Manoeuvring system for watercraft

Abstract

The invention relates to two maneuvering systems ( 5 ), each of which is located in a housing ( 11 ) and which are placed as far apart from each other as possible on the stern ( 10 ) in order to this enable a watercraft to be moved precisely on the longitudinal axis (LA), laterally, forward/backward and on the vertical axis (HA). By means of a modified throttle and gear lever of the main engines ( 2 ), referred to as a manipulator ( 8 ), which is coupled with the functions of the maneuvering systems ( 5 ) and, with the integration of the steering wheel ( 7 ), all of the maneuvering functions and driving modes can be carried out and automated or act in a supportive capacity by means of the controller ( 9 ), or the manual incorporation of the main engines ( 2 ) can be permitted at any time by means of an actuator ( 25 b ).

1 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ),
 characterized in that the maneuvering system ( 5 ) is mounted in the longitudinal direction to the longitudinal axis (LA) of the hull ( 1 ) and behind the main engines ( 2 ) or propeller ( 4 ) and is supported in a housing ( 11 ) or in a tunnel housing ( 18 ) and controlled by a manipulator ( 8 ) and a controller ( 9 ), and a flap ( 37 ) is mounted on the housing ( 11 ) or on the hull ( 1 ), or the maneuvering propeller ( 20 ) has an operating cylinder ( 39 ).   
     
     
         2 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the two maneuvering systems ( 5 ) and the main engine or main engines ( 2 ) can be controlled individually or jointly by means of the singular manipulator ( 8 ).   
     
     
         3 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the manipulator ( 8 ) and the steering wheel ( 7 ) predetermines [sic] the nominal value with respect to the maneuvering and driving speed and the thrust direction, and the controller ( 9 ) forwards the control commands to the hydraulic pump ( 32 ) and valve control ( 33 ) [sic] the nozzle ( 16 ) or control flap ( 21 ) and thrust reversal flap ( 17 ).   
     
     
         4 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that a function button ( 28 ) is arranged on the lever ( 26 ) and, in coordination with the steering wheel ( 7 ), the hull ( 1 ) rotates in the direction of rotation of the steering wheel ( 7 ) about the vertical axis (HA) and the angle of rotation of the steering wheel ( 7 ) influences the speed of the motor ( 12 ).   
     
     
         5 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that, upon full acceleration of the watercraft in a predefined engine speed window of the motor ( 12 ) or speed window of the hull ( 1 ), the maneuvering system ( 5 ) and the main engines ( 2 ) work together; below a predefined engine speed of the motor ( 12 ) or speed of the hull ( 1 ) and/or time interval, only the maneuvering system[s] ( 5 ) are active and, in an emergency, one main engine ( 2 ) and one maneuvering system ( 5 ) work together, and the switching into another mode occurs automatically, or the main engines ( 2 ) are actuated by actuating the actuator ( 25   b ).   
     
     
         6 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the steering command at the steering wheel ( 7 ) takes precedence over the command of the gyro sensor ( 36 ).   
     
     
         7 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the lever ( 26 ) regulates the engine speed and reversal of up to several main engines ( 2 ) and maneuvering systems ( 5 ) by means of the longitudinal movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis (LA) of the hull ( 1 ) and, by means of the transverse movement of the lever ( 26 ), the main direction and speed of the parallel sideways travel is controlled, and fine controlling is performed by means of the steering wheel ( 7 ) or automatically by means of the gyro sensor ( 36 ).   
     
     
         8 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the housing ( 11 ) or the tunnel housing ( 18 ) is attached to the stern ( 10 ) and has a stepped bottom ( 19 ), and/or that the housing ( 11 ) can be tilted or folded up by means of operating cylinders and a pivot bearing ( 29 ) and the trim button ( 25   a ) and/or the attachment to the stem ( 10 ) has a sound- and vibration-damping effect.   
     
     
         9 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that two maneuvering systems ( 5 ) are respectively mounted on the stern ( 10 ) and, between those, one or two propellers ( 4 ) are active and the maneuvering system ( 5 ) constitutes a jet or propeller drive.   
     
     
         10 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the housing ( 11 ) or the tunnel housing ( 18 ) generates a static and/or dynamic buoyancy.   
     
     
         11 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the motor ( 12 ), the shaft ( 13 ) and the impeller ( 14 ) or the maneuvering propeller ( 20 ) are rigidly or elastically supported on the bottom ( 23 ) and/or the thrust (S, SS) occurs by means of the nozzle ( 16 ) or control flap ( 21 ) and the thrust reversal flap ( 17 ).   
     
     
         12 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that, starting at a speed of the hull ( 1 ), the flap ( 37 ) closes the inlet ( 38 ) or the water flow at the inlet ( 38 ) is diverted by or the maneuvering propeller ( 20 ) is raised.   
     
     
         13 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the direction of rotation of the motor ( 12 ) can be reversed, and a flap ( 37 ) can be mounted at the inlet ( 38 ) of the tube ( 15 ).   
     
     
         14 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the motor ( 12 ) is operated by a power unit ( 6 ) mounted in the hull ( 1 ) and operates electrically or hydraulically or by means of a combustion system.   
     
     
         15 . Maneuvering system ( 5 ) as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 characterized in that the combustion engine removes its combustion air from the interior of the hull ( 1 ).