US 12,296,932 B2
Clutch mechanisms for steering control system
Lindsay Ambler, Myakka City, FL (US); Tom Mogle, Simpsonville, SC (US); Charles Armstrong, Bradenton, FL (US); and Richard William Ambler, Myakka City, FL (US)
Assigned to Rhodan Marine Systems of Florida, LLC, Sarasota, FL (US)
Filed by Rhodan Marine Systems of Florida, LLC, Sarasota, FL (US)
Filed on Jan. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/407,258.
Application 18/407,258 is a continuation of application No. 17/653,844, filed on Mar. 7, 2022, granted, now 11,904,995.
Application 17/653,844 is a continuation of application No. 17/212,805, filed on Mar. 25, 2021, granted, now 11,267,548, issued on Mar. 8, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/000,773, filed on Mar. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0270363 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B63H 20/12 (2006.01); B63H 1/14 (2006.01); B63H 20/00 (2006.01); B63H 20/14 (2006.01); B63H 23/06 (2006.01); F16D 7/08 (2006.01); F16D 43/206 (2006.01)
CPC B63H 20/12 (2013.01) [B63H 1/14 (2013.01); B63H 20/007 (2013.01); B63H 20/14 (2013.01); B63H 23/06 (2013.01); F16D 7/08 (2013.01); F16D 43/206 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A trolling motor steering control system comprising:
a steering motor;
a steering shaft adapted to be rotated by the steering motor via a single ratio transmission system; and
a torque clutch adapted to automatically axially decouple the steering motor from the steering shaft through an axial displacement of one or more components of the torque clutch when the steering shaft is subjected to an external torque exceeding a predetermined threshold magnitude.