US3881095A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for evaluating sailboat performance
Assignee: Velcon Filters Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-03
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1993-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A system for evaluating the performance of a sailing boat wherein average boat speed, average apparent wind speed and average apparent wind direction are sensed and are utilized to determine the performance characteristics of sailing boats.
Inventors
- 👤 Lucian W Taylor
- 👤 George J Eilers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/48; G06G7/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for evaluating sailboat performance comprising: a wind detector coupled to the input shaft of a synchro transmitter wherein said wind detector is responsive to the instantaneous apparent wind and said transmitter is responsive to the position of said wind detector for generating a signal representing instantaneous apparent wind direction; means responsive to said instantaneous apparent wind direction source signal for producing an average apparent wind direction signal; a signal source representing apparent wind speed; means reponsive to said apparent wind speed source signal for producing an average apparent wind speed signal; a signal source representing boat speed; means responsive to said boat speed source signal for producing an average boat speed signal; and means responsive to said average signals for generating at least one output signal whereby sailboat performance characteristics can be evaluated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for evaluating sailboat performance comprising: a wind detector coupled to the input shaft of a synchro transmitter wherein said wind detector is responsive to the instantaneous apparent wind and said transmitter is responsive to the position of said wind detector for generating a signal representing instantaneous apparent wind direction; means responsive to said instantaneous apparent wind direction source signal for producing an average apparent wind direction signal; a signal source representing apparent wind speed; means reponsive to said apparent wind speed source signal for producing an average apparent wind speed signal; a signal source representing boat speed; means responsive to said boat speed source signal for producing an average boat speed signal; and means responsive to said average signals for generating at least one output signal whereby sailboat performance characteristics can be evaluated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said means for producing an average apparent wind direction signal includes means responsive to said instantaneous apparent wind direction signal and to said average apparent wind direction signal for producing a first error signal; a source of a reference signal; means for comparing said first error signal to said reference signal to produce a second error signal; means responsive to said second error signal for producing an average error signal representing a time-weighted average of said second error signal; and means responsive to said average error signal for indicating average apparent wind direction and for producing said average apparent wind direction signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said means for producing a first error signal is a synchro receiver responsive to said instantaneous apparent wind direction signal and to the position of said means for indicating the average apparent wind direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said source of a reference signal is a 400 Hz oscillator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said means for producing a second error signal is a synchro detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said means for producing an average error signal is an integrator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said means for indicating average apparent wind direction includes means for generating an error limit exceeded signal when said average error signal exceeds a predetermined limit and for generating a set signal in response to an average error signal of one polarity and a reset signal in response to an average error signal of the other polarity; means responsive to said error limit exceeded signal for reversing the phase of said reference signal; means responsive to said set and reset signals for indicating the polarity of said average error signal; control means responsive to the phase of said reference signal and the polarity of said average error signal for producing a direction signal; and means responsive to said direction signal for rotating said means for indicating the average apparent wind direction to reduce said first error signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said means for generating said error limit exceeded signal and said set and reset signals includes means for generating a limit exceeded signal when said average error signal exceeds said predetermined error limit and wherein said means for producing said average error signal is responsive to said limit exceeded signal for reducing the magnitude of said average error signal below said predetermined limit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said means for reversing the phase of said reference signal is a Toggle flip-flop having two separate output states which alternate in response to said error limit exceeded signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 9 wherein said means for indicating the polarity of said average error signal is a limit flip-flop having two separate output states corresponding to the output states of said toggle flip-flop and representing positive and negative average error signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein said control means produces a first direction signal when the output states of said toggle flip-flop and said limit flip-flop are alike and a second direction signal when said output states are opposite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
117 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein said means for rotating said means for indicating the average apparent wind direction includes a stepper motor in geared relation with said means for producing a first error signal, such that an increment of rotation of a shaft of said stepper motor produces the same increment of rotation of a shaft of said means for indicating the average apparent wind direction, said stepper motor being responsive to said first and second direction signals to rotate said increment in a direction to reduce the magnitude of said average error signal; and wherein said means for indicating average apparent wind direction includes a wind direction indicator coupled to said stepper motor shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said means responsive to said average signals is a computer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 13 wherein said computer is responsive to said average signals for generating output signals representing true wind direction, true wind speed, and boat speed into the wind.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for evaluating sailboat performance comprising: a signal source representing apparent wind direction; means responsive to said apparent wind direction signal source for producing an average apparent wind direction signal; a signal source representing apparent wind speed; means responsive to said apparent wind speed signal source for producing an average apparent wind speed signal; a signal source representing boat speed; means responsive to said boat speed signal source for producing an average boat speed signal; and digital computer means responsive to said average signals for generating at least one output signal whereby sailboat performance characteristics can be determined.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for evaluating sailboat performance comprising: a signal source representing apparent wind direction; means responsive to said apparent wind direction signal source for producing an average apparent wind direction signal; a signal source representing apparent wind speed; means responsive to said apparent wind speed signal source for producing an average apparent wind speed signal; a signal source representing boat speed; means responsive to said boat speed signal source for producing an average boat speed signal; and digital computer means responsive to said average signals for generating at least one output signal whereby sailboat performance characteristics can be determined.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein said digital computer is responsive to said average signals for generating output signals representing true wind direction, true wind speed, and boat speed into the wind.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |