Abstract:
An apparatus for aiding in steering and maneuvering a boat that includes a thruster that applies a force transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat. The operation of the thruster is under control of a remote radio frequency transmitter which permits an operator of the boat to operate the thrusters without being on the bridge of the boat. A switching circuit that includes relays and solenoids associated with a solenoid valve operates with the remote frequency transmitter and receiver to energize a thruster on the boat.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for aiding in maneuvering and steering a boat, and more particularly to an apparatus for remotely maneuvering a boat. 
     Heretofor large boats, often referred to as houseboats, when traveling on open water tend to drift off course and as a result of the size of the boat, it requires some skill in maneuvering the throttles and/or steering wheel of the boat to bring it back on course. This also requires the operator of the boat to be located at the steering wheel. Many times when cruising on large bodies of water, the houseboat is set to travel at a relatively slow speed in a particular set direction. Unfortunately as a result of wind and currents and because a houseboat normally does not have a deep keel, the boat tends to drift off its desired course of travel. This drift can be corrected by manipulating the steering wheel, the thrust of the engines, and on some boats by operating thrusters. The problem with all three of the above is that they require the operator of the boat to be located in the area of the steering wheel and controls. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and convenient apparatus for maneuvering a boat without requiring the operator to be on the bridge of the boat. The apparatus includes a thruster which is carried adjacent the stern or bow of the boat that is operated by supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic motor. It is to be understood the other types of motors such as electric motors can be utilized for driving the thruster instead of a hydraulic motor. When a hydraulic motor is used, a hydraulic pump is energized for supplying the fluid to the motor. The operator by means of remote radio frequency transmitter can generate signals indicating the desired direction that he wants the thruster to be rotated. The signal generated by the radio frequency transmitter is received by a radio frequency receiver that is carried on the boat. 
     As a result of utilizing remote radio frequencies, it is not necessary for the operator of the boat to be on the bridge of the boat when energizing the thrusters to maneuver the boat. When utilizing a hydraulic motor, a solenoid operated valve is connected to the hydraulic pump and to the motor. A first solenoid is operably connected to the solenoid valve for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor to rotate the hydraulic motor in a first direction upon being energized. A second solenoid is operably connected to the solenoid valve for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor for rotating the hydraulic motor in a second direction upon being energized. An electrical switching circuit is connected to the radio frequency receiver and to the first and second solenoids for causing one of the solenoids to be energized upon being activated by a signal from the receiver. As a result, an operator of the boat can maneuver the boat with a remote radio frequency transmitter which is used for activating the thrusters provided on the boat. 
     In one particular embodiment, the electrical switching circuit includes a pair of relays, each of which has a bank of contact switches associated therewith. Upon energizing one of the relays by the remote control transmitter switches are closed for engaging a clutch associated with the hydraulic pump as well as energizing one of the solenoid valves associated with the hydraulic pump to cause the motors of the thrusters to be driven in one direction. When the other relay is energized by the remote control transmitter, it also causes the clutch associated with the hydraulic pump to be engaged. It sends a signal to the other solenoid associated with the solenoid valve for causing pressurized hydraulic fluid to be sent to the motors of the thruster for rotating the thruster in the opposite direction. While the drawings illustrate two hydraulic motors with the thruster in FIG. 2, it is to be understood that a single motor could be utilized instead of two. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote controlled apparatus for steering and maneuvering boats. 
    
    
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of houseboat upon which an apparatus for maneuvering the boat can be mounted. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the controls for the thrusters provided on the boat. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a modified form of the controls for the thrusters. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In FIG. 1 there is disclosed a houseboat  10  that is equipped with a thruster  12  provided adjacent the stern of the boat. Controls  14  for operating the thrusters are mounted on the bridge of the boat adjacent the steering wheel and throttles for the engines of the boat. Houseboats don&#39;t generally travel at high speeds, and as a result, wind and tides often cause the boat to deviate from its desired course. Such can be corrected by manipulating the throttles on the engines, or by the combination of steering and manipulation of the throttles. To bring the boat back to a stabilized exact direction requires some skill and attention. Such also requires the operator of the boat to be on the bridge at all times since the controls for the throttles are generally located there. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a thruster  12  that can be mounted on the boat for producing a force perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the boat when energized. The thruster is driven by hydraulic motors  16  that received pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump  18 . A clutch  20  is associated with the pump so that upon being engaged, it causes the pump  18  to pump pressurized hydraulic fluid from a reservoir  22  through a solenoid valve  24  that controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to the thruster motor  16 . The solenoid valve  24  is provided with a first and second solenoid  26  and  28  respectively. When solenoid  26  is energized, it allows hydraulic fluid to flow through the hydraulic pump  24  and hydraulic line  30  to the hydraulic motor  16  for rotating the thruster in one direction. This causes a thrust force to be applied to the stern of the boat in a first direction. 
