Methods for monitoring windlass rotation
OwnerEric R. Sirkin, Xavier Alexandreinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for monitoring windlass rotation are provided to determine the real time rate and length of rode release when anchoring a boat. The rotation can be monitored in real time using directional sound and/or electromagnetic radiation receivers and/or transmitters that can be in a module attached to the windlass. Another windlass module can monitor windlass rotation using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) components such as accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, and/or inertial measurement units (IMU) to sense motion and/or position.
Claims20
A method for determining a length of rode traversing a gypsy of a windlass on a boat in real time during an anchoring operation, the method including steps of:
- emitting directional radiation from a windlass module securely attached onto the windlass of the boat in a fixed position, wherein the radiation is selected from the group consisting of sound and electromagnetic radiation;
- detecting a portion of the directional radiation emitted from the windlass module with a radiation receiver;
- and
- determining a signed incremental angle of windlass rotation between a prior and a current angular position of the windlass in real time depending on a characteristic of the detected directional radiation.
A method of measuring a signed angle of windlass rotation to determine a length of rode traversing a gypsy of a windlass on a boat in real time during an anchoring operation comprising a set of steps selected from the group consisting of sets (1), (2), (3) and (4):
- (1) emitting radiation from one or more radiation emitters attached in distinct fixed positions to the windlass, in a generally radial direction from the windlass into an environment of the boat facing the windlass, and
- receiving the radiation from the one or more radiation emitters attached to the windlass with two or more radiation receivers supported at different fixed positions in the environment of the boat having an unobstructed line of sight to the windlass;
- (2) transmitting radiation to the windlass from two or more radiation emitters supported in the environment of the boat at different fixed positions having an unobstructed line of sight to the windlass, and
- receiving the radiation transmitted to the windlass from at least one of the radiation emitters supported in the environment of the boat with one or more radiation receivers attached in distinct fixed positions to the windlass;
- (3) transmitting radiation to the windlass from a radiation emitter supported at a first fixed position in the environment of the boat having an unobstructed line of sight to the windlass,
- reflecting a portion of radiation from the radiation emitter from each of two or more radiation reflectors attached in distinct fixed positions to the windlass to a second fixed position in the environment of the boat having an unobstructed line of sight to the windlass, and
- receiving portions of the radiation transmitted from the emitter and reflected from each of the radiation reflectors with a radiation receiver supported at the second fixed position in the environment of the boat;
- and
- (4) emitting radiation from a radiation emitter attached to the windlass, wherein said radiation reaches a fixed position in the environment of the boat having an unobstructed line of sight to the windlass;
- reflecting a portion of the emitted radiation back to the windlass from with a radiation reflector at the fixed position in the environment of the boat, and
- receiving the portion of the emitted radiation reflected from the radiation reflector with a radiation receiver attached to the windlass;
- and
- determining the length of rode traversing the gypsy of the windlass on the boat in real time during the anchoring operation based on the emitting, reflecting, and receiving of the radiation.
A method of measuring a signed angle of windlass rotation in real time to determine a length of rode traversing a gypsy of a windlass in an anchoring operation, the method comprising steps of:
- acquiring a plurality of measurement values from at least one electronic or electromechanical sensing device on a windlass module, the sensing device being selected from the group consisting of a force sensor, an inertial motion sensor, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, an inertial navigation unit, a strain gauge, an electronic compass, and a gyroscope, using a processor on the windlass module;
- and
- wirelessly sending the information comprising at least one of the acquired measurement values, a characteristic of the rotational motion of the windlass, a direction of windlass rotation, and an angle of windlass rotation to a remote computing device in real time through a wireless communications interface on the windlass module.
A method of using a windlass module securely attached to a windlass of a boat in a fixed position to measure a signed angle of windlass rotation in real time to determine a length of rode traversing a gypsy of the windlass in an anchoring operation, the method comprising steps of:
- emitting radiation traveling a distance between a position on the windlass module and a fixed position in the environment of the boat having an unobstructed line of sight to the windlass,
- sensing the emitted radiation with a radiation receiver secured in a position selected from among the group consisting of the fixed position in the environment of the boat and a position on the windlass module;
- and
- determining the length of rode traversing the gypsy of the windlass on a boat in real time during the anchoring operation based on the emitting and the sensing of the radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.