Patent ID: 12258110

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. The embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the present disclosure to the precise form disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. Therefore, no limitation of the scope of the present disclosure is thereby intended. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The terms “couples”, “coupled”, “coupler” and variations thereof are used to include both arrangements wherein the two or more components are in direct physical contact and arrangements wherein the two or more components are not in direct contact with each other (e.g., the components are “coupled” via at least a third component), but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.

In some instances throughout this disclosure and in the claims, numeric terminology, such as first, second, third, and fourth, is used in reference to various components or features. Such use is not intended to denote an ordering of the components or features. Rather, numeric terminology is used to assist the reader in identifying the component or features being referenced and should not be narrowly interpreted as providing a specific order of components or features.

Referring toFIG.1, an exemplary pontoon boat100is floating in a body of water10having a top surface12. Pontoon boat100includes a deck104supported by a plurality of pontoons106. The deck supports a railing108including a gate110positioned in a bow portion112of pontoon boat100. Pontoon boat100may further include a plurality of seats114, a canopy (not shown), and other components supported by deck104.

The plurality of pontoons106include a starboard pontoon120, a port pontoon122, and a central pontoon124. Each of starboard pontoon120, port pontoon122, and central pontoon124support deck104through respective brackets126. Each of starboard pontoon120, port pontoon122, and central pontoon124support deck104above top surface12of water10. Although three pontoons are illustrated, the plurality of pontoons106may be limited to two pontoons or have four or more pontoons. Further, the thruster systems described herein may be used with a single hull vessel.

Referring toFIG.3, pontoon boat100has a longitudinal centerline140and a lateral centerline142. Longitudinal centerline140divides pontoon boat100into a port side144of pontoon boat100and a starboard side146of pontoon boat100. Lateral centerline142divides pontoon boat100into a bow portion148of pontoon boat100and a stern portion150of pontoon boat100. Deck104of pontoon boat100includes an outer perimeter149including a bow perimeter portion152, a starboard perimeter portion154, a stern perimeter portion158, and a port perimeter portion156. The plurality of pontoons106define a port extreme extent160corresponding to an outer extent of port pontoon122and a starboard extreme extent162corresponding to an outer extent of starboard pontoon120.

Pontoon boat100includes an outboard motor170which extends beyond stern perimeter portion158of deck104. In embodiments, outboard motor170is an internal combustion engine which power rotation of an impeller (not shown). The impeller may be rotated in a first direction to propel pontoon boat100forward in a direction172or in a second direction to propel pontoon boat100rearward in a direction174. In embodiments, outboard motor170is rotatably mounted relative to deck104such that an orientation of the impeller may be adjusted to turn pontoon boat100in one of direction176and direction178. In embodiments, multiple outboard motors170may be provided.

Referring toFIG.2, pontoon boat100further includes a thruster system200. Thruster system200provides additional control over a position and/or orientation of pontoon boat100. In embodiments, at least one of the plurality of pontoons106, illustratively central pontoon124, includes at least one water inlet, illustratively water inlet202of fluid conduit204is shown, and at least one water outlet, illustratively water outlet206and water outlet210both of fluid conduit208, are shown. Fluid conduit208is fluidly coupled to fluid conduit204. As shown inFIG.2, each of water inlet202, water outlet206, and water outlet210are positioned below top surface12of water10.

Thruster system200includes a fluid pump220positioned in fluid conduit204to move water from proximate water inlet202of fluid conduit204towards water outlet206and water outlet210of fluid conduit208. Exemplary fluid pumps include the JT-30, JT-50, JT-70, and JT-90 series pumps available from Holland Marine Parts B.V. located at Donker Duyvisweg 297, 3316 BL Dordrecht (NL). Fluid pump220is powered by a power source222. Illustratively power source222includes an electric motor224and a battery bank226which power electric motor224.

The operation of fluid pump220is controlled with a controller230. In embodiments, controller230is an electronic controller including processing circuits and memory. In embodiments, controller230is microprocessor-based and memory is a non-transitory computer readable medium which includes processing instructions stored therein that are executable by the microprocessor of controller to control operation of fluid pump220. Exemplary non-transitory computer-readable mediums include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory), or any other tangible medium capable of storing information.

In embodiments, controller230is one of wired or wirelessly coupled to a user interface240positioned above deck104. User interface240includes one or more input devices. Exemplary input devices320include switches, dials, joysticks, touch screens, and other suitable input devices for receiving a user input. In embodiments, user interface240is provided on a personal mobile device, such as a smart phone or tablet, and the personal mobile device includes processing instructions which provide input to controller230over a wireless connection.

