U.S. patent application number 12/575784 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-14 for steering control arrangement for boats.
Invention is credited to Mehmet Nevres ULGEN.
Application Number | 20110086560 12/575784 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43855198 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110086560 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ULGEN; Mehmet Nevres |
April 14, 2011 |
Steering Control Arrangement for Boats
Abstract
An arrangement for providing the low-speed steering control of a
boat having at least two outboard thruster motors (2, 3) which are
interconnected preferably by means of a tie-rod (6), wherein the
tie-rod (6) comprises at least one tie-rod part (4, 5) which can be
independently driven forward and backward directions to preferably
independently turn the thruster motors (2, 3) vertically
Inventors: |
ULGEN; Mehmet Nevres;
(Istanbul, TR) |
Family ID: |
43855198 |
Appl. No.: |
12/575784 |
Filed: |
October 8, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
440/61S ;
440/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63H 20/12 20130101;
B63H 2020/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
440/61.S ;
440/63 |
International
Class: |
B63H 20/08 20060101
B63H020/08 |
Claims
1. An arrangement for providing the low-speed steering control of a
boat having at least two outboard thruster motors (2, 3) which are
interconnected preferably by means of a tie-rod (6), wherein the
tie-rod (6) comprises at least one tie-rod part (4, 5) which can be
independently driven forward and backward directions to preferably
independently turn the thruster motors (2, 3) vertically.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each thruster motor
(2,3) is driven by each respective tie-rod parts (4,5).
3. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the
mechanism driving said tie-rod parts (4, 5) is preferably a
hydraulic mechanism comprising a cylinder-piston, or a mechanical
mechanism, an electrical mechanism or a magnetic-based mechanism.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a tie-rod arrangement providing
for steering control of boats with two outboard motors, and more
specifically relates to a tie rod arrangement connected between the
motors for superior steering control while an outboard motorboat is
docked at low speeds.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] It is sometimes necessary to make motorboats approach to
mooring platforms from their larboard or starboard sides and this
operation may turn into nightmare for boat users. As a matter of
fact, it may not be always possible to find a large space to
approach the boat to a desired place at the dock or marina.
Therefore, docking the boat to an empty parking area makes
countless and repeated steering attempts necessary for the user of
boat.
[0003] Many solutions have been proposed for controlling the
low-speed steering of motorboats, such as docking to an immobilized
platform. U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,553, for instance, discloses a device
that having a main propeller controlled by means of a joystick-like
arm and a stern side thruster, and that provides for low-speed
steering control. Additionally, the IPS.RTM. system of Volvo, the
ZEUS.RTM. system (ZF.RTM.), and the Axius.RTM. system of Mercury do
perform this function in a very-expensive manner by means of stern
drives and under-hull propeller mechanisms, along with electronic
controllers and circuits issuing separate directional commands to
each drive unit.
[0004] WO 2000/13967 discloses a boat comprising a water jet drive
and a front thruster. There, the movement of the water jet nozzle
and front thruster is controlled by means of a joystick so that the
steering of boat is controlled at lower speeds.
[0005] JP 10 181692 discloses an assembly by which a stern
propeller and bow thruster are controlled for controlling the
movement of a marine vessel.
[0006] The proposals given above are for use with boats with
inboard motors (not towards boats with full outboard motors), and
they are complicated and expensive as they require additional
motors and thrusters, as well as a system providing the drive
control thereof for ensuring low-speed steering control.
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0007] One object of the present invention is to provide a
low-speed steering control of boats with two outboard motors by
means of an arrangement which is efficient with respect to
functionality and cost.
[0008] In order to achieve this object, this invention relates to
an arrangement for providing the low-speed steering control of a
boat with two outboard thruster motors which are preferably
interconnected by means of a tie-rod. The tie-road comprises at
least one tie-rod part which is independently driven forward and
backward directions to independently turn the thruster motors
around vertical axis. The tie-rod part or parts of the invention
is/are driven preferably by means of a hydraulic cylinder-piston or
electrical piston mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0009] The present invention is to be evaluated together with
annexed figures briefly described hereunder to make clear the
subject embodiment and the advantages thereof.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a motorboat with two
thruster motors.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a motorboat with two
thruster motors.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view, while the front parts of
thruster motors are positioned close to each other.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a below view of the positioning given in FIG.