     When the solenoid  28  is energized, it in turn causes the solenoid valve  24  to permit hydraulic fluid to flow through line  32  to the hydraulic motors  16  of the thrusters  12  to rotate the thrusters in the opposite direction. 
     As a result, the direction that the motors  12  of the thrusters are rotating depends upon which of the solenoids  26  and  28  are energized. While there are shown to be two hydraulic motors  16  for driving the thrusters  12 , it is to be understood that a single motor could be utilized and the propellers arranged on an output shaft of the motor so that they would drive the water into the same direction. 
     In other words, if two motors are used, they work in conjunction to move water in one direction whereas the same occurs if a single motor is used and two propellers are mounted on the output shaft of the motor in different configurations so that the water will be moved through the thruster in the same direction. The hydraulics and controls so far described are convention for thrusters used on boats. 
     A remote radio frequency transmitter  34  is provided for generating RF signals for controlling the operation of the thrusters on the boat. The radio frequency transmitter can be any suitable conventional radio frequency transmitter. The transmitter is normally provided with an “on” button  36  and an “off” button  37 . It is also provided with a first control button  38 , which upon being depressed causes the thrusters to apply a force to the port side of the boat, and when the button  40  is depressed, the thrusters are energized to apply a force to the starboard side. It is to be understood that any suitable conventional thruster could be utilized. 
     A radio frequency receiver  42  is provided for receiving by means of an antenna  44  the RF signals being transmitted by the radio frequency transmitter  34 . The receiver has an on/off button  46  that is used for engaging the system when desired. The receiver  42  is connected to a source of power indicated by positive and negative symbols through lead lines  48  and  50  to the terminals  52  and  54  respectively. 
     The receiver also has output terminals  56  and  58  that are activated by the RF signal to provide a controlled signal that is sent through a switching circuit to control the energization of the solenoids  26  and  28  associated with the solenoid valve  24 . Depending of which of the buttons  38  or  40  of the remote transmitter is depressed, one of the terminals  56  or  58  will be energized. An electric switching circuit  60  is interposed between the receiver  42  and the controls for the hydraulic motors  16  of thruster  12 . 
     The electric circuit  60  includes a main positive power buss  62  that is connected to the positive terminal  54  on the receiver. The buss  62  extends through the switching circuit to a first junction  64 , a second junction  66 , and third junction  68 . The buss  62  has leads extending therefrom to switch contacts forming part of relay control circuits  70  and  72 . 
     Leads  74  and  75  extend from the terminals  56  and  58  of the receiver  42  to the electric switch circuit  60  that includes the relays  70  and  72 . For example, lead  74  extends from terminal  56  to one contact  76  of a switch  78  that is controlled by the relay  70 . The other terminal of switch  78  is connected by a jumper line  80  to relay  72 . Current flows through the relay  72  back to junction  64  for completing the circuit. When such occurs, relay  72  is energized. Associated with relay  72  are switches  82 ,  84 , and  86 . As shown, switch  82  is normally closed, and switches  84  and  86  are normally open. Associated with relay  70  are switches  78 ,  88 , and  90 . Relay switch  76  is normally closed, and relay switches  88  and  90  are normally open. 
     Going back to relay  72  as being energized when there is a signal at terminal  56  of the receiver, such causes the relay contact  82  to be open. This prevents energization of relay  70 . It also closes switches  84  and  86 . When switch  84  is closed, a positive voltage is applied through line  62 , switch  84  to solenoid  26  to energize solenoid  26  of solenoid valve  24 . This permits fluid to flow through the solenoid valve  24  to the hydraulic motors  16 . Also when relay  72  is energized, switch  86  is closed. When switch  86  is closed, a positive voltage is connected through lead  96  to energize the clutch  20  associated with the pump  18  to cause the pump to pump hydraulic fluid through the solenoid valve to the motor  16 . 
