US3675612A

US3675612A - Driving, steering and braking system for boats

Info

Publication number: US3675612A
Application number: US19017A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dieter Pfeiffer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-03-13
Filing date: 1970-03-12
Publication date: 1972-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-11
Also published as: GB1263851A; FR2040139A5

Abstract

System for boats having compressed-air means for providing propulsive power by way of nozzles, of which swingable ones are provided in the stern and optional, stationary ones in the bow. Articulated conduit sections allow the stern nozzles to be swung about considerable angles, thereby controlling the direction of movement of the boat, while speed control may be provided through conventional throttle means which are operable independently from steering means which act upon the swinging movement of the nozzles. The nozzles in the bow can be used for braking forward movement and to provide rearward movement of the boat; they may be closed by flaps when not in use.

Description

O UnIted States Patent [151 3,675,612 Pfeiffer July I 1, 1972 {s41 DRIVING, STEERING AND BRAKING FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS SYSTEM FOR BOATS 59!,089 8/l947 Great Britain.........................1 l5/ll [72] Inventor: Mr "em", Am braunen Berg l0 Him 6i8,269 2/I96l [5/12 bach' Gummy Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix [22] Filed: March 12, 1970 Attorney-Tab T. Thein System for boats having compressed-air means for providing [30] Forelgn Appll fl ori y Di propulsive power by way of nozzles, of which swingable ones are provided in the stern and optional. stationary ones in the March 1969 Germany l9 l2 bow. Articulated conduit sections allow the stern nozzles to be swung about considerable angles thereby controlling the [52] US. Cl. R direction f movement f the boat whfle Speed coma may [51] Int. Cl ..B63l| "/00 be provided through conventional throttle means which are [58] Fieldol Search ..I IS/ I I, l2, l5, l6 operable independenfly from steering means which act upon the swinging movement of the nozzles. The nozzles in the bow 56] R fm cu can be used for braking forward movement and to provide rearward movement of the boat; they may be closed by flaps UNITED STATES PATENTS when not in use.

3,253,568 5/1966 Cannizaro I 15/1! 5 China, 3 Drawing Figures PHTENTEDJUL 1 1 1912 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTOR. DIETER PFElFFER AGENT PATENTEnJuL 11 m2 3.675.612

sum

2 or 2 FIG. 2

INVENTO DIETER PFEIF R AGENT DRIVING, STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEM FOR BOATS The invention relates to a driving system for boats, which also serves as a steering and braking device. Instead of the customary combustion engine and drive propeller a compressed-air aggregate is used, conventionally including a diesel motor, compressor and compressed-air tank or tanks. At the stern of the boat, but possibly also at the bow, compressed-air nozzles are provided, preferably below the floating line, so that the boat is propelled by the pressure of the compressed air emerging from the nozzles. As will be explained hereunder in more detail, the compressed air can also be used for braking the forward movement of the boat.

It has become known to provide a driving system for boats in which the propelling power is obtained by compressed air emerging from appropriate nonles. The emerging amount of air, and thus the speed of the boat, is regulated by means of throttle valves and the like expedients, the latter being disposed in the conduits or pipes leading to the compressed air nozzles. Conventional control members may be used on the dashboard of the boat for controlling the throttle valves. Additional valves and the like are used for compressed-air nozzles installed on the left and the right of the stern, which however are not simultaneously closed and opened but alternately or selectively, a steering mechanism being provided on the dashboard for steering the boat and changing its direction of movement.

It has been found that the closing or opening of one or the other nozzle, for purposes of steering the boat, does not readily result in a change of direction so that the boat cannot be maneuvered at will; the known arrangement does not allow to brake the movement of the boat.

This is where the invention sets in and has as its object a system of nozzles swingable about a substantially vertical axis to the left and/or the right, thereby changing the direction in which the compressed air is expelled, and thus providing a change in direction of the boat. It has been found that the boat promptly reacts to the change in the angular direction of the nozzles so that the most difficult maneuvers and movements can be carried out with relatively small turning circles. Steering throttle valves are dispensed with, and the compressed-air conduits need only be provided with simultaneously operable throttle valves for controlling the speed of the boat.

The swingable nozzles are formed by air-tight articulations having pulleys or sprocket wheels about which a control cable or chain is guided, preferably about both articulations, and which cable or the like is eventually connected to a conventional steering wheel or the like at the control position (e.g., dashboard) of the boat.

