The invention relates to improvements to masts and in particular a mast apparatus (17) for raising and/or lowering a mast (18) on a vessel such as a vessel, and a vessel incorporating such a mast apparatus. In one example embodiment, the mast apparatus for raising and/or lowering the mast on a vesse
The invention relates to improvements to masts and in particular a mast apparatus (17) for raising and/or lowering a mast (18) on a vessel such as a vessel, and a vessel incorporating such a mast apparatus. In one example embodiment, the mast apparatus for raising and/or lowering the mast on a vessel comprises a mast; a mast housing (28); a pivot (44) for the mast fixedly connected to the mast housing; a lateral movement control mechanism (34) for enabling controllable lateral movement of the mast with respect to the pivot and the mast housing; a lateral movement control mechanism such as hydraulic ram (30) connected to the mast and connected to the mast housing, or connected to the mast and connectable to a vessel, for driving the mast to rotate about the pivot and move laterally under the control of the lateral movement control mechanism so as to raise or lower the mast and move the mast laterally in a controlled manner.
대표청구항▼
1. A mast apparatus for raising and/or lowering a mast on a vessel comprising: a mast housing comprising an upper portion, the mast housing coupled to and forming a fixed support for the mast on the vessel;a lateral movement control mechanism comprising a pivoting collar configured to engage the mas
1. A mast apparatus for raising and/or lowering a mast on a vessel comprising: a mast housing comprising an upper portion, the mast housing coupled to and forming a fixed support for the mast on the vessel;a lateral movement control mechanism comprising a pivoting collar configured to engage the mast, wherein the pivoting collar comprises a pivot about which the mast may be rotated, wherein the pivot is fixed to the upper portion of the mast housing, and wherein the pivoting collar is configured to provide controllable lateral movement of the mast through the pivoting collar with respect to the pivot and the mast housing, and forward and aft with respect to the vessel;wherein the mast housing comprises at least two substantially parallel, spaced, upwardly extending walls extending forwardly with respect to the vessel;wherein the lateral movement control mechanism further comprises at least one guideway mounted between the substantially parallel, spaced, upwardly extending walls of the mast housing;wherein the guideway comprises at least one upwardly and forwardly curving guiderail;wherein at least one guiderail supports a lower portion of the mast and is configured to guide lateral and rotational movement of the lower portion of the mast along a direction forward and aft with respect to the vessel; anda drive member connectable to the mast and connected to the mast housing, or connectable to the mast and connectable to a vessel, wherein the drive member is configured to drive the mast to rotate about the pivot and to move laterally with respect to the pivot and the mast housing through the pivoting collar, forward and aft with respect to the vessel, under the control of the lateral movement control mechanism so as to raise or lower the mast in a controlled manner. 2. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the mast. 3. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive member comprises one or more of a ram, a hydraulic ram, a hydraulic multistage telescopic ram, a pushrod, a rope, a wire rope, or a winch. 4. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivot is an offset pivot offset from a centreline of a longitudinal axis of the mast or offset from a centreline of a longitudinal axis of an intended position for the mast. 5. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting collar comprises an inner bearing having an inner bearing surface configured to allow lateral movement of the mast through the pivoting collar. 6. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting collar comprises two opposing spigots forming the pivot. 7. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting collar comprises an outer collar supporting the mast and the outer collar surrounds an inner bearing having an inner bearing surface configured to allow lateral movement of the mast through to the pivoting collar. 8. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting collar comprises a pivoting through-bore forming the pivot and/or a pivot pin forming the pivot. 9. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting collar comprises a plate extending in one or more directions. 10. A mast apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the pivoting collar comprises an outer collar configured to support the mast and the plate substantially surrounds the outer collar. 11. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting collar comprises an offset pivot offset from a centreline of a longitudinal axis of the mast or offset from a centreline of a longitudinal axis of an intended position for the mast. 12. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting collar comprises an offset pivoting through-bore forming the pivot, and/or an offset pivot pin forming the pivot, wherein the pivot is offset from a centreline of a longitudinal axis of the mast or offset from a centreline of a longitudinal axis of an intended position for the mast. 13. