WO1983001048A1 - Marine thermal auto-pilot - Google Patents
Marine thermal auto-pilot Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1983001048A1 WO1983001048A1 PCT/AU1982/000153 AU8200153W WO8301048A1 WO 1983001048 A1 WO1983001048 A1 WO 1983001048A1 AU 8200153 W AU8200153 W AU 8200153W WO 8301048 A1 WO8301048 A1 WO 8301048A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- vessel
- heat sensitive
- sensitive members
- temperature
- differential system
- Prior art date
Links
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000009529 body temperature measurement Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- 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
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- G05D1/00—Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots
- G05D1/02—Control of position or course in two dimensions
- G05D1/0206—Control of position or course in two dimensions specially adapted to water vehicles
Definitions
- This invention relates to temperature measurements of water, and to guiding any marine vessel towards cold or warm temperature currents as desired and assist the vessel in staying in a current of a desired temperature. Such an application is particularly useful in game fishing ocean racing and tuna fishing.
- temperature measuring devices are used: in many types of marine vessels for fishing or to help said vessel by. indicating whether or not said vessel is in a desired water temperature.
- Such devices as are presently known incorporate one heat sensitive member which is located outside said vessel througfi a small hole in said vessel, or inside said vessel in the line intake for the engine water cooling system.
- said devices are not of the required accuracy for fishing where water temperature must be observed with high accuracy and sensitivity. For example in tuna fishing, a water temperature of 17-18.5oC is required.
- the object of this invention relates to overcoming all of the above problems presently experienced with known temperature measuring devices for the measuring of water temperature change.
- Said invention has the capacity to indicate the direction in relation to .the vessel in which the temperature of the water is changing; the capacity to steer said vessel towards any cooler or warmer water current, with appropriate sound and visual warnings for any indication of water temperature change; and the capacity to maintain said vessel, in a certain water current, the temperature range of which has been pre-nominated and set.
- Said temperature range and said steering capacity is adjustable so as to suit all variables such as vessel size, rudder response time, degree of temperature change in water and the speed of vessel.
- said device allows the vessel' s pilot to operate said device manually as well as automatically.
- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the marine thermal autopilot incorporating the digital readout and all the necessary switches and the heat sensitive members.
- Figure 2 represents the block diagram and logic flow-.of the device, including the controller and monitor.
- Figure 3 is an illustration of the use of the contact relay system of the controller' s output in connection to any type of motor such as direct current , single phase and three phase motors. Said use makes said device very versatile and easy to install on any vessel.
- Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a marine vessel using the thermal device.
- the thermal auto-pilot apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises the electronic controller 2 which continously monitors the signal received from the heat sensitive members 5 and 6; said controller also has the task of computing its own thermal differential system. and supplying a continuous and regulated current to said heat sensitive members through wires 7 and 8. This capacity of said controller, allows the heat sensitive members 5 and 6 to be placed at any distance from the said controller 2.
- Said controller 2 is capable of receiving, beside the two command signals from said heat sensitive members 5 and 6, an additional command signal from window range switch 11, used for setting a temperature range to allow a range of temperatures to be nominated so that said device can respond to said range.
- Said temperature range as set, and time of response to the result of the differential thermal analyses as computed by said controller 2 are adjustable according to vessel and water environment requirements.
- Said controller 2 is powered by 12 volts DC supply 1 directly from the vessel or via a small suitable solar photovoltaic cell panel.
- Switch 3 is used to turn the entire equipment On or Off, while indicator 4 displays the mode of power supply in the following manner: light on means all OK; light flashing means low power supply; and light off means power failure or fuse needs to be changed.
- Light 12 appears when the vessel approaches the set temperature range as set by switch 11.
- Buzzer 13 will give a warning sound when said vessel approaches said set water temperature range. Buzzer switch 13 can be reset so as to avoid a continuous warning sound.
- the exact temperature measured by said heat sensitive members 5 and 6 are calculated by said controller 2 and said temperature is displayed digitally on 9 and 10 indicators in oC or oF within + 0.1 .
