Water Jet Direction Changer Layout for Two-Axis Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water jet propulsion boats are limited by the number of actuators, restricting the direction in which the direction changing member can be shifted.
Innovation Solution
A water jet propulsion boat design that allows the direction changer to be pivotable about two perpendicular pivot axes, utilizing a first actuator to shift a first portion of the direction changer in a third direction perpendicular to both axes, and a second actuator to shift a second portion in the same direction, enabling jet stream direction changes in two perpendicular directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hydraulic cylinders are used to shift the direction changing member, then the structure is simple, but the direction in which the direction changing member can be shifted is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The direction changing member is divided into a first portion and a second portion that can be shifted independently by separate actuators. This segmentation allows each portion to be controlled individually, enabling the jet stream to be directed in multiple perpendicular directions without requiring a complex multi-axis actuator system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second pivot axes. By shifting portions of the direction changing member in this third dimension, the system expands the control range from a single plane to three-dimensional space, allowing jet stream direction changes in two perpendicular directions simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple hydraulic cylinders are used to expand shifting directions, then the jet stream direction control improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one complex multi-degree-of-freedom actuator, the invention segments the direction changing member into multiple portions, each controlled by a simpler actuator. This approach achieves multi-directional control by coordinating simpler actuators rather than using a single complex actuator system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the functions of multiple actuators working on different portions of the direction changing member to achieve coordinated multi-directional control. By merging the control actions of several simpler actuators, the system achieves the same versatility as a single complex actuator would provide, but with improved reliability and easier maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A water jet propulsion boat includes a hull, a jet generator, a direction changer, a steering device, and a shift mechanism. The direction changer is pivotable with respect to the hull about a first pivot axis extending along a first direction and about a second pivot axis extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The shift mechanism includes a first actuator to shift a first portion of the direction changer in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, and a second actuator to shift a second portion of the direction changer in the third direction. The first pivot axis is between the first and second portions when viewed in the first direction, and both the first and second portions are on one side of the first direction with respect to the second pivot axis when viewed in the second direction.