Navigation device

Claim 2

Navigational device comprising, in combination, a housing supporting a projection screen, means mounted with said housing for supporting a miniature navigational chart, means for projecting an enlargEd image of at least a portion of said chart on said screen and a plurality of line of position indicators each of which has a single linear element to define only a single line of position, means for independently manually rotating said line of position indicators relative to said screen for setting to a desired bearing or heading and means for independently manually translating said line of position indicators relative to said screen while maintaining the set bearing thereof for indicating relative bearing sights.

Claim 3

Navigational device defined in claim 1 wherein such navigational chart comprises a transparency, said chart support means comprises a frame having an aperture therethrough and said means for projecting comprises means for illuminating said chart from one side thereof and multiple magnification lens means disposed between said screen and the other side thereof.

Claim 4

Navigational device defined in claim 2 wherein said multiple magnification lens means comprises a plurality of fixed magnification lens systems mounted in a turret, means manually operable from external of said housing for moving said turret between a plurality of positions, each position thereof disposing one of the lens systems in optical alignment between said chart frame and screen.

Claim 5

Navigation device defined in claim 3 wherein at least one of said lens systems is provided with a comparison reticle for projecting an indication on the screen of the chart area that would be projected by at least one other of said lens systems.

Claim 6

Navigation device defined in claim 3 wherein each of said lens systems is provided with a scale reticle for indicating on said screen the scale of the projected chart.

Claim 7

Navigation device defined in claim 2 wherein said chart support frame is movable relative said housing and wherein there is further provided manually operable means generally external said housing for controlling movement of said chart support frame so that any desired portion of the chart may be centered on said screen.

Claim 8

Navigation device defined in claim 6 wherein said chart support frame is rotatable relative said housing and there is further provided manually operable means for controlling rotation of said chart support frame so that the chart may be properly oriented.

Claim 9

Navigation device defined in claim 2 wherein said chart support frame is rotatably mounted with an inner frame, said inner frame is slidably mounted with an outer frame for movement in a first direction relative said housing and said outer frame is slidably mounted with said housing for movement in a second direction generally perpendicular said first direction together with rotation control means manually operable from externally of said housing for controlling rotation of said chart support frame, inner frame control means manually operable from externally of said housing for controlling movement of said inner frame in said first direction and outer frame control means manually operable from externally of said housing for providing movement of said outer frame in said second direction.

Claim 10

Navigation device defined in claim 8 wherein said outer frame control means comprises a screw having a longitudinal axis extending generally in said second direction rotatable relative said housing, a nut mounted for movement with said outer frame engaged with said screw so that rotation of said screw will provide movement of said outer frame therealong back and forth in said second direction, a shaft extending through said housing, a control knob mounted with the outboard end portion of said shaft and means operably connecting said shaft and said screw so that rotation of said control knob provides rotation of said screw.

Claim 11

Navigation device defined in claim 9 wherein said operable connecting means comprises a plurality of shafts and meshed gears.

Claim 12

Navigation device defined in claim 8 wherein said inner frame control means comprises a screw mounted for rotation relative said outer frame with its longitUdinal axis extending generally in said first direction, a nut mounted for movement with said inner frame control means along said screw, a shaft extending through said screw and keyed thereto for rotation therewith while enabling sliding movement of said screw along said shaft, a pinion gear mounted for rotation with said shaft, a worm engaged with said pinion gear rotatably carried by said outer freame with its longitudinal axis extending in said second direction, a shaft extending through said worm and keyed thereto for rotation therewith while enabling sliding movement of said worm therealong, said shaft being carried by said housing, a control shaft extending outwardly of said housing and provided on its outboard end portion with a control knob and means operatively connecting said control shaft with said second-mentioned shaft so that, upon rotation of said control knob, said second shaft and said worm will rotate regardless of the position of said worm along said second-mentioned shaft to thereby rotate said pinion gear, said first-mentioned shaft and said screw regardless of the position of said screw along said first-mentioned shaft and produce movement of said inner frame in said first-mentioned direction.

Claim 13

Navigation device defined in claim 11 wherein said chart support control means comprises a control knob disposed generally externally of said housing, a control shaft mounted for rotation with said control knob and extending inwardly through said housing, a control gear mounted relative said housing generally interiorly thereof generally adjacent said outer frame and having the rotational axis thereof generally aligned with said second direction, a second shaft rotationally carried by said outer frame with its rotational axis superimposed with the rotational axis of said control gear and extending therethrough, said second shaft being keyed to said control gear for rotation therewith while being yet slidable axially relative thereto, means for operatively connecting said control gear with said control shaft for rotation therefrom, a worm carried by said second shaft for rotation therewith, a pinion gear carried by said outer frame engaged with said worm and having its rotational axis generally perpendicular thereto and extending generally parallel said first direction so as to pass adjacent said inner frame, a third shaft rotationally carried by said inner frame slidably extending through and being keyed to said pinion gear for rotation thereby while being yet slidable relative thereto, a second worm carried by said third shaft for rotation therewith generally adjacent said chart support frame and a ring gear mounted for rotation with said chart support frame engaged with said second worm for rotation thereby.

Claim 14

Navigation device defined in claim 8 further comprising a roll chart adapter mounted with said chart support frame and having a pair of rollers disposed on opposite sides of said aperture for enabling the end portions of a strip form chart transparency to be selectively positioned by rolling onto either said rollers, a bevel gear mounted for rotation with each of said rollers, a mating bevel gear operatively associated with each of said roller bevel gears rotatable generally perpendicular said chart support frame, a pinion gear mounted for rotation with each of said mating bevel gears, one of said pinions extending towards said chart support frame and the other of said pinions extending generally outwardly thereof, a pair of superposed internal ring gears mounted for rotation relative said chart support frame in a pair of planes generally parallel thereto and engaged, respectively, with each of said pinion gears and means for selectively latching each of said ring gears relative said inner frame so that, when latched, rotation of said chart support frame will cause rotation relative that latched ring gear and, thereby, movement of said rollers.

Claim 15

Navigation device defined in claim 13 wherein said ring gear latching means comprises a pair of worm gears carried by said inner frame and mounted for rotation relative thereto generally parallel and adjacent each other and said ring gears, oppositely directed ratchet teeth provided on the outer periphery of each of said ring gears, pawl means carried by each of said worm gears for engagement with a respective one of said sets of ratchet teeth upon rotation of said worm gears in opposite directions, a pair of oppositely threaded worms mounted with a common shaft for rotation therewith and respectively engaged with each of said worm gears and means for rotating said common shaft selectively in either direction to thereby selectively engage a respective one of said pawls with the associated ring gear so that, upon rotation of said common shaft rotating means in a first direction, one of said ring gears will be latched against movement in a first direction and upon rotation of said common shaft rotating means in the opposite direction, the other of said ring gears will be similarly restrained while each of said ring gears will be enabled to rotate without substantial restraint in the opposite direction.

Claim 16

Navigation instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said screen is of generally circular configuration and wherein there are further provided means for movably displaying a compass rose substantially peripherally around said screen in any selected orientation relative thereto and means for indicating a course line on said screen.

Claim 17

Navigation device defined in claim 15 further comprising means for enabling said compass rose to rotate with said screen, means for rotating said screen to maintain orientation with the projected chart and means for moving said compass rose relative said screen to enable setting of variation.

Claim 18

Navigation device defined in claim 16 further comprising means for rotating said chart support comprising, in turn, a rotation control knob extending outwardly of said housing, a control shaft structurally associated with said control knob for rotation therewith extending inwardly of said housing, means operatively connecting said control shaft with said chart support frame to provide selective rotation thereof, a pinion gear carried by said control shaft for rotation therewith and a ring gear mounted with said screen and meshed with said pinion gear to provide rotation of said screen at a rate substantially identical with the rate of rotation of said chart support frame.

Claim 19

Navigation device defined in claim 16 wherein said compass rose comprises an annular ring extending about the periphery of said screen and frictionally connected therewith so as to normally move therewith while yet enabling said screen to move independently thereof when said annular ring is restrained together with means for selectively restraining said rose ring relative said housing.

Claim 20

Navigation device defined in claim 18 wherein said restraining means comprises a pin reciprocable relative said housing disposed generally beneath said compass ring and extendable into engagement therewith, at least one indentation extending upwardly into said compass ring for engagement by said pin to lock said ring relative said housing, and manually operable means structurally associated with said housing and extending generally outwardly thereof for moving said pin into engagement with said indentation.

Claim 21

Navigation device defined in claim 1 wherein each of said line of position indicators comprise a slider, means structurally associating said slider with said housing for straight line movement relative thereto, an elongated rod-like finger or pointer pivotally mounted with said slider for adjustment relative thereto to a desired bearing or direction and extension across said screen and means for indicating the heading or angle to which the indicator is set.

Claim 22

Navigation device defined in claim 20 wherein said heading indicating means comprises a compass rose extending generally peripherally around said screen and means indicating the center thereof so that each of saiD sliders may be slid and the respective pointer rotated so as to cross both the center and the desired bearing marker and then without further rotation of said pointer relative said slider, said slider may be moved to transfer that heading to a desired location of the projected chart.

Claim 23

Navigation device defined in claim 20 wherein said heading indicating means comprises a scale associated with each of said sliders for setting the respective pointer to the desired angle.

Claim 24

Navigation device defined in claim 1 wherein said line of position indicators each comprise a transparent disk having only one line scribed thereacross and means for independently translationally and rotatably supporting each said disk superposed and oriented relative said screen.

Claim 25

Navigation device defined in claim 23 wherein said mounting means comprises a generally rectangular frame having a generally circular aperture with said disk being rotatably disposed within said aperture and a pair of trackways mounted with said housing on opposite sides of said screen so that said frame may be slidably carried therein enabling said disk to be rotated to a desired relative bearing and slidably positioned as desired relative said screen.

Claim 26

Navigation device defined in claim 24 wherein each of said disks comprises a plurality of parallel lines, enabling the relative angle thereof to be set by the central line and transferred to any other desired line.

Claim 27

Navigation device defined in claim 25 further comprising a control knob in peripheral contact with each of said disks and extending generally outwardly of said frame to enable said disk to be rotated at a reduced ration for fine positioning thereof.

Claim 28

Navigation device defined in claim 23 further comprising a control knob adapted to be peripherally engaged with each of said disks to enable said disk to be rotated at a reduced ratio for fine positioning thereof.

Claim 29

Navigation device defined in claim 27 wherein each of said frames is provided with a relatively small control aperture peripherally intersecting said disk aperture and wherein said control knob comprises an enlarged head and a reduced diameter stem, said reduced diameter stem being adapted to be engaged into said control aperture to engage the edge of said disk for rotation thereof and be subsequently removed so that the disk will remain at the desired setting.

Claim 30

Navigation device defined in claim 1 wherein each line of position indicator comprises a light source constructed and arranged to project an elongated line image on said screen, means for enabling rotation of said light source about the optical axis thereof so that the projected line image may be angularly oriented relative said screen and means for enabling movement of said light source to sweep said projected line image across said screen and be thereby positioned as desired relative thereto.

Claim 31

Navigation device defined in claim 1 wherein each line of position indicator comprises a support ring, a light source rotatably carried by said support ring constructed and arranged to project an illuminated line on said screen, means for mounting said support ring with said housing for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis extending generally perpendicular for rotational axis of said light source, means for rotating said light source to orient said illuminated line in substantially any desired angular orientation, and means for pivoting said support ring about said perpendicular axis for sweeping said illuminated line across said screen to substantially any desired position thereon.

Claim 32

Navigation device defined in claim 30 wherein said means for pivoting comprises a worm gear operatively associated with said support ring for rotation therewith, a worm engaged with said worm gear to provide rotation thereof upon rotation of said worm while holding said worm gear against rotation when said worm is not being rotated and means manually operable from generally exteriorly of said housing for rotating

Claim 33

Navigation device defined in claim 31 wherein said support ring mounting means conprises an axle extending generally perpendicularly outwardly thereof, said worm gear is mounted with said axle for rotation therewith and said light source rotation means comprises a first bevel gear mounted with said light source for rotation therewith, a second bevel gear rotationally carried by said axle generally perpendicular and engaged with said first bevel gear, a worm gear rotationally carried by said axle mounted with said second bevel gear for rotation therewith, a worm engaged with said worm gear to provide rotation thereof upon rotation of said worm while holding said worm gear against rotation when said worm is not being rotated and means manually operable from generally exteriorly of said housing for rotating said last-mentioned worm.

Claim 34

Navigation device defined in claim 32 further comprising means for rotating said last-mentioned worm gear during rotation of said first-mentioned worm gear while enabling rotation of said last-mentioned worm gear independently of said first-mentioned worm gear to preclude said first bevel gear from walking about said second bevel gear during such pivotal movement of said light source.

Claim 35

Navigation device defined in claim 33 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises means for supporting said last-mentioned worm while permitting axial movement thereof and means operatively associated with said first-mentioned worm gear for moving said last-mentined worm generally axially generally proportionally the rotation of said first-mentioned worm gear so that said last-mentioned worm gear may rotate similarly to rotation of said first-mentioned worm gear and said bevel gears will remain generally fixedly positioned relative one another.

Claim 36

Navigation device defined in claim 34 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a rack engaged with said first-mentioned worm gear structurally associated with said worm support means for movement therewith.

Claim 37

Navigation device defined in claim 25 wherein said last-mentioned manually operable means comprises a shaft slidably engaged through and keyed to said last-mentioned worm for rotation therewith regardless of the relative axial positions thereof.

Claim 38

Navigation device defined in claim 32 further comprising motor means carried by said support ring for enabling remote rotation of said light source and means for selectively disengaging said light source from said last-mentioned manually operable means.

Claim 39

Navigation device defined in claim 37 wherein said motor means comprises a self-synchronised receiver motor so as to enable said light source to automatically track and be aligned with a self-synchronised transmitter.

Claim 40

Navigation device defined in claim 37 wherein said second-mentioned bevel gear is slidable along said axle and wherein said disengaging means comprises means for sliding said second-mentioned bevel gear along said axle so as to selectively engage and disengage said first and second bevel gears.

Claim 41

Navigation device defined in claim 39 further comprising means manually operable from said generally exteriorly said housing for controlling said bevel gear moving means and switch means controlled by said last-mentioned manually operable means for automatically providing an electric circuit to the associated self-synchronised receiver upon disengagement of said bevel gears.