A remote control device for lifeboats

Abstract

This utility model discloses a remote control device for a lifeboat, including an action execution unit and a controller for controlling the action execution unit. The action execution unit includes a speed control mechanism and a start-stop control mechanism mounted on the lifeboat engine. The speed control mechanism includes a motor and a swing arm. The motor drives the engine control lever to swing forward or backward via the swing arm. The start-stop control mechanism includes a second motor, a third motor, a start cam, and a stop cam. The second motor drives the start cam to rotate, causing the start cam to press or release the engine start button. The third motor drives the stop cam to rotate, causing the stop cam to press or release the engine stop button. Motors one, two, and three are all configured to wirelessly connect to the controller. This device enables remote control of the lifeboat, solving problems such as operators being unable to operate the lifeboat normally due to unexpected factors and diesel engines burning out due to failure to stop in time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of wireless control equipment technology, specifically to a remote control device for a lifeboat. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, all offshore production facilities and maritime transportation equipment such as oil tankers and passenger ships are equipped with lifeboats as escape devices in emergencies. Lifeboats are considered the safest and most stable of all escape devices, and most still retain a manual operation mode. During the operation of a lifeboat, the operator must remain inside the lifeboat at all times. Even in routine testing and other non-emergency escape situations, the operator must descend to the surface with the lifeboat to operate it. However, environmental factors such as wind, waves, and undercurrents at sea cause the lifeboat to rise and fall significantly. Operators quickly experience dizziness when the lifeboat is rocking, which is extremely dangerous in non-emergency evacuation situations. This can easily lead to operator errors, affecting the lifeboat's normal operation and causing injuries or fatalities.

[0003] In addition, during the spray test of the lifeboat, the lifeboat must descend to the sea surface and come into contact with seawater in order to test the specific spray situation. In the case of insufficient manpower and bad weather, the mode of starting the lifeboat first and then lowering it to the sea surface will leave the engine that powers the lifeboat in a condition without the assistance of cooling seawater to help it cool down. Especially when the diesel engine is used, if there is any obstruction during descent or recovery, or if the recovery equipment fails, if the engine cannot be stopped in time, it will eventually cause the engine to overheat and burn out, thus rendering the lifeboat used for emergency escape unusable. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a remote control device for lifeboats, which replaces manual on-site operation by remotely controlling the lifeboats and solves the problems of operators being unable to operate the lifeboats normally due to unexpected factors and diesel engines burning out due to failure to stop in time.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A remote control device for a lifeboat includes an action execution unit and a controller for controlling the action execution unit. The action execution unit includes a speed control mechanism and a start-stop control mechanism mounted on the lifeboat engine. The speed control mechanism includes a motor and a swing arm. The motor drives the engine control lever to swing forward or backward via the swing arm. The start-stop control mechanism includes a second motor, a third motor, a start cam, and a stop cam. The second motor drives the start cam to rotate, causing the start cam to press or release the engine start button. The third motor drives the stop cam to rotate, causing the stop cam to press or release the engine stop button. The first, second, and third motors are all configured to wirelessly connect with the controller.

[0007] Furthermore, one end of the swing arm is provided with a retaining ring that is sleeved with the output shaft of the motor, the inner side of the retaining ring is provided with a retaining groove, the output shaft of the motor is provided with a retaining block that is sleeved with the retaining groove, the end of the output shaft of the motor is provided with a locking screw hole, a locking bolt is screwed into the locking screw hole, and one end of the swing arm is provided with a collar that is sleeved with the engine control lever.

[0008] Furthermore, the speed control mechanism also includes a bracket, and the motor is fixed to one end of the bracket by mounting bolts and mounting nuts, while the other end of the bracket is fixed to the side of the lifeboat engine.

[0009] Furthermore, the other end of the bracket is fixed to the side of the lifeboat engine by mounting bolt 2.

