Marine Steering Actuator Position Sensing and Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current marine steering systems face challenges in accurately defining steering boundaries and detecting drive mechanism failures, particularly in electric actuators, which can lead to propulsion unit collisions and reduced vessel maneuverability.
Innovation Solution
The electric actuator system incorporates a motor with a rotor and output shaft, a drive mechanism, and position sensors to sense actual and relative steering positions, allowing for calibration of steering ranges and detection of drive mechanism failures, enabling automatic or manual repositioning to prevent collisions and maintain steering functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If position sensors and drive mechanism monitoring are added to the electric actuator, then the reliability of steering boundary definition and failure detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration of steering boundaries before normal operation. The controller stores calibrated boundary positions and uses them during operation, avoiding the need for complex real-time boundary detection algorithms while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Position sensors provide continuous feedback to the controller about the actuator's position and drive mechanism status. The controller compares actual positions with calibrated boundaries and detects failures by monitoring feedback signals, enabling reliable steering boundary definition and failure detection through straightforward feedback comparison rather than complex analysis.
2Measurement precision
If multiple position sensors are installed to sense actual and relative steering positions, then the measurement precision of steering position is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering position measurement is segmented into two independent components: actual position sensing and relative position sensing. Each sensor focuses on a specific measurement aspect, and the controller processes them separately through calibration and comparison, achieving high overall precision without requiring a single complex sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that receives signals from both position sensors, performs calibration to establish the relationship between actual and relative positions, and uses this calibrated relationship for accurate steering boundary definition and failure detection, simplifying the overall measurement system architecture.
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
This solution enhances the accuracy of steering boundary definition and drive mechanism failure detection, ensuring safe and efficient operation of marine vessels by allowing for automatic or manual adjustments to prevent propulsion unit collisions and maintain partial steering capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
There is an actuator position sensor disposed on the rotor for sensing a position of the rotor. The actuator position sensor senses an actual steering position based on a position of the rotor.
Implementation Method 2
There is a motor position sensor disposed on the output shaft of the motor for sensing a rotating position of the motor. The motor position sensor senses a relative steering position based on a position of the motor.
Implementation Method 3
There is also a drive mechanism disposed within the housing. The drive mechanism couples the output shaft of electric actuator to the rotor.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric actuator for a marine steering system comprises a housing and an output shaft reciprocatingly received by the housing. There is a rotor disposed within the housing. The rotor is coupled to the output shaft of the electric actuator. Rotation of the rotor causing the output shaft of the electric actuator to reciprocate relative to the housing. There is a motor disposed within the housing. The motor has an output shaft coupled to the rotor. A longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the motor is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the electric actuator. There is also a drive mechanism disposed within the housing. The drive mechanism couples the output shaft of electric actuator to the rotor. The drive mechanism is on a plane radial to a longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the motor. There is an actuator position sensor disposed on the rotor for sensing a position of the rotor. The actuator position sensor senses an actual steering position based on a position of the rotor. There is a motor position sensor disposed on the output shaft of the motor for sensing a rotating position of the motor. The motor position sensor senses a relative steering position based on a position of the motor.