Device for rotating a rolling-up/unrolling support, especially for a rolling-up/unrolling tube for a nautical sail

An apparatus for rotatably driving a rolling-up or unrolling support (1) for a sail and including independent manual and mechanical actuating systems and comprising in combination:

• a transmission shaft (7) having upper and lower extremities, said upper extremity including means (8) for attachment to the rolling-up or unrolling support (1),
• a manual drive member (9, 10, 11;
• 10, 11, 12) arranged around said transmission shaft (7) and able to be manually operated for rotating said transmission shaft,
• a hydraulic motor (13) having a motor shaft (15) extending coaxially with said transmission shaft (7) and having an upper extremity (15a) forming a bushing for the lower extremity of said transmission shaft (7),
• clutch means controlled by a fluid under pressure and interposed between said manual drive member (9, 10, 11;
• 10, 11, 12) and said hydraulic motor (13), said clutch means comprising a clutch member (27) movable along said transmission shaft (7) and adapted to drivingly connect (i) said transmission shaft and the motor shaft (15) of the hydraulic motor (13) when the clutch apparatus is subjected to the pressure of the fluid, and (ii) the transmission shaft (7) and the manual control member (9, 10, 11;
• 10, 11, 12) in the absence of fluid pressure,
• means for feeding a fluid (23, 24, 28, 30-35) for simultaneously delivering said fluid to said hydraulic motor (13) for operating said motor, and to said clutch means for controlling said clutch member.