As the wheel is turned in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, that is, to the right or the left, respectively, the two nozzles are simultaneously swung to the same direction. The stern of the boat has substantially horizontally arranged, watertight recesses in which the nozzles can freely move in their horizontal plane of swinging action.

As a further feature of the inventive combined driving, steering and braking system, optionally two further, stationary nozzles can be provided in the bow of the boat, similarly below the water or floating line thereof, and at a level corresponding to that of the swingable nozzles in the stern. These stationary nozzles are adapted to brake the forward movement of the boat, if necessary, and they will of course also allow rearward movement when the other nozzles are fully throttled.

When the stationary nozzles are activated, the boat is suddenly and effectively braked so that this optional arrangement allows the boat to be momentarily stopped.

The stationary noules are preferably lodged in suitable recesses of the bow so that they do not protrude beyond the contour of the boat. These recesses can be closed by the aid of movable flaps so as to reduce resistance to the water during the forward movement of the boat, by the aid of conventional control means which allow selective opening and closing of said flaps, such as from the dashboard.

With a view to relieving the weight of the boat from its middle section which has the relatively heavy driving aggregate therein, the invention also contemplates a double bottom for the boat which can be filled with a floatable material such as cork, or which can be lined with cork mats and the like.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become better understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 constitutes a somewhat schematic plan view of a boat equipped with a compressed-air drive system as well as the steering and braking system combination according to the invention, the middle portion of the boat having been omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the stern, showing the inventive swingable nozzles; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bow, showing the optional stationary nozzles behind closable flaps.

In the drawings, the bow and the stern of the boat are generally designated by respective numerals l and 2; in P10. 1, the latter is only shown in dot-dash lines since the actual configuration thereof is not critical as far as the inventive concept is concerned. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the water or floating level is arbitrarily indicated at WI. but could be higher, or somewhat lower, than shown, as long as the compressed-air nozzles are therebelow.

The omitted middle portion of the boat lodges conventional equipment for producing, storing and dispensing compressed air, such as, for example, a diesel aggregate; air tanks are shown at 30 and 3b (for the bow and the stern, respectively). Numerals 4a, 4b denote conduits leading from the tanks to the nozzles to be described hereinafter in full detail.

Let us discuss first the stern, having therein nozzles 5b which have articulated conduit sections 6, allowing angular movement of the terminal nozzle section, about an angle identified by a and which, for practical purposes, is 45 or more (in the illustrated embodiment, The articulation has rigid therewith a pulley or sprocket wheel 7 for guiding therearound an endless force transmitting means in the form of a cable or chain (as shown), numbered 8, the latter being guided about rollers or pulleys 9.

The dashboard 11 is shown to include a steering wheel 10 about which the chain 8 is guided so that movement of the wheel in either direction will entrain the chain as well as the articulated conduit sections 6 with their pulleys or wheels 7. Thus a simultaneous swinging movement of the nozzles 5b results from the actuation of steering wheel 10, thereby directing the stream of compressed air in the proper way for the desired maneuvering of the boat. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the transmission between the swingable nozzles or their swingable portions can be of any desired and known kind although only one preferred embodiment thereof has been illustrated herein. Thus, for example, a rigid linkage or other connection can be provided between the swingable nozzles and the steering means (not necessarily a wheel).

FIG. 2 shows that the stern has therein substantially horizontal cut-outs or recesses 12b wherein the nozzles 5b can be swung in a horizontal plane. Proper airand water-tight members are used to insulate the system against unwanted water from entering and compressed air from escaping.

For speed control, a manual control member 13 is schematically shown, acting upon Bowden-type or other cables 14 which in turn control respective throttle valves 15 in the conduits 4b. According to one of the important features of the invention, the throttle arrangement is independent from the speed control so that speed can be regulated regardless of the direction in which the boat moves.

Turning now to the arrangement of the bow, it may contain additional, but this time stationary nozzles 50 which are directly attached to their conduits 4a. Throttle means have not been shown for these nozzles but it should be understood that they can be activated independently from the swingable nozzles 51:; if necessary, individual throttles for the leftand the the maneuverability backward travel.

