Throttle control for small watercraft
First Claim
1. A small watercraft comprising a hull, an internal combustion engine disposed within the hull, the engine including an air induction system that supplies air to the engine and includes a throttle device to regulate the amount of air supplied to the engine, a steering mechanism including a handlebar assembly coupled to the hull, and a throttle device control system that includes a throttle operator located on the handlebar assembly and arranged to be controlled by a rider of the watercraft, an operator position sensor that is configured to detect the position of the throttle operator and to output a data signal that is indicative of the detected position of the throttle operator, an electronic controller communicating with the operator position sensor to receive the data signal and being configured to output a control signal in response to the data signal, and an actuator communicating with the controller and being coupled to the throttle device, the actuator being adapted to adjust the throttle device in response to the control signal from the controller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A throttle control system eases operation of the throttle lever on a small watercraft to improve rider comfort. The small watercraft includes an internal combustion engine and a steering mechanism for steering the watercraft. The steering mechanism includes a handlebar assembly. The engine includes an air induction system that supplies air to the engine and includes a throttle device configured for controlling the amount of air supplied to the engine. The control system includes a throttle operator, an operator position sensor, a controller and an actuator. The throttle operator is located on the handlebar assembly. The operator position sensor is configured to detect the position of the throttle operator and to communicate with the controller. The actuator is configured to adjust the throttle device in response to the controller.
82 Citations
35 Claims
- 1. A small watercraft comprising a hull, an internal combustion engine disposed within the hull, the engine including an air induction system that supplies air to the engine and includes a throttle device to regulate the amount of air supplied to the engine, a steering mechanism including a handlebar assembly coupled to the hull, and a throttle device control system that includes a throttle operator located on the handlebar assembly and arranged to be controlled by a rider of the watercraft, an operator position sensor that is configured to detect the position of the throttle operator and to output a data signal that is indicative of the detected position of the throttle operator, an electronic controller communicating with the operator position sensor to receive the data signal and being configured to output a control signal in response to the data signal, and an actuator communicating with the controller and being coupled to the throttle device, the actuator being adapted to adjust the throttle device in response to the control signal from the controller.
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16. A small watercraft comprising a hull, an internal combustion engine disposed within the hull, the engine including an air induction system that supplies air to the engine and includes a throttle device to regulate the amount of air supplied to the engine, a steering mechanism including a handlebar assembly coupled to the hull, and a throttle device control system that includes a throttle operator located on the handlebar assembly and arranged to be controlled by a rider of the watercraft, an operator position sensor that is configured to detect the position of the throttle operator and to output a data signal that is indicative of the detected position of the throttle operator, a controller communicating with the operator position sensor to receive the data signal and being configured to output a control signal in response to the data signal, and an actuator communicating with the controller and being coupled to the throttle device, the actuator being adapted to adjust the throttle device in response to the control signal from the controller, wherein the throttle device control system is configured such that the actuator only adjusts the position of the throttle device until the watercraft reaches a planing state.
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17. A small watercraft comprising a hull, an internal combustion engine disposed within the hull, the engine including an air induction system that supplies air to the engine and includes a throttle device to regulate the amount of air supplied to the engine, a steering mechanism including a handlebar assembly coupled to the hull, and a throttle device control system that includes a throttle operator located on the handlebar assembly and arranged to be controlled by a rider of the watercraft, an operator position sensor that is configured to detect the position of the throttle operator and to output a data signal that is indicative of the detected position of the throttle operator, a controller communicating with the operator position sensor to receive the data signal and being configured to output a control signal in response to the data signal, and an actuator communicating with the controller and being coupled to the throttle device, the actuator being adapted to adjust the throttle device in response to the control signal from the controller, wherein the throttle device control system is configured such that the actuator only adjusts the position of the throttle device after the watercraft reaches a planing state.
