CONSTANT LINE OF POSITION NAVIGATION SYSTEM

• US 3,737,635 A
• Filed: 10/12/1971
• Issued: 06/05/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teledyne Industries Incorporated (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Hastings
• Inventors: Hastings, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrison, Malcolm A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US05/188,196
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 235/150.2,150.26,150.27,150.272,150.22 340/30 343/113R,114,107-110 318/585,586,588 114/144R 35/10.2 33/324,326,356
• US Class Current: 701/466
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/26 Push-pull amplifiers; Phase-splitters therefor duplicated single-ended push-pull arrangements or phase-splitters therefor H03F3/30

Abstract

A constant line of position navigation system is disclosed in which an error signal is generated whenever a vessel carrying the system deviates from a predetermined line of position. This error signal is used to deflect the needle of the compass on the vessel to indicate to a helmsman or the autopilot that a correction in the heading of the vessel must be made to bring the vessel back onto the predetermined course.

Claims

1. In a vessel navigation system which includes position determining apparatus for indicating a line of position along which the vessel lies and a compass for indicating the heading of the vessel, the improvement comprising:

error signal generating means responsive to said position determining apparatus for generating an output signal whenever said vessel deviates from a predetermined line of position;

deflection means for causing said compass to have a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'false'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' indication other than the true heading of said vessel; and

means for connecting an output signal from said error signal generating means to said deflection means, whereby said compass has a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'false'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' indication whenever said vessel deviates from said predetermined line of position.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said error signal generating means comprises means for generating an output signal whose sense is a function of the sense of the deviation of said vessel from said predetermined line of position and whose magnitude is a function of the magnitude of the deviation of said vessel from said predetermined line of position, whereby the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'false'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' indication of said compass has a sense and magnitude which is a function of the sense and magnitude, respectively, of the deviation of said vessel from said predetermined line of position.

3. The invention of claim 2 in which said compass is a magnetic compass and said deflection means comprises magnetic coil means positioned adjacent to said compass for generating a deviation field in response to the output signal of said error signal generating means.

4. The invention of claim 3 in which said error signal generating means comprises a bridge circuit having a first and second leg each including a series connection of an amplifier and a load resistor, and having an output terminal between said amplifier and said load resistor, control means responsive to said position determining apparatus for controlling the conductivity of said amplifiers as a function of the sense and magnitude of the deviation of said vessel from said predetermined line of position, and in which said magnetic coil means is connected between said output terminals.

5. The invention of claim 4 in which said control means comprises a potentiometer having a slide contact, a stepping motor driven by said position determining apparatus, and means connecting said motor to said slide contact.

6. The invention of claim 5 in which said magnetic coil means comprises a plurality of pairs of magnetic coils positioned around said compass and which further comprises a rotary switch for connecting one of said pairs of magnetic coils between said output terminals of said error signal generating means.

7. The invention of claim 2 which further comprises an autopilot for maintaining said vessel at a constant heading as indicated by said compass.

8. The invention of claim 7 in which said compass is a magnetic compass and said deflection means comprises magnetic coil means positioned adjacent to said compass for generating a deviation field in response to the output signal of said error signal generating means.

9. The invention of claim 8 in which said error signal generating means comprises a bridge circuit having a first and second leg each including a series connection of an amplifier and a load resistor, and having an output terminal between said amplifier and said load resistor, control means responsive to said position determining apparatus for controlling the conductivity of said amplifiers as a function of the sense and magnitude of the deviation of said vessel from said predetermined line of position, and in which said magnetic coil means is connected between said output terminals.

10. The invention of claim 9 in which said control means comprises a potentiometer having a slide contact, a stepping motor driven by said position determining apparatus, and means connecting said motor to said slide contact.

11. The invention of claim 10 in which said magnetic coil means comprises a plurality of pairs of magnetic coils positioned around said compass and which further comprises a rotary switch for connecting one of said pairs of magnetic coils between said output terminals of said error signal generating means.