Trolling Motor Rotation Stop Assembly for Multi-Turn Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trolling motors struggle to provide rotation greater than 360 degrees while preventing over-rotation, which can damage wiring and electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A trolling motor assembly with a main housing and a shaft rotatably coupled, featuring a gear system with multiple discs and stops that allow for rotation exceeding 360 degrees while preventing over-rotation through engagement of stop elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the shaft is allowed to rotate through multiple revolutions greater than 360 degrees, then maneuverability and steering capability are improved, but the wiring and electronic components may become damaged due to over-rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational movement is segmented across multiple independent elements (shaft, gear, discs) where each can rotate through different angular displacements. The shaft rotates through a first angular displacement exceeding 360 degrees, while the gear and discs rotate through smaller second and third angular displacements respectively, distributing the rotational stress and preventing wiring damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear and discs act as intermediary elements between the shaft and the housing stops. These intermediaries convert the shaft's large angular displacement into smaller rotations of the gear and discs, which are constrained by stops to prevent over-rotation that would damage wiring and electronic components.
2Reliability
If mechanical stops are used to limit rotation to prevent over-rotation, then wiring and electronic components are protected, but the total rotation is limited to a maximum of 360 degrees reducing maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation limiting function is segmented across multiple elements rather than applying a single stop to the shaft. The shaft can rotate through more than 360 degrees, while the gear and discs are separately constrained by stops, allowing the system to achieve both multi-revolution capability and rotation protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a single-dimension rotation limit (shaft directly constrained) to a multi-dimensional approach where the shaft, gear, and discs each have independent rotational degrees of freedom with different angular displacements, allowing greater overall maneuverability while maintaining protection.
3Ease of operation
If cables are mechanically linked to the propulsion motor for steering control, then the motor rotation can be controlled, but the total available rotation is limited by the cable constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cable-mechanical linkage system with an electrically-driven system where a sensor detects foot pedal position and communicates with a processor that controls the propulsion motor rotation. This substitution eliminates cable constraints, allowing the shaft to rotate through multiple revolutions greater than 360 degrees while maintaining steering control.
Data Source
AI summary
A trolling motor assembly including a main housing and a shaft rotatably coupled therewith. The shaft is rotatable through a first angular displacement about its longitudinal axis that exceeds 360 degrees. A first gear coupled with the shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. A second gear coupled with the first gear has an axis of rotation spaced apart from the longitudinal axis and is rotatable through a second angular displacement that exceeds the first angular displacement. A plurality of discs coupled with the second gear are rotatable about the axis of rotation relative to one another and to the second gear. A first disc defines a first stop that is rotatable into and out of engagement with a second stop coupled with the second gear. A second disc defines a third stop that is rotatable into and out of engagement with a fourth stop coupled with the main housing.