Electrically controlled shift and throttle system

• US 6,485,340 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1998
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bombardier Motor Corp (Bombardier Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Motor Corporation Of America
• Inventors: Borst, Gaylord M., Prince, Anthony P., Kolb, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/192,801
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 440/84, 440/86, 440/87, 114/146
• US Class Current: 440/84
• 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 21/22 the propulsion power units being controlled from exterior of engine room, e.g. from navigation bridge; Arrangements of order telegraphs

Abstract

An electrically controlled shift and throttle system for a watercraft having multiple control stations is disclosed. The system has a number of control units having an elongated lever arm which can be moved in forward and reverse directions for shifting the transmission among forward, neutral, and reverse operating modes, as well as controlling the throttle of the engine for varying the operating speed thereof. The control units are electrically connected to a controller which also is electrically connected to a shift gear motor and throttle motor. Switches associated with each of the control units enables one of the control units to be selected as a master control unit and the nonselected control units then operate as slave units. During operation, the angular position of the master control unit lever arm is duplicated in the nonselected control units so that all control unit lever arms have the same angular orientation. A warm-up switch enables the throttle motor to be operated to vary the operating speed of the engine without shifting the transmission out of the neutral position.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling the shift and throttle systems of a marine craft having at least one engine with a throttle system and a transmission with a shift system for selecting one of forward, neutral, and reverse operating modes, the craft having at least two operator control stations, the shift system being of the type which has a shift gear linkage means for shifting a transmission among forward, neutral, and reverse operating modes, the throttle system having a throttle linkage means operably connected to the engine for controlling the operating speed of the engine, the apparatus comprising:

a first control unit located at a first operator control station and being adapted to generate electrical signals indicative of the operating speed and operating mode as a function of the position throw said control unit having a drive motor to selectively position the same responsive to positioning signals being received thereby;

a second control unit located at a second operator control station and being adapted to generate electrical signals indicative of the operating speed and operating mode as a function of the position thereof said second control unit having a drive motor to selectively position the same responsive to positioning signals being received thereby;

means associated with at least one of said control units for selecting one of said control units to be the master control unit for controlling the operating mode and operating speed;

a shift gear motor adapted to operate the shift gear linkage means to shift the transmission among operating modes responsive to electrical shift signals being applied thereto;

a throttle motor adapted to operate the throttle linkage means for controlling the operating speed of the engine; and

processing means adapted to receive said signals from each of said control units and to generate said positioning signals and to generate said shift signals for operating said shift gear motor and said throttle motor;

said apparatus operating in a manner whereby selection of a lever control means enables an operator to position the same and select the operating mode and operating speed and generate said electrical signals and communicate them to said processing means, said processing means communicating positioning signals to said drive motor of the nonselected control unit for positioning the same in substantially the same position as the selected control unit.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said control units comprises an elongated lever arm that is pivotable about an axis, said lever arm having a neutral position and adapted to be pivotable in a first direction for selecting a forward operating mode position and for increasing the operating speed proportionally as the amount the lever arm is pivoted in said first direction and pivotable in a second direction for selecting a reverse mode operating position and for increasing the operating speed proportionally as the amount the lever arm is pivoted in said second direction.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said first and second directions are opposite one another.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 further including a third control unit located at a third operator control station and being adapted to generate electrical signals indicative of the operating speed and operating mode as a function of the position thereof, said control unit having a drive motor to selectively position the same responsive to positioning signals being received thereby.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said control units comprises:

a stationary base portion;

a pivotable base portion being supported by said stationary base portion for angular pivotable movement relative to said stationary base portion;

said elongated lever arm being supported by said stationary base portion for angular pivotable movement relative to both said stationary base portion and also said pivotable base portion;

at least one centering spring means for positioning said lever arm at a center position relative to said pivotable base portion in the absence of external force being applied to said lever arm;

first resistor means operably connected to said stationary base portion and said lever arm and providing a fir&

a electrical value that is proportional to the angular position of said lever arm with respect to said stationary base portion, said first resistor means generating at least said operating speed signal responsive to said angular position of said lever arm; and

second resistor means operably connected to said stationary base portion and said pivotable base portion and providing a second electrical value that is proportional to the angular position of said pivotable base portion with respect to said stationary base portion, said second resistor means generating said positioning signal responsive to said angular position pivotable base portion.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said control units includes a worm gear and worm drive mechanism interconnecting its drive motor and its pivotable base portion.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said processing means receives said operating speed signals from said first resistor means of said selected control unit, and generates said positioning signals and applies the same to all of said lever control units.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said lever arm is pivotable through a predetermined arc relative to said pivotable base portion, and has a ball and detente mechanism operably associated between said lever arm and said pivotable base portion defining said center position.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said spring means comprises a pair of coil springs being located on opposite sides of said lever arm and between said pivotable base portion and said lever arm, said springs being adapted to bias said lever arm to said center position.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a warm-up switch means to permit said control unit to control operating speed but prevent the gear shift motor from operating said gear shift lever to either reverse or forward modes responsive to said warm-up switch means being activated.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said shift gear motor is located under an engine cowling.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said throttle motor is located under the engine cowling.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said processing means is located under the engine cowling.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said throttle motor is located under an engine cowling.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processing means is located under an engine cowling.

