Operation control system for planing boat

• US 20070021015A1
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Hattori, Toshiyuki, Ito, Kazumasa, Kinoshita, Yoshimasa, Akuzawa, Shu, Kenichi, Fujino, Tatsuya, Yoshida, Masaru, Suzuki, Takashima, Sumihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,513,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/10 Power-driven personal watercraft, e.g. water scooters water jet propulsion B63H11/00; jet steering B63H25/46; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/213 Levers or the like for controlling the engine or the transmission, e.g. single hand control levers

Abstract

An operation control system for a planing boat can include a mode selection module configured to allow a driver to select a driving mode of either one of a normal operation mode, in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of an acceleration controller, and a speed-fixing mode, in which the boat cruises at a fixed speed at a level when a speed-fixing controller is operated. The system can also include a planing condition determination module configured to determine whether a hull is at the stage of planing, in which the mode selection module is configured to prohibit the driving mode from switching to the speed-fixing mode if the planing condition determination module determines that the hull is not at the stage of planning. The mode selection module can also be configured to permit the driving mode to switch to the speed-fixing mode if the planing condition determination module determines that the hull is at the stage of planing. The system can also include an aural reporting device configured to emit aural reports depending on the inputs issued by the operator.

Claims

1. An operation control system for a planning-type boat comprising mode selection means for selecting a driving mode, the driving mode comprising at least one of a normal operation mode, in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of an acceleration controller, and a speed-fixing mode in which the boat cruises at a fixed speed determined when a speed-fixing controller is operated, the system further comprising an aural reporting device configured to issue a first aural report when an operator inputs a command into the mode selection means.

2. The operation control system according to claim 1 additionally comprising planing condition determination means for determining whether a hull of the planning-type boat is at a stage of planing, wherein the mode selection means prohibits the driving mode from switching to the speed-fixing mode if the planing condition determination means determines that the hull is not at the stage of planing, and wherein the mode selection means permits the driving mode to switch to the speed-fixing mode if the planing condition determination means determines that the hull is at the stage of planing.

3. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 2, wherein the planing condition determination means determines that the hull is not at the stage of planing if an engine speed or cruising speed is kept lower than a preset value for a predetermined time period.

4. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 2, wherein the planing condition determination means determines that the hull is not at the stage of planing if a moving average obtained based on the engine speed is kept lower than a preset value for a predetermined time period.

5. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 2, wherein a speed-limiting mode is provided as an option to control the engine speed so as not to exceed the preset value, and the mode selection means permits the driving mode to switch to the speed-limiting mode if the normal operation mode has been selected, and the mode selection means prohibits the driving mode from switching to the speed-fixing mode if the speed-limiting mode has been selected.

6. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 1, wherein the mode selection means maintains the speed-fixing mode if the speed-fixing mode has been selected and if the displacement of the acceleration controller is equal to or greater than a preset value.

7. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 1, further comprising speed adjustment means for increasing/decreasing the cruising speed gradually by small degrees in accordance with inputs from a driver when the speed-fixing mode has been selected.

8. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 7, wherein the aural reporting device is configured to emit a second aural report when the issues an input into the speed adjustment means.

9. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 8, wherein the second aural report is different from the first aural report.

10. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 1, wherein the aural reporting device is configured to emit the first aural report when the operator switches the mode selection means to the speed-fixing mode from another mode.

11. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 1, wherein the aural reporting device is configured to emit a second aural report when the operator switches the mode selection means form the speed-fixing mode to another mode, the second aural report being different from the first aural report.

12. An operation control system for a planing-type boat comprising a hull and an engine supported by the hull, the operation control system comprising an acceleration input device configured to be operable by a driver of the boat, a mode selection module configured to allow a driver of the boat to select a driving mode, the driving mode comprising at least one of a normal operation mode, in which the boat cruises at a speed in response to the displacement of the acceleration input device, and a speed-fixing mode in which the boat cruises at a fixed speed determined when a speed-fixing controller is operated, the system further comprising an aural reporting device configured to emit a first aural report when an input is issued to the mode selection module.

13. The operating control system according to claim 12 additionally comprising a planing condition determination module configured to determine whether the hull is at a stage of planing, wherein the mode selection module is also configured to prohibit the driving mode from switching to the speed-fixing mode if the planing condition determination module determines that the hull is not at the stage of planing, and wherein the mode selection module is configured to permit switching of the driving mode to the speed-fixing mode if the planing condition determination module determines that the hull is at the stage of planing.

14. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 13, wherein the planing condition determination module is configured to determine that the hull is not at the stage of planing if an engine speed or cruising speed is kept lower than a preset value for a predetermined time period.

15. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 13, wherein the planing condition determination module is configured to determine that the hull is not at the stage of planing if a moving average obtained based on the engine speed is kept lower than a preset value for a predetermined time period.

16. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 12, further comprising a speed adjustment module configured to increase and decrease the cruising speed gradually by small degrees, in accordance with input from a driver when the speed-fixing mode has been selected.

17. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 16, wherein the aural reporting device is configured to emit a second aural report when the issues an input into the speed adjustment module.

18. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 17, wherein the second aural report is different from the first aural report.

19. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 12, wherein the aural reporting device is configured to emit the first aural report when the operator switches the mode selection means to the speed-fixing mode from another mode.

20. The operation control system for a planing boat according to claim 19, wherein the aural reporting device is configured to emit a second aural report when the operator switches the mode selection means form the speed-fixing mode to another mode, the second aural report being different from the first aural report.