Device for controlling the direction of movement and thrust force of a watercraft
First Claim
1. A device for controlling the direction of movement and the force in such direction for a watercraft, comprising two thrust generating devices, drive means for driving said thrust generating devices, and an input device which can control rotation of the watercraft about a vertical axis, linear movement of the watercraft in horizontal directions, and the thrust force produced by said thrust generating devices for effecting said rotational and linear movements;
- wherein said input device includes a first input element for defining the force for linear movement of the watercraft and a second input element for defining the direction of linear movement of the watercraft;
wherein said first and second input elements are each controlled by a respective control member;
wherein said control member for said second input element is a head which can be pivoted about a stationary first axis and operates said second input element through a first gear arrangement;
wherein said control member for said first input element is a lever which is pivotally supported on said head for movement about a second axis which extends at a right angle to said first axis, said lever being operatively connected by a second gear arrangement to a longitudinally movably supported rack which operates said first input element through a pinion; and
including a handwheel which is supported for rotation about a third axis and is operatively connected by a third gear arrangement to a third input element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A watercraft includes two steerable propellers driven by motors, the angular positions of and the thrusts produced by the steerable propellers being controlled by a control system. The control system includes an input device having a frame, a head and a handwheel supported on the frame for independent pivotal movement about a common first axis, and a lever supported on the head for pivotal movement about a second axis normal to the first axis. The head, handwheel and lever are each operatively coupled to a respective input element by a respective gear arrangement. A microcomputer responsive to the input elements is connected through several control devices to the motor and the steerable propellers for effecting the requisite control thereof.
89 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for controlling the direction of movement and the force in such direction for a watercraft, comprising two thrust generating devices, drive means for driving said thrust generating devices, and an input device which can control rotation of the watercraft about a vertical axis, linear movement of the watercraft in horizontal directions, and the thrust force produced by said thrust generating devices for effecting said rotational and linear movements;
- wherein said input device includes a first input element for defining the force for linear movement of the watercraft and a second input element for defining the direction of linear movement of the watercraft;
wherein said first and second input elements are each controlled by a respective control member;
wherein said control member for said second input element is a head which can be pivoted about a stationary first axis and operates said second input element through a first gear arrangement;
wherein said control member for said first input element is a lever which is pivotally supported on said head for movement about a second axis which extends at a right angle to said first axis, said lever being operatively connected by a second gear arrangement to a longitudinally movably supported rack which operates said first input element through a pinion; and
including a handwheel which is supported for rotation about a third axis and is operatively connected by a third gear arrangement to a third input element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- wherein said input device includes a first input element for defining the force for linear movement of the watercraft and a second input element for defining the direction of linear movement of the watercraft;
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10. An apparatus for controlling the direction of movement and the force in this direction for a watercraft, comprising:
- two thrust generating devices which are each pivotal about a respective vertical axis;
drive means for driving said thrust generating devices; and
an input device for controlling rotation of the watercraft about a vertical axis, linear movement of the watercraft in horizontal directions and the magnitude of forces produced by said thrust generating devices for effecting said rotational and linear movements;
wherein said input device includes a first control member which is supported for pivotal movement about a first axis and is coupled through a first gear arrangement with a first input element which controls the direction of linear movement of the watercraft, a second control member which is supported for pivotal movement about a second axis and is coupled through a second gear arrangement to a second input element which controls the force produced by said thrust generating devices for effecting linear movement of the watercraft, and a third control member which is supported for pivotal movement about a third axis and is coupled through a third gear arrangement to a third input element which controls the direction of rotational movement of the watercraft and the force produced by said thrust generating devices for effecting rotation of the watercraft. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- two thrust generating devices which are each pivotal about a respective vertical axis;
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18. An apparatus for controlling the direction of movement and the force in this direction for a watercraft, comprising:
- two thrust generating devices which are each pivotal about a respective vertical axis;
drive means for driving said thrust generating devices; and
an input device for controlling rotation of the watercraft about a vertical axis, linear movement of the watercraft in horizontal directions and the magnitude of forces produced by said thrust generating devices for effecting said rotational and linear movements;
wherein said input device includes a manually operable head and a manually operable handwheel which are supported for independent pivotal movement about a first axis and are respectively operatively coupled to first and second input elements, said first input element controlling the direction of linear movement of the watercraft and said second input element controlling the direction of rotational movement of the watercraft and the force produced by said thrust generating devices for effecting rotation of the watercraft, and wherein said input device includes a manually operable lever which is supported on said head for pivotal movement about a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis and is operatively coupled to a third input element which controls the force produced by said thrust generating devices for effecting linear movement of the watercraft.
- two thrust generating devices which are each pivotal about a respective vertical axis;
Specification