Electronic Device for Measuring the Relative Force Acting Upon a Sail
OwnerJeffrey A. Lawrenceinventor
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Abstract
The sail force gauge utilizes an electronic system to measure the vectored force of the mainsheet or jib sheet. By gaining the vectored force of the sheet, a relative vectored force upon the sail can be acquired thru simple trigonometric equations. To obtain the vectored force measurement, a multi-axis load cell will measure the force in the lateral and axial directions. These forces can be used to calculate the vectored force of the mainsheet. By knowing the dimensions of the boom length, the sheet block positions, and the vector angle, the resultant angle of the boom can be calculated as well as the perpendicular sail force acting upon the boom. From these calculations, the relative axial force acting upon the boat can be calculated.
Claims20
A device for measuring the relative force acting upon a sail, comprising in combination
- a sailboat comprised of a hull and at least one mast, boom, and sail;
- a multi-axis load cell attached vertically to the hull of the sailboat;
- a sail sheet rope connected to the multi-axis load cell, a boom, and a sheet block affixed to the hull;
- and
- an electronic control system for electronically measuring and calculating the axial and lateral force from the sail sheet (rope) for use to calculate the vectored force and angle of the sheet relative to the boat hull.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.