Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At the present time, boats are sometimes provided with stabilizing fins which act like the ailerons of an airplane. The fins project into the water from the hull of the boat, and are turned in opposite directions so that when the boat rolls, the fins tend to right the boat. However, the boat must be underway for the stabilizing fins to be effective. Also, rather extensive controls and linkages are required to operate the fins.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a stabilizing system based on water jets directed downwardly from the hull of the boat, barge, platform or the like, and controlled such that if the boat rolls to one side, a jet delivers thrust so as to right the boat. Water is supplied to the thrusting outlets from a pump, and when the boat is level, the water flow is divided equally between the outlets. A control device directs the water to one or the other of the thrusting outlets in response to the roll of the boat, and the control device is actuated by a sensor responsive to the degree of roll. In a preferred embodiment, the control device is a fluidic value. By way of illustration but not of limitation, the fluidic valve may be controlled by either a gyroscopic device or a tilt switch device which acts as a sensing means.
The stabilizing system of the invention may be operated at any time, whether the boat is underway or not, and the drag of fins is avoided. No complicated working mechanisms are required, and the result is a reliable system having a long useful life.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a stabilizing system for boats or other floating structures based on water jets.
Another object of the invention is to provide a stabilizing system for boats which is not dependent on the forward motion of the boat.
A further object of the invention is to provide a stabilizing system with a reliable control device and sensing device for actuating the system responsive to the roll of the boat.
Among the other objects of the invention are to provide a stabilizing system for boats which is reliable, rugged, economical, capable of large volume production, and efficient in operation.
Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a boat having a stabilizing system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the stabilizing system;
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the stabilizing system taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view illustrating the boat in changed positions as might occur when the boat rolls to one side;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a fluidic valve control system and a sensing device for the stabilizing system;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic view of a pincer device;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a fluidic valve provided with a different type of sensing system based on a tilt switch in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing a different type of tilt switch arrangement.
Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In FIGS. 1 through 4, a stabilizing system 10 is provided in a boat 12 in order to help keep the boat level. The stabilizing system includes a jet pump 14 having a water inlet 16 through which water is pumped from the body of water in which the boat floats into the stabilizing system. The pump 14 has two water outlets 18 and 20 in the form of conduits which lead respectively to port and starboard sides of the boat. The conduits 18 and 20 terminate in thrusting jet outlets which extend downwardly through the hull 26 of the boat so as to direct water jets downwardly into the ocean or other body of water. Thrusting jet outlet 22 is at the port side of the hull, and thrusting jet outlet 24 is at the starboard side of the hull.
The outlet conduits 18 and 20 merge at a common portion 28 which passes through a control device for allocating the output of the pump between outlets 22 and 24 in response to the roll of the boat. The control device, in this preferred embodiment, is a fluidic valve which includes the common conduit portion 28 as well as air inlets 30 and 32 which lead into the conduit portion 28. Inlet 30 is at the port side of the conduit and inlet 32 is at the starboard side of the conduit. Other types of valves may be used in place of the fluidic valve.
The fluidic control valve, which will be generally designated 34, is actuated by a sensor 36. In this embodiment, the sensor 36 includes a gyroscope 38 which is shown schematically since it is commercially available. The gyroscope 38 has horizontal arms 40 and 42 which are respectively connected to vertical arms 44 and 46 which actuate pincer devices 48 and 50.
The air inlets 30 and 32 may be rubber tubes. The pincer devices 48 and 50 at the top of the tubes are normally open so that air can enter into the tubes at the top ends thereof. The rods 44 and 46 remain vertical, but the pincer devices move horizontally as the boat rolls. Thus, as the boat rolls one way, it tends to close one of the pincer devices, and as the boat rolls the other way it tends to close the other pincer device.
When the boat is level as illustrated in FIG. 3, the pincer devices 48 and 50 are adjusted such that both air inlets 30 and 32 are open. In this condition, air is sucked in equal amounts into both air inlets, and the forces on the water stream are equalized so that equal jets emerge from the jet outlets 22 and 24. This tends to keep the boat level.
When the boat rolls as to the port side as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, arm 44 actuates pincer device 48 further and arm 46 retracts from pincer device 50. This closes pincer device 48 and keeps pincer device 50 open. In this condition, air enters inlet 32 but not inlet 30. The air entering inlet 32 tends to force the water flow through outlet 18 and jet outlet 22 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. This produces greater thrust from the jet outlet 22 tending to right the boat.
Conversely, if the boat were to roll to starboard, pincer device 48 would open and pincer device 50 would close. Air would then enter inlet 30 but not inlet 32. The air would force the water to flow out of outlet 20 and jet outlet 24 producing greater thrust on the starboard side of the boat tending to right the boat.
It may be noted that the stabilizing system is operative regardless of whether the boat is underway. The forces from the jet outlets 22 and 24 are equalized as long as the boat is level. It is only when the boat rolls that one of the jets becomes stronger and tends to right the boat.
