Patent EP0104002A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3611977A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3611977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and apparatus for automatically steered towed vessels
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-12-03
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1989-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A system and apparatus for automatically steering vessels under tow by employment of forces transmitted through tow cables that operatively connect a vessel being towed with its towing vessel so that the towed vessel travels substantially in the path of the towing vessel, by automatic rudder changes at various turning speeds to accommodate for changes in course while being towed. The tow cables from the towing vessel are operatively connected on the towed vessel to a towing and steering mechanism that allows the cables to effect rotation and/or translation of a pinion mechanism that is operatively connected to and controlled by a rudder turning means to effect turning of the rudder or rudders on the towed vessel when changes in course are required.
Inventors
- 👤 Inge Gordon Mosvold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:46
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/56; B63B21/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for automatically steering seagoing towed vessels comprising: towing means adapted to connect a towing vessel to the vessel to be towed; translation and rotation means positioned on said towed vessel adapted to be operatively connected to said towing means for providing translational and rotational movement, said translational movement produced from changes in force applied to said towing means by off-course tracking and said rotational movement produced from changes in force applied to said towing means by surging; and ruddersteering means positioned on said towed vessel and operatively connected to said translation and rotation means, said ruddersteering means movable to and from zero rudder turning positions only by said translational movement.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for automatically steering seagoing towed vessels comprising: towing means adapted to connect a towing vessel to the vessel to be towed; translation and rotation means positioned on said towed vessel adapted to be operatively connected to said towing means for providing translational and rotational movement, said translational movement produced from changes in force applied to said towing means by off-course tracking and said rotational movement produced from changes in force applied to said towing means by surging; and ruddersteering means positioned on said towed vessel and operatively connected to said translation and rotation means, said ruddersteering means movable to and from zero rudder turning positions only by said translational movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said towing means is a bridle means having aft extensions operatively connecteD to said translation and rotation means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said rotation and translation means includes a set of dual independently slidable racks for translating and rotating a pinion therebetween; the aft end of one extension of the bridle means is attached to one rack and the aft end of the other extension of the bridle means is attached to the other rack, and the pinion is operatively connected to and rotatable in said rudder steering means, whereby changes in force produced by off-course tracking applied to said aft extensions cause said racks to slidably move to produce translational movement of said pinion, and changes in force produced by surging applied to said aft extensions cause said pinion to rotate with said translational and rotational motion cooperating to maintain said towed vessel on a tracking course with its towing vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which biasing means are operatively connected to said slidable racks to aid in returning said rudder-steering means to zero rudder turning position when the towed vessel has been returned to its tracking course.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which said bridle aft extensions form therebetween an included angle of from about 5* to about 10*.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which a buffering means is operatively connected between said towing means and said rotation and translation means for damping the forces produced in said towing means so that a smooth transmission of said force to said rotation and translation means is accomplished.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which said buffering means is spring actuated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said rudder-steering means includes a plurality of rudders which operate in unison and are operatively connected to said rotation and translation means for effecting steering of said towed vessel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for automatically steering seagoing towed vessels comprising: towing means adapted to connect a towing vessel to the vessel to be towed; translation and rotation means positioned on said towed vessel adapted to be operatively connected to said towing means for providing translational and rotational movement, said translational movement produced from changes in force applied to said towing means by off-course tracking and said rotational movement produced from changes in force applied to said towing means by surging; rudder-steering means positioned on said towed vessel and operatively connected to said translation and rotation means, said rudder-steering means movable to and from a zero rudder turning position by said translational movement when said towed vessel is off the course of said towing vessel; and means operably connected to said translation and rotation means for providing fast translation movement from said zero rudder turning position for a portion of the movement of said rudder turning, slow translation of said rudder turning during further turning, and fast translation to return said rudder-steering means towards said zero rudder turning position.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for automatically steering seagoing towed vessels comprising: towing means adapted to connect a towing vessel to the vessel to be towed; translation and rotation means positioned on said towed vessel adapted to be operatively connected to said towing means for providing translational and rotational movement, said translational movement produced from changes in force applied to said towing means by off-course tracking and said rotational movement produced from changes in force applied to said towing means by surging; rudder-steering means positioned on said towed vessel and operatively connected to said translation and rotation means, said rudder-steering means movable to and from a zero rudder turning position by said translational movement when said towed vessel is off the course of said towing vessel; and means operably connected to said translation and rotation means for providing fast translation movement from said zero rudder turning position for a portion of the movement of said rudder turning, slow translation of said rudder turning during further turning, and fast translation to return said rudder-steering means towards said zero rudder turning position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which a buffering means is operatively connected between said towing means and said rotation and translation means for damping the forces produced in said towing means so that a smooth transmission of said force to said rotation and translation means is accomplished.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said towing means have aft extensions operatively connected to said translation and rotation means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the ratio of the fast rudder turning to the slow rudder turning is from about 2:1 to about 5:1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the ratio of fast rudder turning to slow rudder turning is 2:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said rudder-steering means has means thereon for adjusting from one ratio to another to effect said fast and slow rudder turning positions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said fast rudder turning Is through an arc of from about 2* to about 8* and said total rudder turning is through an arc of from about 10* to about 30* from zero to full rudder turning position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said rudder-steering means employs a plurality of rudders that are responsive, in unison, to the movement of said translation means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
