PRESSURE CONTROL DEVICE FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF MARINE ENGINE

• US 3,794,293 A
• Filed: 11/30/1972
• Issued: 02/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hiroo Inque, Makoto Takagi, Tutomu Matuda
• Original Assignee: Hiroo Inque, Makoto Takagi, Tutomu Matuda
• Inventors: Takagi, Makoto, Matuda, Tutomu, Inque, Hiroo
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US05/310,689
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 251/133,131,134 74/626 318/15,626,468
• US Class Current: 251/129.03
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/046 with electric means, e.g. electric switches, to control the motor or to control a clutch between the valve and the motor F16K31/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/048 with torque limiters F16K31/041 takes precedence

Abstract

Throttle control apparatus for a marine engine employing an electric motor for automatically advancing the throttle at a slow, continuous rate in the navigation speed range of the engine. The apparatus further includes a planetary gear system via which the throttle control handle acts during starting speeds to advance the throttle manually. An electromagnetic clutch couples the motor to the output member of the planetary gear system when the throttle control handle is moved from the starting speed range into the navigation speed range. The planetary gear system is concurrently adjusted in accordance with the selected handle position so as to automatically terminate operation of the motor and consequently maintain the throttle setting in accordance with the selected handle position.

Claims

1. Throttle control apparatus for a marine engine operated by manipulation of a control handle in first and second speed regions of said engine, comprising:

a. control means for establishing different throttle settings depending upon the position of said handle;

b. drive means for operating said control means, said drive means being operative in response to movement of said handle in said first region of said speed range; and

c. motor means cooperating with said drive means when said handle is in said second speed region for automatically changing the setting of said throttle in accordance with the speed of said motor, said drive means being adjusted in accordance with the selected position of said handle in said second speed region to automatically terminate operation of said motor when saiD throttle setting corresponds to the selected handle position.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that said drive means comprises a planetary gear system including:

a. an input shaft rotatable in response to movement of said handle;

b. a sun gear fixed on said input shaft for rotation therewith;

c. a ring gear concentric with said sun gear;

d. a plurality of planet gears interposed between said sun gear and said ring gear for operation therebetween, each of said planet gears having an axle; and

e. an output gear from which said axles project, said output gear being carried on said input shaft for free rotation thereon so as to effect operation of said control means.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

a. said ring gear having a lug extending between first and second arcuately spaced stop members for engagement with one or the other thereof; and

b. bias means for urging said ring gear in a direction to engage said lug with one of said stop members whereby movement of said handle in said first speed region causes said planet gears to revolve about said sun gear in one direction so that said output gear is accordingly rotated with said revolving planet gears.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a. motor controlling switch means engageable with said lug when said lug is engaged with said one stop member;

b. coupling means between the output shaft of said motor and said output gear; and

c. means for engaging said coupling means when said handle is shifted from said first speed region to said second speed region whereby the resistance offered by said motor is transmitted to said output gear, said resistance being greater than the force of said bias means whereby said ring gear is driven in a direction to move said lug toward the other one of said stop members in accordance with movement of said handle in said second speed region, thereby disengaging said lug from said switch means to effect operation of said motor.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4, further characterized in that operation of said motor is transmitted via said output gear to cause said planet gears to revolve around said sun gear in said one direction for driving said ring gear so that said lug is moved back toward said one stop member to automatically terminate operation of said motor when the throttle setting corresponds to the selected position of said handle in said second speed region.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising slip clutch means intermediate said coupling means and said output gear for interrupting the drive connection between said motor and said output gear to permit said planet gears to revolve about said sun gear in a direction opposite said one direction in response to said handle being moved from said second speed region toward said first speed region.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that the speed of said motor is constant, being at a very slow rate to prevent overloading said motor when accelerating in said second speed region.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 3, further characterized in that the arcuate distance between said first and second stops corresponds to the degree of throttle variation capable of being obtained by operation of said control handle in said second speed region.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that said control means comprises a pneumatic control valve device providing output fluid pressure for the control of said throttle setting.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that said control means comprises an electrical rheostat for varying the resistance in an electrical circuit controlling said throttle setting.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 4, further characterized in that said coupling means is an electromagnetic clutch.