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<HTML> <HEAD> <META NAME="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META NAME="GENERATOR" CONTENT="Mozilla/4.05 (Macintosh; I; PPC) [Netscape]"> <META NAME="Author" CONTENT="Dave Culp SpeedSailing"> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <TITLE>Scot's 10-Speed Elastic Mainsheet Winch</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY TEXT="#000000" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK="#0000FF" VLINK="#551A8B" ALINK="#0000FF"> <CENTER><TABLE CELLPADDING=6 WIDTH="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" > <TR> <TD WIDTH="10%"></TD> <TD>Well, if you're looking for a really quick and dirty prototype... <BR> Take the geartrain from a old multi-speed bicycle (10, 12, 18, whatever) and attach a single small gear to the sheet spool, and the main gear cluster to a bundle of surgical tubing. Chain the tubing gears to the spool gears so that you can change the gear ratio. Attach the other end of the surgical tubing to a plate with a locking mechanism, and attach a crank to the plate (use the big gear and the pedal from the bike). <CENTER> </CENTER> </TD> <TD ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="40%"><IMG SRC="TENSION.gif" HEIGHT=242 WIDTH=322> <BR><B><TT><FONT SIZE=-1>Scot's 10-speed elastic sheet winch</FONT></TT></B></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD></TD> <TD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="40%">Now when the sheet tension increases, it will turn the geartrain, which will increase spring tension. When the tension slacks off, the spring will turn the gear train and take up more sheet. To take in the sheet manually, tighten the spring with the crank, then lock the crank in place. To let out the sheet, unlock the crank and loosen the spring. To compensate for a change in wind, shift gears.<BR> One more thought: hook the gearshift to a windspeed sensor, so that the spring tension is automatically adjusted for the current wind contitions.</TD> <TD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="40%">Combine this with a device that tells you what base sail angle is needed for a given apparent wind direction and speed...is it possible that we could develop an idiot-proof sailboat? <P><B>Scot Alexander [email protected]</B><B></B> <P>"Build an idiot proof product, and someone will come up with a better idiot" <BR> -- old programmer's lament <BR> <BR>Scot Alexander [email protected] <BR>Software Engineer http://www.tmsinc.com <BR>Product Development voice (405)377-0880 x216 <BR>TMSSequoia, Inc. fax (405)372-9288</TD> <TD WIDTH="10%"></TD> </TR> </TABLE></CENTER> <BR> </BODY> </HTML>