Patent Grant
10766585
The present invention relates to hydraulic steering systems for boats.
Hydraulic steering systems offer larger or high-powered vessels a smooth, lightweight feel when turning the steering wheel.
Hydraulic steering is made up of three components: a pump with a reservoir for hydraulic oil, a ram that connects to a rudder or outboard engine, and connecting hoses that transmit pressurized fluid from the steering pump to a steering piston rod. Turning the steering wheel in either direction pumps oil through the lines to the ram, which in turn pulls or pushes the rudder, outboard, or sterndrive in the desired direction.
The simplest example of hydraulic steering is found on small powerboats powered by single outboard or multiple engines linked by a tie bar. On a small boat, a compact hydraulic pump with integral hydraulic-fluid reservoir located at the steering wheel uses hoses to connect to a steering ram at a transom, which turns the outboard(s) as one turns the steering wheel. Steering systems get progressively more complicated on larger boats with multiple helms, autopilots, and power steering, but the basics are much the same.
The hydraulic oil will typically be flushed and replaced every five years or earlier if the hydraulic steering oil contains dirt or is otherwise contaminated. Additionally, small leaks are common (hydraulic oil does not evaporate and is not consumed by use, so low levels of hydraulic oil are typically due to dry rotted or ruptured seals causing leaks), requiring additional hydraulic oil be added even when a complete flush is unnecessary.
Those individuals having ordinary skill in the art use one of only two methods to add hydraulic oil to steering systems. The first is a manual process that requires two people and consists of five steps: (1) the first person attaches a bottle of hydraulic oil to a filler tube, attaches the filler tube to the helm, turns the bottle upside down and pokes a hole in the bottom of the bottle (and holds the bottle upside down throughout the remaining steps of the process) in order to fill the pump full of hydraulic oil, (2) the first person then turns the steering wheel, making many revolutions to one side and then the second person opens the corresponding bleeder on the hydraulic steering cylinder, (3) then, while the first person turns the steering wheel in the opposite direction, the second person holds the cylinder body with their hand and, when air-free hydraulic oil streams out of the bleeder, closes the bleeder and lets go of the cylinder body, (4) the first person continues to turn the steering wheel in the same direction until it stops, and the second person then opens the other bleeder, and (5) both people repeat step 3. The manual process cannot be done alone and is messy, requiring a stream of hydraulic oil to leave the bleeder into (hopefully) an appropriately placed bucket.
Alternatively, there exists powered devices, such as the SeaStar® Power Purge and Power Purge Jr., which cleanly and quickly fills and purges a hydraulic steering system. After filling the device's reservoir with hydraulic oil, the operator attaches the device's bleed lines and opens both bleeders. The operator then attaches a helm adaptor and installs both of the device's helm hoses into the helm adapter. The system is now completely closed with the bleed lines and the helm hoses both connected to the device's body (unlike the manual process that uses the open bleeders and requires a ventilation hole in the oil bottle). Next the operator attaches the device's power cables to a battery and turns the device on. Once the device's helm hoses are free of air, the operator starts turning the steering wheel all the way in both directions until the device's helm hoses are free of air once again. Next, the operator moves the engine from side to side until the device's helm hoses are once again free of air. The operator then shuts off the system, closes the bleeds and removes the hoses and helm adaptor.
Although the powered device solves many of the issues involved with the manual device, it is expensive, costing about $750 from most online retailers.
There is a need to improve the process of replacing hydraulic oil in steering systems.
The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments and/or aspects of the disclosure and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. Wherever practicable, like reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein:
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated below to encompass methods, systems, and devices related to filling hydraulic oil in nautical steering systems.
Although example embodiments of the present disclosure are explained in detail herein, it is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated. Accordingly, it is not intended that the present disclosure be limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present to disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.
It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. By “comprising” or “containing” or “including” or “having” is meant that at least the named compound, element, particle, or method step is present in the composition or article or method, but does not exclude the presence of other compounds, materials, particles, method steps, even if the other such compounds, material, particles, method steps have the same function as what is named.
In describing example embodiments, terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is intended that each term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. It is also to be understood that the mention of one or more steps of a method does not preclude the presence of additional method steps or intervening method steps between those steps expressly identified. Steps of a method can be performed in a different order than those described herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Similarly, it is also to be understood that the mention of one or more components in a device or system does not preclude the presence of additional components or intervening components between those components expressly identified.