As shown inFIG.2, in embodiments, controller230is also operatively coupled to a first valve250and a second valve252. Controller230controls whether fluid from fluid pump220reaches water outlet206based on whether first valve250is open or closed by controller230. Controller230controls whether fluid from fluid pump220reaches water outlet210based on whether second valve252is open or closed by controller230. In embodiments, controller230may control additional valves to control fluid flow to additional water outlets. In embodiments, thruster system200does not include valves250and252. Rather, in one embodiment, fluid pump220is fluidly coupled to only water inlet202and water outlet206and a separate fluid pump220is provided to fluidly couple water inlet202and water outlet210.

Referring toFIG.3, an embodiment of thruster system200is illustrated. InFIG.3, thruster system200includes four water outlets, a bow-port outlet300, a bow-starboard outlet302, a stern-port outlet304, and a stern-starboard outlet306. Bow-port outlet300has a corresponding fluid conduit310which causes water to exit bow-port outlet300in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards both port side144of pontoon boat100and stern portion150of pontoon boat100. Bow-starboard outlet302has a corresponding fluid conduit312which causes water to exit bow-starboard outlet302in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards both starboard side146of pontoon boat100and stern portion150of pontoon boat100. Stern-port outlet304has a corresponding fluid conduit314which causes water to exit stern-port outlet304in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards both port side144of pontoon boat100and bow portion148of pontoon boat100. Stern-starboard outlet306has a corresponding fluid conduit316which causes water to exit stern-starboard outlet306in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards both starboard side146of pontoon boat100and bow portion148of pontoon boat100.

In embodiments, each of fluid conduits310-316are angled downward (seeFIG.1). An advantage, among others, of angling the fluid conduits310-316downward is increased stability of pontoon boat100in water10.

In embodiments, each of fluid conduit310, fluid conduit312, fluid conduit314, and fluid conduit316are fed by a respective fluid pump220from one or more water inlets202in central pontoon124. In embodiments, a plurality of fluid conduit310, fluid conduit312, fluid conduit314, and fluid conduit316are fed by a common fluid pump220and one or more valves are included to control which of the plurality of fluid conduit310, fluid conduit312, fluid conduit314, and fluid conduit316are in fluid communication with the common fluid pump220.

Referring toFIG.4, another embodiment of thruster system200is illustrated. InFIG.4, thruster system200includes water outlets300-306and corresponding fluid conduits310-316. The embodiment ofFIG.4differs from the embodiment ofFIG.3based on the directions water exits the various ones of bow-port outlet300, bow-starboard outlet302, stern-port outlet304, and stern-starboard outlet306. Fluid conduit310corresponding to bow-port outlet300causes water to exit bow-port outlet300in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards both port side144of pontoon boat100and bow portion148of pontoon boat100. Fluid conduit312corresponding to bow-starboard outlet302causes water to exit bow-starboard outlet302in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards both starboard side146of pontoon boat100and bow portion148of pontoon boat100. Fluid conduit314corresponding to stern-port outlet304causes water to exit stern-port outlet304in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards both port side144of pontoon boat100and stern portion150of pontoon boat100. Fluid conduit316corresponding to stern-starboard outlet306causes water to exit stern-starboard outlet306in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards both starboard side146of pontoon boat100and stern portion150of pontoon boat100.

Referring toFIG.5, another embodiment of thruster system200is illustrated. InFIG.4, thruster system200includes water outlets300-306and corresponding fluid conduits310-316. The embodiment ofFIG.5differs from the embodiment ofFIG.3based on the directions water exits the various ones of bow-port outlet300, bow-starboard outlet302, stern-port outlet304, and stern-starboard outlet306. Fluid conduit310corresponding to bow-port outlet300causes water to exit bow-port outlet300in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards port side144of pontoon boat100. Fluid conduit312corresponding to bow-starboard outlet302causes water to exit bow-starboard outlet302in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards starboard side146of pontoon boat100. Fluid conduit314corresponding to stern-port outlet304causes water to exit stern-port outlet304in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards port side144of pontoon boat100. Fluid conduit316corresponding to stern-starboard outlet306causes water to exit stern-starboard outlet306in a direction, indicated by the arrow, towards starboard side146of pontoon boat100.

