Operation control system for small boat

• US 20060160437A1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Hattori, Toshiyuki, Ito, Kazumasa, Kinoshita, Yoshimasa, Akuzawa, Shu, Takashima, Sumihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,422,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/1
• 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: B63H 21/22 the propulsion power units being controlled from exterior of engine room, e.g. from navigation bridge; Arrangements of order telegraphs

Abstract

An operation control system for a small boat can include a mode selection module configured to allow a driver to select between a plurality of driving modes including at least a normal operation mode, in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of an acceleration controller, and a low-speed setting mode, in which the boat cruises at a preset low speed when a low-speed setting controller is operated; in which the mode selection module permits the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the displacement of the acceleration controller is zero, or small or close to zero or is in or substantially at an idle position.

Claims

1. An operation control system for a small boat comprising acceleration displacement detecting means for detecting the displacement of an acceleration controller, and mode selection means for selecting a driving mode from a normal operation mode in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of the acceleration controller detected by the acceleration displacement detecting means, and a low-speed setting mode in which the boat cruises at a preset low speed when a low-speed setting controller is operated, wherein the mode selection means permits the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the displacement of the acceleration controller is zero, or small or close to zero.

2. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 1, further comprising forward/reverse drive shift means for changing the direction of thrust generated by a propulsion unit to either forward or reverse direction, wherein the mode selection means permits the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the forward/reverse drive shift means has been shifted to a forward drive position, and the mode selection means prohibits the driving mode from switching to the low-speed setting mode if the forward/reverse drive shift means has been shifted to a reverse drive position.

3. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 2, wherein the mode selection means clears the low-speed setting mode if the low-speed setting mode has been selected before the initial stage of a whole process for shifting the forward/reverse drive shift lever from the forward to the reverse drive position.

4. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 1, wherein the mode selection means clears the low-speed setting mode to automatically switch to the normal operation mode if the low-speed setting mode has been selected, and if at least one of the small displacement of the acceleration controller changes to a large amount, the low-speed setting controller is operated again, and a steering load, applied to a steering device by the driver'"'"'s steering action, or a steering angle is equal to or greater than a preset value.

5. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 1, further comprising anomaly detecting means for detecting an anomaly in at least any one of engine operation and all detecting means, wherein the mode selection means prohibits the driving mode from switching to the low-speed setting mode if any anomaly is detected.

6. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 5, wherein the mode selection means clears the low-speed setting mode if low-speed setting mode has been selected and if any anomaly is detected in engine operation or each detecting means.

7. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 1 further comprising speed adjustment means for increasing or decreasing the cruising speed gradually in the case the low-speed setting mode has been selected.

8. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 2 further comprising speed adjustment means for increasing or decreasing the cruising speed gradually in the case the low-speed setting mode has been selected.

9. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 3 further comprising speed adjustment means for increasing or decreasing the cruising speed gradually in the case the low-speed setting mode has been selected.

10. An operation control system for a small boat having an acceleration input device configured to allow a driver of the small boat to input an acceleration input, the system comprising an acceleration displacement detector configured to detect a displacement of an acceleration controller, and a mode selection module configured to allow a driver of the small boat to select between a plurality of driving modes, the driving modes including at least a normal operation mode in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of the acceleration input device detected by the acceleration displacement detecting module, and a low-speed setting mode in which the boat cruises at a preset low speed when a low-speed setting controller is operated, wherein the mode selection module is configured to permit the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the displacement of the acceleration input device is in or substantially at an idle speed position.

11. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 10, further comprising a forward/reverse drive shift device configured to allow a driver of the small boat to change the direction of thrust generated by a propulsion unit of the small boat to either forward or reverse direction, wherein the mode selection module is configured to permit the driving mode to switch to the low-speed setting mode if the forward/reverse drive shift device has been shifted to a forward drive position, and wherein the mode selection module is configured to prohibit the driving mode from switching to the low-speed setting mode if the forward/reverse drive shift device has been shifted to a reverse drive position.

12. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 11, wherein the mode selection module is configured to clear the low-speed setting mode if the low-speed setting mode has been selected before the initial stage of a whole process for shifting the forward/reverse drive shift device from the forward to the reverse drive position.

13. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 10, wherein the mode selection module is configured to clear the low-speed setting mode to automatically switch to the normal operation mode if the low-speed setting mode has been selected, and if at least one of the small displacement of the acceleration input device changes to a large amount, the low-speed setting controller is operated again, and a steering load, applied to a steering device by the driver'"'"'s steering action, or a steering angle is equal to or greater than a preset value.

14. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 10, further comprising an anomaly detecting module configured to detect an anomaly in at least any one of engine operation and all detecting modules, wherein the mode selection module prohibits the driving mode from switching to the low-speed setting mode if any anomaly is detected.

15. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 14, wherein the mode selection module is configured to clear the low-speed setting mode if low-speed setting mode has been selected and if any anomaly is detected in engine operation or each detecting modules.

16. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 10 further comprising a speed adjustment module configured to increase or decrease the cruising speed gradually in the case the low-speed setting mode has been selected.

17. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 11 further comprising a speed adjustment module configured to increase or decrease the cruising speed gradually in the case the low-speed setting mode has been selected.

18. The operation control system for a small boat according to claim 12 further comprising a speed adjustment module configured to increase or decrease the cruising speed gradually in the case the low-speed setting mode has been selected.