Shift system for boat propulsion unit

• US 20050241425A1
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Oguma, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,836,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/473.100
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/213 Levers or the like for controlling the engine or the transmission, e.g. single hand control levers
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/145 with a pair of coaxial bevel gears, rotatable in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/32 Electric motors actuators or related electrical control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19688 Bevel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20018 Transmission control

Abstract

A shift system for a boat propulsion unit is provided comprising a remote control operation device having a remote control shift lever for shifting from a distance. A boat propulsion unit has a shift device for shifting and a shift actuator for actuating the shift device. A controller controls the actuation of the shift actuator according to the operation amount of the remote control shift lever, as the remote control shift lever is operated from a neutral position within a specified range of shift region. The controller controls the actuation amount of the shift actuator per unit operation amount of the remote control shift lever to be different in part of the shift region.

Claims

1. A shift system for a boat propulsion unit comprising:

a remote control operation device having a remote control shift lever movable through an operational range for shifting between forward, neutral, and reverse operations, the shift lever disposed apart from the boat propulsion unit;

the boat propulsion unit having a shift device for shifting between forward, neutral, and reverse operations, and a shift actuator for actuating the shift device; and

a controller configured to control the shift actuator according to the operation amount of the remote control shift lever as the remote control shift lever is operated from a neutral position within a specified shift region, the controller causing the shift actuator to move by an actuation amount that is non-proportional to an operation amount of the remote control shift lever within the operational range.

2. The shift system for a boat propulsion unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuation amount of the shift actuator in a generally step-wise manner relative to the operation amount of the remote control shift lever as the shift lever is moved from the neutral position through the shift region.

3. The shift system for a boat propulsion unit according to claim 1, further comprising a running state detector configured to detect the running state of the boat propulsion unit, wherein the actuation amount of the shift actuator is controlled at least in part as a function of the running state.

4. The shift system for a boat propulsion unit according to claim 3, wherein the running state detected with the running state detector includes at least either a rotational speed of an engine mounted on the boat propulsion unit or a rotational speed of a power transmission mechanism.

5. The shift system for a boat propulsion unit according to claim 1, wherein the shift actuator is not actuated when the remote control shift lever is operated between the neutral position and a first specified position.

6. The shift system for a boat propulsion unit according to claim 1, wherein the shift actuator is not actuated when the remote control shift lever is operated in an outer region beyond a second specified position relative to the neutral position.

9. The shift system for a boat propulsion unit according to claim 1, wherein the shift actuator further comprises:

an electric motor as a driving source;

a shift output member for outputting power for driving the shift device;

a power transmitter configured to reduce and transmit the revolution of the electric motor to the shift output member;

a motor speed detector configured to detect the rotational speed of the electric motor; and

a shift position detector configured to detect the position of the shift output member,

the controller causing the electric motor to operate according to the operation amount or the position of the remote control shift lever, the rotational speed of the electric motor, and the position of the shift output member.

10. The shift system for a boat propulsion unit according to claim 9, wherein the motor speed detector and the shift position detector are made up of a magnet and a Hall element.

7. A shift system for a boat propulsion unit comprising:

a remote control operation device having a remote control shift lever for shifting between forward, neutral, and reverse operations, the shift lever disposed apart from the boat propulsion unit;

the boat propulsion unit having a shift device for shifting between forward, neutral, and reverse operations and a shift actuator for actuating the shift device; and

a controller configured to control the shift actuator according to the operation amount of the remote control shift lever so that the remote control shift lever carries out a shift operation within a specified shift region from the neutral position, the controller causing the shift actuator to move by a predetermined actuation amount when the remote control shift lever reaches a specified position.

8. The shift system for a boat propulsion unit according to claim 7, further comprising a shift position detector configured to detect a completion of a shift, wherein the shift actuator, once actuated, continues until the shift is completed regardless of the operation of the remote control shift lever.

11. A shift system for a boat propulsion unit comprising:

a remote control operation device having a remote control shift lever for shifting within a shift region to establish at least a neutral mode and a first drive mode, the shift region including a first region defined between the neutral position and a first specified position, a second region defined between the first specified position and a second specified position, and an outer region beyond the second specified position relative to neutral;

a boat propulsion unit having a shift device for shifting between forward, neutral, and reverse operations, and a shift actuator for actuating the shift device; and

a controller configured to control the shift actuator according to the operation of the remote control shift lever through the first, second and outer regions, the controller causing the shift actuator to actuate only when the shift lever is in the second region.

12. The shift system for a boat propulsion unit according to claim 11, wherein when the first drive mode is a forward mode.

13. A shift system for a boat propulsion unit comprising:

a remote control operation device having a remote control shift lever disposed apart from the boat propulsion unit for shifting within a shift region to establish at least a neutral mode and first drive mode, the shift region including a first region defined between the neutral position and a first specified position, a second region defined between the first specified position and a second specified position, and an outer region beyond the second specified position relative to neutral position;

the boat propulsion unit having a shift device for shifting between forward, neutral, and reverse operations, and a shift actuator for actuating the shift device; and

means for controlling the shift actuator in a non-proportional manner relative to the operation of the remote control shift lever when the shift lever is operated in the shift region.

14. A method for controlling the shift of a boat propulsion unit comprising:

shifting the remote control shift lever of a remote control operation device disposed apart from a boat propulsion unit within a shift region between a neutral mode and a first drive mode, the shift region including a first region defined between neutral and a first specified position, a second region defined between the first specified position and a second specified position, and an outer region beyond the second specified position relative to neutral;

controlling a shift actuator of the propulsion unit to not actuate when the remote control shift lever is within the first region;

actuating the shift actuator by a predetermined actuation amount when the remote control shift lever is within the second region; and

controlling the shift actuator to not actuate when the remote control shift lever is in the outer region.

15. The method for controlling the shift of a boat propulsion unit according to claim 14, further comprising

shifting the remote control shift lever between a neutral mode and a second drive mode;

controlling the shift actuator to not actuate when the remote control shift lever is within the first region;

actuating the shift actuator by a predetermined actuation amount when the remote control shift lever is within the second region; and

controlling the shift actuator to not actuate when the remote control shift lever is in the outer region.

16. The method for controlling the shift of a boat propulsion unit according to claim 14, wherein the first drive mode is a forward mode.

17. The method for controlling the shift of a boat propulsion unit according to claim 14, wherein the second drive mode is a reverse mode.

18. The method for controlling the shift of a boat propulsion unit according to claim 14, wherein actuating the shift actuator by a predetermined actuation amount includes actuating the shift actuator in a generally step-wise manner.