AUTOMATIC COURSE PILOT IN A SHIP PROVIDED WITH TURNABLE PROPELLER GEARS

摘要

The invention concerns an automatic course pilot in a ship provided with turnable propeller gears for automatic retaining of the course of the ship and for course steering in accordance with a preset course. In the ship the propeller gears (1, 2) are arranged as a pair symmetrically in relation to the centre line of the ship, and the propeller gears (1, 2) are connected to the central unit of the automatic steering, which is optionally connectable for controlling either one or both of the propeller gears (1, 2) that form a pair. When both of the propeller gears (1, 2) in a pair are switched on automatic course steering, the central unit of the automatic steering is arranged to shift the control devices of the propeller gears (1, 2) into an asymmetric state of operation. In such a case, when the automatic steering gives a command to turn, the control systems of the propeller gears (1, 2) are arranged automatically to select the propeller gear (1, 2) in each particular case placed at the side of the inside curve for the propeller gear that turns the ship so as to retain the torque that turns the ship.