MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION SYSTEM AND MARINE VESSEL

• US 20100248560A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: IKEGAYA, Yuki, AKUZAWA, Shu, ICHIKAWA, Noriyoshi, ITO, Makoto, BAMBA, Takaaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,192,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2020/003 Arrangements of two, or more outboard propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2021/216 using electric control means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/42 Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements by jets B63H25/46; Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers

Abstract

A marine vessel propulsion system includes a plurality of propulsion devices, each including a motor and a propeller rotated by the motor. The system further includes a common electric power supply switch arranged to be operated by an operator to turn on and off electric power supplies of the plurality of propulsion devices all at once, an electric power supply control unit arranged to put the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices in an on state all at once when the common electric power supply switch is turned on and to put the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices in an off state all at once when the common electric power supply switch is turned off, an abnormal state detection unit arranged to detect an abnormal state of each propulsion device, and a power transmission cutoff unit, which is arranged to, when an abnormal state of any of the propulsion devices is detected by the abnormal state detection unit, cut off transmission of power between the motor and the propeller of the propulsion device for which the abnormal state is detected.

Claims

1. A marine vessel propulsion system comprising:

a plurality of propulsion devices, each including a motor and a propeller arranged to be rotated by the motor;

a common electric power supply switch arranged to be operated by an operator to turn on and off electric power supplies of the plurality of propulsion devices all at once;

an electric power supply control unit arranged to put the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices in an on state all at once when the common electric power supply switch is turned on and to put the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices in an off state all at once when the common electric power supply switch is turned off;

an abnormal state detection unit arranged to detect an abnormal state of each propulsion device; and

a power transmission cutoff unit which is arranged to, when an abnormal state of any of the propulsion devices is detected by the abnormal state detection unit, cut off transmission of power between the motor and the propeller of the propulsion device for which the abnormal state is detected.

2. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 1, wherein the abnormal state detection unit includes an entrained rotation detection unit arranged to detect rotation of a driving shaft of the motor due to entrained rotation as an abnormal state of the propulsion device that includes the motor.

3. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 2, wherein the entrained rotation detection unit is arranged to detect that the driving shaft of the motor is rotating due to entrained rotation when, from a state where the motor is stopped, the driving shaft of the motor rotates with a starting device of the motor not being driven or when, after starting a stopping process on the motor that is in a running state, the rotation of the driving shaft of the motor does not stop within a predetermined time.

4. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit arranged to notify the cutting off of transmission of power between the motor and the propeller of a propulsion device for which an abnormal state is detected when the power transmission cutoff unit cuts off the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller of the propulsion device.

5. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 1, wherein each of the propulsion devices includes a clutch mechanism arranged to be switched between a transmitting state, in which power is transmitted between the motor and the propeller, and a cutoff state, in which the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller is cut off;

the marine vessel propulsion system further comprising a clutch state selection operation unit arranged to be operated by an operator to select states of the clutch mechanisms in the plurality of propulsion devices;

wherein

the power transmission cutoff unit is arranged such that when the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller of a propulsion device for which an abnormal state is detected is cut off, the cutoff state is maintained until a selection operation to put the state of the clutch mechanism of the propulsion device in the cutoff state is performed by the clutch state selection operation unit.

6. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission cutoff unit is arranged such that when the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller of a propulsion device for which an abnormal state is detected is cut off, the cutoff state is maintained until the motors of all propulsion devices are stopped.

7. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 1, further comprising a speed detection unit arranged to detect a speed of the marine vessel, wherein the power transmission cutoff unit is arranged such that when the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller of a propulsion device for which an abnormal state is detected is cut off, the cutoff state is maintained until the speed of the marine vessel detected by the speed detection unit becomes no more than a predetermined threshold value.

8. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 1, wherein each of the propulsion devices includes a clutch mechanism arranged to be switched between a transmitting state, in which power is transmitted between the motor and the propeller, and a cutoff state, in which the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller is cut off, the marine vessel propulsion system further comprising a clutch state selection operation unit arranged to be operated by an operator to select states of the clutch mechanisms in the plurality of propulsion devices;

the clutch state selection operation unit including a fewer number of operational elements than a total number of the plurality of propulsion devices; and

the marine vessel propulsion system further comprising an association changing unit which is arranged to, when there is a propulsion device that has the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller cut off by the power transmission cutoff unit, change, in accordance with a location of the propulsion device, an association of the respective propulsion devices and the operation elements.

9. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 1, further comprising a unit arranged to control a propulsion device, for which an abnormality is detected, such that the motor of the propulsion device is put in a driving-stopped state at a same time or after the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller of the propulsion device is cut off by the power transmission cutoff unit.

10. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 1, wherein each of the propulsion devices includes a clutch mechanism arranged to be switched between a transmitting state, in which power is transmitted between the motor and the propeller, and a cutoff state, in which the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller is cut off;

the marine vessel propulsion system further comprising a stopped state detection unit arranged to detect stopped states of the motors of the respective propulsion devices;

a clutch state detection unit arranged to detect, when the stopped state detection unit detects the stopped state of the motor of any of the propulsion devices, the transmitting state of the clutch mechanism in the propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected; and

an ignition and injection control unit arranged to cut, when the clutch state detection unit detects the transmitting state of the clutch mechanism in the propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected, an ignition and an injection of the motor.

11. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 10, wherein the power transmission cutoff unit is arranged to cut off the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller of a propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected even when the clutch state detection unit detects that the clutch mechanism in the propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected is in the transmitting state.

12. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 10, wherein the ignition and injection control unit is arranged such that after cutting the ignition and the injection, the cutting of the ignition and the injection is maintained until the common electric power supply switch is turned off.

13. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 10, further comprising start switches arranged to be operated by an operator to start the motors of the respective propulsion devices, wherein the ignition and injection control unit is arranged such that after cutting the ignition and the injection, the cutting of the ignition and the injection is maintained until the start switch corresponding to the propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected is operated.

17. A marine vessel comprising:

a hull; and

the marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 1 installed in the hull.

14. A marine vessel propulsion system comprising:

a plurality of propulsion devices, each including a motor, a propeller arranged to be rotated by the motor, and a clutch mechanism arranged to be switched between a transmitting state, in which power is transmitted between the motor and the propeller, and a cutoff state, in which the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller is cut off;

a common electric power supply switch arranged to be operated by an operator to turn on and off electric power supplies of the plurality of propulsion devices all at once;

an electric power supply control unit arranged to put the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices in an on state all at once when the common electric power supply switch is turned on and to put the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices in an off state all at once when the common electric power supply switch is turned off;

a stopped state detection unit arranged to detect stopped states of the motors of the respective propulsion devices;

a clutch state detection unit arranged to detect, when the stopped state detection unit detects the stopped state of the motor of any of the propulsion devices, a transmitting state of the clutch mechanism in the propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected;

an ignition and injection control unit arranged to cut, when the clutch state detection unit detects the transmitting state of the clutch mechanism in the propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected, an ignition and an injection of the motor; and

a power transmission cutoff unit arranged to cut off the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller of a propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected when the clutch state detection unit detects that the clutch mechanism in the propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected is in the transmitting state.

15. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 14, wherein the ignition and injection control unit is arranged such that after cutting the ignition and the injection, the cutting of the ignition and the injection is maintained until the common electric power supply switch is turned off.

16. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 14, further comprising start switches arranged to be operated by an operator to start the motors of the respective propulsion devices, wherein the ignition and injection control unit is arranged such that after cutting the ignition and the injection, the cutting of the ignition and the injection is maintained until the start switch corresponding to the propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected is operated.

18. A marine vessel comprising:

a hull; and

the marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 14 installed in the hull.

