Boat steering and propulsion system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11608152-B2
Application number	US-202217569968-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2022
Priority date	Feb 5, 2019
Publication date	Mar 21, 2023
Grant date	Mar 21, 2023

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed to enable a system for controlling the propulsion and steering of a boat by a boat operator. The boat has at least one propulsion and steering motor assembly connected to the boat with a propeller, and a propulsion motor. It also has left and right pivoting pedals to provide a signal that controls the angle of the propeller so that if the left pedal is pivoted in a first pivot direction by a first percentage and the right pedal is pivoted in a second pivot direction by a second percentage, the boat executes a turn, moves forward, or moves in reverse.

First claim

Having thus described various embodiments of the technology, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. A system for controlling the propulsion and steering of a boat by a boat operator having left and right feet, the system comprising:
a propulsion and steering motor assembly connected to the boat, the motor assembly having a single motor;
a left foot-actuated steering control in communication with the left foot of the boat operator and having a left pivot, the left foot-actuated steering control pivoting in a first and second pivot direction to provide a left-foot control signal;
a right foot-actuated steering control in communication with the right foot of the boat operator and having a right pivot, the right foot-actuated steering control pivoting in the first and second pivot direction to provide a right-foot control signal, and
a processor in communication with the left and right foot-actuated steering controls, the processor configured to—
receive the left-foot control signal from the left foot-actuated steering control,
receive the right-foot control signal from the right foot-actuated steering control,
utilize the left-foot control signal and the right-foot control signal to calculate a control command for the single motor, the control command corresponding to a direction and a speed for the single motor, and
provide the control signal to the single motor;

wherein corresponding left and right foot signal control combinations enable the boat operator to control the boat by pivoting the left foot in a first pivot direction by a left pivot percentage and pivoting the right foot in a second pivot direction by a right pivot percentage.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the left pivot percentage is 100% forward, the right pivot percentage is 100% forward, and the boat is propelled straight-ahead at full throttle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the left pivot percentage is 100% backwards, the right pivot percentage is 100% backwards, and the boat is propelled rearwards at full throttle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a combination of the left and right pivot percentages causes the boat to turn in a turning direction.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first and second pivot directions are forward and aft respectively.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the left pivot percentage is 100% forward, the right pivot percentage is 75% forward, the turn is at a first rate, and the turning direction is right.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the left pivot percentage is 75% forward, the right pivot percentage is 0%, the turn is at a second rate, greater than the first rate, and the turning direction is right.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the left pivot percentage is forward 50%, the right pivot percentage is backward 50%, the turn is a pirouette, and the turning direction is right.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the left foot-actuated steering control includes a first foot pedal and the right foot-actuated steering control includes a second foot pedal.

10. A system for controlling the propulsion and steering of a boat by a boat operator having left and right feet, the system comprising:
a propulsion and steering motor assembly connected to the boat, the motor assembly having a single motor;
a left foot-actuated foot pedal in communication with the left foot of the boat operator and having a left pivot, the left foot-actuated foot pedal pivoting in a first and second pivot direction to provide a left-foot control signal;
a right foot-actuated foot pedal in communication with the right foot of the boat operator and having a right pivot, the right foot-actuated foot pedal pivoting in the first and second pivot direction to provide a right-foot control signal, and
a processor in communication with the left and right foot-actuated foot pedals, the processor configured to—
receive the left-foot control signal from the left foot-actuated foot pedal,
receive the right-foot control signal from the right foot-actuated foot pedal,
utilize the left-foot control signal and the right-foot control signal to calculate a control command for the single motor, the control command corresponding to a direction and a speed for the single motor, and
provide the control signal to the single motor;

wherein corresponding left and right foot signal control combinations enable the boat operator to control the boat by pivoting the left foot in a first pivot direction by a left pivot percentage and pivoting the right foot in a second pivot direction by a right pivot percentage.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the left pivot percentage is 100% forward, the right pivot percentage is 100% forward, and the boat is propelled straight-ahead at full throttle.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the left pivot percentage is 100% backwards, the right pivot percentage is 100% backwards, and the boat is propelled rearwards at full throttle.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein a combination of the left and right pivot percentages causes the boat to turn in a turning direction.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first and second pivot directions are forward and aft respectively.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the left pivot percentage is 100% forward, the right pivot percentage is 75% forward, the turn is at a first rate, and the turning direction is right.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is integrated with the motor.

Assignees

• Garmin Switzerland Gmbh

Inventors

• Lammers-Meis David F
• Howe Jason D

Classifications

• B63H25/52

  Parts for steering not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B63B34/26 Primary

  Accessories for canoes, kayaks or the like (effecting propulsion by muscle power B63H16/00; outboard propulsion units B63H20/00) · CPC title

• B63B34/05

  Vessels specially adapted for hunting or fishing · CPC title

• B63H20/007

  Trolling propulsion units (trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K) · CPC title

• B63H20/12

  Means enabling steering · CPC title