Integral reversing and trim deflector and control mechanism
OwnerRobert A. Morvilloinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thrust control system is described, including a control apparatus having water jet deflectors that deflect water to provide a reversing/backing thrust and a trim force to marine vessels using water jet propulsion. Other aspects include an electro-mechanical control lever assembly for operating actuators, the assembly comprising a mechanical lever coupled to a transducer that generates an electrical output. Yet other aspects comprise a load-sensing hydraulic circuit comprising at least two loads and a control system for controlling at least one of the loads, that prevents unwanted pressure transients in the circuit.
Claims25
A device for controlling thrust in a marine vessel, comprising:
- a deflector apparatus having at least two deflector surfaces comprising:
- a first deflector surface that deflects a water jet stream exiting a steering nozzle to provide a backing thrust when the deflector apparatus is in a first position;
- and
- a second deflector surface that deflects the water jet stream to provide a trim force when the deflector apparatus is in a second position;
- and
- wherein said deflector apparatus is configured so that it cannot be in both said first and said second positions simultaneously;
- wherein the first and second deflector surfaces are arranged with respect to one another so that they cannot both be placed in said water jet stream simultaneously.
A method for generating a backing thrust and a trim force for use in a marine vessel control apparatus, comprising:
- providing a first deflector that in a first position deflects a water jet stream exiting a steering nozzle in a first direction to provide said backing thrust;
- and
- providing a second deflector, coupled to said first deflector and moving in unison with said first deflector, that in a second position deflects said water jet stream in a second direction to provide said trim force;
- wherein providing said first deflector and said second deflector comprise providing the deflectors so that said backing thrust and said trim force are provided substantially exclusively of one another;
- and
- wherein providing said first deflector and said second deflector comprise coupling said second deflector to said first deflector so that the first and second deflectors can not be moved into said water jet stream simultaneously.
A method for providing reversing and trimming forces in a marine vessel, comprising:
- rotating a reversing deflector about a common axis;
- rotating a trim deflector in unison with the reversing deflector about said common axis so that said reversing deflector and trim deflector cannot be moved into a water jet stream exiting a steering nozzle simultaneously, and so that said reversing deflector and trim deflector deflect the water jet stream substantially exclusively of one another, thereby providing a respective backing thrust and trimming force.
A method for providing reversing and trimming forces in a marine vessel, comprising:
- rotating a reversing deflector and a trim deflector in unison along a path of travel about a common axis;
- deflecting a water jet stream with the reversing deflector at substantially a first end of the path of travel to provide a backing thrust;
- deflecting the water jet stream with the trim deflector at substantially a second end of the path of travel to provide substantially only a trimming force;
- and
- wherein the act of rotating the reversing deflector and the trim deflector comprises rotating the reversing and trim deflectors to the second position so that the reversing deflector and the trim deflector cannot be in the water jet stream simultaneously.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.