AU778016B2

AU778016B2 - A control system for a boat

Info

Publication number: AU778016B2
Application number: AU42515/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: William Vickers
Original assignee: DISCOVERY TOURIST CO Pty Ltd
Current assignee: DISCOVERY TOURIST Co PTY Ltd
Priority date: 1999-09-02
Filing date: 2000-06-16
Publication date: 2004-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-16
Also published as: AU4251500A

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

2* .t Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: DISCOVERY TOURIST CO. PTY. LTD.

WILLIAM VICKERS DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000.

"A control system for a boat" Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): PQ2602/99 filed 2 September, 1999 PQ3275/99 filed 6 October, 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -1- Q:\OPER\RSHVICKERS 167 DOC 16/6/00 PA\OPERUPNVICKERS\COMPLETS.DOC 16/6/00 -2- A CONTROL SYSTEM F"OR A BOAT This invention relates to control systems for boats, particularly, but not exclusively, boats with outboard motors.

Conventionally, many small boats with outboard motors are controlled in the functions of, at least, throttle and steering, by means of a tiller-like arm extending from the outboard motor mounted at the rear of the boat. This system of control requires the operator to remain at or close to the rear of the boat, often in an uncomfortable position with an arm reaching rearward to hold the tiller-like arm. Typically, outboard motors are provided with a tilt function for selectively pivoting the motor into and out of the water, and a trim function for altering the pitch of the outboard motor to optimise the direction of the propelling force. Functions such as i tilt, trim, and start/stop of the motor may be controlled by way of levers or buttons mounted on the motor and the use of these may require the operator to divert his or her attention from the course of the boat.

.Other control systems of boats with outboard motors include those with a steering wheel as well as various other separate controls for throttle, gear-change, tilt, trim, and start/stop.

These control systems can be complicated owing to their many controls, resulting in the control of a boat being more difficult and less enjoyable than need be.

The present invention seeks to provide a single control member for a boat, the control member enabling an operator to control at least forward-reverse drive and steering movement of the boat.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a control system for a boat, the system comprising a control member movable about two axes for controlling at least two of the functions of steering, drive transmission of a motor of the boat, and throttle.

Preferably, the motor is an outboard motor.

P \OPERUPI4\VICKERS\COMPLETSDOC 1616100 -3- Preferably, the control member is .aov.ble in fore and aft directions for controlling thc drive transmission, and left and right directions for controlling port and starboard movement of the boat.

Preferably, the control member is movable in left and right directions for controlling port and starboard movement of the boat by pivoting the motor.

Preferably, the control member is movable in fore and aft directions for controlling forward and reverse drive of the motor.

Preferably, the control member is provided with a grip portion which is rotatable for controlling the throttle of the motor.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control system for a boat, the system comprising a control member, wherein the control member is movable in left and right directions about a first axis for controlling port and starboard movement of the boat, and at least a portion of the control member is movable about a second axis for controlling throttle and drive transmission of a motor of the boat.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a control system provided in a stem of a boat; Figure 2 is a right side view of the control system illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the control system illustrated in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a detailed left side view of an alternative embodiment, showing an alternative configuration for the attachment of cables to a control member.

P:\OPER\JPN\VCKERS\COMPLETDOC 16/6/00 -4- The control system 10 for a boat in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention is principally for use with a small boat 12 with an outboard motor 14, and comprises a control member in the form of a control column 16, a gimbal 18 and a base 20, the gimbal 18 connecting the control column 16 to the base 20. The control column 16 comprises a shaft 22 and a grip portion 24 which is rotatably mounted at the free end of the shaft 22 so that the grip portion 24 is rotatable about an axis coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the control column 16.

The gimbal 18 enables the control column 16 to be pivoted about two axes, to allow movement in the fore, aft, port and starboard directions.

Three bowden cables, a steering cable 26, a gear cable 28, and a throttle cable together with respective sheaths 32, 34, 36, are used to communicate between the control column 16 and the outboard motor 14. Flexible joints 38 are used for connecting the cables 26, 28, 30 to the control column 16 and to the outboard motor 14.

