Patent Application
20080041288
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
a are respectively a top view and a cross-sectional view of magnetic sensors in an embodiment of the invention.
Detailed descriptions of embodiments of the invention are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to employ the present invention in virtually any detailed system, structure, or manner.
In this first embodiment, a user operates rudder wheel 1 and obtains a corresponding effect on rudder 3 by means of the alternate or combined action of the force and/or displacement transmitted along mechanical circuit 5 and the power-assisted control provided by actuator 2, which is controlled by the electric/electronic signals transmitted along electric/electronic circuit 6.
In a second embodiment, illustrated in
a show an embodiment with magnetic sensors disposed on the axle of the wheel rudder. Here, control member 1 is a steering wheel, a rudder wheel or the like and the power-consuming unit is at least a rudder or the like. Magnetic units 90 are operably connected to the steering wheel or the like and include at least one magnet 91 and one magnetic sensor 92. Magnet 91 or sensor 92 are rotatably and integrally mounted on the steering wheel or the like. More particularly,
In one embodiment, the apparatus has two, preferably three magnetic units 90 which, as shown in
In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in
Magnetic units 90 may be operably connected to a controller 4 that transmits and receives data or signals and that controls actuator 2, which controls power-consuming unit 3, as shown in
Controller 4 is operably connected to at least one actuator 2 that actuates load 3, for example, a rudder. Load 3 is actuated in response to a signal detected by the magnetic unit and transmitted by the magnetic unit to controller 4, and by controller 4 to actuator 2. As shown in
Controller 4 is operably connected to the at least one actuator 2 for actuating a load 3 through an electric and/or electronic connection and/or by a CAN bus or the like. At the same time, controller 4 may also be operably connected to mechanical, hydraulic control circuit or the like 5.
Basically, the control apparatus includes one or more magnetic units 90 transducing a mechanical control signal into a corresponding electric/electronic control signal to operate the actuator 2 and also an electronic control circuit 6, configured as discussed above and operably actuated alternatively to, or in combination with, the hydraulic control circuit or like system.
In one embodiment, actuator 2 having electric/electronic control circuit 6 operably connected thereto is a hydraulic pump operably connected to the axle of rudder 3. Hydraulic control circuit or the like 5 is operatively connected to pump 2, which also has an electronic control circuit connected thereto.
In an electronic operating mode, when the control signal generated by the input system of the control signal is transmitted through electronic control circuit 6 by means of the magnetic units, hydraulic control circuit or the like 5 may be disabled, for example through the use of a bypass.
An additional pump 105 may be also provided, to be coupled to mechanical circuit 5 for controlling actuator 2.
Control member 1 may be alternatively provided in the form of a control lever or a similar device, and the power-consuming unit or actuator 2 may include at least one motor, one hydraulic, electric, mechanical actuator, or a similar device.
Magnetic unit 90 includes at least one magnetic sensor 92 and one magnet 91, which are rotatably and integrally mounted to lever to or to a similar device. Preferably, magnet 91 is integral with lever 70 or a similar device, while magnetic sensor 92 is stationary with respect to lever 70.
The apparatus of this embodiment has two, preferably three magnetic units 90, arranged at substantially 120° from each other around the fulcrum of lever 70 or a similar device, and is operably connected with a data or signal transmitting/receiving controller 4.
Also preferably, controller 4 is operably connected to the at least one actuator 2 actuating a load or a power-consuming unit 3 in response to a signal detected by magnetic unit 90 and transmitted by magnetic unit 90 to controller 4 and by controller 4 to the actuator 2.
Lever 70 may be configured to further include a mechanical, for example, a hydraulic control circuit or a similar system 5, which is operably connected directly to load or power-consuming unit 3 and/or to actuator 2 for load 3, alternatively or in combination.
Preferably, controller 4 is operably connected to the at least one actuator 2 for actuating a load or power-consuming unit 3 through an electric and/or electronic connection and/or through a CAN bus or a similar system.
The control apparatus having the one or more magnetic units for transducing the mechanical control signal into a corresponding electric/electronic control signal that operates actuator 2 forms electronic control circuit 6, which is operably actuated alternatively to or in combination with mechanical or hydraulic control circuit 5 or a similar system.
Actuator 2 having electronic control circuit 6 connected thereto includes, as a non-limiting example, a hydraulic pump operably connected to the axle of the lever or to a similar component, and mechanical, hydraulic o similar circuit 5 is also operably connected to the pump connected to electronic control circuit 6.
An electronic operating mode may be advantageously provided, for example, when the inputted control signal is transmitted through electronic control circuit 6 by means of the magnetic unit, and hydraulic control circuit 5 or the like is disabled, that is, bypassed.
In another embodiment, an apparatus according to the present invention may be used in combination with a power-consuming unit that controls rotation of the steering wheel, whereby the latter may be placed in a more comfortable and safer location for a watercraft operator or driver.
In the same manner as disclosed above, in one embodiment control member 1 is the axle of a steering wheel, a wheel rotation adjustment lever, or a similar device adjusting the tilt of the steering wheel to a more comfortable and more convenient position for a user, and the at least one power-consuming unit is at least one motor, one hydraulic, electric, or mechanical actuator or a device for rotary actuation of the steering wheel. The user may adjust the rotation of the steering wheel to a substantial degree by tilting it as desired.