In the depicted embodiment, the lid adapter 330 is an injection-molded lid designed to conform to the dimensions of the bottle lid 310 that includes an 8 mm outside diameter spout in its center. The hoses 320a, 320b, 320c are a transparent polyurethane pneumatic tubing with a 12 mm outside diameter and an 8 mm inside diameter. The fastener 340a is an Oetiker® ear clamp, and the valve 350a is a male Parker® 21 KA series quick connect coupling with a hose barb. Those skilled in the art will recognize that additional fasteners, such as additional ear clamps, may be used to secure the valve to hose if a secure connection cannot otherwise be made. Similarly, the fastener 340a would be unnecessary if the lid adapter 330 had a barbed design on the outside of the spout to lock it in place when inserted into the first hose 320a (such as with the hose barb design on the Parker® 21KA series quick connect coupling).
In the depicted embodiment, the second hose 320b of the fluid lock 355 is the same material as the first hose 320a. The corresponding valves 360a, 360b are female Parker® 21KA series quick connect couplings with hose barbs.
In the depicted embodiment, the helm fill port adapter 370 is a single female Parker® 21KA series quick connect couplings with a male thread.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that whether a male or female valve is used is arbitrary as long as the bottle attachment 315a can connect with the fluid lock 355 and the fluid lock 355 can connect with the helm fill port adapter 370. Although testing suggests that the fluid lock 355 improves usability and prevents spillage, the helm fill port adapter 370 can be coupled directly to the bottle attachment 315a if the valve 350a of the bottle attachment 315 corresponded to the helm fill port adapter 370 (i.e., in the first embodiment of
The bottle attachment 316 can be a cap 380 with a valve 390. The cap 380 is designed to conform to the dimensions of the bottle lid 310. The cap 380 can be made out of brass and have a ⅛″ National Pipe Tapered tap. The valve 390 can be a rectus Parker® 21KA female quick connect with a male ⅛″ National Pipe Tapered thread. The valve 390 is inserted into the tap of the brass cap 380 (shown in
The fluid lock 356 is a hose 320c with two valves 350b, 360c. The hose 320c is optimally long enough so that the bottle 305 can rest on top of the helm 200. The valve 350c that connects with the bottle attachment 316 can be a male Parker® 21 KA series quick connect coupling that, if it does not include a hose barb (or the hose barb is not sufficient), can be augmented with a fastener 340b, such as an ear clamp. Similarly, the distal valve 360c can be female Parker® 21 KA series quick connect couplings augmented with a fastener 340c, such as an ear clamp.
In step 510, the operator opens the helm fill port 220 and inserts the helm fill port adapter 370.
In step 520, the operator attaches the fluid lock 355 (or fluid lock 356 of
In step 530, the operator removes the bleed nipple covers, attaches the bleed lock 400 to bleeders 140a, 140b and uses a wrench to loosen the bleeders 140a, 140b.
In step 540 the operator removes the lid 310 from the bottle of hydraulic oil 305 and secures the bottle attachment 315 (or bottle attachment 316 of
In step 550 the operator secures the bottle attachment 315 (or bottle attachment 316 of
In step 560 the operator moves the steering wheel 210 and the motor 100 to move the air out of the system. Optimally, the operator will first move the motor 100 all the way in one direction, then turn the steering wheel 210 about 20 turns in one direction, then reverse and turn the steering wheel 210 about 20 turns in the other direction. If the hose 320d of the bleed lock 400 is transparent, then the operator will be able to see when the third hose 320d is free of air bubbles and full of hydraulic oil. When this occurs, the operator can move the motor 100 all the way to the other direction. Similarly, if the helm-side hoses 320a, 320b (or helm side hose 320c of
In step 570 the operator will reset the system. In order to prevent spillage, the operator can turn the bottle 305 right-side up and lower the bottle 305. Once air bubbles rise to the end of the fluid lock 355 (or fluid lock 356 of
As previously stated, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. It will be appreciated that many modifications and other variations stand within the intended scope of this invention as claimed below. Furthermore, the foregoing description of various embodiments does not necessarily imply exclusion. For example, “some” embodiments may include all or part of “other” and “further” embodiments within the scope of this invention. In addition, “a” does not mean “one and only one;” “a” can mean “one and more than one.”
Accordingly, that which is intended to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims and includes all variations and modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the claims described in the Letters Patent have been presented with the intent of avoiding the construction authorized under 35 USC § 112(f). Specifically, regardless of whether a claim has functional language, the scope of such a claim is not intended to, in the words of 25 USC § 112(f), “cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.” If necessary, and as long as the result is not invalidity, a claim should be to interpreted (which may include disregarding formatting such as line indentations) such that either (i) it is not for a combination or (ii) functional elements encompass structure, material, or acts in support thereof.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5404961 | Huber | Apr 1995 | A |
| 6796856 | Roycroft | Sep 2004 | B2 |
| 8133084 | Murai | Mar 2012 | B2 |
