GB510873A - An improved automatic boat piloting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

510,873. Automatic steering gear, DUNAJEFF, L. A. Jan. 7, 1938, No. 519.. [Class 114] Steering gear for piloting a boat upon a predetermined zig-zag course includes an electric controller operated by a contact bar supported over the contact point on the compass and a number of distance determining counters brought successively into operation to set the contact bar in new positions. The rudder 32 is actuated by an electric motor 27 the controller 25 thereof being connected by leads 24 with insulated contact rings 17 and thence by leads 19, 22, 23 with a contact 2 on the compass and contacts 20, 21 respectively on a bar 6. A motor 66 is driven under the control of tubes 71, 72 so as to measure the speed and distance run by the boat, and rotates through gearing 48, 65 a spindle 40. A series of such spindles 40 is carried by a plate 44 which is rotatable by a spring 62 in steps to, bring successive gears 48 into engagement with the gear 65 and also brings gears 38, 39 into engagement with the gear 37 on a shaft 36 which is geared to the shafting 11, 12 upon which the bar 6 is mounted. Each spindle 40 is held in position by a cam stop. 53 abutting against a bracket 63 on the frame 15. The cam 53 is rotated by the shaft 40 until it is positioned to clear the bracket whereupon the plate 44 is swung round by the spring 62 until the cam stop on the next spindle 40 abuts against the bracket. A movable rod 54 permits of either the wheel 38 or the wheel 39 being clutched to the spindle 40. Each gear counter mechanism is set back an amount representing the distance the boat must travel on a straight course from a position' in which a tooth on the gears registers with a notch on the clutch plate. When so registering the gear 38 is rotated to cause movement of the bar 6 to a new position and at the same time the cam 53 is rotated to free the particular spindle assembly and allow the next one to come into operative position. The boat is set on a new course corresponding to the position of the bar and runs straight thereon until re-set.,