US3660743A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical automatic pilot
Assignee: Raytheon Anschuetz GmbH
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Filing: 1970-10-06
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Granted: 1972-05-02
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Expires: 1990-10-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to an automatic pilot for a ruddercontrolled ship of the type in which the motor-operable steering gear for actuating the rudder of the vehicle is controlled by a trigger circuit which in its turn is controlled by an operational circuit including a PID-network. Some ships have a tendency to break out of their course when the rudder is in the midshipposition. It is the object of the invention to provide the pilot with additional means for overcoming this tendency by such a control of the trigger circuit that the rudder is displayed by an angle in excess of that produced by said operational circuit thereby exerting a stabilizing moment on the ship. The additional means comprises an electronic computer having an input receiving the error signal and an output connected to the trigger circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Kundler
- 👤 Gerd Hingst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:24
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D3/00; G05D3/12; G05D3/14; G05D3/16; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/0206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
An electrical automatic pilot for a rudder-controlled ship comprising a direction indicator, an adjustable course-selector, signalling means connected with said direction indicator and with said course-selector for producing an electrical error signal representing the course error of the ship, an electrically controlled motor-operable steering gear for actuating the rudder of the vehicle, electrical connecting means connecting said signalling means with said steering gear, said connecting means having an input connected to said signalling means and an output cooperatively connected to said steering gear, said connecting means including (a) circuit means for producing an output signal causing said Steering gear to produce an instantaneous rudder angle composed of three components, the first one of said components being proportional to said error signal, the second component being proportional to the integral of said error signal and the third component being proportional to the differential quotient of said error signal, (b) a trigger circuit inserted between said circuit means and said steering gear and (c) electrical means for producing a feed-back signal connected to said circuit means, and an electronic computer for producing an output signal by which the rudder is displaced by an angle in excess of that produced by said connecting means, said electronic computer having an input connected to said signalling means to receive said error signal therefrom and an output connected to said trigger circuit, whereby a stabilizing moment is exerted on the ship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
An electrical automatic pilot for a rudder-controlled ship comprising a direction indicator, an adjustable course-selector, signalling means connected with said direction indicator and with said course-selector for producing an electrical error signal representing the course error of the ship, an electrically controlled motor-operable steering gear for actuating the rudder of the vehicle, electrical connecting means connecting said signalling means with said steering gear, said connecting means having an input connected to said signalling means and an output cooperatively connected to said steering gear, said connecting means including (a) circuit means for producing an output signal causing said Steering gear to produce an instantaneous rudder angle composed of three components, the first one of said components being proportional to said error signal, the second component being proportional to the integral of said error signal and the third component being proportional to the differential quotient of said error signal, (b) a trigger circuit inserted between said circuit means and said steering gear and (c) electrical means for producing a feed-back signal connected to said circuit means, and an electronic computer for producing an output signal by which the rudder is displaced by an angle in excess of that produced by said connecting means, said electronic computer having an input connected to said signalling means to receive said error signal therefrom and an output connected to said trigger circuit, whereby a stabilizing moment is exerted on the ship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
An electrical automatic pilot as claimed in claim 1 in which said electronic computer comprises a first amplifier network for supplying an output voltage corresponding in magnitude and sign to the differential quotient of said error signal, a second amplifier network for supplying an auxiliary output voltage corresponding in magnitude to that of said differential quotient, and a transistorized network having an input connected to the outputs of said first amplifier network and said second amplifier network, the output of said transistorized network being the output of said electronic computer, the input of said electronic computer being connected to the inputs of said amplifier networks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical automatic pilot as claimed in claim 2 further comprising an adjustable resistor included in the connection between the output of said electronic computer and said trigger circuit for varying the magnitude of said excess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrical automatic pilot as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a manually operable switch for disabling said electronic computer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-02 | 1975-11-01 | 1976-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-02 | 1979-11-01 | 1980-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-02 | 1983-11-01 | 1984-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |