Patent US3756188A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3756188A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Boat steering and reversing system
Assignee: Wolverine Pentronix Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-01
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1992-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A system for controlling the forward and reverse operation of a boat having a propulsion unit which is rotated to provide normal steering of the boat. Included is a mechanism for providing a rapid rotated of the propulsion unit through a turn of approximately one-half circle to redirect the force of propulsion forwardly and thus provide reversal of the boat. The mechanism includes operating elements operatively connected to and controlled at the steering wheel itself for providing the changeover between forward and reverse operation.
Inventors
- 👤 J Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:59
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H25/00; B63H25/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
In a boat having a propulsion unit mounted on it and rotatable about a substantially vertical drive axis for steering the boat, a steering control means, a connecting means coupled between said steering control means and said unit for turning it for normal steering, and a reverse control means operatively connected to said propulsion unit for rotating it rapidly through a substantially 180* turn to provide for changeover between forward and reverse operation of the boat, said reverse control means operatively mounted on said steering control means and actuable independently of said steering control means for providing the changeover between forward and reverse operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a boat having a propulsion unit mounted on it and rotatable about a substantially vertical drive axis for steering the boat, a steering control means, a connecting means coupled between said steering control means and said unit for turning it for normal steering, and a reverse control means operatively connected to said propulsion unit for rotating it rapidly through a substantially 180* turn to provide for changeover between forward and reverse operation of the boat, said reverse control means operatively mounted on said steering control means and actuable independently of said steering control means for providing the changeover between forward and reverse operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reverse control means comprises a first gear mounted on said steering means, a second gear means engageable with said first gear and operably coupled to said connecting means, and a reversing control lever operatively connected with said gears for changing their positions one relative to the other and thereby rotating said propulsion unit through said turn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first gear comprises a ring gear fixed to said steering means and wherein said second gear means comprises a set of planetary gears having their teeth engageable with said ring gear and arcuately displaceable relative to it during said turn.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second gear means further includes a sun gear having its teeth continuously engageable with said planetary gears, said steering means mounted on a steering shaft and said sun gear fixed proximate the upper end of said steering shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
120 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said steering means comprises a steering shaft and a steering wheel fixed to said shaft, wherein said first gear comprises a ring gear mounted on said wheel, wherein said second gear means comprises a set of planetary gears having teeth engageable with the teeth of said ring gear, wherein a sun gear pinion is mounted on the upper end of said shaft having its teeth engageable with said planetary gear teeth, and wherein a second pinion gear is mounted on said steering shaft at a point spaced from said sun gear for driving engagement with a rack gear to provide a predetermined movement of said connecting means and said propulsion unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes a steering cable, said cable having a rack gear connected at its forward end, said steering means further having a pinion gear fixed to it for rotation therewith, said pinion gear having its teeth in mesh with the teeth of said rack for turning said propulsion unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein a reversing lever is operably coupled to said planetary gear set to provide its displacement relative to said ring gear to provide said propulsion unit turn.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a boat having a propulsion unit mounted on it and rotatable about a substantially vertical axis for steering the boat, a rotatable steering wheel, a steering cablE connected between said steering wheel and said propulsion unit for rotating it for normal steering, and a control mechanism operatively connected to said propulsion unit for rotating it rapidly through a substantially 180* turn to provide changeover between forward and reverse operation, said mechanism including a reverse control means operably mounted on said steering wheel and manually rotatable a predetermined arcuate distance about the axis of said steering wheel, said last mentioned means coupled to said steering cable for providing said turn.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a boat having a propulsion unit mounted on it and rotatable about a substantially vertical axis for steering the boat, a rotatable steering wheel, a steering cablE connected between said steering wheel and said propulsion unit for rotating it for normal steering, and a control mechanism operatively connected to said propulsion unit for rotating it rapidly through a substantially 180* turn to provide changeover between forward and reverse operation, said mechanism including a reverse control means operably mounted on said steering wheel and manually rotatable a predetermined arcuate distance about the axis of said steering wheel, said last mentioned means coupled to said steering cable for providing said turn.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said steering wheel is mounted on a shaft, said shaft rotatable independently of said steering wheel to rotate said unit, and wherein said control means comprises a fluid actuator device connected to said shaft for providing its rotation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said actuator device comprises a rotary operated fluid motor, said motor having a vane operable between two spaced stops mounted on said steering wheel for providing changeover between the forward and reverse operation of the propulsion unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein the rotative movement of said shaft is communicated to said steering cable and to said propulsion unit through a pinion fixed to said shaft and a rack gear in mesh with said pinion and coupled to the forward end of said cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said propulsion unit includes a motor driven propeller mounted on said propulsion unit and swivelable therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a boat having a propulsion unit mounted on it and rotatable about an upstanding axis for steering the boat, a rotatable steering wheel, a connecting means coupled between said steering wheel and said propulsion unit for rotating it for normal steering, and a control means operatively connected to said propulsion unit for rotating it rapidly through substantially a half circle turn to provide for a reversal of the boat drive, said control means comprising a detent lever mounted on said steering wheel and operably coupled to said connecting means for providing a predetermined rotation of said propulsion unit independently of the rotation of said steering wheel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a boat having a propulsion unit mounted on it and rotatable about an upstanding axis for steering the boat, a rotatable steering wheel, a connecting means coupled between said steering wheel and said propulsion unit for rotating it for normal steering, and a control means operatively connected to said propulsion unit for rotating it rapidly through substantially a half circle turn to provide for a reversal of the boat drive, said control means comprising a detent lever mounted on said steering wheel and operably coupled to said connecting means for providing a predetermined rotation of said propulsion unit independently of the rotation of said steering wheel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a boat having a propulsion unit mounted on it and rotatable about a substantially vertical axis for steering the boat, a rotatable steering wheel, a steering cable connected between said steering wheel and said propulsion unit for rotating it for normal steering, and a control means operatively connected to said propulsion unit for rotating it rapidly through a turn of substantially 180* to provide a reversal of the boat drive, said control means comprising an electrically operated means mounted on said steering wheel and operable to rotate independently of said steering wheel and displace said cable a predetermined amount to provide said turn to provide the changeover between forward and reverse operation of the boat.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a boat having a propulsion unit mounted on it and rotatable about a substantially vertical axis for steering the boat, a rotatable steering wheel, a steering cable connected between said steering wheel and said propulsion unit for rotating it for normal steering, and a control means operatively connected to said propulsion unit for rotating it rapidly through a turn of substantially 180* to provide a reversal of the boat drive, said control means comprising an electrically operated means mounted on said steering wheel and operable to rotate independently of said steering wheel and displace said cable a predetermined amount to provide said turn to provide the changeover between forward and reverse operation of the boat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said electrically operated means comprises the armature of a torque motor, said torque motor further having its field operatively connected to and controlling the direction of movement of said armature and the movement of said steering cable, and a switching means for reversing the polarity across said motor field.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said steering wheel is coupled to a steering shaft and said electrically operated means is fixed to said shaft and movable between a pair of spaced stops mounted on said steering wheel to provide said turn.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said wheel is mounted on a steering shaft, said shaft having a pinion gear mounted on it and a toothed rack engageable with the teeth of said pinion gear and attached to one end of said cable for providing the required movement of said steering cable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |