Rudders for boats, particularly for pleasure boats

A boat rudder comprises a rudder-blade hinged in its upper part to a substantially horizontal pin carried by a rudder-blade support, which support is hinged to a substantially vertical pin. The boat rudder further comprises a bar fixed to a bar support the rear part of which is hinged to the upper part of the rudder blade. A locking device, comprising a stop member carried by the bar support and a jamming member carried by the rudder-blade support, is provided for jamming the bar support in relation to the rudder-blade support. It is fitted with a balancing adjustment device for adjusting the normal working position of the rudder-blade and a longitudinal displacement arrangement for varying the distance between the stop member and the pin hinging the bar support to the rudder-blade.

The invention relates to boat rudders, particularly rudders for pleasure 
boats of the kind comprising: 
- a rudder-blade hinged, at its upper part, to a substantially horizontal 
pin carried by a rudder-blade support, the latter being hinged about a 
substantially vertical pin situated at the rear of the boat and carried by 
gudgeons fixed to the boat; 
- a bar fixed to a bar support, the rear part of this bar support being 
hinged to a substantially horizontal pin provided at the upper part of the 
rudder-blade; 
- a locking device for jamming the bar support in relation to the 
rudder-blade support with the rudder-blade in a lower position 
corresponding to its normal working position, this locking device 
comprising a stop member, carried by the bar support, spaced 
longitudinally from the pin hinging the bar on the rudder-blade, said stop 
member being adapted to cooperate with a jamming member carried by the 
rudder-blade support, the assembly of the stop member and the jamming 
member being arranged so as to ensure automatic unlocking of the bar 
support in relation to the rudder-blade support when the stress exerted on 
the rudder-blade exceeds a given limit greater than the stresses likely to 
be exerted on the rudder-blade during normal sailing. 
The invention is primarily concerned with rudders for pleasure boats of the 
catamaran or drop-keel type in which the automatic unlocking mentioned 
above generally is provided for automatic raising of the rudder-blade when 
the latter contacts an obstacle such as the bottom when the boat comes 
close to the shore. 
It is known that when the boat is sailing, the rudder-blade of the rudder 
is subjected to stresses because of the relative displacement of the 
rudder in relation to the water. It is then necessary to exert a force on 
the bar to maintain it in a given angular position. 
This force for maintaining the bar in position depends on a number of 
parameters such as the speed of the boat, its heading, etc. . . and, 
especially, on the balancing of the rudder. 
This balancing depends primarily on the ratio between the two effective 
areas of the rudder-blade situated respectively in of and behind the 
substantially vertical rotational axis (or its extension) of the 
rudder-blade support. 
The balancing of the rudder plays an important role and it is desirable to 
be able to adjust such balancing easily and accurately and to be able to 
adapt it to sailing conditions such as rake of the mast, strength of the 
wind or condition of the sea. 
The balancing of the rudder has great importance in the case of boats, such 
as catamarans, which reach high speeds in the order of 20 knots, and which 
sail in very rugged conditions because of their robustness. 
The invention has as its particular aim to provide rudders of the kind 
which answer better than heretofore known types to the different demands 
of use and which are especially easy to balance. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the invention, a boat rudder of the kind defined above is 
characterised by the fact that it is provided with a balancing adjustment 
device comprising: 
- means for adjusting the normal working position of the rudder-blade in 
relation to the rudder-blade support, so that the ratio of the areas of 
the rudder-blade situated respectively in front and behind the hinge pin 
of the rudder-blade support (or its extension) may be adjusted; 
- and longitudinal displacement means for varying the distance between said 
stop member and the pin hinging the bar support on the rudder blade, so as 
to set the locking according to the position of the rudder-blade 
determined by the above adjustment means. 
Preferably, the means for adjusting the normal working position of the 
rudder-blade comprises an adjustable stop means provided between the 
rudder-blade support and the rudder-blade and arranged to permit 
adjustment of the angular position of the rudder-blade about the pin 
hinging it to the rudder-blade support. 
The adjustable stop means may comprise an adjustment screw cooperating with 
a threaded hole provided in the rudder-blade support, the outer end of 
this screw cooperating with the edge of the rudder-blade. 
The threaded hole for receiving the screw preferably is provided in the 
lower rear corner of the rudder-blade support. This hole preferably is 
oriented so that its axis is substantially perpendicular to the edge of 
the rudder-blade. 
The stop member carried by the bar support is provided with a latch and the 
longitudinal displacement of this latch comprises means for guiding the 
longitudinal sliding of this latch and means for jamming and unjamming the 
latch in relation to the bar support, so that the latch may be placed, by 
sliding, in the appropriate position for locking at which position it is 
jammed. 
