Boat hoist remote control system

Abstract

A remote control boat hoist system is presented which has means for automatically positioning a boat hull into water at an optimum depth. An electronically programmable controller, boat hoist remote control device, is comprised of two units; a transmitter and a receiver controls the action of a boat hoist. The transmitter, which can either be hand-held or permanently mounted, contains the electronic circuitry which transmits the various control signals to the receiver either by radio or infrared waves. The transmitter is equipped with a keypad allowing the user to select from various control functions. The receiver, which is mounted near or on the boat hoist, receives the signals sent by the transmitter and decodes them. Depending upon the control signal sent, the receiver operates the mechanical actuators of the boat hoist. These in turn cause the boat hoist to progress upward, downward, tilt, stop, etc. The controller has means for detecting transmission errors between its transmitter unit and receiver unit. Sunlight visible Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are used to indicate operational status of the system. The controller device can also remotely actuate accessory devices.

1 . A boat hoist remote control system in contact with a dock comprising: 
 a boat hull lifting subsystem;    wherein said lifting subsystem is in contact with said dock, and comprises a boat hoist having at least one lifting motor;    an electronic programmable controller comprising a transmitter unit and a receiver unit;    means for automatically positioning a boat hull into water at an optimum depth;    wherein said transmitter unit has a keyboard and said unit is not physically or electrically connected to other components of said remote control system;    wherein said receiver unit is in electrical contact with said lifting subsystem; and    wherein said transmitter unit comprises means to indicate operational status of system and keyboard functions for remotely controlling hoist operation.    
   
   
       2 . The hoist remote control system according to  claim 1 , wherein said lift subsystem has at least one lifting motor to control boat port side movement and at least one lifting motor to control boat starboard movement and said transmitter unit has keyboard functions to control jogging each motor individually.  
   
   
       3 . The hoist remote control system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for automatically positioning said boat hull is a float sensor attached to said boat hoist.  
   
   
       4 . The hoist remote control system according to  claim 3 , wherein said means for automatically positioning employs a hydraulic technique to minimize effects of wave action.  
   
   
       5 . The hoist remote control system according to  claim 3 , wherein said means for automatically positioning employs a software technique to minimize effects of wave action.  
   
   
       6 . The remote control hoist system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a means for automatically limiting excursion of travel for safety reasons.  
   
   
       7 . The remote control hoist system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a means to automatically stop all motion unless periodically overridden via actuation of a keyboard function for safety reasons and to minimize motor starts.  
   
   
       8 . The remote control hoist system according to  claim 7 , wherein said means to automatically stop all motion comprises a timer associated with Up/Down switches in said transmitter unit, which permit hoist operation in the selected direction to be sustained for no more than 60 seconds without further actuation of a keyboard function to reset timer to zero.  
   
   
       9 . The remote control hoist system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a means for remotely actuating accessory devices  
   
   
       10 . The hoist remote control system according to  claim 2 , further comprising means for leveling and draining said boat hull.  
   
   
       11 . The hoist remote control system according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for detecting transmission errors between said transmitter unit and said receiver unit.  
   
   
       12 . The hoist remote control system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means to indicate operational status employs sunlight visible Light Emitting Diodes.  
   
   
       13 . The hoist remote control system according to  claim 1 , wherein said keyboard functions regulate at least following actions—Up, Down, Jog Up, Jog Down, TideMatic, Light; 
 wherein Up/Down initiates or stops hoist upward/downward motion;    wherein Jog Up/Jog Down while pressed down allows upward/downward motion of hoist, and when released turns motion off;    wherein TideMatic places system in tide seeking mode; and wherein Light switches On/Off work light on said boat hoist.    
   
   
       14 . The hoist remote control system according to  claim 1 , wherein said keyboard functions regulate Jog Port Up, Jog Port Down, Jog Starboard Up, Jog Starboard Down in place of said Jog Up/Down function pair of  claim 13 .  
   
   
       15 . The remote control hoist system according to  claim 1 , wherein said receiver unit is usually encased in a waterproof housing as is each lifting motor.  
   
   
       16 . The hoist remote control system according to  claim 13 , wherein said TideMatic function key initiates automatic positioning of said boat hull into water at an optimum depth.  
   
   
       17 . A boat hoist remote controller and boat positioning sensor comprising: 
 an electronic programmable controller comprising a transmitter unit and a receiver unit;    means for automatically positioning a boat hull into water at an optimum depth;    wherein said transmitter unit has a keyboard and said unit is not physically or electrically connected to other components of said remote control system;    wherein said receiver unit is in electrical contact with a lifting subsystem of a boat hoist; and    wherein said transmitter unit comprises means to indicate operational status of system and keyboard functions for remotely controlling boat hoist operation.    
   
   
       18 . The boat hoist remote controller according to  claim 17 , wherein said means for automatically positioning said boat hull is a float sensor attached to a boat hoist.