Tail Rudder Control Device and Kayak

The present invention relates to the technical field of watercrafts, in particular to a tail rudder control device and a kayak.

The tail of a kayak is usually provided with a rudder for the main purpose of steering actions of the kayak through the controlling of the rotation of the tail rudder. The current tail rudder is mainly arranged in two ways; one is directly mounted on the stern of the boat body through a fixing frame that can slide horizontally. The tail rudder swings left and right in use and is always in a suspension state when not used; the other one is likewise mounted on the stern of the boat body and able to swing horizontally, and tilts backwards to be hung on the stern when not used.

Referring to US Patent Publication No. US20210129969A1 which provides a tail rudder control system and a kayak, the tail rudder control system comprises a tail rudder assembly, comprising a tail rudder, a swing mechanism for driving the tail rudder to rotate horizontally, a traction mechanism for driving the tail rudder to flip longitudinally to be stored, and a guide wheel box for driving the swing mechanism and resetting the tail rudder; two pedal assemblies, respectively in transmission connection with the swing mechanism through a steering traction line for driving the swing mechanism to act; a transmission assembly, comprising a first transmission wheel wound with a transmission traction line and a second transmission wheel wound with a reverse traction line, wherein the second transmission wheel is driven by the first transmission wheel, the reverse traction line is in transmission connection with the traction mechanism, and the transmission traction line is in transmission connection with the guide wheel box; and a manual control assembly for driving the transmission traction line to act.

This patent can effectively achieve the purpose of retractably installing a tail rudder on the bottom surface of a boat and avoids collision with the bottom of the boat during the taking-up process of the tail rudder. However, the overall structure is complex, and structures associated with straightening and flipping of the tail rudder need to be further optimized.

In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a tail rudder control device and a kayak, which effectively achieve the purpose of retractably installing a tail rudder on the bottom surface of a boat, effectively avoid collision with the bottom of the boat during the taking-up process of the tail rudder and have a simpler and more reliable overall structure to overcome at least one of the abovementioned technical defects.

The specific technical solution is as follows:

A tail rudder control device is applied to a boat and comprises a tail rudder assembly, wherein the tail rudder assembly comprises a tail rudder, a swing mechanism for driving the tail rudder to rotate left and right, a traction mechanism for driving the tail rudder to flip longitudinally into a bottom of the boat, and a guide wheel box for driving the swing mechanism and the tail rudder to return to initial positions; the traction mechanism comprises:

Preferably, at least one notch is formed in an upper end of the steering bracket, at least one bump fitting the notch in shape is arranged on the second transmission wheel, the number of the bumps is the same as the number of the notches, and each bump is detachably clamped in one notch and is allowed to disengage from the notch when rotating with respect to the notch in a first direction and enable the second transmission wheel and the steering bracket to rotate synchronously when rotating with respect to the notch in a second direction.

Preferably, a first slope is formed in one side of the notch, and a second slope matched with the first slope is arranged on the bump, such that the bump is allowed to disengage upwards from the notch along the first slope.

Preferably, an elastic piece is arranged in the guide wheel box, and a lower end of the elastic piece abuts against an upper end surface of the second transmission wheel and provides a downward elastic force to the second transmission wheel to enable the second transmission wheel to move from a position where the second transmission wheel is in the second motion state to a position where the second transmission wheel is in the third motion state.

Preferably, a gear is arranged at a lower end of the rotating shaft, an arc-shaped groove for receiving the gear is formed in an upper end of the tail rudder, and two opposite sides of the tail rudder are hinged to the steering bracket; and an arc-shaped rack structure meshed with the gear is arranged on at least one side of the arc-shaped groove to convert circumferential rotation of the rotating shaft and the gear into longitudinal flipping of the tail rudder.

Preferably, a through-hole allowing the rotating shaft to penetrate through is formed in a middle of the first transmission wheel, the rotation path is a groove formed in an inner side wall of the through-hole, a transmission block located in the groove is arranged on a periphery of the second transmission wheel, the transmission block rotates from a first end of the groove to a second end of the groove in the first motion state, and the second end is higher than the first end.

Preferably, the swing mechanism comprises a steering swing arm disposed outside the steering bracket and swing arm columns fixedly connected to lower side surfaces of two ends of the steering swing arm, the guide wheel set comprises four straightening gears, every two straightening gears form a gear set, the two gear sets are arranged on left and right sides of the steering swing arm, the two straightening gears in each gear set are meshed with each other and in meshed connection with a periphery of the first transmission wheel by means of a transmission gear, and a lower end surface of each straightening gear is provided with a convex surface abutting against the corresponding swing arm column in the rotation process and resetting the steering swing arm.

Preferably, the tail rudder control device further comprises a manual control assembly and two pedal assembles, the manual control assembly is in transmission connection with the first transmission wheel through a transmission traction line to drive the first transmission wheel to rotate, and each the two pedal assemblies is in transmission connection with the swing mechanism through a steering traction line to drive the swing mechanism to act.