The latch has a rectangular cross-section and the guide means is formed by 
shoulders having a right-angled section, adapted to cooperate with the 
upper and side edges of the latch, these shoulders being provided directly 
on the bar support and being particularly cast with this support. 
The means for jamming and unjamming the latch comprises a bolt the threaded 
end of which cooperates with a threaded hole integral with the latch and 
the shank of which passes through an aperture elongated in the 
longitudinal direction and which is provided in the upper part of the bar 
support, the head of the bolt bearing against the upper surface of this 
bar support whereby tightening of the bolt ensures the jamming of the 
upper surface of the latch against the slides provided in the bar support. 
Thrust means are provided for applying the latch against the jamming member 
at which point the latch is arrested in relation to the bar support 
through the jamming means. 
According to one variation of the invention, the device for longitudinally 
displacing the stop member of the bar support in relation to the hinge pin 
of the bar support includes two parts rotatably mounted in the bar support 
and carrying, eccentrically, the pin hinging the bar support to the 
rudder-blade, the rotation of these parts causing the longitudinal 
displacement of said pin in relation to the stop member.

Referring to FIG. 1 of these drawings, there can be seen a boat rudder 1 
comprising a rudder blade 2 hinged, at its upper part, to a substantially 
horizontal pin 3, carried by a rudder-blade support 4 which comprises two 
flanges or cheeks between which is engaged rudder-blade 2. 
The support 4 is itself hinged about a substantially vertical pin 5 
situated at the rear of the boat (not shown) and carried by gudgeons 6 
fixed to the boat. A rudder of this kind is known and has been described, 
for example, in French Pat. No. 2,112,614 (national registration No. 70 39 
439). For further details reference can be made to this patent. 
The rudder further comprises furthermore a bar 7, only a part of which has 
been shown, which is fixed to a bar support 8. The rear part 8a of this 
bar support is hinged on a substantially horizontal pin 9. Pin 9 is 
carried by the upper rear part of rudder-blade 2 and is located behind pin 
3 hinging the rudder-blade to the rudder-blade support, as can be readily 
seen in the drawing. 
The major portion of rudder-blade 2 extends into the water for steering the 
boat. A fraction 2a of the area of rudder-blade 2 is situated in front of 
pin 5 (or of its extension 5a) for hinging support 4. The other fraction 
2b of the area of the rudder blade is situated behind this extension 5a. 
If there is designated by s the submerged area of fraction 2a and by S the 
submerged area of fraction 2b, the ratio s/S determines the balancing of 
the rudder. The greater area s is in relation to area S, the less will be 
the force required to be exerted on bar 7 in order to maintain the rudder 
in position. 
A locking device V is provided for jamming bar support 8 in relation to 
rudder-blade support 4 in the position shown in FIG. 1, which corresponds 
to the normal working position of the rudder-blade. 
This locking device V comprises a stop member B carried by bar support 8 
and spaced longitudinally from pin 9 hinging the bar support to 
rudder-blade 2. This stop member B is adapted to cooperate with a jamming 
member C carried by rudder-blade support 4. This jamming member C may be 
formed with notches such as 10, 11, 12, on its periphery, said part being 
rotatably mounted on a horizontal transverse pin 13 carried by the 
rudder-blade support 4. As is clearly shown in the drawing, the part 
forming jamming member C is introduced between the two cheeks of the 
rudder-blade support. 
Stop member B cooperates with notch 10 when the rudder-blade 2 is in the 
normal working position. 
Means D are provided for stopping the rotation of jamming member C in 
relation to rudder-blade support 4. These means D preferably are arranged 
so as to ensure automatic unjamming of bar support 8 in relation to 
rudder-blade support 4 when the stress exerted on rudder-blade 2 exceeds a 
given limit greater than the stresses likely to be exerted on the 
rudder-blade during normal sailing. 
For this, the stop means D comprise a piston 14 adapted to slide in a bore 
15 the axis of which is parallel to pin 5 and which is situated behind pin 
5. Piston 14 is resiliently biased upwards by a spring 16 so as to 
cooperate with notch 11 of jamming member C. The upper end of piston 14 
has a hemispherical shape for cooperating with notch 11 which has a 
corresponding shape. 
It can thus be seen that piston 14 stops rotation of member C in relation 
to support 4. Accordingly, bar support 8, through the cooperation of stop 
member B with notch 10 of member C, is prevented from rotating about its 
axis 9 and is jammed. Rudder-blade 2 therefore also is jammed in its 
normal working position. 