[0010] Furthermore, the side of the bracket is provided with a mounting plate, and the mounting plate is screwed with a mounting bolt. The engine control lever includes a lower right arm, an upper left arm, and a connecting arm that connects the lower right arm and the upper left arm together. The end of the mounting bolt is pressed against one end of the lower right arm, and the other end of the lower right arm passes through the other end of the bracket and is connected to the lifeboat engine. The collar is sleeved on the upper left arm.

[0011] Furthermore, the start-stop control mechanism also includes a bracket two, which is fixed to the upper surface of the lifeboat engine. Both motor two and motor three are fixed to the bracket two by mounting bolt four and mounting nut two.

[0012] Furthermore, mounting plates are provided on both sides of the bracket two, and the mounting plates two are fixed to the upper surface of the lifeboat engine by mounting bolts five.

[0013] Furthermore, the top of the second bracket is provided with a shielding plate.

[0014] Furthermore, the controller includes a control control board and an execution control board, the control control board and the execution control board are wirelessly connected, the execution control board is installed on the lifeboat, and motor one, motor two and motor three are wirelessly connected to the execution control board respectively.

[0015] Furthermore, the first motor is a high-torque servo motor, while the second and third motors are ordinary servo motors.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0017] 1. This device can remotely control the start, stop, and real-time speed of the lifeboat, replacing the existing control method where operators must operate from inside the lifeboat. This avoids the inability of operators to properly operate the lifeboat due to dizziness or physical discomfort caused by sea turbulence, thus preventing casualties.

[0018] 2. This device enables remote control of the start and stop of the lifeboat, which can replace the current method of starting the engine before lowering the lifeboat during testing. This avoids the engine running without cooling water for a long time due to untimely deployment and retraction, thus effectively preventing the engine from burning out.

[0019] 3. This device is used as an auxiliary operating platform for lifeboats. It will not affect the original human operation functions of the lifeboats. At the same time, it has the power output mode to simulate human operation, the operation is stable and smooth, the impact on the controlled object is small, and the stability and safety of the lifeboat navigation are ensured. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a remote control device for a lifeboat according to this utility model.

[0021] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged diagram of point A in the middle.

[0022] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Enlarged diagram of point B in the middle.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the swing arm.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the retaining ring assembled on the first motor. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, a lifeboat remote control device includes an action execution unit and a controller 1 for controlling the action execution unit. The action execution unit includes a speed control mechanism 2 and a start-stop control mechanism 3 mounted on the lifeboat engine 4. The speed control mechanism 2 includes a motor 201 and a swing arm 202. The motor 201 drives the engine control lever 5 to swing forward or backward via the swing arm 202. The start-stop control mechanism 3 includes a motor 301, a motor 302, a start cam 303, and a stop cam 304. The motor 201 drives the start cam 303 to rotate, so that the start cam 303 presses or releases the engine start button 6. The motor 302 drives the stop cam 304 to rotate, so that the stop cam 304 presses or releases the engine stop button 7. The motors 201, 301, and 302 are all configured to wirelessly connect with the controller 1.

[0027] This device is installed on the lifeboat during use. It uses a controller to transmit control commands wirelessly, causing motors 201, 301, and 302 to operate. Motor 2 301 rotates the start cam 303, causing it to press the engine start button 6, thus starting and running the lifeboat engine 4. Motor 3 302 rotates the stop cam 304, causing it to press the engine stop button 7, thus stopping the lifeboat engine 4. Motor 201 controls the engine control lever 5 to swing back and forth via the swing arm 202. When the engine control lever 5 swings forward, it accelerates the lifeboat. When the motor control lever 5 is swung backward, the lifeboat slows down. The entire operation enables remote control of the lifeboat, effectively preventing operators from being unable to control the lifeboat due to dizziness or physical discomfort caused by sea turbulence, thus preventing casualties. In addition, for routine spray testing of the lifeboat, in cases of insufficient manpower or poor weather, only one person needs to start the lifeboat engine 4 through the controller to start the lifeboat and make it sail, without the need for operators to ride on the lifeboat. In case of obstruction during descent or recovery, or failure of the recovery equipment, the lifeboat engine 4 can be stopped in time to effectively prevent the lifeboat engine 4 from overheating and burning out.