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more guideways are elliptical or parabolic in shape to guide elliptical or parabolic movement of the mast. 14. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guideway comprises co-operating upper and lower guideways configured to engage a guide wheel on the mast. 15. A mast apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the resilient member comprises at least one of: a spring under compression, a spring under extension, an elastomeric member under compression, an elastomeric member under extension, and a resilient member comprising hydraulic oil or air or vacuum. 16. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lateral movement control mechanism further comprises a resilient member. 17. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive member is arranged to push a lower portion of a mast, or a mast heel away to lower the mast during rotation of the mast about the pivot. 18. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vessel and the lateral movement of the mast, the mast length and the vessel length are selected so that the mast lies within the length of the vessel when in a lowered and/or stowed position. 19. A vessel comprising the mast apparatus according to claim 1. 20. A mast apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivot is selected from the group consisting of one or more of: at least one pin, a pivoting through-bore, and a spigot. 21. A method of raising and/or lowering a mast comprising: providing an apparatus according to claim 1; anddriving the drive member to rotate the mast about the pivot and to move the mast laterally under the control of the lateral movement control mechanism so as to raise or lower the mast in a controlled manner. 22. A mast apparatus configured to raise and/or lower a mast, comprising: a mast housing having an upper portion, the mast housing forming a fixed support for the mast on the vessel;a movement control mechanism comprising a pivoting collar configured to engage the mast, wherein the pivoting collar comprises a pivot about which the mast may be rotated, wherein the pivot is fixed to the upper portion of the mast housing, and wherein the pivoting collar is configured to provide controllable movement of the mast through the pivoting collar with respect to the pivot and the mast housing, and forward and aft with respect to the vessel;wherein the mast housing comprises at least two substantially parallel, spaced, upwardly extending walls extending forwardly with respect to the vessel;wherein the movement control mechanism further comprises at least one guideway mounted between the substantially parallel, spaced, upwardly extending walls of the mast housing;wherein the guideway comprises at least one upwardly and forwardly curving guiderail;wherein at least one guiderail supports a lower portion of the mast and is configured to guide movement of the lower portion of the mast along a direction forward and aft with respect to the vessel; anda drive member connectable to the mast and connected to the mast housing, or connectable to the mast and connectable to a vessel, wherein the drive member is configured to drive the mast to rotate about the pivot and configured to drive the mast to move with respect to the pivot and the mast housing through the pivoting collar, forward and aft with respect to the vessel, under the control of the movement control mechanism so as to raise or lower the mast in a controlled manner. 23. A mast apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the pivot is selected from the group consisting of one or more of: at least one pin, a pivoting through-bore, and a spigot. 24. A mast apparatus configured to raise and/or lower a mast, comprising: a mast housing having an upper portion, the mast housing forming a fixed support for the mast on the vessel;a movement control mechanism comprising a pivoting collar configured to engage the mast, wherein the pivoting collar comprises a pivot about which the mast may be rotated, wherein the pivot is fixed to the upper portion of the mast housing, and wherein the pivoting collar is configured to provide controllable movement of the mast through the pivoting collar with respect to the pivot and the mast housing, and forward and aft with respect to the vessel;wherein the movement control mechanism further comprises at least one guideway extending forwardly with respect to the vessel;wherein the guideway comprises at least one upwardly and forwardly curving guiderail;wherein at least one upwardly and forwardly rotating guiderail supports a lower portion of the mast and is configured to guide movement of the lower portion of the mast along a direction forward and aft with respect to the vessel; anda drive member connectable to the mast and connected to the mast housing, or connectable to the mast and connectable to a vessel, wherein the drive member is configured to drive the mast to rotate about the pivot and configured to drive the mast to move with respect to the pivot and the mast housing through the pivoting collar, forward and aft with respect to the vessel, under the control of the movement control mechanism so as to raise or lower the mast in a controlled manner. 25. A mast apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the pivot is selected from the group consisting of one or more of: at least one pin, a pivoting through-bore, and a spigot.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (19)
Mix P. Todd (12403 Maplewood Ave. Edmonds WA 98020), Automatic latching swinging mast mount.
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