If, during sailing, rudder-blade 2 contacts an obstacle, particularly 
bottom when the boat is approaching the shore, the stresses exerted on the 
rudder-blade 2 become greater than a limit determined by the tension of 
spring 16, this limit being greater than stresses encountered during 
normal sailing. Rudder-blade 2 tends to rotate about pin 3 in a 
counterclockwise direction and pin 9 tends to advance, while causing the 
bar support 8 to be raised. The torque to which member C is subjected 
because of the thrust of stop member B, then becomes greater than the 
resistance afforded by piston 14 which cooperates with housing 11. Member 
C escapes from piston 14 by rotating in a counterclockwise direction. The 
result is the automatic unlocking of rudder-blade 2 and bar support 8. 
The above explanations relate to known characteristics but are necessary to 
properly appreciate the invention which has the objective of enabling the 
ratio s/S, discussed hereabove, to be readily adjusted. 
For this, there is provided means R for adjusting the normal working 
position of rudder-blade 2 in relation to rudder-blade support 4 and 
longitudinal displacement means L, mounted on bar support 8, for varying 
the distance d between the front end of stop member B and pin 9 hinging 
the bar support to the rudder-blade. 
The adjustment of the working position of rudder-blade 2 allows the ratio 
of areas s and S to be modified, whereas the longitudinal displacement 
means L allow the locking to be set in accordance with the position of 
rudder-blade 2 determined by means R. 
The adjustment means R comprises adjustable stop means 17 provided between 
rudder-blade support 4 and rudder-blade 2 and arranged so as to define the 
angular position (balancing angle) of the rudder blade about pin 3 hinging 
the blade to the rudder-blade support. 
The adjustable stop means 17 comprise, advantageously, an adjustment screw 
17a made from a non-corrodible material, e.g. a plastic material, 
stainless steel, titanium etc. . . This screw 17a cooperates with a 
threaded hole 17b provided in the lower rear corner of rudder-blade 
support 4. 
The head 17c of the screw cooperates with the front edge 18 of the 
rudder-blade. As can be seen in FIG. 1, edge 18, in the zone where it 
bears against head 17c, is sloped in relation to pin 5. Threaded hole 17b 
is advantageously oriented so that its axis is substantially perpendicular 
to the edge 18 of the rudder-blade. 
A lock-nut may be provided for jamming the screw in the threaded hole, this 
lock-nut not being shown in the drawing. 
Stop member B is formed by a flat latch 19 capable of sliding in the 
longitudinal direction of bar support 8, and the means for the 
longitudinal displacement of this latch 19, in relation to hinge pin 9, 
comprises guide means g (see particularly FIGS. 2 and 3) and check means h 
for stopping latch 19 in relation to bar support 8. 
Latch 19 has a rectangular cross-section, as can be seen in FIG. 3, and 
guide means g is formed by shoulders 20a, 20b (FIG. 3) having a 
right-angled cross-section and adapted to cooperate with the upper 
longitudinal edges and with the lateral edges of latch 19. These shoulders 
20a and 20b are provided directly on bar support 8 and may be cast with 
this bar support. 
Check means h of the latch comprises a bolt 21 (FIG. 2) the threaded end of 
which cooperates with a nut 22 integral with the latch and placed under 
the lower surface thereof. Bolt 21 passes through a hole 23 provided in 
the latch. According to a variation of this embodiment, instead of 
providing a nut 22 integral with latch 19, hole 23 is threaded so that the 
threaded part of bolt 21 cooperates directly with the threaded hole. 
The shank of bolt 21 passes through an oblong aperture 24 provided in the 
upper wall 25 of bar support 8. The large dimension of aperture 24 is 
oriented in the longitudinal direction of bar support 8. The transverse 
dimension of aperture 24, as can be seen in FIG. 3, is less than the 
diameter of head 26 of bolt 21. This head 26 bears, preferably through a 
washer 27, against the upper surface of bar support 8. The bearing zone of 
washer 27, as can be seen in FIG. 3, is formed by the flat surface 28 
provided on the upper part of the bar support. As can be seen in FIG. 3, 
this bar support 8 has a cross-section the shape of which is rounded at 
its upper part, and which is open at its lower part between two lateral 
cheeks 29a and 29b of support 8. The top part of rudder-blade 2 is 
introduced between the two cheeks 29a and 29b. 
