264results about "Steering components" patented technology

A device and a method for laterally steering a streamer cable towed underwater behind a seismic survey vessel. The device includes a cable-steering assembly rotatably attached to a streamer cable. The assembly includes a body to which one or more wings are mounted. The wings are arranged to pivot about pivot axes. The assembly is ballasted so that the pivot axes of the wings are largely in a vertical plane. A conventional cable-leveling bird is converted to one version of a cable-steering device by ballasting to maintain the pivot axes of the bird's wings largely vertical. With an orientation sensor for sensing the orientation of the wings, the cable-steering device adjusts the angle of the wings to provide a sideward component of force to steer the streamer.

A method of programming and setting parameters for a computer unit that regulates the interface between the operator of a marine vessel and the vessel's electric generation and propulsion systems. The invention describes the regulation of energy producing devices, energy storage devices and drive motors and propellers in both propulsion and regeneration modes. This invention simplifies and automates most of the operation of marine electric, hybrid electric, or diesel electric propulsion because the only controls requiring operator intervention are three generator modes: OFF, AUTO and ON, an alarm, an override switch and one or more throttle(s). This helm control can be duplicated in different areas of the vessel. All automatic modes required to regulate forward movement, reverse, emergency power, zero drag, propeller freeze and regeneration are all controlled by a logic using a combination of generator mode, the position of the throttles, the speed and the stored parameters of the vessel.

An assembly for controlling a vehicle, including a fluid contact surface constructed and arranged to act against a fluid passing over the fluid contact surface; and a support structure coupled to the fluid contact surface. The support structure is constructed and arranged to expand or contract between a first position and a second position, such that a first dimension of the support structure changes during movement of the support structure between the first position and the second position, while a second dimension of the support structure remains substantially constant during the movement of the support structure between the first position and the second position.

A method for verifying a control system (2) of a vessel (4), in which said control system (2) in its operative state receives sensor signals (7) from sensors (8) and command signals (9) from command input devices (10), and as a response provides control signals (13) to actuators (3) in order to maintain a desired position, velocity, course or other state of said vessel (4), characterized by the following steps: during a time (t0), disconnecting the reception of real sensor signals (7a, 7b, 7c, . . . ) and replacing said real sensor signals by a test sequence (T0) of artificial measurements (7a′, 7b′, 7c′, . . . ) from a test signal source (41); letting said control system (2) work based on the artificial sensor signals (7, 7′) to generate control signals (13′) to be recorded as a response (S0) to said first test sequence (T0) for said first time (t0) on a control signal logger (42) and storing response (S0) to the test sequence (T0) as the control system's (2) “signature” response (S0); said method having the purpose of, at a later time (t1, t2, t3, . . . ), to use the test sequence (T0) input to the control system (2), and record a later response (S1, S2, S3, . . . ) and determining whether said later response similar to the signature response (S0) to verify that said control system (2) is unchanged, or not.

A marine seismic streamer steering device comprises at least two hinged sections pivotally coupled to each other and connected between two adjacent sections of the seismic streamer, and a bend control unit that controls bending of the hinged sections relative to the longitudinal axis of the seismic streamer. The steering device further comprises a roll sensor which determines rotational orientation of the body and transmits the orientation to the bend control unit, a lateral position sensor which determines lateral position of the body and transmits the lateral position to the bend control unit, and a depth sensor which determines depth of the body and transmits the depth to the bend control unit. The bend control unit then controls the bending of the hinged sections based on the transmitted rotational orientation, lateral position, and depth of the body.

A control device for a steering kite on a boat. The steering kite can be steered by a steering device and at least two or three, preferably at least four or five, suspension lines. The control device comprises at least one force introduction rail that extends horizontally over the water line and on which a deviation device for the suspension lines is positioned in such a way that it can move back and forth. The rail is fixed to the boat between the steering kite and the steering device in such a way that the traction force of the steering kite produces torque about the longitudinal axis and / or the transverse axis of the boat in the water, by means of which the leeward side of the boat is lifted upwards.

A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein nanostructures or microstructures are disposed on a surface of a body (such as a submersible vehicle) that is adapted to move through a fluid, such as water. The nanostructures or microstructures are disposed on the surface in a way such that the contact between the surface and the fluid is reduced and, correspondingly, the friction between the surface and the fluid is reduced. In an illustrative embodiment, the surface is a surface on a submarine or other submersible vehicle (such as a torpedo). Illustratively, electrowetting principles are used to cause the fluid to at least partially penetrate the nanostructures or microstructures on the surface of the body in order to selectively create greater friction in a desired location of the surface. Such penetration may be used, for example, to create drag that alters the direction or speed of travel of the body.

The invention relates to a fin stabilization system adapted to minimize roll about the longitudinal axis of the boat during sharp cornering at very high speeds. In one form, equipment such as a machine gun is mounted to the bow of the boat and targets are adapted to be engaged in high-speed maneuvers when cornering and the deck of the boat is not excessively rolled whereby blocking visibility in a turn.

Apparatus, systems and methods for connecting two seismic streamers are disclosed that enable two streamers to be towed in a desired arrangement. One apparatus comprises an elongate member having a first portion and a second portion, and an orientation member connected to the elongate member between the first and second portions, the orientation member functioning, when the streamers are connected by the apparatus and towed, to maintain orientation of the streamers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

A system for adjusting a deflector in a seismic survey comprises a generally upright deflector body and at least one bridle connected to a seismic cable. The bridle includes an upper segment secured to an upper connection point on the deflector body, and a lower segment coupled to a lower connection point on the deflector body. The upper bridle segment, lower bridle segment and deflector body define a geometry between themselves. This geometry is adjustable by at least one actuator so as to control the tilt angle of the deflector body

A watercraft includes a number of subassemblies, including an inflatable hull, a drive system, a battery, a seat assembly and a steering and thrust control. Each of the subassemblies of may be of one or more particular designs which are detailed herein. A watercraft in accordance with the teaching herein may use one or more of these designs and each such watercraft is within the scope of this disclosure.

A fluid contact surface actuation system for a vehicle, including a first fluid contact surface constructed and arranged to act against a first fluid passing over the first fluid contact surface; and a first fluid actuator coupled to the first fluid contact surface to move the first fluid contact surface between a first position and a second position to enable control of the vehicle in a predetermined manner, the first fluid actuator having a first resilient bladder that receives a second fluid such that pressure of the second fluid moves the first bladder between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration.

A paravane for a marine seismic survey system includes a float and at least one diverter operatively coupled to the float. The diverter is configured to redirect flow of water past the paravane with respect to a direction of motion of the paravane through water. The paravane also includes a steering device. The steering device is configured to controllably redirect the flow of water so as to control an amount of lateral force generated by the paravane.

A method of integrating, optimizing and combining in a marine hybrid system, the operation of one or more variable speed high voltage direct current (HVDC) generator(s), one or more energy storage units and a combination of one or more HVDC parallel hybrid and serial hybrid propulsion systems through use of an Energy Management Computer. One aspect of the invention involves the application of logic programming to automate the optimization and the operation of the Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) so that whenever the system requires their usage, they are operated at optimum efficiency conditions. For an ICE to operate at peak efficiency a combination of a large energy storage unit used as a buffer combined with a mixture of both a serial and a parallel hybrid system is used.

Portable power generating devices are provided for converting potential energy from flowing water, water current, blowing air or air current to mechanical and / or electrical energy. The potential energy is converted to a rotational movement, and the rotational energy is communicated to power conversion units for conversion, wherein the rotational movement is converted to mechanical, electrical or some other useable or useful energy.

A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein nanostructures or microstructures are disposed on a surface of a body (such as a submersible vehicle) that is adapted to move through a fluid, such as water. The nanostructures or microstructures are disposed on the surface in a way such that the contact between the surface and the fluid is reduced and, correspondingly, the friction between the surface and the fluid is reduced. In an illustrative embodiment, the surface is a surface on a submarine or other submersible vehicle (such as a torpedo). Illustratively, electrowetting principles are used to cause the fluid to at least partially penetrate the nanostructures or microstructures on the surface of the body in order to selectively create greater friction in a desired location of the surface. Such penetration may be used, for example, to create drag that alters the direction or speed of travel of the body.

Movement of a vehicle such as a boat (30) is guided by dynamically monitoring parameters and generating instructions for the operator. The instructions are at a level to attain a number of sub-goals to reach a goal position (33) from a current position (32). Each sub-goal is attained in a single vehicle manoeuvre such as straight-ahead or rotation, each manoeuvre being instructable to the operator. The instructions are generated using a space model (12) of the space around the vehicle, an operator model (11) of operator vehicle control characteristics, and a vehicle model (12) of vehicle movement characteristics.

A network system using a LAN to provide relative position data for a engine in a plurality of outboard motors attached to a watercraft and using that data to display engine condition information for each engine in the array of engines installed on the watercraft.

