A single-pump remote-controlled boat steering system

Abstract

This utility model relates to a single-pump remote-controlled boat steering system, including a spray pump mounted on the boat, linear drive mechanisms, a programmable controller (PLC), and a signal receiver for use with an external remote controller. Two sets of linear drive mechanisms are horizontally fixed on the left and right sides of the spray pump, with their fixed ends fixedly connected to the inner wall of the boat hull, and their movable ends connected to the reversing mechanism and steering mechanism on the spray pump, respectively. The control end of the linear drive mechanism is connected to the output end of the PLC, and the input end of the PLC is connected to the signal receiver. This application integrates steering and reversing drive functions directly on both sides of the spray pump through the integrated design of the spray pump and the two sets of horizontally mounted linear drive mechanisms, significantly reducing the space occupied inside the boat and adapting to the limited space of small boats. At the same time, by using the signal receiver-PLC-linear drive mechanism control link, remote control replaces traditional manual operation or complex mechanical transmission, achieving separation of crew and boat to improve crew safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of marine technology, specifically to a single-pump remote-controlled boat steering system. Background Technology

[0002] The advent of remote control systems for ships has brought about revolutionary changes to ship operation. Through remote control, ships can perform special tasks, achieving separation of crew and ship and greatly improving the safety and convenience of the navigator. In addition, the combination of remote control systems and wireless navigation systems can achieve precise route planning and automatic cruise functions, significantly improving the efficiency and accuracy of ship navigation. In the field of small vessels, most existing technical solutions employ remote-controlled steering systems in conjunction with propellers to address steering issues. However, this traditional approach has several drawbacks, such as severe noise and resonance problems that affect the vessel's comfort and stealth; large system size that occupies valuable vessel space; and low transmission efficiency leading to significant energy waste. Furthermore, the limited space in the steering gear compartment, coupled with the excessive size of the steering gear, complicates installation and makes subsequent maintenance difficult, failing to meet the demands of modern vessels for efficient, convenient, and energy-saving operation. Utility Model Content This utility model addresses the technical problems existing in the prior art by providing a single-pump remote-controlled boat steering system.

[0003] The technical solution of this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: A single-pump remote-controlled boat steering system includes a spray pump mounted on the boat, a linear drive mechanism, a programmable controller, and a signal receiver for use with an external remote controller; two sets of the linear drive mechanisms are respectively horizontally fixed on the left and right sides of the spray pump, with the fixed ends fixedly connected to the inner wall of the boat hull, and the movable ends respectively connected to the reversing mechanism and the steering mechanism on the spray pump; the control end of the linear drive mechanism is connected to the output end of the programmable controller, and the input end of the programmable controller is connected to the signal receiver.

[0004] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: By integrating the spray pump and two sets of transverse linear drive mechanisms, the traditional large components such as the rudder, rudder stock, and propeller of the rudder propeller system are eliminated. The steering and reversing drive functions are directly integrated into both sides of the spray pump, which greatly reduces the space occupied inside the ship (especially the rudder compartment) and is suitable for small ships with limited space (especially in shallow water channels with muddy bottoms). At the same time, by using the control link of signal receiver-programmable controller-linear drive mechanism, the remote control command is converted into precise action, replacing traditional manual operation or complex mechanical transmission, realizing the separation of people and ships to improve crew safety, and avoiding human operation error through preset logic. In addition, the linear drive mechanism is directly connected to the reversing and steering mechanism, reducing intermediate transmission links to reduce the probability of failure and improve maintenance efficiency. Furthermore, the pump's end is equipped with a water outlet via a rotating shaft. The water outlet is connected to the water flow channel of the pump body and can swing left and right around the rotating shaft to change the direction of the water jet. Directly changing the water flow direction by swinging the water outlet around the rotating shaft replaces the traditional propeller-driven steering method, resulting in a more direct water flow force and significantly improved steering response speed.

[0005] Furthermore, the rotating shaft is vertically fixed at a preset position at the end of the pump body and is connected to the inner wall of the outlet via a bearing.

[0006] Furthermore, an angle sensor is mounted on the rotating shaft, and the angle sensor is connected to the programmable controller via a wire. The angle sensor can feed back the outlet swing angle to the programmable controller in real time.

