U.S. patent application number 12/464342 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-03 for programmable boatlift system with boat position sensor.
Invention is credited to James C. Stanley.
Application Number | 20090220300 12/464342 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40626171 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090220300 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stanley; James C. |
September 3, 2009 |
PROGRAMMABLE BOATLIFT SYSTEM WITH BOAT POSITION SENSOR
Abstract
A programmable boatlift system having a cable extending up from
one end of a boatlift cradle, across to a shaft attached to a
motor, and down to an opposite end of the boatlift cradle. The
cable passes through a hole in the shaft. A position sensor having
an idler sheave is placed on the cable. The motor winds or unwinds
the cable around the shaft to cause the cable to move across the
roller sheave to raise or lower the boatlift cradle. The position
sensor produces an output signal proportional to the distance the
cable travels over the idler sheave as the cable causes the idler
sheave to rotate. An electronic control circuit uses the output
signal to infer the vertical position of the boatlift cradle and to
position the boatlift cradle as desired.
Inventors: |
Stanley; James C.; (Chester,
VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BUSH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP, LLC
P.O. BOX 381146
BIRMINGHAM
AL
35238
US
|
Family ID: |
40626171 |
Appl. No.: |
12/464342 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11937937 |
Nov 9, 2007 |
7534069 |
|
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12464342 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/3 ;
114/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C 3/12 20130101; B63C
3/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/3 ;
114/44 |
International
Class: |
B63C 3/12 20060101
B63C003/12; B63C 7/00 20060101 B63C007/00 |
Claims
1. A programmable boat lift system, comprising: a) a single idler
sheave having a plurality of holes for the transmission of light,
said idler sheave constructed to engage a single cable and to
rotate on an axis as the single cable moves across said idler
sheave; b) a quadrature encoder having two pairs of IR transmitters
and IR receivers, said encoder placed over said idler sheave, said
two pairs of IR transmitters and IR receivers being set apart about
165 degrees relative to said axis of said idler sheave; c) said IR
transmitters transmitting infra red light through the holes in said
idler sheave and said IR receivers receiving said infra red light
so that said encoder produces an electronic output signal in
proportion to the number of rotations of said idler sheave, and in
proportion to the distance the single cable travels over said idler
sheave, as the single cable moves across said idler sheave; and d)
an electronic control circuit having a microcontroller, an
in-circuit programming header; and a motor control circuit, said
control circuit programmable to use said output signal to infer the
exact position of the single cable and the boat lift cradle without
the requirement of a limit switch.
2. The boat lift system of claim 1 wherein said electronic control
circuit is programmable to automatically turn off a motor after a
fixed number of rotations of said idler sheave in one direction,
and after said fixed number of rotations in an opposite direction,
and after any amount of rotations therebetween as desired.
3. The boat lift system of claim 1, further comprising a user
interface to allow a user to invoke the function of the
programmable boat lift system.
4. A programmable boat lift system, comprising: a) a single idler
sheave having a plurality of holes for the transmission of light,
said idler sheave constructed to engage a single cable and to
rotate on an axis as the single cable moves across said idler
sheave; b) a quadrature encoder having two pairs of IR transmitters
and IR receivers, said encoder placed over said idler sheave, said
two pairs of IR transmitters and IR receivers being set apart about
165 degrees relative to said axis of said idler sheave; c) said IR
transmitters transmitting infra red light through the holes in said
idler sheave and said IR receivers receiving said infra red light
so that said encoder produces an electronic output signal in
proportion to the number of rotations of said idler sheave, and in
proportion to the distance the single cable travels over said idler
sheave, as the single cable moves across said idler sheave; d) an
electronic control circuit having a microcontroller, an in-circuit
programming header; and a motor control circuit, said control
circuit programmable to use said output signal to infer the exact
position of the single cable and the boat lift cradle without the
requirement of a limit switch; and e) said electronic control
circuit is programmable to automatically turn off a motor after a
fixed number of rotations of said idler sheave in one direction,
and after said fixed number of rotations in an opposite direction,
and after any amount of rotations therebetween as desired.
5. The boat lift system of claim 4, further comprising a user
interface to allow a user to invoke the function of the
programmable boat lift system.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of pending patent
application No. 11/937,937 filed Nov. 9, 2007, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a programmable boatlift
system, and, more particularly, to a boat lift system that
indicates the exact position of the boat within the lift
system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Programmable boat lift systems are known but they require
two cables on each side of the boat, two at the front and two at
the rear of the boat. Two motors are required, one for each side of
the boat to operate the cables. The use of level sensors is known
to stop or start the motors to position the boat as desired, but
these sensors must be placed near the boat and move up and down
with the boat. They require the use of mercury switches and float
switches and can be exposed to water as the boat is placed into the
water. The plurality of motors, cables, and sensors in these
systems create a need for constant maintenance and repair. A cable
system for a boat lift using a single motor is known but it is not
suitable for detecting the position of the boat within the lift
system.
