Joystick Mounting with Ball-Spring Centering for Neutral Yaw Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joystick mounting devices for marine vessels are costly, complex, and difficult to adapt to different vessels, with spring-to-center mechanisms requiring large installation spaces and prone to erroneous control due to uneven wear, especially when the joystick can be rotated in two directions from its neutral position.
Innovation Solution
A mounting device comprising a first and second mounting element, a compression spring, and a ball element, where the ball element rolls on an inclined surface to increase spring tension for automatic return to the neutral position, using standard components and minimizing parts for cost-effectiveness and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring-to-center mechanism is integrated in the potentiometer, then the joystick can return to neutral position, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is extracted from the potentiometer integration and placed in the mounting device structure. The mounting device includes a first mounting element, a second mounting element, and a spring element that urges a ball element against an inclined surface, separating the return mechanism from the sensor component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses standard components such as coil springs and metal or plastic balls instead of custom-integrated mechanisms. These are cost-effective, readily available parts that simplify manufacturing and reduce costs while maintaining functionality.
2Reliability
If a spring-to-center mechanism is integrated in the potentiometer, then the joystick can return to neutral position, but the installation space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ball element nests within the mounting device structure, rolling on an inclined surface between the first and second mounting elements. The spring element is positioned within the same mounting device housing, creating a compact nested arrangement that minimizes installation space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the joystick can be rotated in two directions from neutral position, then the control functionality is improved, but the reliability decreases due to uneven spring wear
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined surface is designed with asymmetric geometry relative to the neutral position, creating different return forces for clockwise and counter-clockwise rotations. This asymmetric design compensates for wear effects and ensures accurate return to neutral position in both rotation directions.
4Reliability
If custom construction is used for the mounting device, then the return mechanism works, but the adaptability to different marine vessels decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting device is designed as a universal mechanism using standard components (coil springs, metal or plastic balls, mounting elements) that can be adapted to different marine vessels and joystick configurations. The modular design with separate mounting elements allows installation on various vessel types without custom construction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective, reliable, and compact joystick mounting system that ensures accurate return to the neutral position even with two-direction yaw rotation and wear, offering tactile feedback and easy adaptation with standard components.
Implementation Method 1
The spring element may be configured as a compression spring. For example, the spring element may be configured as coil spring, such as a metal coil spring.
Implementation Method 2
The spring element is mounted to the first mounting element and urges the ball element against a ball support surface of the second mounting element.
Implementation Method 3
The ball element may, for example, be configured as a sphere or as a cylinder. The ball element may thus be a cost-effective standard component.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a mounting device (30) for a joystick (10), the mounting device (30) comprising a first and second mounting element (32, 34), a spring element (36) and a ball element (38). The two mounting elements (32, 34) are rotatably attached to allow rotation of the joystick (10) about a central axis (22) of yaw rotation. The spring element (36) is mounted to the first mounting element (32) and urges the ball element (38) against a ball support surface (50) of the second mounting element (34). The ball support surface (50) is inclined such that rotation of the stick element (16) about the central axis (22) away from a neutral yaw position causes increase of tension in the spring element (36), biasing the joystick (10) towards the neutral yaw position. Further, the invention relates to a joystick (10) and a marine vessel.