US3906881A - Self steering gear for yachts and boats - Google Patents

Self steering gear for yachts and boats Download PDF

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Publication number
US3906881A
US3906881A US405987A US40598773A US3906881A US 3906881 A US3906881 A US 3906881A US 405987 A US405987 A US 405987A US 40598773 A US40598773 A US 40598773A US 3906881 A US3906881 A US 3906881A
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United States
Prior art keywords
vane
rudder
craft
steering
pivot means
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Expired - Lifetime
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US405987A
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English (en)
Inventor
Trepka Knut Emil Von
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Publication of US3906881A publication Critical patent/US3906881A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H25/00—Steering; Slowing-down otherwise than by use of propulsive elements; Dynamic anchoring, i.e. positioning vessels by means of main or auxiliary propulsive elements
    • B63H25/06—Steering by rudders
    • B63H25/08—Steering gear
    • B63H25/14—Steering gear power assisted; power driven, i.e. using steering engine
    • B63H25/18—Transmitting of movement of initiating means to steering engine
    • B63H25/20—Transmitting of movement of initiating means to steering engine by mechanical means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H25/00—Steering; Slowing-down otherwise than by use of propulsive elements; Dynamic anchoring, i.e. positioning vessels by means of main or auxiliary propulsive elements
    • B63H25/02—Initiating means for steering, for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring
    • B63H25/04—Initiating means for steering, for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring automatic, e.g. reacting to compass

Definitions

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • the sleeve part 23 may be secured to the post 18 by means of a clamp 4.
  • the vane 1 may be locked to the supporting member 17 in vertical position by means of a releasable locking tap 3.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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;
  • 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;
  • said steering vane further comprises flaps fixed on either side thereof and projecting rearwardly at an angle of approximately 60 to thevane.
  • a self steering mechanism for marine craft wherein said craft has a hull and rudder comprising:
  • 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;

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Non-Deflectable Wheels, Steering Of Trailers, Or Other Steering (AREA)
  • Steering Controls (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
US405987A 1972-10-12 1973-10-12 Self steering gear for yachts and boats Expired - Lifetime US3906881A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO3663/72A NO131120C (en)) 1972-10-12 1972-10-12

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US3906881A true US3906881A (en) 1975-09-23

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US405987A Expired - Lifetime US3906881A (en) 1972-10-12 1973-10-12 Self steering gear for yachts and boats

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GB (1) GB1434567A (en))
NO (1) NO131120C (en))

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4054101A (en) * 1976-02-23 1977-10-18 Meade James M Steering vane
FR2367314A1 (fr) * 1976-10-05 1978-05-05 Regent Marine Instr Pilote automatique pour bateaux a voile
US4091758A (en) * 1975-11-10 1978-05-30 Rosen Carl David Wind-control rudder for yachts
FR2408170A1 (fr) * 1977-11-08 1979-06-01 Filippini Giordano Dispositif de commande d'un pilote automatique pour voiliers entre l'element aerien et la pale automatique
US4437425A (en) 1980-12-16 1984-03-20 Unden Nils H Air flow direction indicator
USD420641S (en) 1997-08-22 2000-02-15 Attachment device for attaching a self-steering system to the transom of a sailboat

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US46807A (en) * 1865-03-14 Improved rudder
US1681415A (en) * 1925-06-29 1928-08-21 Harold A Lee Wind-controlled steering gear
US2266172A (en) * 1939-06-13 1941-12-16 Edward A Davis Direction indicator
US3319594A (en) * 1964-05-12 1967-05-16 Mecanique Navale Et Outil De P Rate gyro type corrector for automatic boat steering gear utilizing an aerodynamic surface
US3678878A (en) * 1970-02-24 1972-07-25 Robert Alan Ross Clunis Self-steering arrangement
US3765361A (en) * 1970-11-25 1973-10-16 R Saye Marine craft steering means
US3826213A (en) * 1971-06-15 1974-07-30 R Riebandt Self-steering system

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US46807A (en) * 1865-03-14 Improved rudder
US1681415A (en) * 1925-06-29 1928-08-21 Harold A Lee Wind-controlled steering gear
US2266172A (en) * 1939-06-13 1941-12-16 Edward A Davis Direction indicator
US3319594A (en) * 1964-05-12 1967-05-16 Mecanique Navale Et Outil De P Rate gyro type corrector for automatic boat steering gear utilizing an aerodynamic surface
US3678878A (en) * 1970-02-24 1972-07-25 Robert Alan Ross Clunis Self-steering arrangement
US3765361A (en) * 1970-11-25 1973-10-16 R Saye Marine craft steering means
US3826213A (en) * 1971-06-15 1974-07-30 R Riebandt Self-steering system

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4091758A (en) * 1975-11-10 1978-05-30 Rosen Carl David Wind-control rudder for yachts
US4054101A (en) * 1976-02-23 1977-10-18 Meade James M Steering vane
FR2367314A1 (fr) * 1976-10-05 1978-05-05 Regent Marine Instr Pilote automatique pour bateaux a voile
FR2408170A1 (fr) * 1977-11-08 1979-06-01 Filippini Giordano Dispositif de commande d'un pilote automatique pour voiliers entre l'element aerien et la pale automatique
US4437425A (en) 1980-12-16 1984-03-20 Unden Nils H Air flow direction indicator
USD420641S (en) 1997-08-22 2000-02-15 Attachment device for attaching a self-steering system to the transom of a sailboat

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1434567A (en) 1976-05-05
NO131120B (en)) 1974-12-30
NO131120C (en)) 1975-04-09

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