Abstract: A rail car cover system including a rail car, a first cover section and a second cover section. The rail car has an opening. The first cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The first cover section includes a first hinge mechanism and a first cover material. The second cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The second cover section includes a second hinge mechanism and a second cover material. The first cover section and the second cover section are both movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. When in the closed configuration, the first cover section and the second cover section substantially cover the opening.

Abstract: A rail car cover system including a rail car, a first cover section and a second cover section. The rail car has an opening. The first cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The first cover section includes a first hinge mechanism and a first cover material. The second cover section is operably attached to the rail car. The second cover section includes a second hinge mechanism and a second cover material. The first cover section and the second cover section are both movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. When in the closed configuration, the first cover section and the second cover section substantially cover the opening.

Abstract: A bow mount for a trolling motor and a method for releasably mounting a trolling motor to a bow of a boat are disclosed. The bow mount includes a base, a chassis, an actuation mechanism between the chassis and the base and a retaining mechanism. The base is adapted to be mounted to a bow of a boat and includes a pair of longitudinally extending spaced side channels. The chassis is adapted to be coupled to the trolling motor and includes a pair of spaced longitudinally extending side projections. The actuation mechanism is positioned between the chassis and the base and is configured to move at least one of the side projections and the side channels in a transverse direction relative to one another such that the projections extend into the channels. The retaining mechanism is configured to removably retain the projections in the channels.

Abstract: A bow mount trolling motor for a boat is disclosed. The bow mount trolling motor includes a chassis adapted to be mounted to a bow of the boat, a lower propulsion unit and at least one shaft supporting the lower propulsion unit and pivotally coupled to the chassis about a first axis. The at least one shaft pivots in a first direction about the first axis from a deployed position to a stowed position. The at least one shaft pivots in an opposite second direction about the first-axis when the at least one shaft of the lower propulsion unit encounters an obstruction while the boat is moving in a forward direction.

Abstract: A trolling motor foot control for use with a trolling motor is disclosed. The trolling motor foot control includes a pad adapted to receive an operator's foot, a first operating interface coupled to the pad and adapted to be coupled to the trolling motor and a second operator interface coupled to the pad and adapted to be coupled to the trolling motor. The first operator interface is configured to adjust a speed of the trolling motor at a first rate in response to input from the operator's foot. The second operator interface is configured to adjust the speed of the trolling motor at a second smaller rate in response to input from the operator's foot.

Abstract: A steering control system for an electric trolling motor is disclosed. The system includes a steering actuator assembly with at least one open loop actuator. The system also includes at least one steering mode switch that is configured to communicate changes between steering modes. The steering modes include at least one closed loop steering mode and at least one manual steering mode. The system further includes a controller that is configured to receive signals from the open loop actuator, is configured to receive signals from at least one steering mode switch, and is configured to generate control signals based on the states of the open loop actuator and the steering mode switch.

Abstract: The trolling motor system includes a chassis adapted to be coupled to a boat, a housing pivotally coupled to the chassis, a lower propulsion unit, at least one shaft supported by the housing and coupled to the lower propulsion unit at a first end and a drive system including at least one actuator. The at least one shaft extends along a first axis. The first end is movable relative to the housing along the first axis. The drive system includes at least one actuator, a linear drive, a pivot drive and a coupler. The linear drive moves the first end of the first shaft along the first axis while the pivot drive pivots the housing about a second axis. The coupler connects the actuator and the pivot drive to pivot the housing. In one embodiment, the coupler connects the actuator and the pivot drive based upon the position of the at least one shaft along the first axis.

Abstract: A battery gauge for an electric trolling motor is disclosed. The battery gauge includes a battery that is configured to supply power to the trolling motor. The battery gauge also includes a motor speed setting switch that is configured to supply a signal representative of the motor speed setting. The battery gauge also includes an electronic circuit configured to sense at least one battery parameter that is representative of the battery charge. The electronic circuit is also configured to receive an electrical signal that is representative of the speed setting. The electronic circuit further is configured to determine the remaining battery charge time based on the at least one battery parameter and the speed setting.