Preferably, a gap is formed in the first end of the groove, and when the transmission block moves into the gap, the bump of the second transmission wheel is clamped in the notch of the steering bracket.

The present invention further provides a kayak, which comprises a boat body and the tail rudder control device as described above, the pedal assemblies and the manual control assembly of the tail rudder control device are fixedly installed on an inner side wall of the boat body, the tail rudder assembly of the tail rudder control device is installed at a tail of the boat body, and the tail rudder of the tail rudder assembly is able to flip downwards to extend out of a bottom surface of the boat body and flip upwards to be stored in the ship body.

The above technical solution has the following beneficial effects:

To gain a good understanding of the technical means, creative features and objectives of the present invention, the present invention is specifically expounded below in conjunction with embodiments and accompanying drawings.

As shown into, this embodiment provides a tail rudder control device which is applied to a boat and comprises a tail rudder assembly, and the tail rudder assemblycomprises a tail rudder, a swing mechanismfor driving the tail rudderto rotate left and right, a traction mechanism for driving the tail rudderto flip longitudinally into the bottom of the boat, and a guide wheel box for driving the swing mechanismand the tail rudderto return to initial positions; wherein, the traction mechanism comprises:

Based on the above technical solution, the tail rudder control device comprises the tail rudder assembly, the tail rudder assemblycomprises the tail rudder, the swing mechanism, the traction mechanism and the guide wheel box, the traction mechanism comprises the steering bracket, the rotating shaft, the first transmission wheeland the second transmission wheel, and a clutch structure is formed between the second transmission wheeland the first transmission wheel, such that the second transmission wheelhas three motion states and can switch between the three motion states to switch linkage states of components, thus realizing resetting of the tail rudderand the swing mechanism, flipping of the tail rudder, and left and right rotation of the tail rudder, effectively achieving the purpose of retractably mounting the tail rudderon the bottom surface of the boat, effectively avoiding the problem of collision with the bottom of the boat during the retraction process of the tail rudder, and making the overall structure simpler and more reliable.

In a preferred embodiment, specifically as shown inand, at least one notchis formed in an upper end of the steering bracket, at least one bumpfitting the notchin shape is arranged on the second transmission wheel, the number of the bumpsis the same as the number of the notches, and each bumpis detachably clamped in one notchand is allowed to disengage from the notchwhen rotating with respect to the notchin a first direction and enable the second transmission wheeland the steering bracketto rotate synchronously when rotating with respect to the notchin a second direction. Further, a first slopeis formed in one side of the notch, and a second slopematched with the first slopeis arranged on the bump, such that the bumpis allowed to disengage upwards from the notchalong the second slopeand the first slopefitting the second slope. Specifically, as shown inand, from the overhead perspective, the first direction and the second direction are, but not limited to, a clockwise direction around the axis of the rotating shaftand an anticlockwise direction around the axis of the rotating shaftrespectively. In this embodiment, one notchand one bumpare arranged. Obviously, two groups or notchesand bumpsmay be symmetrically arranged, or multiple notchesand bumpsmay be arranged uniformly. The direction of the slopes is the same as the first direction.

In specific application, when the boat sails normally, the tail rudderwill flip upwards to be stored if encountering a rock or other obstacles, at this moment, the rotating shaftand the second transmission wheelwill be driven to rotate synchronously, and in this process, the bumprotates in the first direction to disengage from the notch, thus avoiding left and right rotation of the steering bracket; when the tail ruddermoves away from the rock or other obstacles, the tail rudderwill reset downwards under the action of its gravity or the second transmission wheelwill reset downwards under the action of other elastic pieces to allow the bumpto be clamped in the notch. That is, the above design allows the tail rudder to partially flip upwards to be stored so as to be protected against damage when encountering an obstacle and to return to the working state when moving away from the obstacle, thus being safer and more reliable.

In a further preferred embodiment, as shown in, an elastic pieceis arranged in the guide wheel box, and a lower end of the elastic pieceabuts against an upper end surface of the second transmission wheeland provides a downward elastic force to the second transmission wheelto enable the second transmission wheelto move from a position where the second transmission wheelis in the second motion state to a position where the second transmission wheelis in the third motion state. Specifically, the elastic pieceis a spring and is disposed around the rotating shaft. Obviously, one or more rubber elastic pins can be used to fulfill an equivalent effect.

In a preferred embodiment, specifically as shown inand, a gearis arranged at a lower end of the rotating shaft, an arc-shaped groovefor receiving the gearis formed in an upper end of the tail rudder, and two opposite sides of the tail rudderare hinged to the steering bracket; and an arc-shaped rack structuremeshed with the gearis arranged on at least one side of the arc-shaped grooveto convert circumferential rotation of the rotating shaftand the gearinto longitudinal flipping of the tail rudder.

In a preferred embodiment, specifically as shown into, a through-holeallowing the rotating shaftto penetrate through is formed in the middle of the first transmission wheel, the rotation pathis a groove formed in an inner side wall of the through-hole, a transmission blocklocated in the groove is arranged on the periphery of the second transmission wheel, the transmission blockrotates from a first endof the groove to a second endof the groove in the first motion state, and the second endis higher than the first end. That is, in this movement process, because at least part of the groove is a slope (such as the positionin, or the whole groove is designed into an oblique groove), the height of the transmission blockwill change, the second transmission wheelwill rise axially along the rotating shaftaccordingly, and when the transmission blockis located at the first end, the bumpbelow the second transmission wheelis clamped in the notchof the steering bracket, and the second transmission wheelenters the third motion state.

In a preferred embodiment, specifically as shown into, the swing mechanismcomprises a steering swing armdisposed outside the steering bracketand swing arm columnsfixedly connected to lower side surfaces of two ends of the steering swing arm, the guide wheel setcomprises four straightening gears, every two straightening gearsform a gear set, the two gear sets are arranged on left and right sides of the steering swing arm, the two straightening gearsin each gear set are meshed with each other and in meshed connection with the periphery of the first transmission wheelby means of a transmission gear, and a lower end surface of each straightening gearis provided with a convex surfaceabutting against the corresponding swing arm columnin the rotation process and resetting the steering swing arm.

In a preferred embodiment, the tail rudder control device further comprises a manual control assemblyand two pedal assembles, the manual control assemblyis in transmission connection with the first transmission wheelthrough a transmission traction lineto drive the first transmission wheelto rotate, and each the two pedal assembliesis in transmission connection with the swing mechanismthrough a steering traction lineto drive the swing mechanismto act.

Specifically, as shown in, when the manual control assemblydrives the transmission traction lineto act, the first transmission wheelis driven to act to perform a preceding step and a follow-up step sequentially. Wherein, in the preceding step, the rotation distance of the first transmission wheelis not greater than the arc length of the groove, in this stage, the transmission blockof the second transmission wheelmoves from the first endof the groove to the second endof the groove, and under the action of the slope of the groove, the second transmission wheelis driven to rise longitudinally in the axial direction of the rotating shaft; and in this stage, the action of the first transmission wheeland the action of the transmission traction lineare further transmitted to the guide wheel setin the guide wheel box to drive the guide wheel setto act, thus resetting the tail rudderwhich is deflected left and right in use. In the follow-up step, when moving to the second endof the groove and abutting against the side wall of the groove, the first transmission wheelfurther rotates to synchronously drive the second transmission wheelto rotate so as to drive the rotating shaftto act, such that the tail rudderis driven to longitudinally flip to be stored at the bottom of the boat by means of the gearand the arc-shaped rack structuremeshed with the gear. In this way, the tail ruddercan be reset horizontally and longitudinally in sequence by operating the manual control assembly, and the problem of collision with the bottom of the boat during the taking-up process of the tail ruddercan be effectively avoided. In addition, in the preceding process, the four straightening gearsrotate accordingly and further act, when the convex surfacesof two straightening gearsabut against the swing arm columns, to drive the steering swing armto rotate to return to the initial position.

In a preferred embodiment, a gapis formed in the first endof the groove, and when the transmission blockmoves into the gap, the bumpof the second transmission wheelis clamped in the notchof the steering bracket. That is, in this state, the second transmission wheelis located at an extreme position within the downward movement range in the axial direction of the rotating shaft; and when the tail rudderflips upwards in case of an obstacle, the rotating shaftrotates accordingly and drives the second transmission wheelto be upwards separated from the steering bracket, and at the same time, the transmission blockdisengages from the gapand rotates along the groove. Further, a third slopematched with the slope in the groove is arranged on a lower end surface of the transmission block, a fourth slope is arranged on an inner top surface of the gap, and a fifth slopematched with the fourth slope is arranged on an upper end surface of the transmission block, such that the transmission blockis allowed to move into the gapor disengage from the gap.

Further, referring toto, the direction of the transmission traction lineis shown, and part of the contents intoare shown in a perspective manner; in, the tail rudderis in a left-right swing state; inand, the tail rudderresets to the initial position in the horizontal direction; and in, the tail rudderfurther flips upwards in the longitudinal direction to be stored.

In addition, the structure and use logic of the pedal assembliesand the manual control assemblyare basically the same as those in the prior art and thus will not be repeated here.

As shown in, this embodiment provides a kayak, which comprises a boat bodyand the tail rudder control device as described in Embodiment. The pedal assembliesand the manual control assemblyof the tail rudder control device are fixedly installed on the inner side wall of the boat body. The tail rudder assemblyof the tail rudder control device is installed at the tail of the boat body, and the tail rudderof the tail rudder assemblyis able to flip downwards to extend out of the bottom surface of the boat bodyand flip upwards to be stored in the ship body.

The above embodiments are merely preferred ones of the present invention and are used for explaining the present invention rather than limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that many variations, amendments and even equivalent substitutions can be made based on the spirit and scope defined by the claims of the present invention, and all these variations, amendments and equivalent substitutions should also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.