[0007] Furthermore, the linear drive mechanism employs an electric push rod. The electric push rod is small in size and can be installed horizontally close to the pump body, requiring no additional installation space and effectively addressing the problem of limited space in the steering gear compartment of small vessels; moreover, it boasts high stroke accuracy, a simple structure, and low maintenance costs.

[0008] Furthermore, the reversing mechanism includes a reversing lever and a reversing basket. The reversing basket is located behind the water outlet of the spray pump, with its middle section hinged to the spray pump body and its head hinged to the reversing lever. The reversing lever is hinged to the electric push rod responsible for reversing via a reversing linkage. Through the mechanical linkage of the electric push rod, telescopic rod, reversing lever, and reversing basket, reversing is achieved using the reaction force of the water jet from the spray pump itself. This eliminates the need for an additional reverse propeller or reversing motor, simplifying the system structure and reducing energy consumption.

[0009] Furthermore, the steering mechanism includes a steering rod, one end of which is hinged to the outer wall of the pump outlet, and the other end is hinged to the electric push rod responsible for steering via a steering linkage. By using the steering linkage to adapt to the different motion trajectories of the electric push rod's linear extension and retraction and the outlet's circular swing, a smooth transition from linear to circular power is achieved, greatly improving the smoothness of steering power transmission.

[0010] Furthermore, the signal receiver is connected to the programmable controller (PCC) via a pulse output module, and the PCC is connected to the control terminal of the electric actuator via a solid-state relay. The pulse output module converts the PWM signal received by the signal receiver from the external remote controller into a CAN signal and transmits it to the PCC. The PCC outputs positive or negative PWM control signals to control the solid-state relay to conduct the forward or reverse rotation circuit of the electric actuator motor, thereby realizing the bidirectional extension and retraction of the telescopic rod. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a system structure block diagram of an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the spray pump according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 3 This is a side view of the spray pump structure according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 4 This is a top view of the spray pump structure according to an embodiment of the present utility model; The attached diagram lists the components represented by each number as follows: 1. Spray pump, 2. Electric push rod, 4. Water outlet, 5. Reversing rod, 6. Reversing basket, 7. Steering rod, 8. Steering linkage, 9. Reversing linkage. Detailed Implementation

[0012] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0013] In the description of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0014] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set up," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this technology based on the specific circumstances.

[0015] In the description of this application, spatial relation terms such as "below," "under," "below," "below," "above," "over," etc., are used herein to describe the relationship between one element or feature shown in the figures and other elements or features. It should be understood that, in addition to the orientation shown in the figures, spatial relation terms also include different orientations of the device in use and operation. For example, if the device in the figures is flipped, an element or feature described as "below" or "under" or "below" of other elements or features will be oriented "above" other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary terms "below" and "under" can include both upper and lower orientations. Furthermore, the device may also include other orientations (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or other orientations), and the spatial descriptive terms used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0016] In the description of this application, the term "for example" is used to mean "used as an example, illustration, or description." Any embodiment described as "for example" in this application is not necessarily to be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments. The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to implement and use the present invention. Details are set forth in the following description for purposes of explanation. It should be understood that those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can be implemented without using these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and processes will not be described in detail to avoid obscuring the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is consistent with the broadest scope of the principles and features disclosed in this application.

[0017] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this embodiment provides a single-pump remote-controlled boat steering system, including a spray pump 1 mounted on the boat, a linear drive mechanism, a programmable controller, and a signal receiver for use with an external remote controller. Two sets of the linear drive mechanisms are horizontally fixed on the left and right sides of the spray pump 1, respectively. The fixed ends (telescopic cylinders) are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the boat hull, and the movable ends (telescopic rods) are respectively connected to the reversing mechanism and the steering mechanism on the spray pump 1. The control end of the linear drive mechanism is connected to the output end of the programmable controller, and the input end of the programmable controller is connected to the signal receiver. Specifically: The pump 1 has a water outlet 4 rotatably mounted at its end via a rotating shaft. The water outlet 4 is connected to the water flow channel of the pump 1 body and can swing left and right around the rotating shaft to change the direction of the water jet, thereby achieving ship steering. When the water outlet 4 swings left and right around the rotating shaft, its connection to the water flow channel of the pump 1 body remains unchanged; only the direction of the water jet changes. When the water outlet 4 swings to the left, the water flow deflects to the left; when it swings to the right, the water flow deflects to the right, thus steering the ship. By directly changing the water flow direction by swinging the water outlet 4 around the rotating shaft, the steering principle is optimized, replacing the traditional propeller-rudder steering method. This reduces water flow resistance, makes the water flow force more direct, and significantly improves steering response speed, especially in shallow water areas, preventing the rudder from hitting the bottom and making it suitable for complex waterways such as muddy or sandy bottoms. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft is vertically fixed at a preset position at the end of the pump body 1 and connected to the inner wall of the outlet 4 via a bearing. This bearing connection replaces direct rigid contact, reducing the coefficient of friction when the outlet 4 swings, minimizing steering errors, and preventing component deformation or jamming due to prolonged use. In this embodiment, an angle sensor can be installed on the rotating shaft. The angle sensor is connected to a programmable controller via a wire to provide real-time feedback of the outlet 4's swing angle to the programmable controller. When the outlet swings to its limit angle, the programmable controller can control the steering electric actuator to stop operating.

[0018] The linear drive mechanism adopts an electric push rod 2. The electric push rod 2 is small in size and can be installed horizontally close to the body of the spray pump 1 without the need for additional installation space, effectively solving the pain point of "limited space in the steering gear compartment" of small ships; moreover, the electric push rod can achieve millimeter-level extension and retraction control through pulse signals to meet the precise action requirements of steering and reversing; at the same time, the electric push rod has a simple structure and low replacement or maintenance costs.

[0019] The reversing mechanism includes a reversing lever 5 and a reversing pocket 6. The reversing pocket 6 is located behind the water outlet 4 of the spray pump, with its middle section hinged to the body of the spray pump 1 and its head hinged to the reversing lever 5. The reversing lever 5 is hinged to the electric push rod 2 responsible for reversing via a reversing connecting rod 9. Through the mechanical linkage of the electric push rod 2, the reversing lever 5, and the reversing pocket 6, reversing is achieved using the reaction force of the water jet from the spray pump 1 itself, eliminating the need for an additional reverse propeller or reversing motor, simplifying the system structure and reducing energy consumption. Moreover, the reversing pocket 6, through multi-hinged linkage, allows for rapid lowering and raising actions. In this embodiment, a limit switch can be installed on the body of the spray pump 1 at the positions corresponding to the lowering and raising of the reversing pocket 6. The limit switch is connected to the programmable controller via a wire. When the reversing pocket 6 completely covers or completely detaches from the water outlet 4, the limit switch is triggered and sends a stop signal to the programmable controller, which then controls the electric push rod responsible for reversing to stop operating.

[0020] The steering mechanism includes a steering rod 7, one end of which is hinged to the outer wall of the pump outlet 4, and the other end is hinged to the electric push rod 2 responsible for steering via a steering linkage 8. By adapting the steering linkage to the different motion trajectories of the electric push rod's linear extension and retraction and the outlet's circular swing, a smooth transition from linear to circular power is achieved, greatly improving the smoothness of steering power transmission.

[0021] The signal receiver is connected to the programmable controller (PCC) via a pulse output module. The PCC is connected to the control terminal of the electric linear actuator via a solid-state relay. The pulse output module converts the PWM signal received by the signal receiver from the external remote control into a CAN signal and transmits it to the PCC. The PCC can then use the solid-state relay to achieve efficient circuit switching control of the electric linear actuator.

[0022] In the above structure, all electronic components and functional modules can utilize existing technologies. For example, the programmable controller can be Guangcheng Technology PLC322, the electric actuator model is HLZ40-2C-100370, the solid-state relay model is RL4DI080M, the pulse output module model is ZS-PI-5, and the signal receiver model is FS-IA10B.

[0023] The working principle of the above structure: When the remote control joystick is operated, the remote control emits a corresponding PWM signal. The signal receiver receives the signal and transmits it to the pulse output module, which converts it into a CAN signal and sends it to the programmable controller. After receiving the CAN signal, the programmable controller will analyze the parameters such as pulse width and frequency in the signal through a preset program. For example, based on the CAN signal pulse width corresponding to the leftward movement of the joystick, it calculates the required extension and retraction length of the electric push rod responsible for steering (e.g., a 10° joystick movement corresponds to a 50mm extension and retraction of the push rod). Then, it outputs the corresponding PWM control signal to the solid-state relay. By adjusting the engagement and disengagement frequency of the solid-state relay, it precisely controls the extension and retraction amount and speed of the electric push rod, achieving a proportional match between the joystick operation and the outlet steering angle.

