# US 10,370,070 B2 · Combination trim tab and interceptor for a marine vessel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,070 B2 - Document ID: US10370070B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/982,592 - Filed: 2018-05-17 - Published: 2018-11-22 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-17 - Assignees: Marine Canada Acquisition Inc. - Applicants: Marine Canada Acquisition Inc. - Inventors: Eric B. Fetchko; Davor Baros; Art Ferguson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370070B2 ## CPC - B63B 39/061: {by using trimflaps, i.e. flaps mounted on the rear of a boat, e.g. speed boat} - B63B 2001/325: {Interceptors, i.e. elongate blade-like members projecting from a surface into the fluid flow substantially perpendicular to the flow direction, and by a small amount compared to its own length} - Y02T 70/10: Measures concerning design or construction of watercraft hulls - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A combination trim tab and interceptor comprises a housing and a trim tab pivotably coupled to the housing. An interceptor blade is reciprocatingly received by the housing. A cam is coupled to the trim tab and the interceptor blade. The cam is coupled to the trim tab by a link which applies a rotary force when the trim tab pivots relative to the housing. The cam is coupled to the interceptor blade such that the interceptor blade functions as a cam follower. An actuator actuates the trim tab to pivot relative to the housing. Pivoting of the trim tab results in the cam applying a force to the interceptor blade, causing the interceptor blade to reciprocate relative to the housing. The cam may be configured so a stroke of the interceptor blade and a stroke of the actuator are non-linear. The actuator may be an electromechanical linear actuator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A combination trim tab and interceptor for a marine vessel, comprising: a housing; a trim tab pivotably coupled to the housing; an interceptor blade reciprocatingly received by the housing; a link coupling the trim tab to the interceptor blade; and an actuator which actuates the trim tab to pivot relative to the housing, wherein pivoting of the trim tab relative to the housing results in the link applying a force to the interceptor blade, causing the interceptor blade to reciprocate relative to the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A combination trim tab and interceptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the link is pivotably connected to the trim tab and is also pivotably connected to the interceptor blade so the interceptor blade moves upwardly when the trim tab is pivoted upwardly by the actuator and the interceptor blade moves downwardly when the trim tab is pivoted downwardly by the actuator. ### Claim 3 A combination trim tab and interceptor for a marine vessel, comprising: a housing; a trim tab pivotably coupled to the housing; an interceptor blade reciprocatingly received by the housing; a cam coupled to the trim tab and the interceptor blade, the cam being coupled to the trim tab by a link which applies a rotary force to the cam when the trim tab pivots relative to the housing, and the cam being coupled to the interceptor blade in a manner such that the interceptor blade functions as a cam follower; and an actuator which actuates the trim tab to pivot relative to the housing, wherein pivoting of the trim tab relative to the housing results in the cam applying a force to the interceptor blade, causing the interceptor blade to reciprocate relative to the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A combination trim tab and interceptor as claimed in claim 3 wherein the cam is configured so a stroke of the interceptor blade and a stroke of the actuator are non-linear. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A combination trim tab and interceptor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cam has a cam track and the interceptor blade is coupled to the cam by a pin which travels along the cam track. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A combination trim tab and interceptor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cam track is an upwardly concave, curved slot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) A combination trim tab and interceptor as claimed in claim 3 wherein the actuator is an electromechanical linear actuator. ### Claim 8 A marine vessel with a combination trim tab and interceptor mounted in a transom thereof, the combination trim tab and interceptor comprising: a housing mounted on the transom; a trim tab pivotably coupled to the housing; an interceptor blade reciprocatingly received by the housing; a link coupling the trim tab to the interceptor blade; and an actuator which actuates the trim tab to pivot relative to the housing, wherein pivoting of the trim tab relative to the housing results in the link applying a force to the interceptor blade, causing the interceptor blade to reciprocate relative to the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A marine vessel as claimed in claim 8, wherein the link is pivotably connected to the trim tab and is also pivotably connected to the interceptor blade so the interceptor blade moves upwardly when the trim tab is pivoted upwardly by the actuator and the interceptor blade moves downwardly when the trim tab is pivoted downwardly by the actuator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A marine vessel as claimed in claim 8 wherein the combination trim tab and interceptor further includes a cam, the cam being coupled to the trim tab by the link which applies a rotary force to the cam when the trim tab pivots relative to the housing, and the cam being coupled to the interceptor blade in a manner such that the interceptor blade functions as a cam follower. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A marine vessel as claimed in claim 10 wherein the cam is configured so a stroke of the interceptor blade and a stroke of the actuator are non-linear. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A marine vessel as claimed in claim 10 wherein the cam is mounted on the transom of the marine vessel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A marine vessel as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cam has a cam track and the interceptor blade is coupled to the cam by a pin which travels along the cam track. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A marine vessel as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cam track is an upwardly concave, curved slot. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) A marine vessel as claimed in claim 8 wherein the actuator is an electromechanical linear actuator.