초록 ▼

A thrust control system is described, including a control apparatus having water jet deflectors that deflect water to provide a reversing/backing thrust and a trim force to marine vessels using water jet propulsion. Other aspects include an electro-mechanical control lever assembly for operating act

A thrust control system is described, including a control apparatus having water jet deflectors that deflect water to provide a reversing/backing thrust and a trim force to marine vessels using water jet propulsion. Other aspects include an electro-mechanical control lever assembly for operating actuators, the assembly comprising a mechanical lever coupled to a transducer that generates an electrical output. Yet other aspects comprise a load-sensing hydraulic circuit comprising at least two loads and a control system for controlling at least one of the loads, that prevents unwanted pressure transients in the circuit.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A marine vessel deflector apparatus, comprising: a first deflector, configured to move along a first degree of freedom with the deflector apparatus into and out of a water jet stream so as to provide or not provide a trimming force, and also configured to move along a second

What is claimed is: 1. A marine vessel deflector apparatus, comprising: a first deflector, configured to move along a first degree of freedom with the deflector apparatus into and out of a water jet stream so as to provide or not provide a trimming force, and also configured to move along a second degree of freedom into a plurality of positions in the water jet stream with respect to the deflector apparatus so as to deflect the water jet stream to control a magnitude of a trim force provided by the first deflector. 2. The deflector apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deflector apparatus is configured so that the trim force provided by the first deflector provides substantially no backing thrust component. 3. The deflector apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second deflector coupled to the first deflector and configured to move in unison with first deflector out of and into the water jet stream to deflect the water jet stream so as to provide a backing thrust. 4. The deflector apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first and second deflectors are arranged with respect to one another so that they cannot both be placed in the water jet stream simultaneously. 5. The deflector apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first deflector comprises a substantially planar surface that deflects the water jet stream. 6. The deflector apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pivot that provides the first degree of freedom for movement of the deflector apparatus. 7. The deflector apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first deflector is coupled to the deflector apparatus by a pivot that allows for motion of the first deflector with respect to the deflector apparatus. 8. The deflector apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second deflectors are arranged with respect to one another so that they deflect the water jet stream substantially exclusively. 9. A marine vessel deflector apparatus, comprising: a first deflector surface configured to deflect a water jet nozzle stream to provide a backing thrust when the deflector apparatus is in a first position; and a second deflector surface configured to deflect the water jet stream to provide substantially only a trim force when the deflector apparatus is in a second position; and wherein the second deflector apparatus is configured to move into a plurality of positions in the water jet stream with respect to the deflector apparatus in the second position, so as to deflect the water jet stream to control a magnitude of a trim force provided by the second deflector. 10. The deflector apparatus of claim 9, wherein the deflector apparatus is configured so that it cannot be in both the first and the second positions simultaneously. 11. The deflector apparatus of claim 9, wherein the deflector apparatus comprises at least two components, a first component that includes the first deflector surface and a second component that includes the second deflector surface, the first and second components being coupled to one another. 12. The deflector apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second deflector is coupled to the deflector apparatus by a pivot that allows for motion of the second deflector with respect to the deflector apparatus. 13. The deflector apparatus of claim 9, wherein the deflector apparatus is configured so that the trim force provided by the second deflector provides substantially no backing thrust component. 14. The deflector apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second deflector comprises a substantially planar surface that deflects the water jet stream. 15. The deflector apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second deflectors are arranged with respect to one another so that they deflect the water jet stream substantially exclusively. 16. A method for generating a trim force for use with a marine vessel control apparatus, comprising: moving a deflector apparatus comprising a first deflector along a first degree of freedom into and out of a water jet stream so as to provide or not provide, respectively, a trimming force; moving the first deflector along a second degree of freedom into a plurality of positions in the water jet stream with respect to the deflector apparatus so as to deflect the water jet stream to control a magnitude of a trim force provided by the first deflector. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising moving a second deflector coupled to the first deflector, and configured to move in unison with deflector apparatus along the first degree of freedom into and out of the water jet stream so as to provide a backing thrust. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising deflecting the water jet stream with the first and second deflectors substantially exclusively. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the act of moving comprises rotating the first and second deflectors about a common axis to place the first and the second deflectors into the water jet stream. 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising deflecting the water jet stream with the first and second deflectors substantially exclusively. 21. A method for generating a backing thrust and a trim force for use in a marine vessel control apparatus, comprising: moving the deflector apparatus comprising a first deflector into a first position to deflect a water jet nozzle stream to provide the backing thrust; moving the deflector apparatus comprising a second deflector into a second position to deflect the water jet stream to provide substantially only the trim force; and moving the second deflector apparatus into a plurality of positions in the water jet stream with respect to the deflector apparatus in the second position, so as to deflect the water jet stream to control a magnitude of a trim force provided by the second deflector. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the act of moving the deflector apparatus comprises moving the first and second deflectors in unison so that the backing thrust and the trim force are provided substantially exclusively of one another. 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the act of moving the deflector apparatus comprises rotating the first and second deflectors about a common axis to place the first and the second deflectors in the first and the second positions.