Rotary encoders for use with trolling motors

• US 9,160,210 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Perry, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COURSON, TANIA C
• Application Number:
  US13/437,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 33/1.PT, 33/1.N, 335/34, 337/06, 337/07, 318/3, 318/15, 318/566, 318/581, 318/663, 114/144.RE
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/20 using radiated signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/06 continuous sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/14 Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06

Abstract

Rotary encoders for use with trolling motors are disclosed. An example rotary encoder includes a housing defining an aperture and a linear guide and an input sleeve to extend through the aperture. The input sleeve includes an exterior guide to be engaged and followed by a shuttle to enable rotary position information to be obtained from the input sleeve. The shuttle is movably coupled within the linear guide. The shuttle is biased to engage a central portion of the exterior guide if rotation of the input sleeve moves the shuttle past first or second ends of the groove to prevent the rotary encoder from being damaged by over-rotation of the input sleeve.

Claims

1. A rotary encoder for use with a trolling motor, comprising:

a housing defining an aperture and a linear guide;

an input sleeve to extend through the aperture, the input sleeve comprising an exterior groove, at least a portion of the groove is non-perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the input sleeve, the groove comprising a first end, a second end, and a central portion, the first end is longitudinally spaced from the central portion and the second end is longitudinally spaced from the central portion; and

a shuttle to be biased and movably positioned within the linear guide, the shuttle comprising a protrusion to engage and follow the groove as the input sleeve is rotated relative to the housing to enable rotary position information to be obtained from the input sleeve, wherein the protrusion is biased to re-engage the central portion if rotation of the input sleeve moves the protrusion past the first end or the second end to prevent the rotary encoder from being damaged by over-rotation of the input sleeve.

2. The rotary encoder of claim 1, wherein the shuttle is biased toward the central portion.

3. The rotary encoder of claim 1, further comprising a potentiometer comprising a slider to move with the shuttle.

4. The rotary encoder of claim 3, wherein the linear guide comprises a first slot in which the shuttle is disposed, an aperture of the shuttle to receive the slider to enable a movement of the shuttle to be transferred to the slider.

5. The rotary encoder of claim 4, wherein the linear guide defines a second slot through which the protrusion extends, the second slot intersecting the first slot.

6. The rotary encoder of claim 1, wherein the input sleeve is to receive and be coupled to a steering shaft of the trolling motor.

7. The rotary encoder of claim 1, wherein the groove defines a spiral path.

8. The rotary encoder of claim 1, wherein rotary position information is to be obtained over approximately 380 degrees of rotation of the input sleeve relative to the housing.

9. The rotary encoder of claim 1, wherein the rotary encoder is to enable proportional heel-toe steering using a foot pedal.

10. The rotary encoder of claim 9, wherein the foot pedal comprises a wireless foot pedal.

11. The rotary encoder of claim 1, further comprising a trolling motor in which the rotary encoder is positioned.

12. The rotary encoder of claim 1, further comprising a transmission in which the rotary encoder is positioned.

13. The rotary encoder of claim 1, further comprising a first spring and a second spring, the first spring disposed within the linear guide on a first side of the shuttle and the second spring disposed within the linear guide on a second side of the shuttle, the first side opposite the second side, the first and second springs to bias the shuttle.

14. The rotary encoder of claim 1, wherein the first end of the groove includes a first portion that is substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the input sleeve and the second end of the groove includes a second portion that is substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis.

15. The rotary encoder of claim 1, wherein the input sleeve includes a collar to engage an end of the housing, the engagement between the collar and the end of the housing to substantially restrict linear movement of the input sleeve past the end of the housing.

16. The rotary encoder of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first annular portion and a second annular portion that define the aperture, the first annular portion spaced from the second annular portion, the first annular portion is coupled to the second annular portion by the linear guide, the linear guide having a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the input sleeve.

17. The rotary encoder of claim 1, wherein the input sleeve comprises notches to receive a portion of a transmission, the notches placed on opposite sides of the input sleeve.

18. A rotary encoder for use with a trolling motor, comprising:

a housing defining an aperture and a linear guide; and

an input sleeve to extend through the aperture, the input sleeve comprising a guide to be engaged and followed by a shuttle to enable rotary position information to be obtained from the input sleeve, the shuttle movably coupled within the linear guide, wherein the shuttle is biased to engage a central portion of the guide if rotation of the input sleeve moves the shuttle past first or second ends of the guide.

19. The rotary encoder of claim 18, wherein the guide comprises a rib that extends from an exterior surface of the input sleeve.

20. The rotary encoder of claim 18, wherein the rotary encoder is to enable proportional heel-toe steering using a foot pedal.

21. The rotary encoder of claim 20, wherein the foot pedal comprises a wireless foot pedal.

22. The rotary encoder of claim 18, wherein a first signal is to be obtained by a controller based on a position of the shuttle.

23. The rotary encoder of claim 22, further comprising a proportional steering apparatus to be communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein a second signal is received by the controller based on an input received from the proportional steering apparatus, wherein, based on a difference between the first signal and the second signal, the controller is to cause a position of a steering shaft extending through the input sleeve to change.

24. A rotary encoder, comprising:

a housing defining an aperture;

an input sleeve to extend through the aperture;

means for obtaining rotary position information from the input sleeve over 360 degrees of rotation of the input sleeve; and

means for preventing the rotary encoder from being damaged by over-rotation of the input sleeve.

25. The rotary encoder of claim 24, wherein the means for obtaining rotary position information from the input sleeve comprises a follower to engage and follow a groove of the input sleeve as the input sleeve is rotated relative to the housing.

26. The rotary encoder of claim 25, wherein the means for preventing the rotary encoder from being damaged by over-rotation of the input sleeve comprises non-hard limit ends of the groove.

27. The rotary encoder of claim 26, wherein the follower is biased to engage a central portion of the groove if rotation of the input sleeve moves a shuttle past the ends of the groove to substantially prevent the rotary encoder from being damaged by over-rotation of the input sleeve.