[0028] One end of the swing arm 202 is provided with a retaining ring 203 that engages with the output shaft of motor 201. The inner side of the retaining ring 203 has a retaining groove 204. The output shaft of motor 201 has a retaining block 205 that engages with the retaining groove 204. The end of the output shaft of motor 201 has a locking screw hole 214, in which a locking bolt 206 is screwed. One end of the swing arm 202 is provided with a collar 207 that engages with the engine control lever 5. Both motor 201 and engine control lever 5 are designed for easy disassembly and assembly with the swing arm 202, facilitating quick disassembly and replacement of the swing arm 202. The locking bolt 206 ensures that the swing arm 202 will not detach from the output shaft of motor 201. Furthermore, the fit design between the output shaft of motor 201 and the swing arm 202 enables gapless rotational transmission, ensuring that the output angle of motor 201 is accurately reflected in the movement angle of the swing arm 202.

[0029] The speed control mechanism 2 also includes a bracket 208. The motor 201 is fixed to one end of the bracket 208 by mounting bolts 209 and mounting nuts 210. The other end of the bracket 208 is fixed to the side of the lifeboat engine 4.

[0030] The other end of the bracket 208 is fixed to the side of the lifeboat engine 4 by mounting bolt 211.

[0031] It should be noted that both bracket 208 and motor 201 are designed to be freely detachable, facilitating quick replacement and maintenance of the boat speed control mechanism 2.

[0032] The bracket 208 has a mounting plate 212 on its side, and mounting bolts 213 are screwed onto the mounting plate 212. The engine control lever 5 includes a lower right arm 501, an upper left arm 502, and a connecting arm 503 that connects the lower right arm 501 and the upper left arm 502. The end of the mounting bolts 213 presses against one end of the lower right arm 501, and the other end of the lower right arm 501 passes through the other end of the bracket 208 and is connected to the lifeboat engine 4. The collar 207 is sleeved on the upper left arm 502. By utilizing the combination of the mounting plate 212 and the mounting bolts 213, and the positional limitation of the bracket 208, the speed control mechanism 2 is more stably connected to the engine control lever 5, thereby stably and remotely driving the engine control lever 5 to swing back and forth.

[0033] The start-stop control mechanism 3 also includes a bracket 305, which is fixed to the upper surface of the lifeboat engine 4. The motors 301 and 302 are both fixed to the bracket 305 by mounting bolts 306 and mounting nuts 307.

[0034] The bracket 2 305 is provided with mounting plates 2 308 on both sides, and the mounting plates 2 308 are fixed to the upper surface of the lifeboat engine 4 by mounting bolts 5 309.

[0035] It should be noted that the start-stop control mechanism 3 is designed for easy disassembly and assembly, allowing for free replacement and maintenance.

[0036] The top of the bracket 2 305 is provided with a shield 310. The shield 310 serves to protect the motor 2 301, motor 302, start cam 303, stop cam 304, and stop cam 304 from damage due to unexpected factors at sea, and to ensure that the start-stop control mechanism 3 can stably start or stop the lifeboat engine 4.

[0037] The controller 1 includes a control control board 101 and an execution control board 102. The control control board 101 and the execution control board 102 are wirelessly connected. The execution control board 102 is installed on the lifeboat. The motor 1 201, motor 2 301, and motor 3 302 are wirelessly connected to the execution control board 102. The operator inputs control commands through the control board 101, which then remotely controls motors 201, 301, and 302 via the execution control board 102. The communication between the control board 101 and the execution control board 102 uses the NRF24L01 wireless communication mode. This communication method is low-cost, stable, and has a transmission distance of up to 250 meters, which fully meets the usage distance requirements. In the event of a communication failure between the execution control board 102 and the control board 101, the execution control board 102 can put motors 201, 301, and 302 into a safety mode to ensure that there is no control logic confusion and to prevent the lifeboat from sailing out of control.

