Action control device for small boat

• US 20070049139A1
• Filed: 08/21/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Mizutani, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 7,494,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/59
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/10 using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/40 for controlling the operation of vessels, e.g. monitoring their speed, routing or maintenance schedules
• 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 25/04 automatic, e.g. reacting to compass

Abstract

An action control device for a small boat can include a running condition detecting device, a running environment determining device configured to determine a running environment based upon the running condition, and a steering control device configured to set a steering handle operative characteristic in response to the running environment.

Claims

1. An action control device for a boat comprising a running condition detecting means, a running environment determining means for determining a running environment based upon the running condition, and a steering control means for setting a steering handle operative characteristic in response to the running environment.

2. The action control device for a boat according to claim 1 further comprising a propulsion unit mounted on a hull of the small boat, a steering handle adapted to be operated by a human operator, a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of the steering handle, a steering unit configured to pivot the propulsion unit relative to the hull in response to the steering angle, a load sensor configured to detect a load of the pivotal movement of the propulsion unit, a reaction force motor configured to apply a reaction force to the steering handle in response to the load of the pivotal movement of the propulsion unit, and a control unit configured to compute a pivotal movement angle of the propulsion unit by the steering unit based upon the steering angle of the steering handle and a pivotal movement characteristic of the propulsion unit, the control unit forming the running environment determining means and the steering control means.

3. The action control device for a boat according to claim 2, wherein the running environment is determined based upon the load of the pivotal movement of the propulsion unit.

4. The action control device for a boat according to claim 1, wherein the running condition includes at least one of a position of the hull, a vibration, a yaw rate, a speed and a load of pivotal movement of the propulsion unit, and the running environment is determined based upon a variation of the running condition and a frequency of the variation.

5. The action control device for a boat according to claim 2, wherein, when the running environment is determined to more severe, the reaction force applied to the steering handle is made heavier and a ratio of the pivotal movement angle of the propulsion unit is decreased relative to the steering angle.

6. An action control device for a boat comprising a steering handle configured to allow an operator of a boat to input steering commands, a running environment detection device configured to determine a running environment of a boat, and a steering control device configured to adjust a steering handle operative characteristic in response to the running environment.

7. The action control device for a boat according to claim 6, wherein the running environment detection device is configured to detect a magnitude of a variation of a running condition of a boat.

8. The action control device for a boat according to claim 6, wherein the running environment detection device is configured to detect a magnitude of a variation of a force applied to a portion of a boat.

9. The action control device for a boat according to claim 8, wherein the portion of the boat is a propulsion device.

10. The action control device for a boat according to claim 6, wherein the running environment detection device is configured to detect a magnitude and a frequency of variations of forces applied to a propulsion device of a boat, the steering control device being configured to change the steering handle operative characteristic if the magnitude and frequency exceed a predetermined threshold.

11. The action control device for a boat according to claim 10, wherein the steering handle operative characteristic is at least one of a reaction force applied to the steering handle and a ratio of a steering movement of the steering handle and a steering movement of the propulsion device.

12. The action control device for a boat according to claim 12, wherein the steering control device is configured to raise a reaction force applied to the steering handle and to increase the ratio when the frequency and variations in force indicate that the boat is being operated in more severe conditions.