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18. A small watercraft comprising a hull, an internal combustion engine disposed within the hull, the engine including an air induction system that supplies air to the engine and includes a throttle device to regulate the amount of air supplied to the engine, a steering mechanism including a handlebar assembly coupled to the hull, and a throttle device control system that includes a throttle operator located on the handlebar assembly and arranged to be controlled by a rider of the watercraft, means for detecting a position of the throttle operator, and means for moving said throttle device in response to the detected position of the throttle operator;
- wherein the throttle device control system is configured such that an actuator only adjusts the position of the throttle device until the watercraft reaches a planing state.
- View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
- 21. A small watercraft comprising a hull, an internal combustion engine disposed within the hull, the engine including an air induction system that supplies air to the engine and includes a throttle device to regulate the amount of air supplied to the engine, a steering mechanism including a handlebar assembly coupled to the hull, and a throttle device control system that includes a throttle operator located on the handlebar assembly and arranged to be controlled by a rider of the watercraft, means for detecting a position of the throttle operator, and means for moving said throttle device in response to the detected position of the throttle operator, wherein the means for detecting the position of the throttle operator is located within a substantially waterproof compartment of a case that is mounted near a grip on the handlebar assembly, and the throttle operator is coupled to the case.
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24. A small watercraft comprising a hull, an internal combustion engine disposed within the hull, the engine including an air induction system that supplies air to the engine and includes a throttle device to regulate the amount of air supplied to the engine, a steering mechanism including a handlebar assembly coupled to the hull, and a throttle device control system that includes a throttle operator located on the handlebar assembly and arranged to be controlled by a rider of the watercraft, means for detecting a position of the throttle operator, and means for moving said throttle device in response to the detected position of the throttle operator, wherein the throttle device control system is configured such that an actuator only adjusts the position of the throttle device after the watercraft reaches a planing state.
- 25. A small watercraft comprising a hull, an internal combustion engine disposed within the hull, an air control device to regulate the amount of air supplied to the engine, a steering mechanism including a handlebar assembly coupled to the hull, and a control system that includes an operator located on the handlebar assembly and arranged to be controlled by a rider of the watercraft, an operator position sensor that is configured to detect the position of the operator and to output a data signal that is indicative of the detected position of the operator, an electronic controller communicating with the operator position sensor to receive the data signal and being configured to output a control signal in response to the data signal, and an actuator of the air control device that is in communication with the controller, the actuator being adapted to adjust the air control device in response to the control signal from the controller.
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34. A watercraft comprising a hull including a lower portion and an upper portion, an engine supported by the hull, an induction system connected to the engine and configured to guide air into the engine, a throttle valve disposed in the induction system and configured to control an amount of air flow through the induction system, a rider'"'"'s area supported by the upper portion of the hull, a handle bar pivotally supported in the rider'"'"'s area and configured to steer the watercraft, a throttle input device disposed on the handlebar comprising an input lever and a lever position sensor configured to detect a position of the input lever and produce a signal indicative of a position of the input member, a throttle controller connected to the throttle valve and configured to move the throttle valve in accordance with the signal, a first spring biasing the input lever to an idle position and a second spring biasing the throttle valve to an idle position, the first spring being weaker than the second spring.
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35. A watercraft comprising a hull including a lower portion and an upper portion, an engine supported by the hull, an induction system connected to the engine and configured to guide air into the engine, a throttle valve disposed in the induction system and configured to control an amount of air flow through the induction system, a rider'"'"'s area supported by the upper portion of the hull, a handle bar pivotally supported in the rider'"'"'s area and configured to steer the watercraft, a throttle input device disposed on the handlebar comprising an input lever and a lever position sensor configured to detect a position of the input lever and produce a signal indicative of a position of the input member, an electronic throttle controller connected to the throttle valve and configured to move the throttle valve in accordance with the signal, a first spring biasing the input lever to an idle position and a second spring biasing the throttle valve to an idle position, the first spring being configured such that an effort required to move the input lever to a first position is easier than an effort that would be required to move the throttle valve to a position, corresponding to the first position of the input lever, with only a mechanical connection between the inputlever and the throttle valve.
Specification