AU784701B2 - Steering and braking system for watercraft - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEM FOR WATERCRAFI The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: This invention relates to improvements in watercraft and in particular to braking and steering mechanisms for watercraft.

In a first aspect, the invention resides in a braking system for watercraft including a member capable of movement between a first position in which oncoming water is not substantially incident on the member and a second position in which oncoming water is substantially incident on the member to cause a braking effect on said watercraft, said system further including means for controlling the extent of movement of said members towards said second position and thereby the extent to which oncoming water is incident upon said member.

In a further preferred embodiment the first and second members have an integral mode wherein said first and second members are controlled and move substantially uniformly and a separate mode wherein said first and second members are controlled and move individually.

In a further preferred embodiment, the first and second members are fixed to each other to form an integral rudder unit that can change alignment relative to the oncoming water to steer the watercraft. In a braking mode, the first and second members can separate and change their alignment relative to each other and relative to the oncoming water to act as a brake. In this braking mode, the members may be controlled together so that their alignment relative to the oncoming water changes 2 equally to provide even braking with no steering. Alternatively the members may be separately controlled so that a mixture of steering and braking can be achieved.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures in which Fig. 1 is a rear view of a watercraft employing the system of the invention, Fig. 2 is a rear view of a watercraft with braking and steering members in a deployed position, Fig. 2a is a side elevation view of one of the braking and steering members, Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a control mechanism system, Fig. 3a illustrates an alternative blade mounting arrangement, Figs. 3b and 3c show a further alternative embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4 is a schematic of a rudder unit in an integral mode, Fig. 5 is a schematic of a rudder unit in a separate mode, Fig. 6 show a rudder unit with a central rudder member, Fig. 7 is a side view of a blade member of the rudder unit, Fig. 8a is an end view of a blade member of the rudder unit, Fig. 8b is an end view of the other blade member, Fig. 9 is a side view of the central rudder member, 20 Fig. 10 is a top view of the rudder unit and control device therefor, Fig. 11 a is an end view of the rudder unit and control device, Fig 11 b illustrates a T-shaped operating member, Fig. 12a shows the rudder unit in a locking position, Fig. 12b shows the rudder unit in an unlocking position, 25 Fig. 13a is a perspective view of a recreational device fitted to a watercraft, and Fig. 13b is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 13a in a deployed position.

Referring to Fig. 1, a system according to the is shown generally at 10. The system is shown mounted at the stern of a schematically depicted watercraft 11. The system includes a first braking member 12 and a second braking member 13 in the form of blades, each of which is rotatably mounted on the watercraft through axle and bearing 3 members 14 and 15 respectively, the plane of the blades being at right angles to the centreline of the watercraft.

Each of the members 12 and 13 is capable of pivoting between a first position shown in Fig. 1 in which the members do not extend laterally beyond the stern of the watercraft, and a second position as shown in Fig. 2 where the members extend to their maximum extent beyond the stern with oncoming water incident upon them. The braking effect achieved by extension of the blades will depend on the surface area of each member in contact with the water. If only one of the blades is extended, or if the blades are extended unequally, both braking and steering will be obtained.

A control arrangement suitable for operating the system described so far will now be described with reference to Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, the first and second members 12 and 13 are pivotally located on watercraft 11 at axes 14 and 15 respectively. Control lines 31 and 32 are fixed at respective ends 18 and 19 of the first and second members. The lines are operatively connected through their opposite ends to a common brake actuator (not shown) which may be hand, foot or electrically operated in a manner such that when the brake is operated, the lines 31, 32 are pulled, causing each of the members to be pivoted about their respective mounting axes to deploy the members V 20 equally into contact with the water. The extent of braking will depend on the extent of movement of the lines 31 and 32 which determines the extent to which the faces of the .ooe• blades 12 and 13 are exposed to the water.

Fig. 3 also shows one way in which a pair of blades such as 12 and 13 may be S: "i 25 individually controlled for steering and to compensate for heeling of the watercraft.