[0004] What is needed is a boatlift system that operates with a
single motor, with a single cable at the front of the boat, a
single cable at the back of the boat, and a simple sensor that
measures the actual position of the boat within the boat lift, so
that a remote, programmable unit can position the boat
automatically as desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is a boat lift system having a
boatlift structure with a front end, a back end, and vertical and
horizontal support beams. Boatlift cradles are positioned among the
support beams and are connected to the upper portion of the
boatlift structure by a steel cable at the front of the boatlift
structure and a steel cable at the back end of the boatlift
structure. The cables extend from one side of the cradle upwards
towards a pulley, horizontally across the boatlift structure
towards a shaft rotated by a motor, through a hole in the shaft,
and downward to the lift cradle. An idler sheave is placed on one
of the cables on the portion that extends horizontally across the
boat lift structure. The sheave is fitted with a quadrature encoder
to produce an electronic signal proportioned to the number of
rotations of the sheave as the cable moves across the sheave during
lifting or lowering of the lift cable. The signal from the encoder
is sent to an electronic control circuit which uses the encoder
signal to infer the vertical position of the boat or lift cradle
within the boatlift structure. The electronic control circuit
consists of a microcontroller with non-volatile memory, oscillator,
and related circuitry for receiving and sending electronic signals.
The electronic control circuit will also receive signals from a
user input keypad which allows a user to invoke the end functions
of the programmable boatlift system, and the electronic control
circuit will send signals to the motor to turn the boat motor on
and off, in either direction based upon the programming in the
electronic control circuit. Because the boat position sensor
provides the exact vertical position of the boat within the
boatlift structure, limit sensors, float sensors, moisture sensors,
and timers are not required for operation of the boatlift
system.
[0006] An advantage of the present invention is a programmable
boatlift system that requires only two cables.
[0007] Another advantage is a single boat position sensor which
determines the exact position of the boat within the boat
structure.
[0008] Another advantage is a single motor to raise and lower the
boat.
[0009] Another advantage is a simple, durable, idler sheave with a
quadrature encoder to sense the boat position.
[0010] Another advantage is a programmable control unit with a
remote control to automatically position the boat within the boat
lift structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows the boatlift structure of the programmable
boatlift system of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows the winch mechanism of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows the idler sheave with IR detectors engaging the
lift cable.
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a view of the idler sheave and quadrature
encoder viewed along the length of the cable.
[0015] FIG. 5 shows the electronic components of the programmable
boatlift system.
[0016] FIG. 6 shows the electronic components of the electronic
control circuit.
[0017] FIG. 7 is an electrical schematic of the microcontroller of
the electronic control circuit.
[0018] FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic of the rotary encoder and
connector of the boat position sensor.
[0019] FIG. 9 is an electrical schematic of the user keypad
interface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows the boatlift structure 11 of the boatlift
system 10 of the present invention. The boatlift structure 11 has a
front end 12 and a back end 13. The boatlift structure 11 is
supported by four vertical beams 14, and has right side 15 and left
side 16. A boatlift cradle 17 is suspended by a cable 21 from the
upper ends of beams 14. A motor 18 is attached to the upper end of
a beam 14 at the back end 13 and left side 16 of the boatlift
structure 11. The motor 18 has shaft 19 that extends from the motor
18 to a bearing 20 attached at the upper end of a beam 14 at the
front end 12 and left side 16 of the boatlift structure 11. Bearing
20 supports shaft 19 as motor 18 rotates shaft 19.
[0021] Cable 21 is attached to one side 22 of boatlift cradle 17
and extends upward therefrom to pulley 50, from there across to
shaft 19, and from there down to the opposite side 23 of boatlift
cradle 17. A boat position sensor 24 is attached to boatlift
structure 11 and engages cable 21 by means of an idler sheave 25.