3.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an above view of the positioning given in FIG.
3.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view, while the front parts of
thruster motors are positioned far from each other.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a below view of the positioning given in FIG.
6.
[0017] FIG. 8 is an above view of the positioning given in FIG.
6.
[0018] FIG. 9 shows the tie-rods while they are in the open
position.
[0019] FIG. 10 shows the tie-rods while they are neither in the
open, nor in the closed position.
[0020] FIG. 11 shows the tie-rods while they are in the closed
position.
REFERENCE NUMBERS OF PARTS IN FIGURES
[0021] 1 Hull [0022] 2 Thruster motor [0023] 3 Thruster motor
[0024] 4 Tie-rod part [0025] 5 Tie-rod part [0026] 6 Tie-rod [0027]
7 Propeller [0028] F.sub.2x Horizontal force component of the
thruster motor [0029] F.sub.2y Vertical force component of the
thruster motor [0030] F.sub.3x Horizontal force component of the
thruster motor [0031] F.sub.3y Vertical force component of the
thruster motor
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0032] As seen in FIG. 1, the stern of the hull (1) according to
the present invention is provided with two thruster motors (2, 3),
which are positioned side by side and comprise propellers (7)
connected to each other preferably by means of a tie-rod (6) having
two parts (4, 5). During a normal cruise, one of the thruster
motors (2, 3) supported so as to turn around the vertical axis with
the rudder being steered is turned around this vertical axis, such
that the other thruster motor is synchronously turned around the
vertical axis at the same direction by means of the tie-rod (6).
Thus the steering of a boat is controlled at higher speeds. In
other words, the parts (4, 5) of the tie-rod are displaced to a
certain extent at both sides with respect to the center of the
tie-rod (6), as illustrated in FIG. 4, and held at that position.
It is appreciated here that the number of thruster motors may be
three or more.
[0033] The steering control of thruster motors (2, 3) particularly
at lower speeds, such as during docking, is achieved by turning
these motors around vertical axes with respect to water, preferably
independently, or optionally, in an interconnected manner.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the parts
(4, 5) of the tie-rod are independently driven at forward and
backward directions for this purpose so that the thruster motors
(2, 3) are turned vertically. The drive of the tie-rod parts (4, 5)
may either be provided by means of a telescopic hydraulic
mechanism, such as a piston-cylinder couple, or a mechanical or an
electrical or a magnetic-based mechanism. Alternatively, a single
tie-rod part may also be made to turn two thruster motors.
[0034] By means of a proper arrangement of a preferred embodiment
according to the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the
thruster motors (2, 3) are turned vertically to dock a boat from
the left, for instance. In this example, the parts (4, 5) of the
tie-rod are brought close to each other so that the propellers of
the thruster motors (2, 3) are brought far from each other, and one
of the motors (2) is rotated in the forward direction so that the
boat is moved forward, while the other motor (3) is rotated to
provide rearward movement. As illustrated in FIG. 2, while the
opposite vertical force components (F.sub.2y, F.sub.3y) of thruster
motors (2, 3) eliminate each other, the resultant force of the
components at the same direction (F.sub.2x, F.sub.3x) moves the
boat to the left. The leftward steering of the boat may
alternatively be provided by means of bringing the parts (4, 5) of
the tie-rod away from each other, so that the propellers of the
thruster motors (2, 3) are brought close to each other. This
positioning of thruster motors is given in FIGS. 6 to 8. In this
example, the thruster motor (2) is rotated to move the boat
backwards, while the other motor (3) is rotated to move same
forward.
[0035] When the motor is to be steered rightward, this is achieved
by means of bringing the parts (4, 5) of the tie-rod close-far
to-from each other and changing the rotational direction of
thruster motors (2, 3), in a manner similar to that described
above. Since the parts (4, 5) of the tie-rod can independently be
driven at desired amounts, the steering of the boat to the sides
can also be achieved by following any desired docking path.
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