11. Apparatus for controlling the shift and throttle systems of a marine craft having an engine with a throttle system and a transmission with a shift system for selecting one of forward, neutral, and reverse operating modes, the craft having at least two operator control stations, the shift system being of the type which has a shift gear linkage means for shifting a transmission among forward, neutral, and reverse operating modes, the throttle system having a throttle linkage means operably connected to the engine for controlling the operating speed of the engine, the apparatus comprising:

a control unit located at each operator control station and being adapted to generate an electrical operating speed signal indicative of the operating speed and an electrical operating mode signal, each said control unit having a drive motor to selectively position the same responsive to an electrical positioning signal being received thereby;

means associated with each of said control units for selecting one of said control units to control the operating mode and operating speed;

a shift gear motor adapted to operate the shift gear linkage means to shift the transmission from one operating mode to another responsive to said operating mode signal being applied thereto;

a throttle motor adapted to operate throttle linkage means for controlling the operating speed of the engine responsive to an operating speed signal being applied thereto; and

processing means adapted to receive said operating mode and operating speed signals from said selected control unit and to generate said positioning signal and to generate signals for selectively operating said Shift gear motor and said throttle motor;

said apparatus operating in a manner whereby selection of a lever control means enables an operator to position the same and select the operating mode and operating speed and generate said electrical operating speed and operating mode signals and communicate them to said processing means, said processing means communicating said positioning signal to at least said drive motor of the nonselected control unit for positioning the lever control means of the nonselected control unit in substantially the same position as the lever control means of the selected control unit.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said control units comprises:

a stationary base portion for providing support for a pivotable base portion and an elongated lever portion;

a pivotable base portion that is angularly pivotable relative to said stationary base portion;

an elongated lever arm that is pivotable relative to said stationary base portion and is also pivotable relative to said pivotable base portion;

at least one centering spring means for positioning said lever arm at a center position relative to said pivotable base portion in the absence of external forces being applied to said lever arm;

first resistor means operably connected to said stationary base portion and said lever arm and providing a resistance value that is proportional to the angular position of said lever arm, said first resistor means generating said operating speed signal and said operating mode signal responsive to the angular position of said lever arm; and

second resistor means operably connected to said stationary base portion and said pivotable base portion and providing a resistance value that is proportional to the arm position of said pivotable base portion, said second resistor means generating said positioning signal responsive to the angular position of said pivotable base portion.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said control units comprises an elongated lever arm that is pivotable about an axis, said lever arm having a neutral position and adapted to be pivotable in a first direction for selecting a forward operating mode position and for increasing the operating speed proportionally as the amount the lever arm is pivoted in said first direction and pivotable in a second direction for selecting a reverse mode operating position and for increasing the operating speed proportionally as the amount the lever arm is pivoted in said second direction.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 further including warm-up switch means adapted to permit said lever arm to control operating speed while preventing said operating mode from being in either reverse or forward modes responsive to said warm-up switch means being activated.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said processing means, said throttle motor, and said shift gear motor are located under an engine cowling.

21. Apparatus for controlling the shift and throttle systems of a marine craft having at least one engine with a throttle system and a transmission with a shift system for selecting one of forward, neutral, and reverse operating modes, the shift system being of the type which has a shift gear linkage means for shifting a transmission among forward, neutral, and reverse operating modes, the throttle system having a throttle age means operably connected to the engine for controlling the operating speed of the engine, the apparatus comprising:

a first control unit located at a first operator control station and being adapted to generate electrical signals indicative of the operating speed and operating mode as a function of the position thereof, said control unit having a drive motor to selectively position the same responsive to positioning signals being received thereby;

a shift gear motor adapted to operate the shift gear linkage means to shift the transmission among operating modes responsive to electrical shift signals being applied thereto;

a throttle motor adapted to operate the throttle linkage means for controlling the operating speed of the engine; and

processing means adapted to receive said signals from said control unit and to generate said positioning signals and to generate said shift signals for operating said shift gear motor and said throttle motor;

said apparatus operating in a manner whereby a lever control means enables an operator to position the same and select the operating mode and operating speed and generate said electrical signals and communicate them to said processing means, said processing means communicating positioning signals to said drive motor.

22. An engine transmission and speed control unit for a marine craft comprising:

a lever arm having a first resistive surface element;

a pivotable base portion having a second resistive surface element, the pivotable base portion engageable with the lever arm;

a stationary base having a first wiper assembly and a second wiper assembly, the first wiper assembly in operational engagement with the first resistive element and the second wiper assembly in operational engagement with the second resistive surface element; and

a drive motor configured to position the pivotable base portion with respect to one of the first and the second wiper assembly based on a position of the other of the first and the second wiper assembly with respect to a respective resistive surface element.

23. The engine transmission and speed control unit of claim 22 further comprising an electronic controller configured to receive a signal indicative of an angular position of the lever arm with respect to the stationary base portion based on a position of the first wiper assembly with respect to the first resistive surface element.

24. The engine transmission and speed control unit of claim 23 wherein the electronic controller is further configured to receive the signal based on one of a voltage and a current measured at the engagement of the first wiper assembly and the first resistive surface element.

25. The engine transmission and speed control unit of claim 24 wherein the electronic controller is further configured to transmit a repositioning signal to the drive motor to cause the drive motor to position the pivotable base portion so that one of a voltage and a current measured at the engagement of the second wiper assembly and the second resistive surface element matches the one of the voltage and the current measured at the engagement of the first wiper assembly and the first resistive surface element.

26. The engine transmission and speed control unit of claim 22 wherein the lever arm is movable with respect to the stationary base to effectuate at least one of a forward, a neutral, and a reverse gear position.

27. The engine transmission and speed control unit of claim 26 further comprising a pair of springs disposed between the pivotable base portion and the lever arm.