The boat position sensor 24 is connected electrically to motor 18
by a wire 28 and to a user key pad interface 27 by a wire 54.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the shaft 19 attached to a beam 14 by a bracket
29 at back end 13, right side 16 of boatlift structure 11. The
shaft 19 is supported by bearings 30. Shaft 19 has hole 31 through
which cable 21 is inserted. As motor 18 turns the portions of cable
21 extending upward from each side 22, 23 of boatlift cradle 17 are
wound around shaft 19 in the same direction. The portions of the
cable attached to sides 22, 23 of boatlift cradle 17, thus, lift or
lower boatlift cradle 17 in a level horizontal position. Although
not shown, a similar cable and boatlift cradle arrangement is at
the front end 12 of boatlift structure 11, wherein the cable passes
through a second hole in shaft 19. Thus, there are two boatlift
cradles, each with its own cable arrangement wherein the cables
lift or lower both boatlift cradles in unison as the motor 18
rotates shaft 19 which acts as a winch. With a boatlift cradle at
the front of a boat and at the rear of the boat, the rotation of
shaft 19 by motor 18 will raise and lower the boat in a level
position, both horizontally and vertically.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows the idler sheave 25 of the boat position sensor
24 in place on cable 21. Sheave 25 rotates on an axle 51. Sheave 25
has a plurality of holes for transmission of infrared (IR) light
which is detected by IR detectors 53. FIG. 4 shows the boat
position sensor 24 looking downline along cable 21. FIG. 4 further
shows a quadrature encoder 34 in place over idler sheave 25 and IR
transmitters 52. The detection of the IR signal through holes 32 in
the sheave 25, as the sheave 25 is rotated by cable 21, allows the
encoder 34 to produce an output signal directly proportional to the
distance cable 21 has traveled as it raises or lowers the boatlift
cradle 17. Thus, this output signal is directly proportional to the
absolute amount a boat in the boatlift cradle 17 has been raised or
lowered by the cables. The two pairs of IR transmitters 52 and
receivers 53 are set, preferably, about 165.degree. apart relative
to axle 51 of sheave 25.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the electrical and
functional components of the programmable boatlift system 10 of the
present invention. An AC inlet and power supply circuit 36
interfaces with line voltage and provides for the power
requirements of the circuitry. The power supply 36 provides 12 volt
line voltage to a motor control circuit 35. A 5 volt line voltage
is supplied to an electronic control circuit 26. This 5 volt line
voltage can operate for a short period of time after external power
is removed. This will allow the electronic control circuit 26 to
record the boatlift cradle's 17 final absolute position at
power-down in non-volatile memory, so as to eliminate the need to
recalibrate the boatlift cradle's 17 position when power is
restored. Motor control relays in the motor control circuit 35 turn
the boatlift motor 18 on and off, in either direction, based upon
input from the electronic control circuit 26.
[0025] The boat or cable position sensor 24 provides an output
signal to the electronic control circuit 26 which uses this signal
to infer the absolute position of the boatlift cradle 17. A user
interface or keypad 27 allows a user to invoke the function of the
programmable boatlift system 10 through keys or push buttons. The
electronic control circuit 26 encompasses all logical operations of
the circuitry and interfaces with the cable position input and user
interface/keypad input to control the lift motor on/off and
direction.
[0026] The components of the electronic control circuit 26 are
shown in FIG. 6. It consists of a microcontroller 38 with
non-volatile memory, an oscillator, and related circuitry to
interface with all other parts of the circuitry. Electronic control
circuit 26 also contains an in-circuit programming header 37, a
motor control circuit 41, limit switch circuits 39, and a
buzzer/power loss circuit 40. FIG. 7 shows an electrical schematic
of a microcontroller 38. FIG. 8 shows an electrical schematic of
the rotary encoder 34 and connector. FIG. 9 shows an electrical
schematic of the user keypad 27 and connector. A remote control
unit can also be used to operate the user keypad 27. A user can
press up, down, or stop keys to make the boatlift cradle 17 go up
or down or stop at any desired position. An enter key can be used
to program the electronic control circuit 26 to raise and lower the
boatlift cradle a desired amount by pressing other keys, such as,
for example, keys labeled "winter", "night", "water", etc. The
electronic control circuit 26 is programmable to automatically turn
off the motor 18 after a fixed number of rotations of the idler
sheave 25 in one direction, and after the same fixed number of
rotations in an opposite direction, and at any amount of rotations
there between.
[0027] The foregoing description has been limited to specific
embodiments of this invention. It will be apparent; however, that
variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the
art to the disclosed embodiments of the invention, with the
attainment of some or all of its advantages and without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example,
various types of known microprocessing, memory, and programming
devices may be used in the electronic control circuit. Various
types of rotary encoders known in the art may be used with the
idler sheave. Other emitters and detectors may be used in the
encoder besides infrared. The electronic control circuit can be
programmed to lock after a certain amount of time for security
purposes, and a pass code can be entered into the user key pad to
unlock the electronic control circuit. The electronic control
circuit can be programmed to produce an alarm before the motor is
turned on. A wireless remote device can be used to access the
electronic control circuit and/or user key pad. One or more limit
switches can be used for safety purposes to turn off the motor in
case of a malfunction in the system.
[0028] It will be understood that various changes in the details,
materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described
and illustrated above in order to explain the nature of this
invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing
from the principle and scope of the invention as recited in the
following claims.
* * * * *