Each of the lines 31 and 32 pass through respective rings 34 and 35. These rings are connected to respective control rods 36 and 37 which are operatively connected to a steering device (not shown) described below. Operation of the steering device causes one of the rods to be pulled in a direction away from the line as shown in Fig. 3. Such movement of the rod 36 pulls on the line 31 through the ring 34, causing the connected member 13 to be moved further into the water. The increased drag force on that steering member has the effect of steering the watercraft to the side on which the steering member projects, in this case to starboard.

We have assumed for the purpose of simplicity in the preceding description that the watercraft is riding level in the water. Particularly in the case of sailing watercrafts, this is likely not to be the case, and one or the other of the blades 12 and 13 will be more deeply immersed as the watercraft heels. The arrangement described enables the operator to account for this by varying the relative extension of the blades.

The size and shape of the blades 12 and 13 will be chosen to suit the watercraft. Other blade mounting and movement arrangements may also be adopted, and Figs. 3a -3c illustrate this.

Fig. 3a shows a blade 13 mounted on a pivot located relatively outboard of the blade when the latter is in the retracted position shown. A guard 16 is provided to protect the blade against being broken loose by the force of the water.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 3b and 3c, a blade 12 is located inboard of the watercraft and is moved vertically within a housing 48, in a manner similar to that of a "•20 centreboard, by means of a handle 17. The handle 17 may of course be replaced by an operating mechanism.

oooo# Another form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 4 6. Here the first and second steering members 12 and 13 are planar blades hinged at 41 and mounted at the stem of 25 the craft 40 by strong connections 42. In a first mode of operation, the faces of the blades are held together so that the two blades form a single rudder which can be operated conventionally. In a second mode of operation shown in Fig. 5, the members 12, 13 are separated by rotation about their hinge axis 41 to act as a brake. Separation of the blade members 12 and 13 increases the amount of oncoming water incident on the members which increases the drag forces thereby slowing the watercraft.

I

The separated members may be operated independently or swung as a unit so that they combine braking and steering functions. Preferably, however, steering is achieved by an additional rudder element as described below.

Fig. 6 shows a fixed rudder element 71 between the braking members 12 and 13.

A control device for operating such a combined braking and rudder unit is described with reference to Figs. 7 12. Fig. 7 shows one of the braking members 13 in side view as containing two apertures 81, 82. End views of the blades 13 and 12 in Figs. 8a and 8b show each as a blade with projecting lever springs 83, 84 and 95, 96. The springs 95 and 96 of the blade 12 are aligned with the apertures 81 and 82 of the blade 13, while the springs 83 and 84 of the blade 13 are aligned with the apertures 91 and 92 in the blade 12.

The rudder member 71 is shown in side view in Fig. 9 and is a blade member having four apertures 101 therein. The apertures are located so as to receive the respective spring members of the blades 12 and 13. To form an integral unit as described above, the spring members are passed through the apertures in the rudder and opposite steering member while the springs are in a compressed state. Having passed through •20 the apertures, the springs expand to lock the blades together.

Fig. 10 is a top view of the integral rudder unit and control device, while Fig. 1 l a shows this in end elevation. A horizontal plate 110 and 111 is fixed to each of the braking members 12 and 13. A T-shaped member 112 is placed on top of each plate 25 110, 111 with the cross member 113 of the members 112 arranged vertically and substantially adjacent the free end of the respective lever spring members as shown in SFig. 11 a. Each T-bar is fixed to its respective plate 110, 111 by means of an axle 119.

The T-bars 112 terminate at their distal ends in a ring 115 to which may be fixed an actuating mechanism 116 such as a chain, rod or line.

Operation of the rudder as an integral unit occurs by means of a conventional steering device (not shown) affixed to the central rudder member 71.

Actuation of the braking system is a two-phase process, and occurs by pulling the actuating mechanism in a horizontal plane in a manner that causes the T-bars to pivot about their mounting axle 119.

The first movement of the T-bars causes the vertically aligned cross members 113 to act on the lever springs thereby compressing them from the position shown in Fig. 12a to that shown in Fig. 12b. The braking blades 12 and 13 are thus no longer locked to each other or to the central rudder member. A second movement of the T-bar thus causes the braking blades to separate from the rudder as it pivots about the common mounting axis 41.

