Transducer mount for trolling motor

Abstract

A transducer mounting assembly includes a trolling motor including a shaft mounting a propulsion unit, and a transducer mount mounting a transducer on the trolling motor. The propulsion unit is oriented by rotation of the shaft, and the transducer mount is actuatable to orient the transducer independent of rotation of the shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transducer mounting assembly comprising:
 a trolling motor including a shaft mounting a propulsion unit, wherein the propulsion unit is oriented by rotation of the shaft;   a transducer mount mounting a transducer on the trolling motor; and   wherein the transducer mount is actuatable to orient the transducer independent of rotation of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The transducer mounting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to control actuation of the transducer mount to orient the transducer. 
     
     
         3 . The transducer mounting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the transducer mount to counteract rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The transducer mounting assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a user interface in communication with the controller. 
     
     
         5 . The transducer mounting assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to control movement of the transducer mount such that the transducer stays facing towards a target selected by a user via the user interface regardless of rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The transducer mounting assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to control movement of the transducer mount such that the transducer stays facing towards a direction selected by a user via the user interface regardless of rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The transducer mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer mount includes a motor driving actuation of the transducer mount. 
     
     
         8 . The transducer mounting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the transducer mount is integrated into the propulsion unit. 
     
     
         9 . The transducer mounting assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the propulsion unit includes a propulsor motor driving a propulsor, a first compartment containing the propulsor motor, and a second compartment containing the transducer motor. 
     
     
         10 . The transducer mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer mount includes at least one sleeve radially surrounding the shaft of the trolling motor. 
     
     
         11 . A transducer mount comprising:
 at least one sleeve configured to radially surround a shaft of a trolling motor;   wherein the transducer mount is configured to mount a transducer;   wherein the transducer mount is actuatable to orient the transducer independent of rotation of the shaft.   
     
     
         12 . The transducer mount of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sleeve includes an inner sleeve configured to non-rotatably engage with the shaft, and a drive sleeve radially surrounding and the inner sleeve and rotatable about the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The transducer mount of  claim 12 , further comprising a motor, the motor configured to drive the drive sleeve to rotate about the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The transducer mount of  claim 12 , wherein the drive sleeve is a first drive sleeve, and further comprising a second drive sleeve radially surrounding the inner sleeve, wherein the second drive sleeve is configured to translate relative to the inner sleeve in a direction along the shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The transducer mount of  claim 12 , further comprising an orientation arm mounted to the outside of the drive sleeve, wherein the orientation arm is configured to mount the transducer. 
     
     
         16 . The transducer mount of  claim 15 , wherein the orientation arm is actuatable to orient a facing direction of the transducer about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis, the horizontal axis generally orthogonal to the shaft, and the vertical axis orthogonal to the horizontal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The transducer mount of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to control actuation of the transducer mount to orient the transducer. 
     
     
         18 . The transducer mount of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the transducer mount to counteract rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The transducer mount of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to control movement of the transducer mount such that the transducer stays facing towards a target or a direction selected by a user regardless of rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The transducer mount of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer mount is configured to removably attach to the shaft.