Abstract:
A rudder position indicator apparatus includes a cam mounted on a steering linkage of a watercraft. The steering linkage is coupled to a rudder. When the rudder is in a straight position, the cam activates a micro switch, which in turn, supplies a ground for an indicator light to illuminate. The indicator light can be located on a dash of the watercraft.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to indicator systems for marine vehicles and in particular, to an indicator for indicating the position of an angularly movable member such as the rudder of a boat.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Various types of rudder angle indicator systems currently exist. In one type of rudder angle indicator system, a conventional synchro transmitter is coupled to a rudder to provide a synchro signal output in accordance with rudder angle. A conventional synchro receiver, coupled to a rudder angle indicator, positions the indicator to an angle in accordance with the synchro signal thereby displaying the rudder angle. Plural synchro receivers may be required if multiple indicator units are utilized. Typical synchro transmitter and receiver devices tend to be expensive adversely affecting the cost competitiveness of a rudder angle indication system in which they are utilized.  
         [0003]     Another approach to rudder angle indication utilizes a potentiometer sensor coupled to the rudder to provide a voltage proportional to rudder angle. The rudder angle indicating voltage is applied to a plurality of meter movement indicators with appropriate rudder angle indication scales. Such an analog system tends to be inaccurate and unreliable and requires amplifiers in accordance with the number of such indicators utilized on the ship. Significantly, the meter movement approach is inappropriate for positioning the large three-faced rudder angle indicator without undesirable design complexity and expense. Thus, it is appreciated that this analog approach is primarily limited to providing variously positioned small meter movement indicators about the ship for displaying rudder angle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.  
         [0005]     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a rudder position indicator apparatus is provided. The rudder position indicator apparatus includes a cam coupled to a steering linkage bar of a watercraft; and a switch coupled to a fixed portion of the watercraft. The cam is operable to activate the switch when a rudder of the watercraft is in a centered position.  
         [0006]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a rudder position indicator apparatus includes a cam secured to a steering linkage bar of a watercraft; means for contacting the cam when a rudder of the watercraft is centered; and means for indicating when the rudder of the watercraft is centered.  
         [0007]     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the invention. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed and the present invention is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a rudder angle indicator system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of a rudder angle indicator system when the rudder is off-center in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of a rudder angle indicator system when the rudder is centered in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a rudder angle indicator light provided on a dash of a watercraft in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of a rudder angle indicator system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates another bracket configuration for a rudder angle indicator system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The present invention relates to a rudder angle indicator system and will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. It is to be appreciated that the various drawings are not drawn to scale from one figure to another nor inside a given figure, and in particular that the size of the components are arbitrarily drawn for facilitating the reading of the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block form in order to facilitate describing the present invention.  
         [0015]     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a rudder position indicator apparatus  10  is illustrated in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The rudder position indicator apparatus  10  includes a cam  12  coupled to a steering linkage bar  14  of a watercraft. The steering linkage bar  14  is connected to at least one rudder or outdrive unit (not shown) of the watercraft. The steering linkage bar  14  is controlled by mechanical components such as cables and/or hydraulic actuators which transmit steering commands from a steering wheel or helm to move the steering linkage bar  14  left or right along its longitudinal axis, thereby moving the rudder(s) left or right.  
         [0016]     A switch  16  is secured to a fixed portion of the watercraft, such as an inner surface of a hull or transform of the watercraft, via one or more brackets  18  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The number and configuration of bracket(s)  18  can vary depending upon how a user desires to position the switch  16  on the watercraft. The switch  16  is positioned such that it is contacted and thus, activated by the cam  12  when the rudder(s) is in a centered position. The switch  16  is preferably a micro switch and is in electrical connection with an indicator light that can be located at an easily visible portion in the watercraft.  
         [0017]     Turning now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the rudder position indicator apparatus  10  is depicted when the rudder(s) is in a non-centered position and a centered position, respectively. The cam  12  can include sloped side walls  20  and a substantially flat top potion  22  such that an actuator  24  of the switch  16  can easily travel up the sloped side walls  20  and rest on the top portion  22  when the rudder(s) is centered. The cam  12  can also include an aperture  26  in a bottom portion of the cam  12  to facilitate securing the cam  12  to the steering linkage bar  14 . For example, a clamp hose  28  can be employed to couple the cam  12  to the steering linkage bar  14 . However it is to be appreciated that the cam  12  can be coupled to the steering linkage bar  14  in any suitable manner.  
         [0018]     During operation of the watercraft, when the steering wheel is turned to move the rudder(s) away from the centered position to either the left or the right, the steering linkage bar  14  is moved such that the switch  16  is out of alignment with the cam  12 , thereby leaving the switch  16  open, as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the steering wheel of the watercraft is turned to move the rudder(s) back to the centered position, the steering linkage bar  14  is moved such that the switch  16  comes into physical contact with the cam  12 , thereby activating the switch  16 . The switch  16  then sends a signal to indicate that the rudder(s) is centered. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the signal can be a light  30  located on a dashboard  32  or on a side panel  34  of the watercraft. However, it is to be appreciated that the signal can be of any type and can be located in any suitable location. For example, the signal can be alternatively, or additionally, transmitted to a remote handheld terminal to indicate when the rudder(s) is centered.  
         [0019]     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , a side view of the rudder position indicator apparatus  10  is illustrated in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. In the shown example, the apparatus  10  includes a first bracket  36  secured to the fixed portion  38  of the watercraft via a screw or any other suitable fastener. The switch  16  is secured to a second bracket  40  via a bolt or any other suitable fastener. An insulator member  42  can be provided between the switch  16  and the second bracket  40  to mitigate excess vibration. At least one, preferably both, of the first and second brackets  38 ,  40  include corresponding slotted apertures such that the position of the second bracket  40  and thus, the switch  16 , can be adjusted with respect to the position of the first bracket  38 . The first and second brackets  38 ,  40  can be coupled together via a bolt and nut combination. The switch  16  is positioned in vertical alignment with the cam  12  so that the cam  12  can properly activate the switch  16  when the cam  12  and switch  16  come into contact with one another.  
         [0020]     It is to be appreciated that any suitable bracket configuration can be employed and is contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention. For example,  FIG. 6  illustrates another example of a bracket configuration  18  that can be employed with the present invention. The rudder position indicator apparatus described herein has many advantages over conventional rudder indicators. Due to the simplicity of the present invention, the number of parts and the cost associated with the apparatus is significantly lower than conventional apparatuses.  
         [0021]     What has been described above includes exemplary implementations of the present invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the present invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the present invention are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.