The at least one magnetic unit may be operably connected to the steering column or to a similar component, and the magnetic unit comprises at least one magnetic sensor and one magnet, the sensor or the magnet being integral with the steering wheel axle or the similar component or, alternatively to or in combination with the above, the user may adjust the steering wheel tilt using a special control lever that includes at least one magnetic sensor and one magnet according to the present invention, in the same manner as disclosed above.
It shall be noted that, both in this embodiment and in above described embodiments, the provision of a single magnet at the axle of the control member, that is, a lever, a steering wheel or the like causes such single magnet to be preferably a permanent magnet, that is a magnet having two North and South magnetic polarities, to enable a detector to detect the rotation of the two polarities caused by the rotation of the control member.
An apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention detects the signal corresponding to the steering axle rotating/tilting control, which responds to the rotation of the axle of the steering wheel, the control lever or a similar component. Preferably, the magnet is integral with the steering axle or the like, and the magnetic sensor is stationary with respect to the steering axle.
In the same manner as previously disclosed with regard to the rudder, the magnetic unit is operably connected to a data or signal transmitting/receiving controller, which in turn is operably connected to at least one actuator for actuating a load or power-consuming unit, particularly for rotating the steering wheel. The load is actuated in response to the signal detected by the magnetic unit and transmitted by the magnetic unit to the controller, and by the controller to the actuator, providing for the steering axle to be rotated/tilted as desired, and set and located in a comfortable desired position.
In one embodiment, the controller is operably connected to the at least one actuator for actuating a load or power-consuming unit through an electric and/or electronic connection and/or a CAN bus or a similar device, and the control apparatus, which has having one or more magnetic unit for transducing the mechanical control signal into a corresponding electric/electronic control signal to operate the actuator, forms an electronic control circuit operably actuated in alternative to, or in combination, with the hydraulic or otherwise mechanical control circuit.
The load may be thus controlled either in power mode or in non power mode, in the same manner as described above with regard to the rudder.
In this embodiment, the actuator having the electronic control circuit connected thereto includes a hydraulic pump, operably and rotatably connected to the steering axle or to a similar device, and the hydraulic or otherwise mechanical circuit is operably connected to the pump, which has the electronic control circuit connected thereto.
In the electronic operating mode, that is, when the control signal is transmitted through the electronic control circuit by means of the magnetic unit, the hydraulic or otherwise mechanical control circuit is in a disabled state, that is, is bypassed.
Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a watercraft maneuvering system that has all control members (such as levers, steering wheels, joysticks or the like) for operating at least one power-consuming unit or load (such as rudders, engines, transverse propellers, or the like) operably connected to the respective power-consuming units or loads through corresponding drive members that transmit a control force and/or a displacement from the control members to their respective power-consuming units or loads. The apparatus according to this embodiment includes an actuator for actuating the respective power-consuming unit and further includes one or more magnetic units for transducing the force and/or the displacement of the control member into a corresponding electric/electronic signal for a corresponding operation of the actuator. The electric/electronic signal is transmitted through a connection of the CAN bus type.
In a preferred embodiment, actuator 2, which is operably connected to electric/electronic control circuit 6, is a hydraulic pump in turn operably connected to the axle of rudder 1. Hydraulic or otherwise mechanical control circuit 5 is operatively connected to the pump, which is also connected to electronic control circuit 6.
In the electronic operating mode, that is, when the control signal is transmitted through the electronic control circuit 6 by means of the magnetic unit, hydraulic or otherwise mechanical control circuit 5 may be disabled, that is, may be bypassed.
In still another embodiment, control member 1 for operating at least one power-consuming unit or load 3 may be a joystick, for example, for controlling a transverse propeller. The joystick is operably connected to power-consuming unit or load 3 through a drive member that transmits a control force and/or a displacement from control member 1 to power-consuming unit or load 3. The control apparatus according to this embodiment also includes actuator 2 for actuating power-consuming unit 3, that is, the transverse propeller, and also includes one or more magnetic units for transducing the force and/or the displacement of control member 1 into a corresponding electric/electronic signal for a corresponding operation of actuator 2.
The remaining constructive features of the joystick system are similar to those previously described above with regard to control members 1.
Therefore, an apparatus according to the present invention may provide an electronic control line in combination with, or as an alternative to, a mechanical control line, as disclosed above. Accordingly, an electronic control line may be provided that transduces and transmits control signals to power-consuming units, or an electronic control line that operates alternatively to, or in combination with, a mechanical control line.
Similarly, the control member may include one or more tilting control levers for outboard engines. Engine tilting consists in extracting the engines at least partly out of the water by rotating them about a substantially horizontal axis, typically at a point that substantially corresponds to the junction between the engine and the transom by motion being known as engine TILT.
In one embodiment, a lever may be used for a power-assisted control of engine TILT. A lever may be rotated for each engine, thereby controlling the rotation or TILT of the engine. The engine TILT control lever may be formed like the lever shown in
According to another embodiment, an apparatus according to the present invention detects both the displacement of the control member and the speed of such displacement, so that the action on the power-consuming unit may be proportional to such displacement speed, providing for a so-called incremental control that accounts for the speed of the user's control.
For example, if two parallel lines are provided, that is, a mechanical and an electronic control lines as disclosed above, whenever the controller detects a speed above a certain preset or presettable speed threshold, control may be transmitted along the mechanical line, the electronic line, or in combination along both lines according to such speed.
While the invention has been described in connection with the above described embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| SV2006A000024 | Aug 2006 | IT | national |