- Warninq lights 14 and 15 located adjacent to or under each temperature display, said warning lights flash to indicate the direction said vessel is taking, either port or starboard, away or towards the desired water temperature.
- the indicating gauge 20 contains a needle which shows the degree and direction of the temperature difference.
- Switch 16 is for driving the vessel automatically, after connecting the rudder motor with output 17.
- Outputs 18 and 19 are for recording or read out, using a chart recorder or similar device.
- FIG. 3 The manner in which the motor of the rudder is connected to output 17 is illustrated in Figure 3: by using the contact, relay output system, said motor is easily wired to any type of motor of any voltage.
- Figure 2A illustrates how the system operates normally; and Figure 2B shows how said system operates electronically.
- the electronic. controller 2 is usually mounted in the cabin of the vessel; however, it is recommended to mount the heat sensitive members 5 and 6 on the vessel as show in Figure 4 with one member along each side of said vessel; all wires and said heat sensitive members are enclosed in PVC pipes, similar to those used in house wiring, for physical protection from the vessel' s deck and/or from in the water.
- the PVC pipe enclosing each heat sensitive member must have at least two holes which would be immersed in the water at the desired depth, so as to allow the flow of water and enable said device to record accurate and representative temperature of the water.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)
- Testing Or Calibration Of Command Recording Devices (AREA)
Abstract
A device which can guide a vessel toward, or maintain a vessel within, water having a nominated temperature range, e.g. 17-18<o>C. Sensors (5) and (6) continuously measure the temperature of the water at opposite sides of the vessel which temperatures are displayed at (9) and (10). Controller (2) monitors these temperatures until the desired range of temperature, as set by switch (11) is reached. This is indicated by warning light (12) and sound (13). Switch (16) is then placed on automatic to steer the boat within the nominated temperature range of (11). This steering is carried out by connecting the signal output (17) onto the rudder of the vessel. The direction of vessel movement towards the required temperature range is indicated by meter (20) and lights (14) and (15).
Description
MARINE THERMAL AUTO-PILOT
This invention relates to temperature measurements of water, and to guiding any marine vessel towards cold or warm temperature currents as desired and assist the vessel in staying in a current of a desired temperature. Such an application is particularly useful in game fishing ocean racing and tuna fishing.
It is known that temperature measuring devices are used: in many types of marine vessels for fishing or to help said vessel by. indicating whether or not said vessel is in a desired water temperature. Such devices as are presently known incorporate one heat sensitive member which is located outside said vessel througfi a small hole in said vessel, or inside said vessel in the line intake for the engine water cooling system.
The devices as presently used have a number of disadvantages:
Firstly, when the temperature indication of the water changes, it is usually very difficult to exactly locate the direction of the change, and consequen-tly this results in said vessel being manoeuvred in a circle or zig-zag line so that said water temperature can be located.
Secondly, said devices are not of the required accuracy for fishing where water temperature must be observed with high accuracy and sensitivity. For example in tuna fishing, a water temperature of 17-18.5ºC is required.
Thirdly, there is the problem that the accuracy of said devices decreases dramatically with the increase in distance from the heat sensitive member to the control and readout unit, and in the case of large vessels, the temperature reading could be inaccurate by as much as +5ºC . Moreover, as most available devices are of the mechanical type, constant calibration and the inaccuracy in reading represent considerable troublesome and tedious tasks when accurate temperature detection is required.
Fourthly, said devices usually do not have any warning sound to alert the operator when the vessel is approaching or leaving a certain water temperature. Finally, said devices do not usually operate on solar power, are not able to give a digital display, nor do they have the capacity for external recording.
