Boat rudder with integrated dynamic trim foils
OwnerJeff Walkerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rudder and dynamic trim adjusting apparatus for a boat includes a rudder, a rudder shaft extending from the rudder and being rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof to rotate the rudder, trim fins extending from the rudder, along at least one transverse axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a mechanism connected to the trim fins, and being operable, independently of rotation of the rudder shaft to rotate the trim fins about the at least one transverse axis. Methods of controlling an attitude of a boat hull are provided.
Claims23
A rudder and dynamic trim adjusting apparatus for a boat, said apparatus comprising:
- a rudder;
- a rudder shaft having a longitudinal axis, said rudder shaft extending from said rudder and being rotatable about said longitudinal axis to rotate said rudder;
- trim fins extending from said rudder, along at least one transverse axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, said trim fins being rotatable independently of said rudder;
- and
- a mechanism connected to said trim fins, at least a portion of said mechanism concealed within said trim fins, said mechanism being operable independently of said rotation of said rudder shaft to rotate said trim fins about said at least one transverse axis without moving said rudder shaft, and wherein said rotation of said rudder shaft is independent of said mechanism to rotate said trim fins;
- wherein said at least one transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein said mechanism comprises a pair of transverse shafts, each said transverse shaft having a flat to prevent rotation of said trim fin received thereover, with respect to said transverse shaft, respectively.
A rudder and dynamic trim adjusting apparatus for a boat, said apparatus comprising:
- a rudder;
- a rudder shaft having a longitudinal axis, said rudder shaft extending from said rudder and being rotatable about said longitudinal axis to rotate said rudder;
- trim fins extending from said rudder, along at least one transverse axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, said trim fins being rotatable independently of said rudder;
- and
- a mechanism connected within said trim fins, said mechanism being operable independently of said rotation of said rudder shaft to rotate said trim fins about said at least one transverse axis without moving said rudder shaft, and wherein said rotation of said rudder shaft is independent of said mechanism to rotate said trim fins;
- wherein said trim fins are dynamically balanced in rotation about said at least one transverse axis;
- and
- wherein said mechanism comprises a pair of transverse shafts, each said transverse shaft having a flat to prevent rotation of said trim fin received thereover, with respect to said transverse shaft, respectively.
A rudder and dynamic trim adjusting apparatus for a boat, said apparatus comprising:
- a rudder;
- a rudder shaft having a longitudinal axis, said rudder shaft extending from said rudder and being rotatable about said longitudinal axis to rotate said rudder;
- trim fins extending from said rudder, along at least one transverse axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, said trim fins being rotatable independently of said rudder;
- and
- a mechanism connected to said trim fins, at least a portion of said mechanism concealed within said trim fins, said mechanism being operable independently of said rotation of said rudder shaft to rotate said trim fins about said at least one transverse axis without moving said rudder shaft, and wherein said rotation of said rudder shaft is independent of said mechanism to rotate said trim fins;
- wherein said mechanism comprises a two-piece unit that is separable at a central portion of the unit, wherein upon separation of the two piece unit into two pieces, one of said pieces can be rotated about said transverse axis relative to the other of said two pieces to a rotated configuration and said two pieces can be reconnected in said rotated configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.