Latch 19 comprises at its rear part a hole 30 adapted to receive the end of 
a tool 31, such as a screw-driver or a metal rod, introduced through the 
rear part of the oblong aperture 24. By causing this tool 31 to bear 
against the rear edge 24a of aperture 24, and by using it as a lever, a 
forward thrust can be exerted on latch 19 so as to provide a good contact 
in notch 10 when latch 19 is unjammed after loosening bolt 21. The oblong 
aperture 24 has a length greater than the longitudinal adjustment travel 
of latch 19, sufficiently greater than the travel of bolt 21 so that a 
passage always exists for tool 31, at the rear of the latch, between bolt 
21 and edge 24a. 
The jamming of the latch after it has been properly positioned is obtained 
by tightening bolt 21 in nut 22, so that the upper edges of the latch are 
jammed against the transverse faces of guide shoulders 20a and 20b. 
It is to be noted that shoulders 20a and 20b provide vertical and lateral 
guiding of latch 19. This latch is sufficiently long to seat correctly 
inside the shoulders avoiding any wedging effect. 
Latch 19 is made from material which resists corrosion by sea-water. When 
this latch is made from aluminum or a plastic material, for example, if a 
threaded hole is provided in the latch for cooperating with bolt 21, this 
threaded hole comprises advantageously an insert with interior threads. 
This insert also may be of the self-locking type with an incorporated 
thread-lock. The jamming can also be achieved by means of a lock-nut, 
particularly one made from stainless steel. 
Bolt 21 may be of the hexagonal head type or of the hexagonal socket type 
formed from a material resisting corrosion, e.g. stainless steel. 
Instead of bolt 21 there could be provided a stud made integral with latch 
19 by any appropriate means, e.g. welding, crimping, sticking. The 
threaded part of this stud would then pass through aperture 24, and a nut 
bearing against the upper surface of the bar support would provide 
jamming. 
It should also be noted that instead of using a tool 31 for exerting a 
thrust on latch 19, a screw or a threaded pin could be provided which is 
oriented in the longitudinal direction, situated behind the latch and 
adapted to exert a thrust on the latch. This screw or pin would bear on 
bar support 8 and its movement would be controlled by a relative 
rotational movement, e.g. by a nut jammed in translation. 
In FIG. 4, there is shown a variation of the device for the longitudinal 
displacement of stop member B in relation to bar support 8. 
In the arrangement according to FIG. 4, stop member B is formed by a part, 
such as a transverse rod, having a fixed position in relation to bar 
support 8. The longitudinal displacement means L, according to the 
arrangement of FIG. 4, is arranged to move the hinge pin 9 of the bar 
support in relation to the stop member. 
To achieve this, pin 9 is supported by two supporting pieces, such as 32, 
provided with a circular part 33 housed in a circular housing 34 located 
inside each lateral cheek of bar support 8 and not visible from outside. 
Circular part 33 is mounted so as to be able to rotate about the center e 
of housing 34. A bore 35, offset in relation to e, is provided to receive 
pin 9. This bore 35 has its center situated substantially vertically below 
center e. The distance between point e and pin 9 is designated by k. 
Circular housing 34 may be provided in a part 36 inserted inside each 
cheek of bar support 8. 
Piece 32 also comprises an arm 37 extending upwards from circular part 33, 
this arm 37 passing freely through an aperture 38 provided in the cheek of 
bar support 8 so as to allow sufficient swing for desired adjustments of 
arm 37. 
The two arms 37 of pieces 32 associated with respective cheeks of bar 
support 8 are connected at their upper ends by a floating transverse 
element 39, preferably made from stainless steel, through which passes an 
adjustment screw 40 oriented in the longitudinal direction and having a 
threaded end which cooperates with a threaded hole 41 provided in the 
upper part of the bar support. The rear end of the screw comprises a 
knurled knob 42. A spring 43 is compressed between transverse element 39 
and an abutment wall 44 provided in bar support 8 for maintaining element 
39 against knob 42. This spring serves also as a thread-lock. 
Hole 41 may be reinforced by any conventional means such as a helical 
insert or the like. 
It can immediately be seen (as viewed in FIG. 4) that by screwing screw 40 
into threaded hole 41, part 32 is rotated, in a counterclockwise direction 
about point e which causes a rearward movement of pin 9. This movement is 
achieved along an arc of a circle substantially merging with the 
longitudinal direction. Unscrewing of screw 40 causes a movement of pin 9 
in the opposite direction. 
Such being the case, the adjustment of the balancing of a rudder according 
to the invention is achieved in the following manner. 
The adjustment of the balancing angle is carried out first of all by 
adjustment of the angular position of the rudder-blade about pin 3 which 
hinges it to rudder-blade support 4. 
