Steering mechanism
US4004537A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 1976 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63H25/16
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A manual steering wheel or the like is connected through a rotatable flexible cable and a double-acting free wheeling clutch to a rotatable element controlling the position of a steering member such as a boat's rudder. A servo motor is also connected through the clutch to the rotatable element, and starting, stopping, and the direction of operation of the motor are controlled by electric pole changing spring contacts associated with the wheel. The connection of the steering wheel to the rotatable element is directly through the free wheel element of the clutch, while the servo motor is connected to the rotatable element through the other rotary element of the clutch. This permits the servo motor normally to drive the rudder in response to steering wheel motion, but direct manual steering is enabled should the servo motor operate too slowly or not at all.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.