[0024] When the remote control gives a command to turn left or right, the programmable controller controls the movable end of the electric push rod 2 responsible for steering to move to the left or right, and drives the steering rod 7 to move to the left or right through the steering linkage 8, so that the water outlet 4 of the spray pump swings to the left or right around the rotation axis in sync, and finally changes the direction of water jet to achieve steering.

[0025] When the remote control gives the reversing command, the programmable controller outputs a positive control signal to the solid-state relay corresponding to the electric push rod responsible for reversing, controlling the solid-state relay to engage in the positive direction, driving the movable end of the electric push rod to move to the left, and driving the reversing lever 5 to rotate through the reversing linkage 9, which in turn causes the head of the reversing basket 6 to swing upward around the central hinge point, forcing the tail of the reversing basket 6 to drop down until the reversing basket 6 completely covers the back of the spray pump outlet 4, using the reaction force generated by the sprayed water to drive the ship backward, thus realizing the reversing function.

[0026] When the remote control gives the command to drive forward, the programmable controller outputs a reverse control signal to the solid-state relay corresponding to the electric push rod 2 which is responsible for reversing. This controls the solid-state relay to engage in the reverse direction, driving the movable end of the electric push rod 2 to move to the right. This causes the reversing lever 5 to rotate in the reverse direction, which in turn causes the tail of the reversing basket 6 to swing upward around the central hinge point until the reversing basket 6 is completely detached from the back of the water outlet 4, thus realizing the function of driving forward.

[0027] While embodiments or examples of this disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments or examples, and the scope of this utility model is not limited by these embodiments or examples, but only by the granted claims and their equivalents. Various elements in the embodiments or examples may be omitted or replaced by their equivalents. Furthermore, the steps may be performed in a different order than that described in this disclosure. Further, various elements in the embodiments or examples may be combined in various ways. Importantly, as the technology evolves, many elements described herein can be replaced by equivalents that appear after this disclosure.

Claims

1. A single jet pump remotely controlled vessel turning system, characterized in that, This includes a spray pump, linear drive mechanism, programmable controller, and signal receiver that works with an external remote controller, all mounted on the ship. The two sets of linear drive mechanisms are respectively horizontally fixed on the left and right sides of the spray pump. The fixed ends are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cabin, and the movable ends are respectively connected to the reversing mechanism and the steering mechanism on the spray pump. The control terminal of the linear drive mechanism is connected to the output terminal of the programmable controller, and the input terminal of the programmable controller is connected to the signal receiver.

2. The single-jet pump remote-controlled boat steering system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pump has a water outlet at its end, which is rotatably mounted on a rotating shaft. The water outlet is connected to the water flow channel of the pump body and can swing left and right around the rotating shaft to change the direction of water jet.

3. A single jet pump RCP steering system according to claim 2, wherein, The rotating shaft is vertically fixed at a preset position at the end of the pump body and is connected to the inner wall of the outlet through a bearing.

4. A single jet pump RCP steering system according to claim 2, wherein, An angle sensor is mounted on the rotating shaft, and the angle sensor is connected to the programmable controller via wires.

5. A single jet pump RCP steering system according to claim 1, wherein, The linear drive mechanism uses an electric push rod.

6. A single jet pump RCP steering system according to claim 1, wherein, The reversing mechanism includes a reversing pole and a reversing basket. The reversing basket is located behind the water outlet of the spray pump, with its middle part hinged to the spray pump body and its head hinged to the reversing pole. The reversing pole is hinged to the electric push rod responsible for reversing via a reversing linkage.

7. A single jet pump RCP steering system according to claim 1, wherein, The steering mechanism includes a steering rod, one end of which is hinged to the outer wall of the pump outlet, and the other end is hinged to the electric push rod responsible for steering via a steering linkage.

8. The single-jet pump remote-controlled boat steering system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The signal receiver is connected to the programmable controller via a pulse output module, and the programmable controller is connected to the control terminal of the electric actuator via a solid-state relay.

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