In the illustrated embodiment, thruster system200is associated with only central pontoon124. In embodiments, thruster system200may have one or more water inlets and one or more water outlets with corresponding fluid pumps associated with one or both of starboard pontoon120and port pontoon122. In embodiments, more or less water outlets may be provided on central pontoon124in bow portion148of pontoon boat100, stern portion150of pontoon boat100, on the port side144side of central pontoon124, and/or on the starboard side146side of central pontoon124.

Referring toFIG.6, in embodiments, thruster system200further includes deflectors380supported by central pontoon124. Deflectors380direct water away from bow-port outlet300and bow-starboard outlet302in the directions indicated by the arrows as pontoon boat100travels in forward direction172.

In embodiments, one or more of fluid conduit310, fluid conduit312, fluid conduit314, and fluid conduit316and thus the direction water generally exits the corresponding bow-port outlet300, bow-starboard outlet302, stern-port outlet304, and stern-starboard outlet306is defined. In embodiments, one or more of fluid conduit310, fluid conduit312, fluid conduit314, and fluid conduit316are moveable and thus the direction water generally exits the corresponding bow-port outlet300, bow-starboard outlet302, stern-port outlet304, and stern-starboard outlet306may also be altered.

Referring toFIGS.7A,7B, and8, one example of a movable fluid conduit is shown. Referring toFIGS.7A and7B, fluid conduit400includes first conduit portion402which terminates in fluid outlet300and a second conduit portion404which receives fluid from fluid pump220and is fluidly coupled to first conduit portion402to provide fluid to first conduit portion402. First conduit portion402of fluid conduit400is coupled to second conduit portion404of fluid conduit400at a ring406.

A position of ring406is controlled by an actuator408. In a first position of ring406, first conduit portion402directs water in the same direction as fluid conduit310inFIG.3, as shown inFIG.7A. In a second position of ring406, first conduit portion402directs water in the same direction as fluid conduit310inFIG.4, as shown inFIG.7B. By having fluid conduit400be moveable, actuator408is able to provide both the embodiments depicted inFIGS.3and4with a single thruster system. Exemplary actuators408include linkages, gear trains, and other suitable actuation systems.

Referring toFIG.8, an exemplary actuation system is shown. A wheel420includes an aperture which corresponds to ring406. First conduit portion402of fluid conduit400and second conduit portion404of fluid conduit400are secured to the wall of the aperture forming ring406. An actuator408, such as a gear, rotates wheel420to position fluid conduit400. In one embodiment, the position of ring406inFIG.8corresponds to the arrangement of fluid conduit400shown on the right side ofFIG.7. By rotating wheel420one-half revolution, ring406is positioned to correspond to the arrangement of fluid conduit400shown in the left side ofFIG.7.

Referring toFIG.9, another example of a moveable fluid conduit500is shown. Moveable fluid conduit500includes a base502which is coupled to central pontoon124and a ball member504which is rotatable relative to base502. Ball member504includes a fluid passage508through which fluid can pass. In embodiments, fluid conduit500is coupled to central pontoon124and an outlet510of fluid passage508serves as a water outlet of thruster system200.

Referring toFIGS.10-12, ball member504is rotatable by an actuator520to alter a direction that water exits ball member504, as indicated by the arrows. Assuming outlet510corresponds to bow-port outlet300inFIGS.3-5, the position of ball member504inFIG.10results in outlet510directing water in the same direction as bow-port outlet300inFIG.4, the position of ball member504inFIG.11results in outlet510directing water in the same direction as bow-port outlet300inFIG.5, and the position of ball member504inFIG.12results in outlet510directing water in the same direction as bow-port outlet300inFIG.3. Exemplary actuators include linkages, gear trains, and other suitable actuators.

Referring toFIGS.13-16, a cover600for bow-port outlet300is illustrated. Cover600covers bow-port outlet300when thruster system200is not in use. Additional covers600may be provided for the remaining outlets of thruster system200. In the illustrated embodiment, cover600includes a first door602and a second door604. Referring toFIGS.13and14, cover600is shown in a closed position. Referring toFIGS.15and16, cover600is shown in an open position wherein door602is opened to permit fluid to exit fluid conduit310through bow-port outlet300in the direction indicated by the arrow. As illustrated inFIG.16, by having door602open, cover600approximates the arrangement ofFIG.4. If door604is opened and door602remains closed, cover600approximates the arrangement ofFIG.3. If both doors602and604are open, cover600approximates the arrangement ofFIG.5. The opening and closing of each of doors602and604may be controlled through an actuator. Exemplary actuators include linkages, gear trains, and other suitable actuation devices.