[0038] The first motor 201 is a high-torque servo motor, while the second motor 301 and the third motor 302 are ordinary servo motors. The high-torque servo motor can increase the driving force on the engine control stick 5, ensuring that the engine control stick 5 swings stably forward or backward, and can achieve precise control of the swing arm 202 within the adjustable range. The overall control circuit is simple and has a low failure rate. The ordinary servo motor moves smoothly and has less impact on the engine start button 6 and the engine stop button 7, which can minimize the risk of damage to the buttons.

Claims

1. A lifeboat remote control device, comprising an action execution unit and a controller (1) for controlling the action execution unit, characterized in that: The action execution unit includes a speed control mechanism (2) and a start-stop control mechanism (3) installed on the lifeboat engine (4). The speed control mechanism (2) includes a motor (201) and a swing arm (202). The motor (201) drives the engine control lever (5) to swing forward or backward through the swing arm (202). The start-stop control mechanism (3) includes a motor (301), a motor (302), a start cam (303), and a stop cam (304). The motor (301) drives the start cam (303) to rotate so that the start cam (303) presses or releases the engine start button (6). The motor (302) drives the stop cam (304) to rotate so that the stop cam (304) presses or releases the engine stop button (7). The motors (201), (301), and (302) are all configured to wirelessly connect with the controller (1).

2. The lifeboat remote control device of claim 1, wherein: One end of the swing arm (202) is provided with a retaining ring (203) that is sleeved with the output shaft of motor one (201). The inner side of the retaining ring (203) is provided with a retaining groove (204). The output shaft of motor one (201) is provided with a retaining block (205) that is sleeved with the retaining groove (204). The end of the output shaft of motor one (201) is provided with a locking screw hole (214). A locking bolt (206) is screwed into the locking screw hole (214). One end of the swing arm (202) is provided with a collar (207) that is sleeved with the engine control lever (5).

3. The lifeboat remote control device of claim 2, wherein: The speed control mechanism (2) further includes a bracket (208), and the motor (201) is fixed to one end of the bracket (208) by mounting bolts (209) and mounting nuts (210). The other end of the bracket (208) is fixed to the side of the lifeboat engine (4).

4. The lifeboat remote control device of claim 3, wherein: The other end of the bracket (208) is fixed to the side of the lifeboat engine (4) by mounting bolt (211).

5. A remote control device for lifeboats according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The bracket (208) is provided with a mounting plate (212) on its side. The mounting plate (212) is screwed with mounting bolts (213). The engine control lever (5) includes a lower right arm (501), an upper left arm (502), and a connecting arm (503) that connects the lower right arm (501) and the upper left arm (502). The end of the mounting bolts (213) presses against one end of the lower right arm (501). The other end of the lower right arm (501) passes through the other end of the bracket (208) and is connected to the lifeboat engine (4). The collar (207) is sleeved on the upper left arm (502).

6. The lifeboat remote control device of claim 1, wherein: The start-stop control mechanism (3) also includes a bracket two (305), which is fixed on the upper surface of the lifeboat engine (4). The motor two (301) and motor three (302) are both fixed on the bracket two (305) by mounting bolt four (306) and mounting nut two (307).

7. A lifeboat remote control apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that: The bracket two (305) is provided with mounting plates two (308) on both sides, and the mounting plates two (308) are fixed to the upper surface of the lifeboat engine (4) by mounting bolt five (309).

8. A lifeboat remote control apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that: The top of the second bracket (305) is provided with a baffle plate (310).

9. The lifeboat remote control device of claim 1, wherein: The controller (1) includes a control board (101) and an execution board (102). The control board (101) and the execution board (102) are wirelessly connected. The execution board (102) is installed on the lifeboat. The motor one (201), motor two (301), and motor three (302) are wirelessly connected to the execution board (102) respectively.

10. The lifeboat remote control device of claim 1, wherein: The first motor (201) is a high-torque servo motor, while the second motor (301) and the third motor (302) are ordinary servo motors.

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