Felton flyer

Abstract

An electronic Control system for controlling a water vessel in regards to its propulsion, and thrust vectors and its steering. A helm wheel that has an electronic output that governs the steerage of a water vessel. The control system determines the reactive speed and number of turns needed to accomplish a given turn, this pre-selected speed and distance traveled gives the rudder two different sets of parameters for full rotation of the Helm wheel from full rudder to the Port to full rudder to the starboard The rudder or outboard motor has a sensor that gives the control system information by way of a variable voltage as to its direction and where the rudder is parked. The steering actuator has a dual motor set up that supply's enough power and torque to control the steering cable and slide bar of three outboard engines. The Control system's other input is a joystick controller, its output governs the direction of the propulsion of the watercraft in either a forward direction or Aft or reverse direction and in the same movement the throttle will ramp up in rpm's proportionately. The operators movement of the joystick controller determines this control command. The joystick in its y-axis has built in friction forces that enable it to stay where the operator moves it.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A boat of the type driven by a propeller propulsion system.
 a outboard drive with a propeller Producing propulsion to move the boat forward or in a reverse fashion, the motor acts as a rudder directing a flow of water generally along the longitudinal axis of the boat,   the rudder or outboard motor being capable to rotation about generally vertical axis to provide left and right sideward forces on the boat, and A transmission shift and throttle levers for engaging the transmission in its forward or it reverse gear, and a lever for increasing or decreasing the throttle. A helm wheel that is rotated to its full right and to its full left having as its mechanical mover a clutch disc, that has an applied force internally to the wheels center support shaft, thus allowing the feel of forces that would naturally be felt if the wheels mechanical output were causing effectors to move a rudder or an outboard engine.   The output of this mechanical shaft is coupled to a potentiometer and use as a voltage divider.   A rudder position sensor connected to the rudder and affixed to drive mechanism. So that full travel of the rudder will be proportionate to the sensors full travel.   
     
     
         2 . a boat from  claim 1  further comprising a joystick control member connected electrically to the electrical control circuit, the stick control member having a neutral position, at least one forward position, and at least one reverse position, and the electrical circuit and position sensor being configured so that when the stick control member is placed in the neutral position the drive mechanism moves the transmissions to their respective neutral position and the throttle to their respective idle positions. 
     
     
         3 . The boat of  claim 2  wherein the stick control member has a friction force applied to the mechanism that arrest the movement whenever the operator lets goes of it, in the Y-axis. 
     
     
         4 . The boat of  claim 2  or  3  further comprising a rudder or an outboard motor mechanism connected to the rudder and electrically controlled by the electrical control circuit, wherein the helm wheel control member of  claim 1  is configured to rotate about a generally vertical axis, and wherein the electrical control circuitry and rudder drive mechanism are configured so that rotation of the helm wheel produces rotation of the rudder or an outboard motor and sideward forces on the boat. 
     
     
         5 . the boat of  claim 1  further comprising of a drive mechanism that when controlled by the electrical control circuit of  claim 1  produces forces to effect the movement of a mechanical cable drive assembly whose output is connected to a rudder or an outboard motor that has a rotation full left or full right rudder. This mechanical drive mechanism of  claim 4  employs two dc electric high efficient motors whose output shafts are fitted with sprockets and they are coupled together by a ½ inch chain assembly thus a combined horsepower for usable power. The mechanical drive produces enough force to effect the movement of several rudders or outboards of various sizes. 
     
     
         6 . The boat of  claim 1  wherein the helm wheel has a mechanical rotation of approximately three quarter turns to its full right rotation from its center and three quarter rotation turns to its full left from its center of rotation position. 
     
     
         7 . The boat of  claim 1  wherein the electrical control circuit of  claim 2  determines the lock to lock circuitry output, this effects the helm wheels mechanical turns compared to the actual movement the rudder or outboard motor of  claims 1  &  5 . This two stage circuit has employed two different sets of adjustable parameters that determine the range of actual travel of the rudder or outboard motor compared to the actual distance traveled by the turning of the helm wheel from full right rudder to full left rudder or full turns of the helm wheel from full right to full left turn. as seen in  FIG. 1   35 , 36 , 37 , 38  This lock to lock configuration has two selectable and adjustable parameters that change the ratio of the turning ratio of the helm wheel compared to the actual distance traveled by the rudder or outboard. The turning of the helm wheel of  claim 1  will be followed by a direct response of the electrical control circuitry it then gives the command to the mechanical drive mechanism of  claim 5  that will proportionally follow its lead. 
     