The object of this invention relates to overcoming all of the above problems presently experienced with known temperature measuring devices for the measuring of water temperature change. Said invention has the capacity to indicate the direction in relation to .the vessel in which the temperature of the water is changing; the capacity to steer said vessel towards any cooler or warmer water current, with appropriate sound and visual warnings for any indication of water temperature change; and the capacity to maintain said vessel, in a certain water current, the temperature range of which has been pre-nominated and set. Said temperature range and said steering capacity is adjustable so as to suit all variables such as vessel size, rudder response time, degree of temperature change in water and the speed of vessel. Furthermore, said device allows the vessel' s pilot to operate said device manually as well as automatically. The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, as follows:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the marine thermal autopilot incorporating the digital readout and all the necessary switches and the heat sensitive members. Figure 2 represents the block diagram and logic flow-.of the device, including the controller and monitor.
Figure 3 is an illustration of the use of the contact relay system of the controller' s output in connection to any type of motor such as direct current , single phase and three phase motors. Said use makes said device very versatile and easy to install on any vessel. Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a marine vessel using the thermal device.
The thermal auto-pilot apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises the electronic controller 2 which continously monitors the signal received from the heat sensitive members 5 and 6; said controller also has the task of computing its own thermal differential system. and supplying a continuous and regulated current to said heat sensitive members through wires 7 and 8. This capacity of said controller, allows the heat sensitive members 5 and 6 to be placed at any distance from the said controller 2. Said controller 2 is capable of receiving, beside the two command signals from said heat sensitive members 5 and 6, an additional command signal from window range switch 11, used for setting a temperature range to allow a range of temperatures to be nominated so that said device can respond to said range. Said temperature range as set, and time of response to the result of the differential thermal analyses as computed by said controller 2, are adjustable according to vessel and water environment requirements.
Said controller 2 is powered by 12 volts DC supply 1 directly from the vessel or via a small suitable solar photovoltaic cell panel. Switch 3 is used to turn the entire equipment On or Off, while indicator 4 displays the mode of power supply in the following manner: light on means all OK; light flashing means low power supply; and light off means power failure or fuse needs to be changed.
Light 12 appears when the vessel approaches the set temperature range as set by switch 11. Buzzer 13 will give a warning sound when said vessel approaches said set water temperature range. Buzzer switch 13 can be reset so as to avoid a continuous warning sound. The exact temperature measured by said heat sensitive members 5 and 6 are calculated by said controller 2 and said temperature is displayed digitally on 9 and 10 indicators in ºC or ºF within + 0.1 . Warninq lights 14 and 15 located adjacent to or under each temperature display, said warning lights flash to indicate the direction said vessel is taking, either port or starboard, away or towards the desired water temperature. The indicating gauge 20 contains a needle which shows the degree and direction of the temperature difference. Switch 16 is for driving the vessel automatically, after connecting the rudder motor with output 17. Outputs 18 and 19 are for recording or read out, using a chart recorder or similar device.
The manner in which the motor of the rudder is connected to output 17 is illustrated in Figure 3: by using the contact, relay output system, said motor is easily wired to any type of motor of any voltage. Figure 2A illustrates how the system operates normally; and Figure 2B shows how said system operates electronically.
The electronic. controller 2 is usually mounted in the cabin of the vessel; however, it is recommended to mount the heat sensitive members 5 and 6 on the vessel as show in Figure 4 with one member along each side of said vessel; all wires and said heat sensitive members are enclosed in PVC pipes, similar to those used in house wiring, for physical protection from the vessel' s deck and/or from in the water.
The PVC pipe enclosing each heat sensitive member must have at least two holes which would be immersed in the water at the desired depth, so as to allow the flow of water and enable said device to record accurate and representative temperature of the water.