A first end 40 of the steering cable 26 is connected to the left side of the control column 16 at a point which is sufficiently distant from the gimbal 18 to provide adequate leverage and movement when the control column 16 is pivoted in left and right directions. From the control column 16, the steering cable 26 extends substantially to the left for a first unsheathed portion 42, and then enters a first end 44 of the steering cable sheath 32, exiting the sheath 32 through a second end 46 thereof. From the second end 46 of the sheath 32, the steering cable 26 extends substantially to the right for a second unsheathed portion 48 and is connected at its second end to a steering tiller 52 of the outboard motor 14. When the control column 16 is pivoted to the right, the steering tiller 52 is pulled to the left by the steering cable 26, and, by virtue of a pivot point 54 of the outboard motor 14, the direction of thrust provided by a propeller 56 of the outboard motor 14 causes the boat 12 to steer to the starboard side. Similarly, when the control column 16 is pivoted to the left, the steering tiller 52 is pushed to the right by the steering cable 26, and, by virtue of the outboard motor pivot point 54, the boat 12 steers to the port side.

A small arm 58 extends from the left side of the control column 16 at a point which is sufficiently distant from the gimbal 18 to provide adequate leverage and movement when the control column 16 is pivoted in fore and aft directions. The end of the small arm 58 is P:\OPERUPN\VICKERS\COMPLETS.DOC -16/6/00 connected by a rigid linkage element 60 to a first end of an L-shaped member 62 which is mounted by a pivot 64 to the boat 12. This arrangement of the small arm 58, the rigid linkage element 60, and the L-shaped member 62 facilitates the substantially independent operation of the steering and gear cables 26, 28. A first end 66 of the gear cable 28 is connected to a second end of the L-shaped member 62. The gear cable 28 extends from the L-shaped member 62 substantially to the left for a first unsheathed portion 68 and enters the gear cable sheath 34 through a first end 70 thereof. The gear cable 28 exits the gear cable sheath 34 through a second end 72 thereof. From the second end 72 of the sheath 34, the gear cable 28 extends for a second unsheathed portion 74 and a second end 76 of the gear cable 28 is connected to a gear lever 78 of the outboard motor 14. Pivotal movement of the control column 16 to a fore position displaces the second end 76 of the gear cable 28 away from the second end 72 of the gear cable sheath 34, moving the gear lever 78 so that forward drive is selected. Similarly, pivotal movement of the control column 16 to an aft position displaces the second end 76 of the gear cable 28 towards the second end 72 of the gear cable sheath 34, moving the gear lever 78 so that S.reverse drive is selected. A neutral position of the control column 16, at which neither forward or reverse drive is selected, is between the fore and aft positions.

When fitted to boats without reverse drive, the control system may be adapted such that the aft position of the control column is a neutral position at which forward drive is not engaged.

Portions of the steering and gear cables 26, 28 which are unsheathed during use of the control column 16 are rigid to facilitate compressive as well as tensile operation of these portions, for example when the control column 16 is moved to the left. Receiving portions of the steering and gear cable sheaths 32, 34 are shaped appropriately to accommodate these portions.

The grip portion 24 at the distal end of the shaft 22 is rotatable about an axis coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the control column 16. The rotation of the grip portion is communicated to the outboard motor 14 by the throttle cable 30. A first end 80 of the throttle cable 30 is attached to the inside of the grip portion 24 and is fed into the shaft 22 through an upper aperture 82 therein. The throttle cable 30 is fed down through the shaft 22, exiting the P:\OPER\JPN\ICKERS\COMPLETSDOC 16/6/00 -6shaflt 22 Uthroug a lower apertuLue 84. .From te shaft 22, t u ottle cable exte for a firsta unsheathed portion 86 and enters the throttle cable sheath 36 through a first end 88 thereof. The throttle cable 30 runs through the throttle cable sheath 36 and exits through a second end thereof. From here, the throttle cable 30 extends for a second unsheathed portion 92 and a second end 94 of the throttle cable 30 is connected to a throttle linkage 96 on the outboard motor 14. The first end 80 of the throttle cable 30 is arranged around the top of the shaft 22 so that, when the grip portion 24 is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 22 in a clockwise direction, the throttle cable 30 wraps around the shaft 22, pulling the second end 94 of the throttle cable 30 and opening the throttle of the outboard motor 14. When the grip portion 24 is turned in an anticlockwise direction, the throttle cable 30 unwinds from around the shaft 22, thus closing the throttle. The throttle linkage 96 is biassed to the closed position by a spring 98.

Sit*i." The first ends 44, 70, 88 of the steering, gear and throttle cable sheaths 32, 34, 36 are fixed from translational movement with respect to a base 20 of the control column 16 by swivel members 100 which are pivotally mounted to the base 20. The second ends 46, 72, 90 of the steering, gear and throttle cable sheaths are also provided with swivel members 100. The swivel members 100 facilitate different entry and exit angles of the cables 26, 28, 30 to and from their respective sheaths 32, 34, 36.

