| 摘要 |
A wind powered, self-steering device for sailboats of the type employing a main steering rudder and auxiliary steering rudder. The wind vane pivots about an axis that is tiltably adjustable with respect to the horizontal so as to adjust the sensitivity thereof in accordance with the type of keel associated with the boat its point of sailing and prevailing wind and sea conditions. The wind vane axis is also rotatably adjustable with respect to the center line of the sailboat to provide course adjustment. When engaged for operation, the wind vane senses the relative shipwind direction and, when a boat is off course, translates the wind forces on the wind vane into corrective movements of the auxiliary rudder to return the sailboat to course. The present invention is further characterized by the fact that a transmission is provided to transmit the pivotal movements of the wind vane to the auxiliary rudder in a range of settable gear ratios which can be determined independently of and in addition to the angle of tilt selected for the wind vane and sensitivity corresponding thereto. The present invention is further characterized by an auxiliary rudder blade subassembly having a pendulum body pivotally mounted on an axis at an angle to the horizontal. The pendulum carries the auxiliary rudder blade which pivots about an axis on the pendulum which axis is oblique to the axis about which the pendulum rotates. |