Claims
1. A Marine Thermal Auto-Pilot for use in accurately measuring water temperature and guiding marine vessels towards the direction of warm or cold water currents as may be desired, said device includes at least two heat sensitive members and a semi-computerised thermal differential system, said thermal differential system is pre-programmed for a certain temperature range, and any difference between the measurement of said two heat sensitive members is transferred as an electric signal which is able to move the rudder of a vessel so as to follow any temperature gradient until said gradient ceases, said signal is also capable of operating a rudder auto-pilot so that in seeking said pre-programmed temperature, said signal keeps a vessel continously within a desired temperature range.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device is powered by rechargeable batteries charged from a vessel ' s mains or by solar photovoltaic cell panels , said batteries charge level is indicated by a warning light, said light is on when solar batteries are fully charged, said light is flashing when said batteries are below the required voltage and said light is switched off in the case of very low said battery charge.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said two heat sensitive members comprise non-contact heat sensitive members, such as infra-red, or contact heat sensitive members, said contact heat sensitive members are encapsulated in stainless steel for protection and connected to said thermal differential system using equal or unequal lengths of cable, said heat sensitive members are placed alongside a vessel in tubing with or without an extension aid, extension aid means any horizontal support firmly attached to a marine vessel and made from metal, wood , plasti or any strong material, this gives a reasonable distance between said contact heat sensitive members so as to obtain good average of water temperature; accordingly , the length of said extension aid depends on width of said vessel.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said contact heat sensitive members are to reach any distance across said vessel or under water without affecting the accuracy of measuring temperatures, and connection between heat sensitive members and said thermal differential system is carried out by wires of any type or shape. Said heat sensitive members measure temperature, range between -50ºC to 150°C within an accuracy of - 0.1 ºC or equivalent in ºF, said range and accuracy is permanently calibrated even when device is switched off, and said temperature measurements are digitally displayed individually, or on one display in sequence.
5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermal differential system measures temperatures between -50ºC to 150ºC or equivalent in ºF, and for practical purposes the device is programmable between - 3º to 60ºC, temperature range between said heat sensitive members is adjustable from a minimum of 0.1ºC to a maximum of 150ºC, and for practical reasons said temperature range between heat sensitive members usually ranges from 0. 5ºC to 6.0ºC or equivalent in ºF. Temperature range between heat sensitive members means the maximum allowable temperature difference before the differential system responds with a warning , and automatically moves vessel towards required cooler or warmer water current.
6. A device as claimed In claim I wherein said thermal differential system is capable of receiving and processing signals from said heat sensitive members as input and give output commanding signals, said commanding signal are in the form of visual and sound warnings and a signal capable of manoeuvring said marine vessel.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermal differential system is adjustable according to the size of the marine vessel for the duration of response time in seconds so as to control the movement of the rudder of said marine vessel when turning port or starboard in the course of following a temperature gradient or staying within a constant temperature current.
8. A device as claimed in claim 1 is used automatically or manually by the application of a switch. Automatically means moving the rudder by an electric or hydraulic mechanism without the aid of manual steering; manually - means using manual steering in response to the visual warning lights or signals.
9. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein output distribution board Is able to connect the contact relays signals from said thermal differential system to a vessel rudder or auto-pilot, said output contact relay signals operate switching systems for any type or power of electric motor, said output distribution board also has a signal output for use in recording by means of chart recorder or any other similar device.
10. A marine thermal auto pilot device for marine vessels, substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of September 1982
SHAWKY S. MICHAEL
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU1982/000153 WO1983001048A1 (en) | 1981-09-24 | 1982-09-09 | Marine thermal auto-pilot |
| AU89029/82A AU8902982A (en) | 1981-09-24 | 1982-09-09 | Marine thermal auto-pilot |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPF0891810924 | 1981-09-24 | ||
| AU89181 | 1981-09-24 | ||
| PCT/AU1982/000153 WO1983001048A1 (en) | 1981-09-24 | 1982-09-09 | Marine thermal auto-pilot |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1983001048A1 true WO1983001048A1 (en) | 1983-03-31 |
Family
ID=25608899
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU1982/000153 WO1983001048A1 (en) | 1981-09-24 | 1982-09-09 | Marine thermal auto-pilot |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO1983001048A1 (en) |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4078510A (en) * | 1976-01-12 | 1978-03-14 | Morgan Berkeley & Co. Ltd. | Relating to the cathodic protection of structures |
-
1982
- 1982-09-09 WO PCT/AU1982/000153 patent/WO1983001048A1/en unknown
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4078510A (en) * | 1976-01-12 | 1978-03-14 | Morgan Berkeley & Co. Ltd. | Relating to the cathodic protection of structures |
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