The grip portion 24 is provided with electrical switches 102 for controlling the tilt, trim, and start/stop of the outboard motor 14. These switches 102 are electrically connected to the outboard motor 14 by electrical wires 104.

The steering cable sheath 32, the gear cable sheath 34, the throttle cable sheath 34 and the electrical wires 104 may be brought together into a combined cable 106 between the control column 16 and the outboard motor 14.

Owing to the present embodiment having the control column 16, the L-shaped member 62, and the first ends 44, 70, 88 of the steering, gear and throttle cable sheaths 32, 34, 36 all mounted, directly or indirectly, on the base 20, it is possible to relocate the base 20 within the length of the combined cable 106 without substantially affecting the operability of the control P:\OPER\JPNVICKERSNCOMPLET.DOC. 16/6/00 -7system 10, such that an operator has a choice of control colu locations. The base 20 may be fixed in a position, for example by bolts.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 4, and shows an alternative configuration of the attachment of cables to the control column. Features in this drawing are designated with reference numerals of like features in Figures 1-3. In the alternative embodiment, the first end 40 of the steering cable 26 is attached to a first element 108 of the gimbal 18, and the first end 44 of the steering cable sheath 32 is mounted on a second element 110 of the gimbal 18, the portion of the steering cable 26 between the first end thereof and the first end 44 of the steering cable sheath 32 being unsheathed. Similarly, the first end 66 of the gear cable 28 is attached to the second element 110 of the gimbal 18, and the first end 70 of the gear cable sheath 34 is mounted on a base element 112 of the gimbal 18, the 0it" portion of the gear cable 28 between the first end 66 thereof and the first end 70 of the gear cable sheath 34 being unsheathed. The first end 80 of the throttle cable 30 is attached to the inside of the grip portion 24 as in the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, however the first end 88 of the throttle cable sheath 36 is mounted at the lower aperture 84 of the shaft 22. The "alternative embodiment facilitates independent operation of the steering, gear and throttle cables 26, 28, 30 as well as offering improved compactness and relocatability. Portions of the steering and gear cables 26, 28 which are unsheathed during use of the control column 16 may be rigid to facilitate compressive as well as tensile operation of these portions, as in the previous embodiment. Accordingly, receiving portions of the steering and gear cable sheaths 32, 34 may be shaped appropriately to accommodate these portions. However, in the present embodiment, the need for rigidity in these portions may be lessened by the relative shortness of the first unsheathed portions 42, 68 of the steering and gear cables 26, 28, owing to the first ends 40, 66 of the steering and gear cables 26, 28 being attached to the control column 16 at points which are relatively close to the gimbal 18.

It should be noted that variations to the above embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. In particular, it is possible for the rotation of the grip portion 24 to control drive transmission of the motor 14 of the boat 12, and for the fore and aft movement of the control member to control throttle of the motor 14.

P:\OPER\JPN\VICKERS\COMPLET.DOC 16/OO -8- In another embodiment, the control system 10 for a boat is as hereinbefore described in either of the previous embodiments except with the following differences. The gimbal 18 is replaced with a simple pivot member which enables movement of the control column 16 with respect to the boat 12 in only left and right directions, and rotation of the grip portion 24 controls both throttle and forward and reverse drive of the outboard motor 14. This embodiment is intended primarily for use with an outboard motor of the type which is provided with a twist grip for controlling both throttle and forward and reverse drive of the motor. The gear and throttle cables 28,30 are replaced with a single multi-function cable which communicates rotation of the grip portion 24 to the outboard motor 14. Anti-clockwise rotation of the grip portion 24 from a neutral position, in which neither forward nor reverse drive is selected, to a reverse drive switching position causes reverse drive to be engaged. Once reverse drive is engaged, further anti-clockwise rotation of the grip portion 24 increases the throttle, and corresponding clockwise return of the grip portion 24 decreases the throttle. Clockwise rotation of the grip portion 24 back past the reverse drive switching position disengages reverse drive and returns the grip portion 24 to the neutral position. Clockwise rotation of the grip portion 24 from the neutral position to a forward drive switching position causes forward drive to be engaged. Once forward drive is engaged, further clockwise rotation of the grip portion 24 increases the throttle, and corresponding anti-clockwise return of the grip portion 24 decreases the throttle. Anti-clockwise rotation of the grip portion 24 back past the forward drive switching position disengages forward drive and returns the grip portion 24 to the neutral position. This .particular embodiment benefits from requiring fewer degrees of freedom of movement than the previous embodiments.