Abstract: A trolling motor system is disclosed. The trolling motor system includes a lower propulsion unit, a mounting mechanism adapted to be coupled to the boat and a first shaft fitting at least partially between the mounting mechanism and the lower propulsion unit. The first shaft has a non-circular cross-sectional shape. In one exemplary embodiment, the mounting mechanism is configured to mount to a boat having a longitudinal axis extending from a bow to a stern of the boat, wherein the first shaft has a longitudinal length and smaller transverse width. According to another exemplary embodiment, the first shaft has a hollow interior which receives a second shaft. A passageway is formed between the exterior of the first shaft and the exterior of the second shaft to receive the signal or power transmitting line of an underwater sonar system.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension for mounting to the end of an actuator arm includes a load beam having a mounting region, a rigid region, and a spring region between the mounting region and the rigid region. The load beam also has a stationary section including first and second outer stationary portions with an open region formed therebetween, a moving section including an inner moving portion located in the open region between the first and second outer stationary portions, and a gap separating the stationary section and the moving section. The gap has first and second gap portions separating the inner moving portion from the first and second outer stationary portions, respectively.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension for mounting to the end of an actuator arm. The suspension includes a load beam having a base at a proximal end, a rigid region, a spring region between the rigid region and the base, a flexure for receiving and supporting a read/write head on a distal end of the load beam, a moving section, and a stationary section. The moving section is supported from the stationary section by at least 2 transversely extending resilient support beams. The support beams allow the moving section to pivot with respect to the stationary section. A microactuator is located on the load beam to pivot the moving section and shift the flexure including the read/write head along a transverse tracking axis in response to tracking control signals.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension for mounting to the end of an actuator arm. The suspension includes a load beam having a rigid region, a proximal end, a flexure for receiving and supporting a read/write head on a distal end of the load beam, and a linkage for movably coupling the flexure to the proximal end of the load beam. A microactuator is located on the load beam and includes spaced first and second coil assemblies which undergo displacement perpendicular to the plane of the load beam in response to tracking control signals. The linkage translates the vertical displacement of the coil assemblies into displacement of the distal end of the load beam including the flexure along a transverse tracking axis.

Abstract: A motor mount for attaching a motor, such as a trolling motor, to a boat includes a bracket, a pair of pivotable support arms and a motor support. The bracket may be removably attached to the transom or to the bow of a boat. The bracket, the support arms and the motor support form a 4-bar linkage that permits the motor to be moved between a fully deployed or lowered position and a fully stowed or raised position. As the motor is moved between the deployed and stowed positions, it moves through a first, generally vertical translation phase of motion during which it maintains a generally vertical orientation, and a second, generally pivotal phase, in which it is rotated from the generally vertical orientation to a generally horizontal orientation. An intermediate stowed position is provided just beyond a transition point between the two phases of motion.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a floating boat or water vessel in a desired position is provided. The apparatus includes an electric trolling motor disposed to produce a thrust to pull the boat, a steering motor disposed to affect the orientation of the electric trolling motor, a position deviation detection unit, and a control circuit. The position deviation detection unit detects a deviation in the position of the boat from the desired position and transmits signals indicative of a deviation distance (the distance from the boat to the desired position) and a return heading (the direction of the desired position from the boat) to the control circuit. The control circuit causes the steering motor to steer the electric trolling motor in the return heading, and the electric trolling motor to propel the boat in the return heading, to return the boat to the desired position.

Abstract: A trolling motor with heading lock coupled to the trolling motor and producing a thrust to pull a watercraft is disclosed. The system contains a bow-mounted motor and a steering motor connected to the bow-mounted motor. The outputs of a heading detector circuit and desired heading circuit are compared by a steering control circuit and used to generate input signals to the steering motor.

Abstract: A device for controlling the heading of a water craft using a propulsion device which pulls the water craft is disclosed. The device includes a motor with a variable thrust orientation and a controller for controlling the direction of the thrust of the motor. A feedback circuit, including a compass in a substantially fixed relationship to the motor, provides a feedback signal to the controller indicative of the direction of the thrust of the motor. A heading designator provides a desired heading signal to the controller. The controller maintains the heading of the water craft in the desired heading in response to the desired heading signal and the feedback signal by varying the orientation which is of the thrust.

Abstract: A depth finding-trolling system for measuring the water depth and operating a trolling motor. The depth finder and trolling motor are configured within a unitary structure having dimensions of a conventional trolling motor. The depth finder includes an automatic gain circuit and a display including one or more arrays of information operatives representing depth measurement.