     The operation of relay  70  and its associated switches is identical to that of  72  with the exception that when relay  70  is energized, the solenoid  28  is energized to allow fluid to flow through the solenoid valve to the motors  16  for driving the thruster motors in the opposite direction. 
     When a signal is applied to terminal  58  of the receiver, this signal is transmitted over line  75  through switch contact  82  to energize relay  70 . When relay  70  is energized, the normally closed relay switch  78  is opened preventing relay  72  from being energized. The energization of relay  70  also causes switch contacts  88  and  90  to be closed. When switch contact  90  is closed, such causes the clutch  20  associated with the pump to be energized. When switch contact  88  is closed, a positive voltage is applied through switch contact  88  to solenoid  28  for energizing solenoid  28 . As previously stated, when solenoid  28  is energized, it allows hydraulic fluid to flow through the solenoid valve  24  to the hydraulic motor  16  of the thruster  12  for reversing the direction of the thrusters. 
     The hydraulic thruster  12  is a conventional thruster, and in normal use it is operated through a joystick generally designated by the reference character  100 . The joystick is mounted on the bridge of the boat, and through manipulation the thrusters  12  can be operated in the same manner as discussed above in connection with the operation of the remote transmitter  34 . 
     The joystick includes moveable terminals  102  and  104 . When the joystick is moved to the left, terminals  104  and  102  engage contacts  106  and  108  respectively applying a positive voltage over leads  110  and  112 . 
     Such causes solenoid  26  to be energized and also the clutch  20  associated with the pump to be energized. When the joystick is moved to the right, contact is made between contacts  104  and terminals  114  and  116 . When this occurs, a positive voltage is applied to energize solenoid  28  of the solenoid valve  24 . 
     When an operator of a boat is traveling along a desired course, or traveling on a body of water, and the boat deviates from its desired course, the operator through manipulation of the remote transmitter, can energize the thrusters on the boat to bring the boat back to its desired course of travel. The operator can also during docking of boat, walk around the deck of the boat, and with the remote control in his hand, manipulate the thrusters to dock the boat. While the apparatus has been shown as being mounted on a houseboat, it is to be understood that such can also be used in trawlers and other boats of various configurations. 
     While the above description has been made in reference to utilizing a thruster operated by a hydraulic motor, it is to be understood that the thrusters can be manipulated by an electric motor that is adapted to be driven in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction depending on the polarity of the signals being supplied to the motor. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the relays  120  and  122  are selectively provided for opening and closing switches  124  and  128  upon receiving signals on the terminals  58  and  56  of the receiver  42 . When the relay  120  is energized, the terminal  124  is closed allowing a positive voltage to be applied through the switch  124  to one side of an electric motor  130 . Such causes the thruster to rotate in one direction. The electric motor is equipped with propellers in the same manner as the hydraulic motor of FIG.  2 . 
     However, upon receiving a different signal from the remote transmitter  34  and receiver  42 , the relay  122  is energized closing contact  128  allowing a positive voltage to be applied to the other side of the motor  130  for driving the motor in the opposite direction from that as occurred when relay  120  was energized. Relays  120  and  122  are wired in the same manner as shown in FIG.  2  and as a result the description will not be repeated. 
     It is also understood that instead of using a reversible electric motor, an electric transmission under control of the signals from relays  120  and  122  can be used with an electric motor for selectively driving propellers in two directions. 
     While the thrusters  12  have been shown at the stern of the houseboat, it is to be understood that the thrusters could be mounted at different locations on the boat such as the front or rear of the boat if desired. It is also understood that while the remote control for these thrusters can be used while the boat is under power for making corrections to the direction of travel of the boat, it can also be used in docking the boat. As a result of the controls for the thrusters being a remote transmitter, the operator of the boat can move around the boat, and oftentimes be on the deck on the boat during the docking operation. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it is understood that any all equivalent realizations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof. Thus, the embodiments depicted are presented by way of an example only and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described and shown, it would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is limited thereto since many modifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the literal or equivalent scope of the appended claims.