When fitted to boats without reverse drive, the control system may be adapted such that anti-clockwise rotation of the grip portion from the neutral position maintains the neutral condition of the drive transmission and does not increase the throttle. Alternatively, the system may be adapted such that anti-clockwise rotation of the grip portion from the neutral position is not possible.

It should be noted that variations to the described embodiments are possible within the P:\OPERJPN\VICKERS\COMPLET.DOC 16/6/00 -9scope of the present invention. In particular, it is possible to replace the cables between the control member and the motor 14 with an alternative, for example with transducers and/or electromagnetic couplings. The possibility of such alternatives to the cables makes the present invention equally applicable to boats of all sizes.

The control system described herein has several benefits over existing apparatuses for controlling boats. In particular, the present control system enables a user simultaneously, independently and with one hand, to control drive transmission, steering and throttle of a boat.

The operator is not confined to the rear of the boat, as is the case with existing tiller-like controls. The present control system provides a simple and ergonomic apparatus which reduces the difficulty of controlling boats.

1 ~The preferred embodiment has been described by way of example only and

.C

°modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

9. 9 o9 9.

S i Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated step or integer or group of steps or integers but not the exclusion of any other step or integer or group of steps or integers.

9..

Claims

1. A control system for a boat, the system comprising a control member movable about two axes for controlling at least two of the functions of steering, drive transmission of a motor of the boat, and throttle.

2. A control system for a boat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor is an outboard motor.

3. A control system for a boat as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the control member is movable in fore and aft directions for controlling forward and reverse drive of the motor, and ;.too left and right directions for controlling port and starboard movement of the boat. *S

4. A control system for a boat as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control member is movable in left and right directions for controlling port and starboard movement of the boat by pivoting the motor.

A control system for a boat as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the control member is provided with a grip portion which is rotatable for controlling the throttle of the ***motor.

6. A control system for a boat as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control member comprises a control column, a lower end portion of the control column is pivotally mounted such that the control column is movable about said two axes, and the grip portion is mounted at an upper end portion of the control column.

7. A control system for a boat as claimed in either claim 5 or claim 6 when dependent on claim 3, wherein fore and aft movement of the control member is communicated to the motor by a first cable, left and right movement of the control member is communicated to the motor by a second cable, and rotation of the grip portion is communicated to the motor by a third cable. 16/6/00 -11-

8. A control system for a boat as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the control member is provided with start/stop control means for starting and stopping the motor.

9. A control system for a boat as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the control member is provided with tilt control means for controlling tilt of the motor, and trim control means for controlling trim of the motor.

A control system for a boat, the system comprising a control member, wherein the control member is movable in left and right directions about a first axis for controlling port and starboard movement of the boat, and at least a portion of the control member is movable about a second axis for controlling throttle and forward and reverse drive of a motor of the boat.

11. A control system for a boat as claimed in claim 10, wherein the motor is an outboard motor.

°12. A control system for a boat as claimed in either claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the control member is movable in left and right directions for controlling port and starboard movement of the boat by pivoting the motor.

13. A control system for a boat as claimed in any one of claims 10-12, wherein said portion of the control member comprises a grip portion, rotation of the grip portion about the second axis in a first direction engages forward drive, and rotation of the grip portion about the second axis in a second direction engages reverse drive.

14. A control system for a boat as claimed in claim 13, wherein, once forward drive is engaged, further rotation of the grip portion in the first direction increases the throttle, and once reverse drive is engaged, further rotation of the grip portion in the second direction increases the throttle.

A control system for a boat as claimed in either claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the P: OPERUPN\ICKERS\CO.\PLET5.DOC -16/6/00 -12- control member comprises a control column, a lower end portion of the control column is pivotally mounted such that the control column is movable about said first axis, and the grip portion is mounted at an upper end portion of the control column.

16. A control system for a boat as claimed in any one of claims 13-15, wherein left and right movement of the control member about the first axis is communicated to the motor by a first cable, and rotation of the grip portion about the second axis is communicated to the motor by a second cable.

17. A control system for a boat as claimed in any one of claims 10-16, wherein the control member is provided with start/stop control means for starting and stopping the motor.

18. A control system for a boat as claimed in any one of claims 10-17, wherein the control member is provided with tilt control means for controlling tilt of the motor, and trim control means for controlling trim of the motor.

19. A control system for a boat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. S.

20. The steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features. DATED this 16th day of June, 2000 DISCOVERY TOURIST CO. PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE