Patent ID: 6098561
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
A steering system for a boat, said steering system comprising:an auxiliary rudder which is adapted to be connected with the boat, said auxiliary rudder adapted to being rotatable relative to the boat to effect changes in course of the boat;a servo-pendulum rudder which is adapted to be connected with the boat and is adapted to be rotatable relative to the boat about a first axis, said servo-pendulum rudder being adapted to be pivotal transversely to a keel line of the boat about a second axis by water flowing past the boat upon rotation of said servo-pendulum rudder about the first axis;a positioning device connected with said servo-pendulum rudder, said positioning device being operable to rotate said servo-pendulum rudder about the first axis upon deviation of the boat from a desired course; anda drive connection between said servo-pendulum rudder and said auxiliary rudder, said drive connection includes a drive member and a driven member, one of said drive and driven members being movable relative to the other of said drive and driven members between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition, said drive and driven members having arcuate arrays of teeth which are disposed in meshing engagement to enable force to be transmitted between said drive and driven members when said one of said drive and driven members is in the engaged condition, said arcuate arrays of teeth on said drive and driven members being spaced apart to prevent force from being transmitted between said drive and driven members when said one of said drive and driven members is in the disengaged condition.