METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCREASING OR DECREASING ENGINE THROTTLE IN A MARINE VESSEL

• US 20100280685A1
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marine Canada Acquisition Inc. (Dometic Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Marine Canada Acquisition Inc. (Dometic Group AB)
• Inventors: Wong, Ray Tat Lung, Allyn, Neil Garfield, Garon, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,930,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/21
• 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: F02D 11/106 Detection of demand or actuation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/16 End position calibration, i.e. calculation or measurement of actuator end positions, e.g. for throttle or its driving actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2432 Methods of calibration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2464 Characteristics of actuators

Abstract

A method of adjusting engine throttle in an electronic shift and throttle system comprises determining a position of a control lever which allows an operator to manually control throttle functions. A throttle command is calculated based on the position of the control lever. The throttle command is adjusted in response to an input received from an input means. The position of the control lever remains constant as the throttle command is being adjusted.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting engine throttle in an electronic shift and throttle system, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a position of a control lever which allows an operator to manually control throttle functions;

calculating a throttle command based on the position of the control lever and sending the throttle command to an engine controller;

adjusting the throttle command in response to a user input received from an input means and sending an adjusted throttle command to the engine controller;

wherein the position of the control lever remains constant as the throttle command is being adjusted.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of calculating the throttle command includes using a throttle curve to calculate the throttle command.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further including the step of cancelling the adjusted throttle command when the control lever is moved.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further including the step of adjusting the throttle command between 0.5% and 1% in response to each input received from the input means.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 further including the step of limiting adjustment of the throttle command to between 3% and 10%.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting the throttle command includes increasing the throttle command.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting the throttle command includes decreasing the throttle command.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adjusted throttle command is sent to the engine controller of all running engines in the electronic shift and throttle system.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the throttle command is only adjusted if all running engines in the electronic shift and throttle system are in forward gear.

10. A method for adjusting engine throttle in an electronic shift and throttle system, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if all running engines are in forward gear;

determining a position of a control lever which allows an operator to manually control throttle functions;

calculating a throttle command based on the position of the control lever and a throttle curve, and sending the throttle command to an engine controller of each of the running engines;

adjusting the throttle command in response to a user input received from an input means and sending an adjusted throttle command to the engine controller;

cancelling the adjusted throttle command when the control lever is moved;

wherein the position of the control lever remains constant as the throttle command is being adjusted.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 further including the step of adjusting the throttle command between 0.5% and 1% in response to each input received from the input means.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 further including the step of limiting adjustment of the throttle command to between 3% and 10%.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the step of adjusting the throttle command includes increasing the throttle command.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the step of adjusting the throttle command includes decreasing the throttle command.

15. An electronic shift and throttle system comprising:

a control head including a pivotable control lever for manually controlling throttle functions, the control lever being moveable through a range of positions;

an engine including a throttle and a throttle actuator for moving the throttle between an idle position and a wide open throttle position;

an engine control unit for providing a throttle command causing the throttle actuator move the throttle based on a position of the control lever; and

a user input means for increasing the throttle command without moving the control lever; and

a user input means for decreasing the throttle command without moving the control lever.

16. The electronic shift and throttle system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the input means for increasing the throttle command is a button disposed on the control head.

17. The electronic shift and throttle system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the input means for decreasing the throttle command is a button disposed on the control head.

18. The electronic shift and throttle system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the input means for increasing the throttle command is a button disposed on a switch panel.

19. The electronic shift and throttle system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the input means for decreasing the throttle command is a button disposed on a switch panel.