Trolling motor with sonar transducer

• US 6,661,742 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
• Inventors: Hansen, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US09/977,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20020044500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 367/173, 440/6
• US Class Current: 367/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00

Abstract

A trolling motor system includes a lower propulsion unit and a transducer assembly. The lower propulsion unit has an external cavity extending into the lower propulsion unit. The transducer assembly includes a sonar transducer and a mount coupled to the sonar transducer. The mount releasably secures the sonar transducer within the cavity. In one exemplary embodiment, the mount includes at least one fastener releasably coupling the mount to the lower propulsion unit. In one exemplary embodiment, the mount releasably secures the sonar transducer within the lower propulsion unit proximate a rear end of the lower propulsion unit.

Claims

1. A trolling motor system comprising:

a lower propulsion unit having a front end and a rear end, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a propeller at the rear end; and

a sonar transducer received at least partially within the lower propulsion unit proximate the rear end;

wherein the sonar transducer is removably received within the lower propulsion unit proximate the rear end;

wherein the lower propulsion unit has an interior and an exterior, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a radially extending cavity extending from the exterior to the interior and wherein the cavity removably receives the sonar transducer.

2. The system of claim 1 including a seal between the sonar transducer and the lower propulsion unit to prevent ingress of water from the exterior to the interior of the lower propulsion unit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sonar transducer is coupled to a mount and wherein the mount forms a seal with the lower propulsion unit.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mount is cup-shaped and receives the sonar transducer.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the mount includes a shoulder and an O-ring and wherein the O-ring is compressed by the shoulder against the lower propulsion unit to form a seal between the lower propulsion unit and the mount when the mount is secured to the lower propulsion unit.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the mount is removably secured to the lower propulsion unit by fasteners.

7. The system of claim 1 including a transducer cable connected at one end to the transducer and extending through an interior of the lower propulsion unit.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the lower propulsion unit further comprises a tube mounting portion located between the front end and the rear end, and wherein the sonar transducer is located between the tube mounting portion and the rear end.

8. A trolling motor system comprising:

a lower propulsion unit having a front end and a rear end, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a propeller at the rear end; and

a sonar transducer received at least partially within the lower propulsion unit proximate the rear end;

wherein the sonar transducer is removably received within the lower propulsion unit proximate the rear end;

wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a motor having a brush card proximate the rear end.

9. A trolling motor system comprising:

a lower propulsion unit having an external cavity extending into the lower propulsion unit; and

a transducer assembly including;

a sonar transducer; and

a mount coupled to the sonar transducer, the mount being fastened to the lower propulsion unit and releasably securing the sonar transducer within the cavity.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mount forms a seal about the cavity.

11. The system of claim 10 including an O-ring captured between the mount and the lower propulsion unit about the cavity.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a front end and a rear end, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a propeller proximate the rear end and wherein the cavity is adjacent the rear end.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a front end and a rear end, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a propeller proximate the rear end and wherein the cavity is adjacent the front end.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the mount partially receives the transducer.

15. The system of claim 9 including a cable electrically coupled to the sonar transducer at a first end and extending through an interior of the lower propulsion unit.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a motor having a stator, wherein the cavity is rearward the stator.

17. The system of claim 11, including a signal transmitting electrical coupling mechanism having a first end adapted to be coupled to a control and display unit and a second end, wherein the second end of the electrical coupling mechanism and the sonar transducer are releasably interconnected by a quick disconnect mechanism.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the quick disconnect mechanism includes a plug assembly having one of a female portion and a male portion coupled to the sonar transducer and the other of the female portion and male portion coupled to the second end of the electrical coupling mechanism.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the mount is releasably coupled to the lower propulsion unit by at least one fastener.

18. A transducer assembly for use with a lower propulsion unit having an external cavity extending into the lower propulsion unit, the transducer assembly comprising:

a sonar transducer;

a mount coupled to the sonar transducer, the mount adapted to be fastened to the lower propulsion unit and configured to releasably couple the sonar transducer to the lower propulsion unit within the external cavity.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a front end and a rear end, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a propeller proximate the rear end and wherein the cavity is adjacent the rear end.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a front end and a rear end, wherein the lower propulsion unit includes a propeller proximate the rear end and wherein the cavity is adjacent the front end.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the mount partially receives the transducer.