     
         8 . the boat of  claim 1  further comprising of an electrical control circuit that controls all functions of the total system and accepts inputs from the joystick of  claim 2  and helm wheel electronic output of  claim 1 . An external feedback sensor is also fed into the control circuit. This electrical control circuit is that of analog circuitry, consisting of analog logic circuitry that facilitates its decision making device. 
     
     
         9 . the boat of  claim 1 or  2  wherein the mechanical drive mechanism of  claim 5  has employed a feedback sensor of the potentiometer type and it is used as a voltage divider to signal to the electrical control circuitry of  claim 8  the exact position of the rudder or outboard motor in its respective travel. 
     
     
         10 . The boat of  claim 1  further comprising of a standard cable steering transmission that is coupled to the mechanical drive mechanism of  claim 4 ,  7 ,  8  So that the total horsepower of the drive unit can be utilized to drive the cable transmission, that will drive the mechanical cable actuator that is attached to the rudder or outboard motor assembly. 
     
     
         11 . the boat of  claims 1  &  2  further comprising of a dc actuator that is connected to the electrical control circuit of  claim 8 , this dc actuator follows the command of the Joystick controller of  claim 2  and provides mechanical cable outputs that drive the shift and throttle of the outboard or inboard motors. 
     
     
         12 . The boat of  claim 1  is further comprising of a single axis joystick fitted with a potentiometer that is used as a voltage divider to supply a command signal to the electrical control circuit of  claim 8  the output of the electrical control circuit is directly connected the dc actuator of  claim 11  to effect the movements of both the throttle and shift of an outboard motor or an inboard motor and transmission by way of the dc actuators mechanical cable for throttle and its mechanical cable for shift. 
     
     
         13 . the boat of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  further comprising of a auxiliary input port in to the electrical control circuit of  claim 8  this input port has at its jack pins that allow access to inputs to the mode switching circuitry and to logic circuitry of  claim 8  that both effect the steering and throttle and shift circuitry. 
     
     
         14 . the boat of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  8 ,  13  wherein the auxiliary input port of  claim 13  is an access port to the control circuitry of  claim 8 & 13  a hand held control device which contains mode switching button switches and a knob wheel type that serves as the function of helm wheel while plugged in to the port of  claim 13 , and a slider control to serve as the function of the joystick, these two controls while plugged in to the auxiliary input port will control the boat in the same fashion of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  12 , whereas the operator can drive the boat with full control from anywhere aboard the vessel or on shore as docking the vessel. This hand held device carries out its commands by an umbilical cord cable with a connector at its end or by a wireless connection into both can be plugged into the port of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         15 . The boat of  claim 1  further comprising of the hand held control devise of  claim 14  that upon it being plugged in sends a signal to the electrical controller circuit of  claim 8  to disable the control station and all functions of the joystick of  claim 12  and the helm wheel of  claims 1  &  7  and enable the hand held control device for total control. 
     
     
         16 . a boat of the type driven by a propeller such as an outboard or inboard motor comprising A helm wheel for steering the rudder or outboard and directing the flow of water generally along the longitudinal axis of the boat, the rudder or outboard motor being capable of rotation about a generally vertical axis to provide left and right sideward forces to the boat and A joystick controls the throttle and shift.
 A control panel, comprising of switches that will switch modes and hold the joystick. An electrical control circuit, that and carries out all control commands.   A mechanical drive mechanism that delivers high torque power to the rotation of the rudder or outboard motor. A hand held control device that will control the vessel remotely.   
     
     
         17 . The boat of  claim 1  &  2  wherein this system controls the steering, throttle, shift of any outboard or inboard propulsion systems including any outboard conversion to jet propulsion, its nozzle and deflector thrust assemblies. Utilizing the drive unit of  claim 5 ,  7 ,  11  to facilitate this type of control to a converted outboard drive assembly to that of a Jet propulsion assembly. The nozzle and deflector of this conversion assembly is controlled by the mechanical drive mechanism and the dc actuator.