Autonomous tiller unit for retrofitting a manually driveable outboard

Abstract

An autonomous tiller unit for retrofitting a manually drivable outboard. The autonomous tiller unit includes a helm unit having a drive wheel connected to a transmission that is driven by a helm motor. The helm motor is a bidirectional motor with an output that connects to the transmission. The transmission includes one or more gears that rotate the drive wheel. There is a power connection to the helm unit for supplying power to drive the helm motor. Also, the power connection there is a signal connection to the helm unit to provide one or more control signals to control rotation of the drive wheel. Connected to a portion of the manually driven outboard is an outboard driven wheel. A belt is connected between the drive wheel and the driven wheel. Rotational force of the drive wheel is transferred through the belt to cause rotation of the driven wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An autonomous tiller unit for retrofitting a manually drivable outboard comprising:
 a helm unit having a drive wheel connected to a transmission that is driven by a helm motor;   a power and signal connection to the helm unit for supplying power to drive the helm motor and providing one or more control signals to control rotation of the drive wheel;   a driven wheel,   a belt connected between the drive wheel and the driven wheel, wherein rotational force of the drive wheel is transferred through the belt to cause rotation of the driven wheel.   
     
     
         2 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a helm controller with communication to a navigation system, wherein the helm controller generates and transmits one or more control signals to the helm unit through the signal connection. 
     
     
         3 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 2 , wherein the navigation system is one selected from the group comprising a global positioning satellite communication device, a loran device, a radio wave connection, and Internet connection to a maps website, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 2 , further comprising a belt tensioner connected to the drive wheel, for moving the drive wheel selectively toward or away from the driven wheel in order to adjust the tension on the belt. 
     
     
         5 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 2 , further comprising a belt tensioner including one or more adjustable tension wheels in contact with the belt between the drive wheel and the driven wheel, where in the water more adjustable tension wheels can be adjusted to apply or relieve tension on the belt. 
     
     
         6 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 2 , wherein the helm controller is located in the motor head of the outboard. 
     
     
         7 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is a chain and the driven wheel and the drive wheel have sprockets for engaging with the chain. 
     
     
         8 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 1 , wherein the belt is a V belt, which provides suitable friction between the belt and the driven wheel and the drive wheel. 
     
     
         9 . An autonomous tiller unit for retrofitting a manually drivable outboard comprising:
 an outboard motor with a tiller connection region, a motor head, a midsection, a lower unit having a propeller there is driven by a motor in the motor head;   a mounting bracket for connecting the outboard motor to a watercraft so that the tiller mount and lower unit are able to rotate 360 degrees relative to the mounting bracket,   a helm unit having a drive wheel connected to a transmission that is driven by a helm motor;   a power and signal connection to the helm unit for supplying power to drive the helm motor and providing one or more control signals to control rotation of the drive wheel;   a driven wheel,   a belt connected between the drive wheel and the driven wheel, wherein rotational force of the drive wheel is transferred through the belt to cause rotation of the driven wheel, and   wherein the helm unit is connectable to the tiller mount, wherein the driven wheel is connectable to one of the midsection or the motor head and rotation of the driven wheel causes the motor head and the lower unit to rotate.   
     
     
         10 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 9 , further comprising a helm controller with communication to a navigation system, wherein the helm controller generates and transmits one or more control signals to the helm unit through the signal connection. 
     
     
         11 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 10 , wherein the navigation system is one selected from the group comprising a global positioning satellite communication device, a loran device, a radio wave connection, and Internet connection to a maps website, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 10 , further comprising a belt tensioner connected to the drive wheel, for moving the drive wheel selectively toward or away from the driven wheel in order to adjust the tension on the belt. 
     
     
         13 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 10 , further comprising a belt tensioner including one or more adjustable tension wheels in contact with the belt between the drive wheel and the driven wheel, where in the water more adjustable tension wheels can be adjusted to apply or relieve tension on the belt. 
     
     
         14 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 10 , wherein the helm controller is located in the motor head of the outboard. 
     
     
         15 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 9 , wherein the belt is a chain and the driven wheel and the drive wheel have sprockets for engaging with the chain. 
     
     
         16 . The autonomous tiller unit of  claim 9 , wherein the belt is a V belt, which provides suitable friction between the belt and the driven wheel and the drive wheel.