VESSEL STEERING APPARATUS

• US 20170349257A1
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yanmar Company Limited (Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: HARA, Naohiro, WAKAHARA, Hiroaki, WATANABE, Jun, TAMURA, Gakuji
• Granted Patent: US 10,457,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 49/00 Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/10 using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/026 using multi-axis control levers, or the like, e.g. joysticks, wherein at least one degree of freedom is employed for steering, slowing down, or dynamic anchoring
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/045 making use of satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/02 Initiating means for steering , for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/04 automatic, e.g. reacting to compass
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/42 Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements by jets B63H25/46; Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles

Abstract

For a vessel steering apparatus for performing a movement control to move a vessel to a target position on the basis of a signal of a GPS apparatus, a movement control stop area, a buffer area adjacent to the movement control stop area, and a movement-controlling area adjacent to the buffer area are set on the basis of the distance from the target position, wherein in the movement control stop area, thrust generation by a propulsion apparatus is stopped; in the movement-controlling area, thrust is generated by the propulsion apparatus; and in the buffer area, thrust is generated by the propulsion apparatus of the vessel for movement control only in the case where the vessel moves from the movement-controlling area to the buffer area, then stays in the buffer area, and moves in a direction away from the target position.

Claims

1. A ship steering device configured to perform a movement control to move a ship to a target position based on a signal from a GPS device,

wherein a movement control suspension zone including the target position, a buffer zone adjacent to the movement control suspension zone, and a movement control execution zone adjacent to the buffer zone are set based on a distance between a present position calculated from the signal from the GPS device and the target position,

wherein generation of a thrust by a propulsion apparatus of the ship for a movement control is suspended in the movement control suspension zone,

wherein the thrust by the propulsion apparatus of the ship for the movement control is generated in the movement control execution zone, and

wherein the thrust is generated by the propulsion apparatus of the ship for the movement control in the buffer zone only when the ship stays in the buffer zone after being moved from the movement control execution zone to the buffer zone, and when the ship is moving away from the target position.

3. The ship steering device according to claim 1,

wherein a size of the buffer zone is changed according to characteristics of the ship.

2. A ship steering device configured to perform a turning control to turn a ship in a target bearing based on a signal from a bearing sensor,

wherein a turning control suspension zone including the target bearing, a buffer zone adjacent to the turning control suspension zone, and a turning control execution zone adjacent to the buffer zone are set based on an angle difference between a present bearing calculated from the signal from the bearing sensor and the target bearing,

wherein generation of a thrust by a propulsion apparatus of the ship for the turning control is suspended in the turning control suspension zone,

wherein the thrust by the propulsion apparatus of the ship for the turning control is generated in the turning control execution zone, and

wherein the thrust by the propulsion apparatus of the ship for the turning control is generated in the buffer zone only when the ship stays in the buffer zone after turning from the turning control execution zone to the buffer zone, and when the ship is turning away from the target bearing.

4. The ship steering device according to claim 2,

wherein a size of the buffer zone is changed according to characteristics of the ship.