19. A marine vessel propulsion system comprising:

a plurality of propulsion devices, each including a motor, a propeller arranged to be rotated by the motor, and a clutch mechanism that is arranged to be switched between a transmitting state, in which power is transmitted between the motor and the propeller, and a cutoff state, in which the transmission of power between the motor and the propeller is cut off;

a common electric power supply switch arranged to be operated by an operator to turn on and off electric power supplies of the plurality of propulsion devices all at once;

an electric power supply control unit arranged to put the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices in an on state all at once when the common electric power supply switch is turned on and to put the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices in an off state all at once when the common electric power supply switch is turned off;

a stopped state detection unit arranged to detect stopped states of the motors of the respective propulsion devices;

a clutch state detection unit arranged to detect, when the stopped state detection unit detects the stopped state of the motor of any of the propulsion devices, the transmitting state of the clutch mechanism in the propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected; and

an ignition and injection control unit arranged to cut, when the clutch state detection unit detects the transmitting state of the clutch mechanism in the propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected, an ignition and an injection of the propulsion device.

20. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 19, wherein the ignition and injection control unit is arranged such that after cutting the ignition and the injection, the cutting of the ignition and the injection is maintained until the common electric power supply switch is turned off.

21. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 19, further comprising start switches arranged to be operated by an operator to start the motors of the respective propulsion devices, wherein the ignition and injection control unit is arranged such that after cutting the ignition and the injection, the cutting of the ignition and the injection is maintained until the start switch corresponding to the propulsion device for which the stopped state of the motor is detected is operated.

22. A marine vessel comprising:

a hull; and

the marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 19 installed in the hull.

23. A marine vessel propulsion system comprising:

a plurality of propulsion devices, each including a motor and a motor control unit;

a common electric power supply switch arranged to be operated by an operator to turn on and off the plurality of propulsion devices all at once;

a plurality of electric power supply off command input units arranged to be operated by an operator to turn off electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices individually; and

an electric power supply control unit arranged to perform on/off control of the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices based on inputs from the common electric power supply switch and the respective electric power supply off command input units;

the electric power supply control unit including an all electric power supply on unit arranged to turn on the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices all at once when the common electric power supply switch is turned on;

an all electric power supply off unit arranged to turn off the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices all at once when the common electric power supply switch is turned off; and

a first individual electric power supply off unit, which is arranged to, when the electric power supply off command is input by any of the electric power supply off command input units with the common electric power supply switch being in the on state, individually turn off the electric power supply of the propulsion device corresponding to the electric power supply off command input unit.

24. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 23, further comprising a plurality of start/stop switches arranged to be operated by an operator to start and stop the motors of the respective propulsion devices individually, and

an operation judgment unit arranged to judge an operation of each start/stop switch as being a first operation of inputting a start/stop command or a second operation that is a specific operation differing from the first operation and is to input an electric power supply off command,

wherein the plurality of start/stop switches are arranged to define in common the plurality of electric power supply command input units, and

the first individual electric power supply off unit is arranged to respond to the judgment made by the operation judgment unit that the second operation is performed.

25. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 24, wherein the first operation of each start/stop switch is a short pressing operation of the start/stop switch, and the second operation of each start/stop switch is a long pressing operation of the start/stop switch.

26. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 24, wherein the electric power supply control unit further includes a first individual electric power supply on unit, which is arranged to, when the start/stop switch, corresponding to a propulsion device having its electric power supply in the off state, is operated with the common electric power supply switch being in the on state, turn on the electric power supply of the propulsion device individually.

27. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 23, further comprising a plurality of individual electric power supply switches arranged to be operated by an operator to turn on and off the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices individually,

the electric power supply control unit further including a second individual electric power supply on unit, which is arranged to, when an on operation of any of the individual electric power supply switches is performed, put the electric power supply of the propulsion device corresponding to the individual electric power supply switch in the on state individually, and a second individual electric power supply off unit, which is arranged to, when an off operation of any of the individual electric power supply switches is performed, put the electric power supply of the propulsion device corresponding to the individual electric power supply switch in the off state individually.

28. The marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 23, further comprising a display unit arranged to display on/off states of the electric power supplies of the respective propulsion devices.

29. A marine vessel comprising:

a hull; and

the marine vessel propulsion system according to claim 23 installed in the hull.