the strength would be phenominal as all the load is in compression of the blocks. Next you would have sail panels al la a junk rig with a bolt rope sewn along the edges that would slide in the captive indents top and bottom on the blocks.
>
> Presto one wing sail. There are a huge number of variations , you could even possibly have the segmented battens fit in pockets on a normal sail as a retro fit. You could either have segments with varying shoulder angles that you could mix and match to programme in the shape you want, or have an average block and gripper blocks that bolted together and clamped the rope to vary the spacing of the blocks along the rope and so vary the angle.
>
> You could even have double skin , however i see no real advantage and added weight and complexity. The variations are endless
>
> Cheers Tim
>
> --- In harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au, "janprihonsky" <janprihonsky@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all
> >
> > Some other possibilities:
> >
> > http://www.smartsailing.se/English/index.htm
> >
> > http://www.stadtdesign.com/products/SwingRigIntro.htm
> >
> > these links are really about easy sailing and reefing, yet efficient -
> > carbon wingmast, furling boom etc.
> >
> > by.
> >
>

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