US3906881A

US3906881A - Self steering gear for yachts and boats

Info

Publication number: US3906881A
Application number: US405987A
Authority: US
Inventors: Trepka Knut Emil Von
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-10-12
Filing date: 1973-10-12
Publication date: 1975-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-23
Also published as: NO131120B; GB1434567A; NO131120C

Abstract

The present invention relates to improvements in self steering gear for yachts and boats and is distinguished by the combination of a balanced wind operated steering vane on the boat pivotally about an axis forming an acute angle with the horizontal and turnable about a vertical axis, a servo-rudder mounted on the main rudder of the boat turnable about an axis substantially parallel with the turning axis of said main rudder, levers fixed on said vane and said servo-rudder, respectively, and a flexible push and pull cable interconnecting said levers so that motion or power from said wind operated steering vane is transferred to and operate said servo-rudder in conformity therewith in order to counteract deviation and retain the set course.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 von Trepka [451 Sept. 23, 1975 SELF STEERING GEAR FOR YACHTS AND BOATS [76] Inventor: Knut Emil von Trepka,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 12, 1972 Norway 3663/72 [52] US. Cl 114/144 C [51] Int. Cl. B63H 25/52 [58] Field of Search 114/144 C, 144 R, 162, 114/164, 166, 167; 73/188 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 46,807 3/1865 Le Pelley 114/167 1,681,415 8/1928 Lee i l14/144C 2,266,172 12/1941 Davis.... 73/188 3,319,594 5/1967 Gianoli 114/144 C 3,678,878 7/1972 Ross-Clunis 114/144 C 3,765,361 10/1973 Saye 114/144 C 3,826,213 7/1974 Riebandt 114/144 C FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 80,926 l/l962 France 114/144 C Primary ExaminerTrygve M, Blix Assistant Examiner-Stuart M. Goldstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak [57] ABSTRACT The present invention relates to improvements in self steering gear for yachts and boats and is distinguished by the combination of a balanced wind operated steering vane on the boat pivotally about an axis forming an acute angle with the horizontal and turnable about a vertical axis, a servo-rudder mounted on the main rudder of the boat turnable about an axis substantially parallel with the turning axis of said main rudder, levers fixed on said vane and said servo-rudder, respectively, and a flexible push and pull cable interconnecting said levers so that motion or power from said wind operated steering vane is transferred to and operate said servo-rudder in conformity therewith in order to counteract deviation and retain the set course.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,906,881

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 01 3 3,906,881

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of?) 3,906,881

SELF STEERING GEAR FOR YACHTS AND BOATS The present invention relates to a self steering gear for yachts and similar boats of the type comprising a balanced vertical-steering vane pivotable about an axis forming an acute angle with the horizontal under the influence of the wind, and turnable about a vertical axis for setting the course of the boat, and means transferring the motion of the wind vane to a servo-rudder on the main rudder of the boat to counteract deviations and retain the set course.

In previously known steering gears of the type above mentioned the means for transferring motion of the steering vane to the servo-rudder comprise rigid elements such as rods, linkages etc. which make it necessary that the vane is installed in an exact, determined position relatively to said servo-rudder.

The main object of the present invention is to provide means for transferring the effect of the wind operated steering vane to the servo-rudder allowing installing of the vane regardless of said servo-rudder and at a convenient place on the boat where it is out of the way and not becomes an obstacle.

According to the invention this is obtained thereby that the transfer of the power from the movement of the steering vane to the servo-rudder takes place by means of a flexible push and pull connection, such as a Bowden wire.

An embodiment of the invention is an example illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the self steering gears according to the invention mounted on the stern of a boat,

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the steering gear, seen from the opposite side of that in FIG. 1, and with the boat removed, and

FIG. 3 is a detail view showing the mounting means of the steering vane.

In the drawing FIG. 1 shows the stern of a boat on which a self steering gear according to the present invention is installed.

A vertical steering vane I placed to be influenced by the wind is supported pivotally against the action of a balancing counterweight 2 in a fork shaped support member 17 by pivots 20. Said fork shaped member 17 is formed in an inclined position on a sleeve shaped part 23 adapted to be rotatably supported on the upper end of a vertical hollow post 18 secured with its lower end to the boat by a bracket 19. By this arrangement the inclination of the fork shaped member 17 is so chosen that the pivot axis 20 of the vane 1 forms an angle with the horizontal of about 20. To lock the

sup port member

17, 23 and thereby the vane 1 in set position, the sleeve part 23 may be secured to the post 18 by means of a clamp 4. By supporting the vane l pivotally on an inclined axis the surface of attack for the wind decreases to zero at a certain rotation thereof. Thus the magnitude of the rudder turning becomes independent of the force of the wind and only dependent of the angle of the side wind.

In order to increase the effect of the vane 1 it is provided on either side with flaps 8 by means of brackets at a distance from respective sides and projecting rearwardly at an angle of about 60 therewith. Said flaps increase the effect of the vane to such a degree that the over-all area thereof may be reduced.