348 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said translation and rotation means includes first and second independently slidable racks in geared relationship to a first pinion positioned on a pinion shaft, each one of said racks attached to one of the aft extension of said towing means; a second pinion positioned on said pinion shaft and positioned above said first and second racks, said second pinion free to rotate on said shaft and translatable when said first and second racks are moved; carriage means positioned over said first pinion having its travel parallel to the travel of said first and second slidable racks, said carriage means having an elongates slot therein with said second pinion positioned in its center when said rudder steering means is at zero turning position, and permitting said second pinion to translate in the slot to and from zero turning position; a third rack in fixed position with said carriage means operatively geared to said second pinion; a fourth rack slidable in said carriage means and operatively geared to said second pinion, means connecting said fourth rack with said rudder-steering means for effecting rudder positioning when said fourth rack is translated; carriage locking means for holding said carriage means in fixed position during said translation of said second gear in said slot by the movement of said first and second racks; and means for unlocking said carriage means when said second gear is at an end portion of said slot to allow said carriage means to be translated by translational movement of said second pinion, said translation of said carriage being geared to translate slower than said second pinion when turning on said third fixed rack, whereby said fourth rack is translated faster during translation of said second pinion in said slot than when the pinion is translating by movement of said carriage means to cause the rudder-steering means to turn fast during the first portion of its turning, slow during the final portion of its turning and then fast to return it towards zero rudder turning position after course correction has been made.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which said carriage means has biasing means to effect smooth movement of said carriage means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which said carriage biasing means centers said carriage means after said pinion is returned toward zero rudder turning position after said rudder steering means has effected course correction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which said carriage means has means for centering said slot to position said second pinion at the center thereof after said rudder means is returned to zero rudder turning position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which said aft extensions form therebetween an included angle of from about 5* to about 10*.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which said towing means are cables.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which said first and second racks are biased to effect a smooth translation movement.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which said first pinion produces rotation when equal forces are transferred to said first and second racks.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
126 words
The method of correcting the off-course tracking of seagoing towed vessels which comprises: transmitting changes in force produced in the towing means by off-course tracking to the stern of a towed vessel; amplifying said changes in forces and transferring them into translational and rotational motion; and moving a rudder steering means in response to said translational motion by first dividing the translational motion for effecting corrective steering into a fast portiOn and a slow portion, said fast portion first produced in an arc of rudder turning positions from zero rudder turning position, and said slow portion in the remainder of rudder turning positions until corrective steering is accomplished and then producing a fast rudder turning towards zero rudder turning position after the correction has been made.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
126 words
The method of correcting the off-course tracking of seagoing towed vessels which comprises: transmitting changes in force produced in the towing means by off-course tracking to the stern of a towed vessel; amplifying said changes in forces and transferring them into translational and rotational motion; and moving a rudder steering means in response to said translational motion by first dividing the translational motion for effecting corrective steering into a fast portiOn and a slow portion, said fast portion first produced in an arc of rudder turning positions from zero rudder turning position, and said slow portion in the remainder of rudder turning positions until corrective steering is accomplished and then producing a fast rudder turning towards zero rudder turning position after the correction has been made.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for steering a series of connected towed vessels which comprises connecting a plurality of vessels to be towed in tandem one to another and to a towing vessel by a towing means that provides a pair of tow extensions to the vessel being towed, each of the towed vessels in the series having rudder turning means operatively connected to a translation and rotation means, said translation and rotation means providing rudder turning from zero rudder turning position that is faster during a portion of its turning than the rudder turning during a latter portion thereof and then fast return rudder turning towards zero rudder turning position so that off-tracking of any one of the towed vessels actuates its translation and rotation means to effect rudder changes to bring the towed vessel that is off course back on course.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for steering a series of connected towed vessels which comprises connecting a plurality of vessels to be towed in tandem one to another and to a towing vessel by a towing means that provides a pair of tow extensions to the vessel being towed, each of the towed vessels in the series having rudder turning means operatively connected to a translation and rotation means, said translation and rotation means providing rudder turning from zero rudder turning position that is faster during a portion of its turning than the rudder turning during a latter portion thereof and then fast return rudder turning towards zero rudder turning position so that off-tracking of any one of the towed vessels actuates its translation and rotation means to effect rudder changes to bring the towed vessel that is off course back on course.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US394174A
Cited
US1968577A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |