Variable trim deflector system and method for controlling a marine vessel

Abstract

A method and a system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second trim deflectors is disclosed. The first and second trim deflectors have a first surface having a first area and a second surface having a second area, wherein the second planar surface is coupled to the first surface. The method and system control the first and second trim deflectors to induce any of a net yawing force, a net rolling force, and a net trimming force to the marine vessel without inducing any other substantial forces to the marine vessel by controlling the first and second trim deflectors.

1 . A trim deflector for a marine vessel, the trim deflector comprising:
 at least one surface configured to be attached to the marine vessel and controllably moved relative to the marine vessel along at least two degrees of freedom, wherein the at least one surface is configured to generate forces in different directions when the at least one surface is at different positions along the at least two degrees of freedom.   
     
     
         2 . The trim deflector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface is coupled to at least one actuator configured to controllably move the at least one surface along at least one of the at least two degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         3 . The trim deflector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one surface comprises a first surface and a second surface coupled to the first surface; and   when the at least one surface is at a first position along the at least two degrees of freedom, the first surface is configured to generate a first force in a first direction and the second surface is configured to generate a second force in a second direction different from the first direction.   
     
     
         4 . The trim deflector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprises a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom, wherein the at least one surface is coupled to a first actuator and a second actuator configured to controllably move the at least one surface relative to the marine vessel along the at least two degrees of freedom, and wherein the at least one surface comprises:
 a first surface configured to be controllably moved at least in part by the first actuator along the first degree of freedom; and   a second surface configured to be controllably moved at least in part by the second actuator along the second degree of freedom.   
     
     
         5 . The trim deflector of  claim 4 , wherein the second surface is not coupled to the first surface. 
     
     
         6 . The trim deflector of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the at least one surface further comprises:
 a third surface coupled to the first surface, and 
 a fourth surface coupled to the second surface; and 
   the first and third surfaces are configured to be moved independently of the second and fourth surfaces.   
     
     
         7 . The trim deflector of  claim 4 , wherein the second surface is movably coupled to the first surface via a first joint, wherein an axis direction of the first joint is at a first diagonal relative to a transverse axis of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The trim deflector of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one surface further comprises a third surface movably coupled to the first surface via a second joint, wherein an axis direction of the second joint is at a second diagonal relative the transverse axis of the marine vessel, wherein the second diagonal is different from the first diagonal. 
     
     
         9 . The trim deflector of  claim 4 , wherein the second surface is coupled to the first surface at a first non-zero angle with respect to the first surface, and wherein the first and second surfaces are configured to be moved by the first actuator along the first degree of freedom and by the second actuator along the second degree of freedom. 
     
     
         10 . The trim deflector of  claim 1 , wherein each surface of the at least one surface is on a port side of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         11 . A control system for a marine vessel, the control system comprising:
 a trim deflector, comprising:
 at least one surface configured to be attached to the marine vessel and controllably moved relative to the marine vessel along at least two degrees of freedom; and 
   at least one controller configured to:
 position the at least one surface at different positions along the at least two degrees of freedom, thereby controllably generating forces in different directions. 
   
     
     
         12 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one surface is coupled to at least one actuator configured to controllably move the at least one surface along at least one of the at least two degrees of freedom, the control system further comprising the at least one actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the at least one surface comprises a first surface and a second surface coupled to the first surface; and   when the at least one controller positions the at least one surface at a first position along the at least two degrees of freedom, the first surface generates a first force in a first direction and the second surface generates a second force in a second direction different from the first direction.   
     
     
         14 . The control system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprises a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom, wherein the at least one surface is coupled to a first actuator and a second actuator configured to controllably move the at least one surface relative to the marine vessel along the at least two degrees of freedom, and wherein the at least one surface comprises:
 a first surface configured to be controllably moved at least in part by the first actuator along the first degree of freedom; and   a second surface configured to be controllably moved at least in part by the second actuator along the second degree of freedom.   
     
     
         15 . The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the second surface is not coupled to the first surface. 
     
     
         16 . The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the second surface is movably coupled to the first surface via a first joint, wherein an axis direction of the first joint is at a first diagonal relative to a transverse axis of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the second surface is coupled to the first surface at a first non-zero angle with respect to the first surface, and wherein the first and second surfaces are configured to be moved by the first actuator along the first degree of freedom and by the second actuator along the second degree of freedom. 
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling a marine vessel using a trim deflector, the trim deflector comprising at least one surface configured to be attached to the marine vessel and controllably moved relative to the marine vessel along at least two degrees of freedom, the method comprising:
 positioning the at least one surface at different positions along the at least two degrees of freedom, thereby controllably generating forces in different directions.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one surface is coupled to at least one actuator, and wherein the positioning comprises:
 actuating the at least one actuator to controllably move the at least one surface along at least one of the at least two degrees of freedom.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprises a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom, wherein the at least one surface is coupled to a first actuator and a second actuator configured to controllably move the at least one surface relative to the marine vessel along the at least two degrees of freedom, wherein the at least one surface comprises a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the positioning comprises:
 controllably moving the first surface along the first degree of freedom at least in part by using the first actuator; and   controllably moving the second surface along the second degree of freedom at least in part by using the second actuator.