The vane 1 may be locked to the supporting member 17 in vertical position by means of a releasable locking tap 3. v

The motion or power from the above described wind operated steering vane 1 is transferred to a servorudder 10 on the main rudder of the boat in order to operate said servo-rudder in conformity with said vane motion and counter-act deviation.

The servo-rudder comprises two vertical, spaced side walls 14 interconnected by upper and lower cross walls 15 forming together a box-like member with rectangular cross section and open ended in direction of the water streaming along the sides of the main rudder. Thus the servo-rudder 10 presents increased pressure surfaces and a corresponding increased swing effect.

The servo-rudder is by means of pivots 21, provided in the upper and lower cross walls 15 thereof, turnably supported at the rear edge of the main rudder 11 in brackets secured thereto. It is found that the pivot axis of the servo-rudder 10 should be positioned behind the leading edge of the servo-rudder so that 25% of the area thereof is forward said axis whereby the servorudder enables to multiply the torque of the vane several times.

The means for transferring motion from the vane l to operate the servo-rudder 1'0 comprises a flexible push and pull cable, such as a Bowden wire, with a flexible wire 16 displaceably within a hose 22.

One end of the flexible wire 16 is secured to an arm or lug 13 on the servo-rudder. with the adjacent end of the hose secured to the main rudder at 12. The wire 16 is with its other end passed upwardly through the hol low post 18 and sleeve 23 and is secured to an arm or lever 5 on the vane I projecting at right angle to the plane of the vane and at the level of the pivot axis thereof. Said arm or lever 5 is provided with a longitudinal slit in which the fastening means 6 of the wire 16 may be adjusted. The wire 16 may be connected to the fastening 6 by means of a rotatable connection 7 allowing the

support member

17, 23 with the clamp 4 released and the vane 1 locked in vertical position thereto by the locking tap 3, to rotate without interfering the flexible wire connection.

I claim:

1. A self steering mechanism for marine craft wherein said craft has a hull and rudder, comprising:

a. a wind actuated steering vane;

b. pivot means supporting said vane to the hull of the craft, said pivot means forming an acute angle with the horizontal and turnable about a vertical axis;

0. means comprising a counterweight to balance said vane on said pivot means;

(I. an auxiliary rudder operably mounted on the rudder of said craft for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said rudder: a flexible cable disposed betweeen said vane and said auxiliary rudder and means connecting one end of said cable to the vane and the other end of said cable to the auxiliary rudder;

f. first means to lock said vane to said pivot means and second means interposed between said vane and said flexible cable to allow the rotation of said vane locked to the pivot means without rotation or twisting of the cable.

2. The self steering gear of claim I, wherein said steering vane further comprises flaps fixed on either side thereof and projecting rearwardly at an angle of approximately 60 to thevane.

3. A self steering mechanism for marine craft wherein said craft has a hull and rudder comprising:

a. a wind actuated steering vane;

b. pivot means supporting said vane to the hull of the craft, said pivot means forming an acute angle with the horizontal and turnable about a vertical axis, said pivot means comprising a vertical hollow post secured to the craft, a hollow sleeve rotatable on the upper end of said post. a forked shaped member secured to said sleeve in an inclined position, said steering vane pivotally supported on said fork shaped member;

c. locking means to secure said steering vane to said forked shaped member;

are provided for locking said post to said hollow sleeve in an adjusted position for the steering vane.

Claims

1. A self steering mechanism for marine craft wherein said craft has a hull and rudder, comprising: a. a wind actuated steering vane; b. pivot means supporting said vane to the hull of the craft, said pivot means forming an acute angle with the horizontal and turnable about a vertical axis; c. means comprising a counterweight to balance said vane on said pivot means; d. an auxiliary rudder operably mounted on the rudder of said craft for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said rudder; e. a flexible cable disposed betweeen said vane and said auxiliary rudder and means connecting one end of said cable to the vane and the other end of said cable to the auxiliary rudder; f. first means to lock said vane to said pivot means and second means interposed between said vane and said flexible cable to allow the rotation of said vane locked to the pivot means without rotation or twisting of the cable.

2. The self steering gear of claim 1, wherein said steering vane further comprises flaps fixed on either side thereof and projecting rearwardly at an angle of approximately 60* to the vane.

3. A self steering mechanism for marine craft wherein said craft has a hull and rudder comprising: a. a wind actuated steering vane; b. pivot means supporting said vane to the hull of the craft, said pivot means forming an acute angle with the horizontal and turnable about a vertical axis, said pivot means comprising a vertical hollow post secured to the craft, a hollow sleeve rotatable on the upper end of said post, a forked shaped member secured to said sleeve in an inclined position, said steering vane pivotally supported on said fork shaped member; c. locking means to secure said steering vane to said forked shaped member; d. means comprising a counterweight to balance said vane on said pivot means; e. an auxiliary rudder operably mounted on the rudder of said craft for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said rudder; and f. a flexible cable disposed between said vane and said auxiliary rudder and means connecting one end of said cable to the vane and the other end of said cable to the auxilairy rudder, wherein the displacement of the vane is transferred to the auxiliary rudder.

4. The self steering gear of claim 3, wherein means are provided for locking said post to said hollow sleeve in an adjusted position for the steering vane.