Reactive suspension with an integrated braking and steering system for a boat

• US 20100138084A1
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fred Pereira
• Original Assignee: Fred Pereira
• Inventors: Pereira, Fred
• Granted Patent: US 8,676,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/10 Power-driven personal watercraft, e.g. water scooters water jet propulsion B63H11/00; jet steering B63H25/46; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/50 Slowing-down means not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A boat with several stability and handling design improvements. It has an enhanced reactive suspension system positioned in the vessel between a set of separating hull and body components. The boat also has improved braking, steering and stabilizing systems designed around multiple pivoting mechanisms on the vessel hull that work individually or in unison to achieve the desired braking or steering effect. The stabilizing system is operated by a computerized, gyroscopic hydraulic control to maintain stability and comfort of ride, minimizing the roll, pitch and yaw commonly experienced in the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A boat with a reactive suspension system with integrated braking and steering systems comprising:

an upper hull section housing said boat'"'"'s operational controls and passenger compartment;

a lower hull section housing a propulsion system; and

a reactive suspension system connecting and dispersed between said upper hull section and said lower hull section;

wherein said suspension system may be employed to vertically separate said lower hull from said upper hull or to conjoin said hulls into a unitary hull configuration.

2. The boat of claim 1 wherein said suspension system further comprises:

at least one upper subframe rigidly affixed to said upper hull section;

at least one lower subframe rigidly affixed to said lower hull section;

a first pressurized actuation system;

at least one pair of rigid swingarms having a first end pivotally connected to said upper subframe and having a second end pivotally connected to said lower subframe;

at least one pair of shock absorbers each having a distal end pivotally connected to said upper subframe and each having a proximate end pivotally connected to one of said pair of swingarms;

wherein said first pressurized actuation system is in operational connection with said shock absorbers so as to increase or decrease the distance between said distal ends and proximate ends thereby separating or conjoining said upper hull section from said lower hull section.

3. The boat of claim 2 wherein said swingarm has a lift member extending normally therefrom and is pivotally connected to said proximate end of end of said shock absorber.

4. The boat of claim 3 wherein said pair of swingarms consist of two substantially similar swingarms mounted in a parallel configuration equidistant from the longitudinal centerline of said boat, and said pair of shock absorbers consist of two substantially similar shock absorbers mounted in a parallel configuration equidistant from the longitudinal centerline of said boat.

5. The boat of claim 4 wherein said reactive suspension system further comprises:

a second actuation system;

at least three flaps; and

a computerized gyroscopic system;

wherein said gyroscopic system is in electronic communication with said second actuation system to initiate movement of said flaps based on the roll and pitch of said boat.

6. The boat of claim 2 wherein said pressure actuation system is a pneumatic system.

7. The boat of claim 2 wherein said pressure actuation system is a hydraulic system.

8. The boat of claim 5 wherein said three flaps each having a leading edge and a trailing edge and an axle passing axially through all three flaps at a location forward of each flap'"'"'s axial midline;

wherein said flaps are pivotally mounted at a rear section of said lower hull, having a central elevator flap flanked by an elevon flap on either side.

9. The boat of claim 8 wherein said second actuation system pivotally maneuvers said three flaps'"'"' leading edges vertically with respect to the horizontal axis of the boat to steer or brake said boat.

10. The improved personal boat of claim 9 wherein said gyroscope is a two directional level sensing control means operationally connected to said second actuation system to automatically operate said elevons and said elevator in unison to stabilize said boat in response to a roll or pitch motion experienced by said boat.

11. The boat of claim 10 wherein said actuation system is pneumatic.

12. The boat of claim 10 wherein said actuation system is hydraulic.

13. The boat of claim 10 wherein said actuation system is a control able set of electric servo motors.

14. The boat of claim 10 further comprising:

a foot actuated brake pedal; and

a steering joystick;

wherein said brake pedal is operationally connected to said actuation system to cause said elevator leading edge to move vertically without any corresponding movement of said elevons to brake said boat, and wherein said joystick is operationally connected to cause said elevon leading edges to move in opposite vertical directions simultaneously and cause said elevator leading edge to move vertically downward to steer said boat.