Independent rotation control of sonar and trolling motor
AssigneeNavico Group Americas, LLC
InventorsPaul Olvera, Matthew Morelly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combined sonar and motor assembly is provided. The combined sonar and motor assembly includes a sonar transducer assembly, a propulsion motor, a subassembly defining an opening therein, and a first shaft defining an axis. The sonar transducer assembly is attached to the subassembly, and the propulsion motor is attached to the shaft. The subassembly is configured to receive the first shaft within the opening so that the first shaft is rotatable relative to the subassembly to enable rotation of one of the sonar transducer assembly or the propulsion motor about the axis without rotating the other. The sonar transducer assembly and the propulsion motor are both configured to rotate about the axis.
Claims17
A combined sonar and motor assembly comprising:
- a sonar transducer assembly;
- a propulsion motor;
- a subassembly defining an opening therein, the subassembly comprising a member, a first sleeve attached to the member, and a second sleeve attached to the member, the first sleeve and the second sleeve each defining a circular opening configured to receive a first shaft therethrough;
- a first shaft defining an axis, the propulsion motor being attached to a first end of the first shaft;
- and
- a gear motor attached to the member and configured to rotate about the axis with the subassembly,
- wherein the sonar transducer assembly is attached to the subassembly and is separated from the axis by a lateral distance, wherein the propulsion motor is attached to the first shaft, and wherein the subassembly is configured to receive the first shaft within the opening so that the first shaft is rotatable relative to the subassembly to enable rotation of the sonar transducer assembly about the axis relative to the propulsion motor, and wherein the gear motor drives a first gear via a motor shaft, the first gear rotatable about a first gear axis extending perpendicularly to the axis, the first gear engaging a second gear engaging the first shaft, the second gear rotatable about a second gear axis extending parallel to the axis, and rotation of the first gear driving rotation of the subassembly relative to the first shaft.
A combined sonar and motor assembly comprising:
- a sonar transducer assembly;
- a propulsion motor;
- a first shaft defining an axis;
- a gear motor;
- and
- a second shaft that is hollow and that defines an opening,
- wherein the first shaft is received within the opening of the second shaft, wherein the propulsion motor is attached on the first shaft, wherein the sonar transducer assembly is attached on the second shaft, and wherein the second shaft is configured to rotate relative to the first shaft about the axis to enable a rotation of the sonar transducer assembly about the axis relative to the propulsion motor, and
- wherein the gear motor drives a first gear via a motor shaft, the first gear rotatable about a first gear axis extending perpendicularly to the axis, the first gear engaging a second gear engaging the first shaft, the second gear rotatable about a second gear axis extending parallel to the axis, and rotation of the first gear driving rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft.
A method of assembling a combined sonar and motor assembly for a watercraft, the method comprising:
- providing a first shaft that defines an axis, wherein the first shaft defines a first end and a second end;
- providing a gear motor, a sonar transducer assembly, a propulsion motor, and a subassembly, wherein the subassembly defines an opening therein;
- attaching the sonar transducer assembly to the subassembly;
- attaching the propulsion motor to the first shaft proximate to the second end of the first shaft;
- and
- coupling the gear motor to the subassembly such that the gear motor drives a first gear via a motor shaft, the first gear rotatable about a first gear axis extending perpendicularly to the axis and engaging a second gear, the second gear rotatable about a second gear axis extending parallel to the axis and engaging the first shaft;
- and
- receiving the first end of the first shaft through the opening of the subassembly, wherein the first end of the first shaft is received through the opening of the subassembly so that the first shaft is allowed to rotate about the axis and so that rotation of the first gear drives rotation of the subassembly relative to the first shaft, enabling rotation of the sonar transducer assembly about the axis relative to the propulsion motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.