FIG. 3 shows how the bow is provided with cut-outs or recesses 11a which lodge die nozzles a. These recesses have movable flaps or covers 224, shown withdrawn or open on the left-hand side of this figure, and closed on the right-hand side (and similarly in the plan view of FIG. I). These flaps may be guided along rails, may be pivoted or otherwise movable, and constructed in any other manner known for structures of this kind. In their closed condition they reduce resistance of the boat to water when moving in forward direction. Conventional control or actuating means for the flaps have been omitted for the sake of clarity; a cable or a linkage may lead to the control position at the dashboard of the boat.

The

nozzles

50, 5b have been shown in a recessed arrangement, not protruding beyond the contour of the boat. It is however possible to have the rear or the front noules, or all, protrude beyond the boat walls in which case the recesses would not be necessary (or only in the bow to allow the nozzles to be covered up).

The combined driving, steering and braking system according to the invention becomes more effective if the relatively high weight of the compressed-air aggregate (including, as usual, a diesel engine and a compressor, as well as the compressed-air tanks) is at least partly relieved from the middle portion of the boat. FIG. 2 shows the expedient provided for this urpose, namely a double bottom 16 which can accommodate float/able materials, such as cork and the like, shown at 17. The boat bottom may also be lined with cork mats and the like. The double bottom may extend partly or completely along the boat.

The inventive combined driving, steering and braking system has the advantage that the boat reacts promptly to even the slightest movements of the steering wheel '(that is, the angular movements of the stern nozzles) without individually throttling them. The boat can turn to either side, regardless of the required turning angle, almost on the spot, and without substantial loss of speed. Both braking and backward travel are possible in an expedient manner since the speed control is independent from the directional control. Boats equipped with the inventive system are most suitable for sporting purmsy also be provided right-hand nozzles 5a, thereby increasing of the boat in docking operations or for poses, for life-saving and patrol work, and other purposes where speed and efiiciency are required.

What I claim is:

1. A combined driving, steering and braking system for boats, comprising in combination means for producing, storing and dispensing compressed air, and rearwardly directed compressed-air nozzles in the stern of the boat, operativeiy connectable with said compressed-air means, and having terminal portions swingable in a substantially horizontal plane, by the intermediary of respective articulated conduit sections, the latter being connected by the aid of transmission means to manual steering means at a control position of the boat, for controlling the swinging movement of said nozzles and thereby the direction of movement of the boat, as well as forwardly directed stationary compressed-air nozzles in the bow of the boat, operatively connectable with said compressed-air means, and adapted to brake the forward movement of the boat and to provide rearward movement if necessary, said stationary nozzles being lodged in recesses provided in the bow of the boat, and further comprising movable flaps for said recesses, and control means for selectively opening and closing said flaps from the control position of the boat, thereby reducing resistance to the water during the forward movement of the boat when said stationary nozzles are not activated and said flaps are closed.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said swingable portions of the nozzles are lodged in substantially horizontal recesses provided in the stern of the boat.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein both said rearwardly and said forwardly directed nozzles are disposed substantially at the same level, and wherein at least said rearwardly directed nozzles are positioned, with their swingable portions, so as to be within the contour of the boat.

4. A The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmission means includes force transmitting means operatively interconnecting said steering means with portions of said articulated conduit sections for simultaneous swinging movement thereof about an angle of at least 45.

5. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein said compressed-air means includes throttle means providing speed control for the boat, operable independently from said steering means and the prevailing direction of movement of the boat.

Claims

1. A combined driving, steering and braking system for boats, comprising in combination means for producing, storing and dispensing compressed air, and rearwardly directed compressed-air nozzles in the stern of the boat, operatively connectable with said compressed-air means, and having terminal portions swingable in a substantially horizontal plane, by the intermediary of respective articulated conduit sections, the latter being connected by the aid of transmission means to manual steering means at a control position of the boat, for controlling the swinging movement of said nozzles and thereby the direction of movement of the boat, as well as forwardly directed stationary compressed-air nozzles in the bow of the boat, operatively connectable with said compressed-air means, and adapted to brake the forward movement of the boat and to provide rearward movement if necessary, said stationary nozzles being lodged in recesses provided in the bow of the boat, and further comprising movable flaps for said recesses, and control means for selectively opening and closing said flaps from the control position of the boat, thereby reducing resistance to the water during the forward movement of the boat when said stationary nozzles are not activated and said flaps are closed.

4. A The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmission means includes force transmitting means operatively interconnecting said steering means with portions of said articulated conduit sections for simultaneous swinging movement thereof about an angle of at least 45*.