For this, the position of the stop point is adjusted as determined by head 
17c of screw 17. This adjustment is obtained by screwing in or out screw 
17 this being a precise micrometric adjustment which may be effected from 
the outside without disassembly. 
It can be immediately seen that by varying the balancing angle, the ratio 
of areas s/S varies, the result being a modification of the balancing. 
When rudder-blade 2 rotates about pin 3 in a clockwise direction (as 
viewed in FIG. 1), the ratio s/S increases. 
It should be noted that during sailing of the boat, all the stresses 
exerted by the pressure of the water at high speeds on the rudder-blade, 
as well as impact of the rudder-blade against an obstacle, such as against 
the bottom, tend to move rudder-blade 2 away from stop screw 17. This 
screw is not therefore subjected to great stresses and does not need to be 
of a large size. 
When the ideal balancing angle has thus been adjusted with precision, it is 
then necessary to adjust the locking of the bar support 8 and thus the 
rudder- blade 2, in a normal lowered position. In fact, during adjustment 
of the balancing angle, the position of pin 9 in relation to pin 3 is 
modified as it also is in relation to rudder-blade support 4 and to 
jamming member C. The adjustment for locking, when the stop member B is 
formed by a sliding latch such as 19 (FIGS. 1 to 3), is extremely simple. 
The latch is unjammed by unscrewing bolt 21. Then by means of tool 31 
introduced in the rear part of oblong aperture 24 and engaging the rear 
hole 30 of latch 19, a forward thrust is exerted on the latch so as to 
move it firmly into notch 10 of jamming member C. 
While maintaining the thrust on latch 19, bolt 21 is tightened to jam the 
latch. 
Thus locking without play is obtained. 
During sailing of the boat, the thrust of the water on the rudder-blade 
creates a torque tending to rotate rudder-blade 2 in a counterclockwise 
direction about pin 3, as viewed in FIG. 1. Latch 19 then exerts a thrust 
into notch 10 of jamming member C, while maintaining rudder-blade 2 in 
position. 
In the case of the variation of FIG. 4, the adjustment of the locking, 
after adjustment of the balancing angle, is obtained by longitudinal 
displacement of pin 9 by rotating pieces 32 in a suitable direction 
through actuation of the knurled knob 42 of screw 40. 
With a rudder made in accordance with the invention, it is possible to 
adjust its balance, in accordance with the liking of the helmsman, so as 
to adapt it to the rake of the mast, the strength of the wind or the 
condition of the sea. 
It should be noted that the particular embodiments which have been 
described correspond to simple solutions. 
Other solutions however are possible. 
For example, instead of screw 17 for adjusting the position of the stop 
point of rudder-blade 2 on the lower and inner corner of rudder-blade 
support 4, a cam could be provided passing through the rudder-blade in its 
lower inner corner and on which would abut the edge 18 of the 
rudder-blade. This cam would be visible on both sides of the rudder-blade 
and could be easily adjustable from the outside, for example, with the 
help of a screw-driver, for turning the cam into an angular position 
corresponding to a desired balancing angle for rudder-blade 2. 
According to other possibilities, instead of adjusting the position of the 
stop point of edge 18 of the rudder-blade against the rudder-blade 
support, the position of the hole provided in the rudder- blade, and 
through which passes the hinge pin on the rudder-blade support, could be 
varied. This variation of position of the hole could be obtained, as shown 
in FIG. 5, by including in the rudder-blade 2 an insert 45 comprising two 
concentric parts, 46a, 46b. The inner part 46a includes a hole through 
which passes pin 3, this hole being offset in relation to the center of 
the two concentric parts 46a, 46b. Jamming means formed, for example, by 
mating serrations 47, would allow the inner part 46a to be jammed in 
relation to the outer concentric part 46b at a given angular position 
which would correspond to a variable longitudinal position of the hole 
through which pin 3 passes. Alternatively, the position of pin 3 carried 
by rudder-blade support 4 could be varied. This variation of position 
could be obtained by providing two cams in the two cheeks of the 
rudder-blade support 4 on each side of rudder-blade 2. 
Likewise, in the case of the longitudinal displacement means for stop 
member B in relation to pin 9 which hinges the bar support 8 on the 
rudder-blade, other solutions than those described are possible. 
For example, an insert, similar to the insert 45 of FIG. 5, could be placed 
in rudder-blade 2 for allowing the displacement of the hole which is 
provided in rudder-blade 2 for receiving the pin 9 to hinge the blade on 
the bar support. 
Varying the position of jamming member C carried by rudder-blade support 4 
also is possible.