Engine starting system for multiple engines
First Claim
1. A watercraft comprising a plurality of engines, a plurality of starting devices, each starting device coupled with a respective engine to power the associated engine for starting, a control device that controls the starting devices, a common operating device that provides the control device with at least an initiation signal to activate the starting devices, and a sensing device that separately senses an individual start completion state of each engine, the control device activating each starting device when the operating device provides the initiation signal and deactivating each starting device in response to the sensing device sensing the individual start completion state of the respective engine.
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Abstract
A watercraft has multiple engines each having a starting device. A common switch mechanism provides a control device with at least an initiation signal to activate the starting devices, such that all of the engines can be started concurrently in response to operator activation of a single switch. A sensing device separately senses the start state of each engine, preferably by sensing an engine speed of each engine. The control device deactivates the starting device separately and asynchronously from one another based on the sensed start states of the engines.
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Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A watercraft comprising a plurality of engines, a plurality of starting devices, each starting device coupled with a respective engine to power the associated engine for starting, a control device that controls the starting devices, a common operating device that provides the control device with at least an initiation signal to activate the starting devices, and a sensing device that separately senses an individual start completion state of each engine, the control device activating each starting device when the operating device provides the initiation signal and deactivating each starting device in response to the sensing device sensing the individual start completion state of the respective engine.
- 16. A watercraft comprising a plurality of engines, a plurality of starting devices, each starting device coupled with a respective engine to power the associated engine for starting, a control device that controls the starting devices, a common operating device that provides the control device with an activation allowable time period or an initiation timing to initiate the activation allowable time period, and a sensing device that separately senses an individual start completion state of each engine, the control device activating the starting devices during the activation allowable time period, the control device deactivating each starting device separately and in response to the sensing device sensing the individual start completion state of the respective engine.
- 20. An engine starting system for multiple engines, each engine having a starting device to power the engine for starting, the system comprising a control device that controls the starting devices, a common operating device that provides the control device with at least an initiation signal to activate the starting devices, and a sensing device that separately senses an individual start completion state of each engine, the control device activating each starting device when the operating device provides the initiation signal and deactivating each starting devices in response to the sensing device sensing the individual start completion state of the corresponding engine.
- 24. An engine starting method for multiple engines, each engine having a starting device to power the engine for starting, the method comprising generating an activation initiating signal, activating the starting devices based upon the activation initiating signal, separately sensing an individual start completion state of each engine, and deactivating each starting device separately in response to detection of an individual start completion state of the corresponding engine.
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26. A system for concurrently starting a plurality of engines of a watercraft, wherein each engine includes a respective starter motor, the system comprising:
- a sensor circuit that senses a start state of each of the engines;
an auto-start switch that can be actuated by an operator to initiate an auto-start process; and
a control circuit that is responsive to operator actuation of the auto-start switch by activating the respective starter motors of each of a plurality of engines;
wherein the control circuit deactivates each starter motor in response to detection by the sensor circuit that the respective engine has started, such that the starter motors are deactivated asynchronously to one another during said auto-start process. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
- a sensor circuit that senses a start state of each of the engines;
Specification