Referring toFIGS.17-19, various arrangement of a thruster system700are shown. Each arrangement includes a plurality of fluid conduits702in respective pontoons106. Positioned within each fluid conduit702is a reversible impeller704which may be rotated in a first direction to move water through the respective fluid conduit from a first opening in the pontoon towards a second opening in the pontoon and rotated in a second direction, opposite the first direction, through the respective fluid conduit from the second opening in the pontoon towards the first opening in the pontoon.

Referring toFIG.20B, the arrangement ofFIG.4is illustrated wherein no water is being pushed out of any one of bow-port outlet300, bow-starboard outlet302, stern-port outlet304, and stern-starboard outlet306by thruster system200. Referring toFIG.20A, an exemplary input device, a rotatable dial750, of user interface240is illustrated. Dial750is in an off position which provides an input to controller230to place thruster system200in the condition shown inFIG.20B.

Referring toFIG.21B, the arrangement ofFIG.4is illustrated wherein water is being pushed out of bow-port outlet300and stern-starboard outlet306by thruster system200to rotate pontoon boat100clockwise in direction178. Referring toFIG.21A, dial750is in a full torque right position, rotated 90° in direction752from the off position ofFIG.20A, which provides an input to controller230to place thruster system200in the condition shown inFIG.21B.

Referring toFIG.22B, the arrangement ofFIG.4is illustrated wherein water is being pushed out of bow-starboard outlet302and stern-port outlet304by thruster system200to rotate pontoon boat100counterclockwise in direction176. Referring toFIG.22A, dial750is in a full torque left position, rotated 90° in direction754from the off position ofFIG.20A, which provides an input to controller230to place thruster system200in the condition shown inFIG.21B.

An advantage, among others, for utilizing thruster system200to turn pontoon boat100is that thruster system200can execute a tighter turn than outboard motor170due to bow-port outlet300, bow-starboard outlet302, stern-port outlet304, and stern-starboard outlet306being located within the perimeter149of deck104. One or more of bow-port outlet300, bow-starboard outlet302, stern-port outlet304, and stern-starboard outlet306may be used to move pontoon boat100forward in direction172(seeFIG.3), rearward in direction174(seeFIG.3), laterally towards port in direction173(seeFIG.3), laterally towards starboard in direction175(seeFIG.3), or combinations thereof.

Referring toFIGS.24-27, an exemplary input device, a joystick800, of user interface240is illustrated. Joystick800has a home position (its location illustrated in each ofFIGS.24-27). Joystick800is movable in any one of directions802,804,806, and808or combinations thereof. The direction of movement provides an input to controller230of which outlets300-306of thruster system200should have water pushed out of and the magnitude of the displacement from the home position provides an input to controller230of the volume of water to be pushed out of the respective outlets300-306.

Referring toFIG.24, joystick800is displaced to the location marked by “X”. In this position, controller230pushes water out of stern-starboard outlet306at a first level, pushes water out of stern-port outlet304and bow-starboard outlet302at a second level less than the first level, and pushes no water out of bow-port outlet300. The result is that pontoon boat100moves forward and towards port.

Referring toFIG.25, joystick800is displaced to the location marked by “X”. In this position, controller230pushes water out of stern-port outlet304at a first level, pushes water out of bow-port outlet300and stern-starboard outlet306at a second level less than the first level, and pushes no water out of bow-starboard outlet302. The result is that pontoon boat100moves forward and towards starboard.

Referring toFIG.26, joystick800is displaced to the location marked by “X”. In this position, controller230pushes water out of bow-starboard outlet302at a first level, pushes water out of bow-port outlet300and stern-starboard outlet306at a second level less than the first level, and pushes no water out of stern-port outlet304. The result is that pontoon boat100moves rearward and towards port.

Referring toFIG.27, joystick800is displaced to the location marked by “X”. In this position, controller230pushes water out of bow-port outlet300at a first level, pushes water out of stern-port outlet304and bow-starboard outlet302at a second level less than the first level, and pushes no water out of stern-starboard outlet306. The result is that pontoon boat100moves rearward and towards starboard.

In embodiments, the thruster systems described herein may be used in conjunction with an autonomous system to position or move the boat. Exemplary autonomous systems includes sensors to determine the surroundings of the boat and utilize the thruster systems to move the boat relative to the surroundings.

While this invention has been described as having exemplary designs, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.