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 Title: |
US5171173:
Trolling motor steering and speed control
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Henderson, William A.; Starkville, MS
Crews, Ronald M.; Tempe, AZ
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| Assignee: |
Zebco Corporation, Tulsa, OK
other patents from ZEBCO CORPORATION (639320) (approx. 96)
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| Published / Filed: |
1992-12-15
/ 1990-07-24
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| Application Number: |
US1990000558156
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
B60L 15/20;
B63H 20/00;
IPC-7:
B60L 15/20;
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| ECLA Code: |
B63H20/00T; B63H21/26B; Y02T10/72D;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
440/007;
114/153;
Original:
440/007;
114/153;
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| Field of Search: |
440/006,7,58,60
114/144 R,159,144 E,153
074/478,480 B,481
318/588
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| Priority Number: |
| 1990-07-24 |
US1990000558156 |
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| Abstract: |
A servo controlled trolling motor steering system provides improved speed and steering control. The system includes apparatus for mounting the motor on a boat for rotation about an axis to effect steering of the boat. A foot pedal includes a base and a foot pad pivotally mounted to the base, the foot pad being pivotal by a user to command a desired steering direction. A membrane potentiometer senses rotational position of the motor to develop an electrical signal representative of the rotational position, the signal comprising a steering feedback signal. A second membrane potentiometer senses pivotal position of the foot pad relative to the base to develop an electrical signal representative of the pivotal position, the signal comprising a steering command signal. A steering control is mounted to the mounting apparatus for steering the trolling motor, including a servo driven gear set for rotating the trolling motor and an electrical control responsive to the steering command signal and the steering feedback signal for actuating the servo to rotate the trolling motor to steer the boat.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Wood, Phillips, VanSanten, Hoffman & Ertel ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Swinehart, Edwin L.;
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 41 claims |
I claim:
1. A trolling motor steering system comprising:
- means for mounting the motor on a boat for rotation about an axis to effect steering of the boat;
- a foot pedal including a fixed member and a rotatable member rotatably mounted to the fixed member, said rotatable member being rotatable by a user to command a desired steering direction;
- foot pedal limit means for limiting relative rotation between said fixed and rotatable members;
- means for sensing relative rotational position between said fixed and rotatable members and generating an analog electrical signal having a level representative of said rotational position, said signal comprising a steering command signal;
- electrical steering means mounted to said mounting means for steering said trolling motor, including drive means for rotating said trolling motor, electrical control means responsive to said steering command signal for actuating said drive means to rotate said trolling motor to steer the boat, and converting means operatively associated with said drive means and said control means for converting a selected rotational movement of said rotatable member, represented by said steering command signal level, to a greater rotational movement of said trolling motor.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 56 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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