A ship steering wheel

Abstract

The utility model discloses a ship steering wheel, including the steering wheel body, the edge of steering wheel body is equipped with the rim, the front surface of rim is divided into three interactive areas, three the interactive area is very high frequency control area, electric siren control area, pilot lamp area, the wire harness of button and pilot lamp of three the interactive area is connected to the interactive interface in the bridge through the spoke, hub is connected. The utility model discloses in combination with the key operation demand on the ship, can integrate very high frequency and electric siren control, is convenient for the driver to realize more operation function in the ship steering wheel, promotes the functionality of the steering wheel in the cockpit, and the ship has more science and technology.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ship technology, and in particular to the field of ship direction control. Background Technology

[0002] During navigation, ship operators frequently need to use VHF communication equipment to communicate in real time with other vessels and port authorities. They also need to sound the horn as needed to warn or communicate based on navigational conditions. However, currently, most VHF communication equipment and horn control devices on ships are independently installed and usually located in different positions on the bridge.

[0003] For example, the published document with authorization announcement number CN206255179U, authorization announcement date June 16, 2017, and patent title "A Ship's Steering Wheel Control System" discloses a ship's steering wheel control system including a steering mechanism, a control module, a power module, and an electric actuator. The steering mechanism includes a steering wheel and a potentiometer connected to the steering wheel via a transmission mechanism. The potentiometer is electrically connected to the control module and is used to feed back the rotation signal of the steering wheel to the control module. The control module is electrically connected to the electric actuator and is used to control the electric actuator to perform corresponding actions according to the signal fed back by the potentiometer. The power module is electrically connected to both the control module and the electric actuator and is used to provide working power to the control module and the electric actuator.

[0004] The use of steering wheels like these requires drivers to take their eyes off the road ahead and leave their comfortable driving posture to locate the corresponding equipment and control buttons, making the process cumbersome and time-consuming. In emergency situations, such as when encountering sudden navigational hazards and needing to quickly issue warning signals, or when urgently communicating with other vessels, this dispersed equipment layout may delay the opportunity to act, thereby increasing the risk of collisions, groundings, and other accidents, seriously threatening the safety of navigation.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a ship steering wheel that can integrate VHF and electric horn control and is easy for the driver to operate. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to realize a ship steering wheel that can integrate multiple functions.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows: a ship steering wheel, including a steering wheel body, the edge of which is provided with a rim, the front of which is divided into three interactive areas, namely a VHF control area, a horn control area, and an indicator light area, and the wiring harnesses connected to the buttons and indicator lights in the three interactive areas are connected to the interactive interface in the cockpit through the spokes and the hub.

[0008] The three interactive areas are grooves on the rim, and the height of the buttons and indicator lights within the three interactive areas is lower than the depth of the grooves.

[0009] The groove is covered by a transparent protective plate, and the protective plate has holes cut out in the button area, and the button is embedded in the holes.

[0010] When the steering wheel is straightened, the topmost interactive area is the indicator light area, and the two sides are the VHF control area and the electric horn control area.

[0011] The grooves in the three indicator light areas are coated with a paint layer different from that on the steering wheel body, and the buttons are strip-shaped or arc-shaped protrusions.

[0012] The outer periphery of the wheel rim is uniformly provided with protruding levers.

[0013] Each button is equipped with a micro switch below it, and each micro switch is connected to the interface via a multi-strand copper core shielded wire with a diameter of 0.5mm.

[0014] The VHF control area includes at least a power switch button, a channel selection button, and a volume adjustment button;

[0015] The indicator lights in the indicator light area include at least a power status indicator light and an alarm indicator light;

[0016] The buttons in the electric horn control area include at least a long horn button and a short horn button.

[0017] This invention combines the button operation requirements of ships, integrating VHF and electric horn control, making it easier for the driver to perform more operation functions on the ship's steering wheel, improving the functionality of the steering wheel in the cockpit, and making the ship more technologically advanced. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The following is a brief explanation of the content and markings in each of the accompanying drawings in this utility model specification:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the steering wheel structure;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the signal transmission circuitry inside the steering wheel.

[0021] The markings in the above diagrams are: 1. Steering wheel body; 2. Wheel rim; 3. Wheel spoke; 4. Wheel hub;

[0022] 5. VHF control area; 6. Electric horn control area; 7. Indicator light area. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, details the specific implementation of this utility model, including the shape and structure of each component, the relative positions and connections between the parts, the function and working principle of each part, the manufacturing process, and the operation and use methods. This will help those skilled in the art to have a more complete, accurate, and in-depth understanding of the inventive concept and technical solution of this utility model.

[0024] The ship's steering wheel has a circular structure, including a circular rim 2 and spokes 3 supporting the rim 2 on a hub 4. The steering wheel body 1 is made of high-strength material in one piece, enhancing the overall texture of the steering wheel. The outer diameter of the rim 2 is 600mm and the thickness is 30mm, which reduces the overall weight while ensuring structural strength, making it easier for the driver to operate. In addition, protruding levers are evenly distributed around the outer perimeter of the rim 2, allowing the operator to turn the wheel by pressing the levers, increasing the torque when operating the steering wheel and making it more effortless.

[0025] The surface of the wheel rim 2 (facing the driver, i.e., the front) is finely machined. The front of the wheel rim 2 is divided into three interactive areas: VHF control area 5, electric horn control area 6, and indicator light area 7. The three interactive areas are grooves on the wheel rim 2, with a groove width of 15-18mm. They are reasonably and clearly separated by raised dividing strips with a width of 5mm. The height of the buttons and indicator lights in the three interactive areas is lower than the depth of the grooves. This can effectively prevent accidental touches during operation, so that even if the operator holds the steering wheel, the buttons will not be accidentally touched.

[0026] The wiring harnesses connecting the buttons and indicator lights in the three interactive areas pass through spokes 3 and hub 4 to the interactive interface inside the dashboard, with connections as follows: Figure 2 As shown, when the steering wheel body 1 returns to center, the uppermost interactive area is the indicator light area 7, with the VHF control area 5 and the electric horn control area 6 on either side. The indicator light is in the middle position, which allows the staff to quickly identify whether the steering wheel has returned to center.

[0027] The VHF control area 5 includes at least a power switch button, a channel selection button, and a volume control button;

[0028] Specific configurations can be customized as needed. For example, a power switch with clear "ON" and "OFF" markings on its surface, a 5mm travel distance, and a tactile feel to effectively prevent accidental operation. Its rated current is 2A, and it is compatible with the commonly used 24V DC power supply on ships, used to control the power supply of VHF communication equipment. Channel selection buttons: Two circular buttons, marked "+" and "-" respectively. Each button is 15mm in diameter with a frosted surface for enhanced tactile feedback. The buttons employ a mechanical coding structure; each press of the "+" or "-" button increments or decrements the channel, covering all internationally recognized VHF communication channels for ships (channels 1-28 and 60-88). Volume adjustment buttons: Also two circular buttons, marked "▲" and "▼", with the same diameter as the channel selection buttons. These buttons adjust the volume using a potentiometer principle, with an adjustment range of 0-30dB and 1dB increments, meeting the needs for clear voice reception in various ambient noise conditions. Transmit button: Designed in an oval shape, with a major axis of 25mm and a minor axis of 15mm, the surface is covered with anti-slip rubber. The transmit button adopts a self-locking structure, remaining locked when pressed for easy extended voice transmission by the driver; pressing it again unlocks it. The transmission power can be set within the range of 1-25W depending on the ship's navigation area. Each button is equipped with a microswitch, which connects to the signal transmission line inside the steering wheel body 1 via a 0.5mm diameter multi-strand copper core shielded wire. These shielded wires employ a double shielding design, with an outer metal braided mesh and an inner aluminum foil shielding layer, effectively resisting electromagnetic interference generated by the complex electrical environment on board, ensuring the stability and accuracy of signal transmission.

[0029] The buttons in the electric whistle control area 6 include at least a long whistle button and a short whistle button.

[0030] The specific settings can be customized as needed. For example, the short-press jog button is a square button with a side length of 18mm and uses a spring-reset structure. When the button is pressed, the contact closure time is 0.3 seconds, triggering a single short blast of the horn. The sound duration is approximately 0.5 seconds, and the sound intensity is 100dB, which complies with the relevant regulations of the International Maritime Organization for ship horn warning sounds. The long-press continuous blast button is designed as a long strip, 40mm in length and 15mm in width. The button is equipped with a pressure sensor. When the pressing force reaches 1N, the horn begins to sound continuously; when the button is released, the horn stops sounding immediately. During continuous blasting, the horn sound intensity is 110dB, which can effectively alert surrounding ships and personnel. The connection method between the buttons in the horn control area 6 and the signal transmission lines inside the steering wheel body 1 is similar to that in the VHF control area 5, also connected via microswitches and multi-strand copper core shielded wires. The difference lies in the fact that during transmission, the electric horn control signal passes through a signal amplification module located at the center of the steering wheel body 1. This module amplifies the weak button operation signal to a strength suitable for the electric horn control module to receive, ensuring that the electric horn can respond to operation commands in a timely and accurate manner.

[0031] The indicator lights in indicator light area 7 include at least a power status indicator light, an alarm indicator light, and a VHF equipment operating status indicator light and an electric horn operating status indicator light.

[0032] Specific configurations can be customized as needed. For example, the high-frequency equipment status indicator consists of three LEDs of different colors: red, green, and yellow. The red indicator shows the power supply status of the VHF communication equipment; it remains on when the power supply is abnormal. The green indicator indicates that the equipment is in normal receiving mode; it flashes when a signal is received. The yellow indicator indicates the transmission status of the equipment; it flashes when a signal is transmitted. Each indicator is 8mm in diameter and covered with a transparent polycarbonate protective cover, providing good light transmission and wear resistance. The horn status indicator is a single red LED, also 8mm in diameter. It remains on when the horn is sounding and turns off when the horn stops. The indicator is connected to the signal transmission line inside the steering wheel body 1 via a 0.3mm diameter copper core wire. A current-limiting resistor is connected in series with the wire to prevent excessive current from damaging the indicator.

[0033] The signal transmission circuitry inside the steering wheel body 1 employs a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) design. The PCB, mounted on the driver's console, is 1.6mm thick and consists of four layers: a power layer, a ground layer, a signal layer, and a shielding layer. The buttons and indicator lights in the VHF control area 5, the horn control area 6, and the indicator light area 7 are connected to the ship's VHF communication equipment and horn control module via traces on the PCB. Multiple waterproof connectors, designed with an IP67 protection rating, are located at the edges of the PCB for connection to external wiring, effectively preventing seawater and moisture intrusion and ensuring reliable signal transmission.

[0034] The rim 2 of the steering wheel body 1 is also equipped with an anti-slip layer, which covers the VHF control area 5, the horn control area 6, and the indicator light area 7. The anti-slip layer is made of 2mm thick food-grade silicone material, which has good weather resistance, corrosion resistance, and aging resistance. Its surface is formed with irregular concave-convex texture through a molding process, with a texture depth of 0.8mm, which can significantly increase the friction when the driver holds the steering wheel and prevent slippage. At the same time, through a special bonding process, it ensures a tight fit with the buttons and indicator lights, which does not affect normal operation and display, but also provides good protection for them.

[0035] The groove is covered with a transparent protective plate, and the protective plate has holes cut out in the button area. The button is embedded in the holes, which can further reduce the possibility of accidental touch. The grooves of the three indicator light areas 7 are coated with a paint layer different from that of the steering wheel body 1. The button is a strip-shaped or arc-shaped protrusion. The paint layer can make it easier for the driver to identify the rotation of the steering wheel.

[0036] The buttons in VHF control area 5 and electric horn control area 6 are equipped with luminescent markings printed with phosphorescent ink. After being exposed to natural or artificial light for 10 minutes, they will continue to glow for over 8 hours in the dark. The markings are 3mm high and 1.5mm wide, with clear strokes, making them easy for drivers to identify and operate in low-light conditions.

[0037] The present invention has been described above by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the specific implementation of the present invention is not limited to the above-described manner. Any non-substantial improvements made using the inventive concept and technical solution of the present invention, or the direct application of the inventive concept and technical solution of the present invention to other occasions without modification, are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A ship steering wheel, comprising a steering wheel body, wherein the edge of the steering wheel body is provided with a rim, characterized in that: The front of the wheel rim is divided into three interactive areas: a VHF control area, a horn control area, and an indicator light area. The wiring harnesses connecting the buttons and indicator lights in the three interactive areas are connected to the interactive interface in the driver's cab via the wheel spokes and the wheel hub.

2. The ship steering wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The three interactive areas are grooves on the rim, and the height of the buttons and indicator lights within the three interactive areas is lower than the depth of the grooves.

3. The ship steering wheel according to claim 2, characterized in that: The groove is covered by a transparent protective plate, and the protective plate has holes cut out in the button area, and the button is embedded in the holes.

4. The ship steering wheel according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the steering wheel is straightened, the topmost interactive area is the indicator light area, and the two sides are the VHF control area and the electric horn control area.

5. The ship steering wheel according to claim 4, characterized in that: The grooves in the three indicator light areas are coated with a paint layer different from that on the steering wheel body, and the buttons are strip-shaped or arc-shaped protrusions.

6. The ship steering wheel according to claim 5, characterized in that: The outer periphery of the wheel rim is uniformly provided with protruding levers.

7. The ship steering wheel according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: Each button is equipped with a micro switch below it, and each micro switch is connected to the interface via a multi-strand copper core shielded wire with a diameter of 0.5mm.

8. The ship steering wheel according to claim 7, characterized in that: The VHF control area includes at least a power switch button, a channel selection button, and a volume adjustment button; The indicator lights in the indicator light area include at least a power status indicator light and an alarm indicator light; The buttons in the electric horn control area include at least a long horn button and a short horn button.

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