FIG. 7 illustrates a modification wherein the fluidic control valve is controlled by a tilt switch rather than a gyroscope device. The tilt switch 60 includes a V-shaped tube 62 having a continuous electrode 64 on one surface thereof and two electrodes 66 and 68 on another surface thereof which terminate short of the center of the tube. At the center of the tube, or in other words at the point of the V, there is a mercury ball 70.
The fluidic valve 34 remains essentially the same as in the previous embodiment, so the same reference numerals are used for like parts. The air inlets 30 and 32 are provided with solenoid valves 72 and 74 which are normally open. Valve 72 has a solenoid coil 76, and valve 74 has a solenoid coil 78. Solenoid coil 76 is connected in series with a battery 80 and the two electrodes 64 and 66. Solenoid coil 78 is connected in series with the battery 80 and the two electrodes 64 and 68.
In operation, when the boat rolls to the port side, the mercury ball 70 completes a circuit between electrodes 64 and 66, and this causes current to flow through solenoid coil 76 to close valve 72. Valve 74 remains open, so air enters inlet 32 and tends to force the water in conduit 28 out through outlet 18. This produces a strong jet from jet outlet 22 (FIG. 4) which tends to right the boat.
Conversely, if the boat were to roll to the starboard side, the mercury ball 70 would complete a circuit between electrodes 64 and 68 providing current through solenoid coil 78 which closes valve 74. Valve 72 remains open. In this condition, air inlet 30 is open, and air inlet 32 is closed. The air entering inlet 30 tends to force the water through outlet 20 and jet outlet 24, thus tending to right the boat.
FIG. 8 shows a modification of the tilt switch. The fluidic valve 34 remains the same. In this embodiment, the air inlets 30 and 32 have the same solenoid valve 72 and 74 with the same solenoid coils 76 and 78. Two separate tilt switch tubes 83 and 82 are provided, and these tubes are mounted respectively on arms 84 and 86 which have a pivot at 88. The outer ends of the arms 84 and 86 have teeth 90 and 92 and these teeth mesh respectively with worms 94 and 96. The worms 94 and 96 may be adjusted to change the angle of the arms 94 and 96 and thus adjust the angle of the tilt switch tubes 83 and 82. Thus, the worms and the arms constitute means for adjusting the sensitivity of the sensing device.
Tube 83 has a long electrode 100 and a short electrode 102. Electrode 100 is always in contact with the mercury ball 104, but electrode 102 terminates short of the right end of the tube and therefore is normally out of contact with the mercury ball 104.
Similarly, tube 82 has a long electrode 106 and a short electrode 108. Electrode 106 extends over the full length of the tube and so is always in contact with the mercury ball 110. Electrode 108 terminates short of the left end of the tube 82, and so is normally out of contact with the mercury ball 110.
The arms 84 and 86 normally tilt upwardly slightly so that the balls 104 and 110 tend to remain at the central sides of the tubes 83 and 82.
Solenoid coil 76 is connected in series with the battery 80 and electrodes 100 and 102. The solenoid coil 78 is connected in series with the battery 80 and electrodes 106 and 108. When the boat rolls to the port side, ball 110 remains in the position shown, but ball 104 moves to the left and contacts electrode 102. This completes a circuit between electrodes 100 and 102 so that current flows through solenoid coil 76 tending to close valve 72. Valve 74 remains open, so air enters air inlet 32 and tends to force the water output entirely through water outlet 18. This produces a jet from jet outlet 22 which tends to right the boat.
If the boat were to roll to the starboard side, ball 104 would remain in the position shown, but ball 110 advances to the right to complete a circuit between electrodes 106 and 108. This causes current to flow through solenoid coil 78 which closes solenoid valve 74. Solenoid valve 72 remains open, so air enters inlet 30 and tends to force the water output entirely through outlet 20 and jet outlet 24. This produces greater downward thrust on the starboard side of the boat tending to right the boat.
Thus, the invention provides a stabilizing system for boats which is based on jet thrusting action and which is not dependent on the boat being underway. The jets on the star-board and port side of the hull of the boat normally have equal thrust outputs, so the boat remains level. When the boat rolls to one side, the jet thruster on that side produces greater thrust which tends to right the boat. When the boat rolls to the other side, the jet thruster on that other side is actuated to produce greater thrust which tends to right the boat. The division of water between the two jet thruster outlets can be controlled efficiently with a valve. A suitable sensing device controls the valve, and as has been explained, the sensing device could be a gyroscope device or a tilt switch or other suitable device.
The jet outlets need not be on port and starboard sides of the boat. They may be at foreward and aft sides to control longitudinal roll, or pitch. The system can be used on a barge, floating platform or other floating object. The jet outlets for such an object could be positioned at any opposed portions of the object.
It may also be noted that control means other than a fluidic valve may be provided. For example, solenoid valves or a gate valve may be used.