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US 4,392,446 AGranted
Pedestal mount autopilot
AssigneeCinkel Industries, Ltd.
InventorsGerardus H. Vander Eyken, James J. Thoman
Life of this patent
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AssigneeCinkel Industries, Ltd.
InventorsGerardus H. Vander Eyken, James J. Thoman
Estimating the term…
A self contained electro-mechanical arrangement for use in autopilot for yachts for securement to a steering wheel pedestal column is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a magnetic directional indicator, sensing apparatus associated with the magnetic directional indicator for determining movement thereof, and electrical drive controlled by the sensing apparatus. The electrical drive includes an electric motor, and a transmission, with the electric motor being bi-directional to allow rotation of the output shaft of the transmission in either direction. A mechanical drive is associated with the transmission for engaging the steering wheel shaft of such yacht wherein the motor and the directional indicator are separated to reduce any effect of the motor on the movement of the magnetic directional indicator.
An electromechanical arrangement for use in an autopilot for yachts comprising a directional indicator, positionable sensing means associated with said directional indicator for determining movement thereof relative to said sensing means, electrical drive means controlled by said sensing means including an electrical motor and a transmission, said electrical drive means providing the input for said transmission with the output of said transmission connected to a mechanical drive means for engaging the steering system of such yacht and means associated with said sensing means and said mechanical drive means for moving said sensing means relative to said directional indicator in response to movement of said mechanical drive means, and clutch means to allow selective engagement and disengagement of said electrical motor from such steering system, wherein said means associated with said sensing means is in constant communication with such steering system.
An electromechanical arrangement for use in an autopilot for yachts comprising a directional indicator, sensing means associated with said directional indicator for determining movement thereof relative to said sensing means, electrical drive means including an electrical motor and a transmission, said electrical drive means allowing rotation of the output shaft of said transmission in either direction, mechanical drive means associated with said transmission for engaging the steering system of such yacht and a negative feedback system associated with said sensing means and said mechanical drive means for moving said sensing means relative to said directional indicator in response to movement of said mechanical drive means, and clutch means to allow selective engagement and disengagement of said electrical motor from such steering system, wherein said negative feedback system is in constant communication with such steering system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.