Boat control system

Abstract

The boat control system is a propulsion system for controlling the direction of passage of a vessel underway at low speeds. Six thruster nozzles are installed around the hull so that, used individually or in combination, the boat can be maneuvered forward, backward, laterally or turned on its axis. Each impeller is driven by a water-cooled reversible DC electric motor, which allows the thruster apparatus to operate for long periods. In some embodiments, the motors are installed concentrically within their respective thruster ducts, with water flow through the ducts cooling the motors during operation. The system is controlled by a joystick located at the operator's station of the boat.

1 . A boat control system, comprising: 
 at least one thruster duct adapted for installation to a boat, the duct having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, each of the openings being disposed below the boat's static displacement waterline and above the boat's dynamic displacement waterline;    a water-cooled, impeller drive motor disposed generally concentrically within the duct, the motor having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;    an impeller drive shaft extending directly and concentrically from the first end of the motor; and    a thruster impeller disposed directly upon the impeller drive shaft.    
   
   
       2 . The boat control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thruster duct comprises: 
 a laterally disposed bow thruster duct adapted for installation in a bow of the boat;    a laterally disposed stern thruster duct adapted for installation in a stern of the boat; and    a longitudinally disposed stern thruster duct adapted for installation in the stern of the boat.    
   
   
       3 . The boat control system according to  claim 1 , further including: 
 a boat having a hull with a bow portion, a stern portion opposite the bow portion, and a rearwardly disposed transom;    a bow thruster duct disposed laterally through the bow portion of the hull;    a stern thruster duct disposed laterally upon the transom of the hull; and    a longitudinally disposed thruster duct extending rearwardly from the transom of the hull.    
   
   
       4 . The boat control system according to  claim 3 , further including a joystick controller electrically connected to the impeller drive motor in each of the ducts for selectively controlling the motor of each of the thruster ducts.  
   
   
       5 . The boat control system according to  claim 4 , wherein each said motor has an operating speed controlled proportionally by displacement of the joystick.  
   
   
       6 . The boat control system according to  claim 1 , further including: 
 a drive shaft second end extending from the second end of the motor; and    a second impeller disposed upon the drive shaft second end.    
   
   
       7 . The boat control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor is a reversible electric motor.  
   
   
       8 . A boat control system, comprising: 
 a laterally disposed bow thruster duct;    a laterally disposed stern thruster duct;    a longitudinally disposed stern thruster duct, each of the ducts being adapted for installation to a boat, each of the ducts having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, each of the openings being disposed below a static displacement waterline and above a dynamic displacement waterline of the boat;    a water-cooled impeller drive motor disposed generally concentrically within each of the ducts, each of the motors having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;    an impeller drive shaft extending directly and concentrically from the first end of each of the motors; and    a thruster impeller disposed directly upon each of the impeller drive shafts.    
   
   
       9 . The boat control system according to  claim 8 , further including a boat having a hull with a bow portion, a stern portion opposite the bow portion, and a rearwardly disposed transom, the bow thruster duct being disposed laterally through the bow portion of the hull, the stern thruster duct disposed laterally upon the transom of the hull, and the longitudinally disposed thruster duct extending rearwardly from the transom of the hull.  
   
   
       10 . The boat control system according to  claim 8 , further including a joystick controller electrically connected to each of the motors for selectively controlling the motor of each thruster duct.  
   
   
       11 . The boat control system according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the motors has an operating speed controlled proportionally by displacement of the joystick.  
   
   
       12 . The boat control system according to  claim 8 , further including: 
 a drive shaft second end extending from the second end of each said motor; and    a second impeller disposed upon the drive shaft second end.    
   
   
       13 . The boat control system according to  claim 8 , wherein each said motor comprises a reversible electric motor.  
   
   
       14 . A boat and control system therefor, comprising: 
 a boat having a hull with a bow portion, a stern portion opposite the bow portion, and a rearwardly disposed transom;    a bow thruster duct disposed laterally through the bow portion of the hull;    a stern thruster duct disposed laterally upon the transom of the hull;    a longitudinally disposed thruster duct extending rearwardly from the transom of the hull, each of the ducts having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, each of the openings being disposed below a static displacement waterline and above a dynamic displacement waterline of the hull;    a water-cooled impeller drive motor disposed generally concentrically within each of the ducts, each of the motors having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;    an impeller drive shaft extending directly and concentrically from the first end of each of the motors; and    a thruster impeller disposed directly upon each of the impeller drive shafts.    
   
   
       15 . The boat and control system according to  claim 14 , further including a joystick controller electrically connected to the motors for selectively controlling the motor of each of the thruster ducts.  
   
   
       16 . The boat and control system according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the motors has an operating speed controlled proportionally by displacement of the joystick.  
   
   
       17 . The boat and control system according to  claim 14 , further including: 
 a drive shaft second end extending from the second end of each said motor; and    a second impeller disposed upon the drive shaft second end.    
   
   
       18 . The boat and control system according to  claim 14 , wherein each said motor comprises a reversible electric motor.