PCRX Pivoting Mainsheet Traveler |
Pivoting traveler aligns car to load
Harken Yacht Equipment’s PCRX Pivoting Mainsheet Traveler
was honored at the annual Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) by winning the DAME Award (Design Award Mets)
in the Deck Equipment, Sails and Rigging category. The PCRX Mainsheet Traveler’s innovation is the pivoting hinged track
that aligns the car and track to the load, and its lightweight materials.
"We knew we were on to something good when our senior engineer Chuck Lob designed an innovative way to increase the traveler's load carrying capacity on America's Cup and Grand Prix boats," said Peter and Olaf Harken, founders of
the company. "Watch for them on the 2007 America's Cup boats in Valencia."
"Peter and Olaf encourage innovation from their engineers and let us run with ideas we're passionate about," said Chuck Lob Senior Engineer. "I think travelers are a lot like blocks. They want to follow the lead of the sheet. When the cars are allowed to do this, the result is less friction more load capacity, and a lighter weight design."
Pivoting Track
The PCRX mainsheet traveler uses a hinged track that pivots. As the
mainsheet angle changes, the car remains perfectly aligned with the load.
Because the track pivots, the car toggle can be eliminated, reducing
height and weight.
Captive Torlon® Roller Bearings
Roller Bearings provide more surface contact per bearing than ball
bearings. Because fewer bearings are needed, the car can be smaller
and lighter. The car assembly has a SWL of 7258 kg (16,000 lb) and
weighs just 2.72 kg (5.99 lb). The equivalent strength ball bearing car
weighs almost 6 kg (13.2 lbs). 
Lightweight Attachment Systems
Special Loup Blocks attach to the car using Spectra®/Dyneema® LOUPS™ to replace heavy stainless headposts and shackles. LOUPS attach to the sheave’s hub so the block cage guides line and can be very light. Flexible LOUPS allow blocks to easily align to loads as the mainsails traveler is
trimmed or eased.
Carbon Wraps
Wraps of carbon fiber secure the high-strength G10 fiber-reinforced plastic bobbin to the deck. A titanium rod is used as the hinge pin for additional weight savings and the lightest possible system.
C7792
Weight: 5.99 lb (2.72 kg)
SWL: 16,000 lb (7258 kg)
Copyright© 2008 Harken, Inc. All rights reserved
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