MARINE THERMAL AUTO-PILOT

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 THΞRI-iAL 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 -ifishing. 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- ly 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 17-18.5 C 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 -5 C . 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 se . 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 auto¬ pilot 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. OM - 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 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 mem ers 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 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 C or F within -0.1 . 7 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 sensitiv 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. O PI

Claims: The claims defining the invention are as follows :- 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 signa 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. -. 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 -50 C to 150°C within an accuracy of - 0.1 C or equivalent in F, said range and accuracy is permanently calibrated even when device is switched off, and said temperature measurements are digitally displaye individually, or on one display in sequence. 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermal differenti system measures temperatures between -50 C to 150 C or equivalent in F, and for practical purposes the device is programmable between -3 to 60 C, temperature range between said heat sensitive members is adjustable from a minimum of 0.1 C to a maximum of 150 C, and for practical reasons said temperature range between heat sensitive members usually ranges from 0. 5 C to 6.0 C or equivalent in F. Temperature range between heat sensitive members means ' the maximum allowable temperature difference before the differential system respon with a warning , and automatically moves vessel towards required cooler or warmer water current. OMPI_ ~ 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

Inventors: MICHAEL SHAWKY SHAFEEK, MICHAEL, SHAWKY, SHAFEEK
Applicants: SHAWKY SHAFEEK MICHAEL, MICHAEL, SHAWKY, SHAFEEK
Application year: 1982
Main classification: B63H25
IPC codes: B63H25, G01C21, G05D1