The invention is capable of embodiment in simpler forms than those illustrated. For example, where only a braking effect is required, a single blade, for example of the type illustrated in Figs. 3b and 3c, may be mounted on the centreline of the watercraft.

Where very large watercrafts are concerned, it may be found desirable to provide more than one, or more than one pair, of braking or braking and steering members according to the invention.

Though the present braking systems described are effective in rapidly slowing a *watercraft, there is a tendency for the watercraft to nosedive as the braking system is deployed. To combat this effect, a device as shown in Fig. 13a is disposed on the hull of the watercraft. The device consists of a flap or plane member 140 that in normal 25 motion of the watercraft is substantially flush with the undersurface of the watercraft 141 as shown in Fig. 13a). The plane member 140 is deployed as the previously described braking system is deployed causing the plane to project downward and backward from the hull of the watercraft as shown in Fig. 13b. Continuing forward motion of the watercraft causes water incident on the plane device to lift the nose of the watercraft thereby maintaining stability.

l ~vw..b lru 7 In a further embodiment, the plane device 140 can be fitted as a recreational device to watercraft, in particular high speed watercraft such as jet skis and jet boats, whether or not these watercraft are fitted with the above described braking systems. In this embodiment, the plane member 140 can be selectively deployed by the watercraft operator at any time, not just when braking, to cause the plane member 140 to project downwardly of the watercraft. This has the effect of lifting the nose of the watercraft and causing the watercraft to jump suddenly out of the water.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative only.

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Claims (14)

1. A braking system for a watercraft having a hull with a bow, a bottom and a stem, said braking system including: a member deployable from a position substantially flush with the undersurface of the watercraft to a position in which it projects downwardly and backwardly from the bottom of the hull at a location intermediate the bow of the hull and the stem of the hull, Sa braking member capable of movement between a first position in which oncoming water is not substantially incident on the braking member and a second position in which oncoming water is substantially incident on the braking member to cause a braking effect on said watercraft, and means for controlling the extent of movement of said braking member towards said second position and thereby the extent to which oncoming water is incident upon said braking member. A system according to claim 1 including two such braking members. oooo

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein said controlling means is capable of 20 moving each of said braking members to the same extent for braking the watercraft. S4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said controlling means is capable of moving each of said braking members to a different extent to achieve both braking and steering of the watercraft. A system according to any preceding claim in which when in said first position Seach such braking member is substantially wholly within the lateral profile of the watercraft.

6. A system according to claim 5 in which when in said second position each such braking member extends substantially beyond said profile.

7. A system according to any preceding claim in which each such braking member is a planar member the plane of which is disposed substantially normally to the longitudinal centreline of the watercraft.

8. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 4 in which each said braking member is a planar member, and in which when a given such member is in said first position the plane of such member is substantially parallel to the centreline of the watercraft.

9. A system according to claim 8 in which when a given such braking member is in said second position the plane of such braking member is oblique to said centreline. A system according to claim 9 including a rudder disposed between said braking members. A system according to claim 9 wherein both braking members may be fixed together and moved together to act as a rudder. o

12. A system according to any of claims 2 to 11 including a plurality of pairs of such 20 braking members.

13. A system for braking a watercraft according to any preceding claim wherein said member is a substantially plane member. 25 14. A system for braking a watercraft substantially as described herein with reference S to Figs. 1, 2, 2a, 3 and 3a of the accompanying drawings. A system for braking a watercraft substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 3b and 3c of the accompanying drawings.

16. A system for braking a watercraft substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A system for braking a watercraft substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A system for braking a watercraft substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 6 to 12b of the accompanying drawings.

19. A system for braking a watercraft substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 13a and 13b of the accompanying drawings. A system for braking a watercraft as claimed in claim 1 wherein said braking member depends from the stem of the watercraft.

21. A system for braking a watercraft as claimed in claim 1 wherein said braking member is pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal centreline of the watercraft.

22. A system for braking a watercraft as claimed in claim 1 wherein said braking member can be extended downwardly. *oo* s~u Y