The invention provides a ship rudder / wing rudder-fin / wing fin combined control method. A course detection device and a rolling detection device respectively detect and transmit a ship course angle signal and a rolling angle signal to an information processing unit; a course / rolling robust controller is adopted in the information processing unit according to the ship course angle signal and the rolling angle signal to calculate needed course strengthening torque and rolling strengthening torque, respectively calculate needed rudder angle, wing rudder angle, fin angle and wing fin angle by a rudder angle / wing rudder angle distributor and a rudder angle / wing rudder angle distributor according to the course strengthening torque and the rolling strengthening torque and use the rudder angle, the wing rudder angle, the fin angle and the wing fin angle as the output of the information processing unit; a rudder servo system, a wing rudder servo system, a fin servo system and a wing fin servo system respectively accept a rudder angle demand signal, a wing rudder angle demand signal, a fin angle demand signal and a wing fin angle demand signal to drive a rudder, a wing rudder, fins and wing fins and effectively control the course and the rolling of a ship. The invention can improve the course control effect and the rolling stabilization effect of the ship.

Disclosed is a system and method for static and dynamic positioning or motion control of a marine structure by using real-time monitoring of at least one of a mooring line, marine environments, 6-dof movement of a marine structure, a tank state, a ship topside, the seabed, or their combinations. The static and dynamic real-time monitoring data of the mooring line is obtained and processed for positioning the marine structure or controlling and managing a motion thereof. Here, 1) a tension of a mooring line is measured by means of real-time monitoring of the mooring line, 2) various marine environment elements such as wind direction, wind speed, air humidity, atmospheric pressure, atmosphere temperature, cloud height, visibility, ocean wave, wave height, sea current speed, sea current direction, rain or the like are measured by means of real-time monitoring of the marine environments, 3) 6-dof movement of the marine structure is measured by means of real-time monitoring of the marine structure, 4) ullage and sloshing data of various tanks in the marine structure are measured by means of real-time monitoring of tank states, 5) damage and life of pipes, facilities or the like located at a ship topside of the marine structure are measured by means of real-time monitoring of the ship topside, 6) damage and life of umbilical cables, pipes, pumps and valves located on the seabed are measured by means of real-time monitoring of the seabed, and suitable static and dynamic positioning or motion control and management may be automatically performed based thereon.

An electric houseboat comprises a hull and a house-like structure mounted on the hull which includes at least one bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchen. A Diesel generator comprises the sole power source for the houseboat. The operating temperature of the Diesel generator is controlled by directing coolant through the Diesel generator and through a keel pipe which extends along the hull of the houseboat thereby discharging heat into the water over which the houseboat operates. Exhaust resulting from operation of the Diesel generator is directed upwardly and is discharged at a point substantially above the water and above the house-like structure of the houseboat.

A directional nozzle for the jet output that is attached to a control cable system. This cable turns the directional nozzle, which causes the trust of the jet output to turn the boat. Thus, the boat can be steered without having to turn the entire motor. Two different mechanisms are disclosed that enable the steering. The first is a tiller system that operates much like the traditional tiller on an outboard motor. However, unlike those tillers, this tiller operates the directional nozzle and does not turn the entire motor. The second mechanism is a bicycle handlebar system that is placed forward of the motor, much like a traditional wheel. The handlebar system, when combined with the directional nozzle system, produces faster steering response without the effort required to turn the wheel to make large sweeping turns.

A system for testing a vessel control system includes sensors on board the vessel to send one or more sensor signals over a signal line to the control system; command input devices on board the vessel to send one or more of desired position, course, velocity, etc. over a command signal line to the control system; an algorithm in the control system to compute control signals to based on sensor data, communication lines for sending of one or more simulated signals and / or simulated command signals from a remote test laboratory to the control system; and a simulator including an algorithm for the simulation of the new dynamic state of a vessel model based on a previous state, the control signals, and the dynamic parameters of the vessel. The control system continues to compute the control signals to achieve at least one of desired position, course, velocity, etc. based on real and / or simulated sensor signals and real and / or simulated command signals.

A pivotal fin system, for use with an aquafoil, such as surfboards, body boards, wave skis, sail boards, wake boards and the like, comprising a pot (3) and a fin (2), having a tab (18) extending from the base (17) of the fin (2). The pot (3) has a central slot (11) and is mounted in the board (23) with the opening of the central slot (11) flush with the board (23). The slot (11) has a releasable locking means (6 &7) therein, and the tab (18) has a connection means (21 &22), which is releasably engaged by locking means (6 &7). Preferably the releasable locking means (6 &7) is a substantially c-shaped clamp, and the connection means (21 &22) has a recess or recesses (22) behind a bulbous extension (21), which is engaged in the c-shaped clamp, with arms (5) of the c-shaped clamp engaging in the recess or recesses (22).