Engine control device for water vehicle

• US 6,886,529 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2002
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Suzuki, Akitaka, Mineo, Shigeharu, Motose, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, HAI H
• Application Number:
  US10/331,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20030140894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 123/342, 123/198.D, 123/198.F, 123/399, 123/400, 440/32, 440/88.A, 440/900
• US Class Current: 123/342
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/10 Power-driven personal watercraft, e.g. water scooters water jet propulsion B63H11/00; jet steering B63H25/46; Accessories therefor
• 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 21/24 the vessels being small craft, e.g. racing boats
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/045 for marine engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/02 characterised by hand, foot, or like operator controlled initiation means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2011/103 at least one throttle being alternatively mechanically linked to the pedal or moved by an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2201/021 Aluminium

Abstract

A watercraft includes an engine output control device that can adjust the maximum output of the engine. The output device can be constructed of mechanical devices for adjusting the relationship between the movement of a throttle lever and a throttle valve, an electronic device for proportionally controlling the position of throttle valves in relation to the movement of the throttle lever, are other devices for controlling engine speeds in other ways.

Claims

1. A watercraft comprising a hull, the hull defining an operator'"'"'s area, an engine output request device disposed in the operator'"'"'s area being movable between a minimum position and a maximum position, an engine supported by the hull, the engine including an engine body defining at least one combustion chamber therein, an air amount control device configured to control an amount of air flowing into the combustion chamber, the air amount control device being operable in at least first and second modes, the air amount control device being configured to, in the first mode, allow a maximum amount of air to flow into the combustion chamber when the engine output request device is positioned in the maximum position, and being configured to, in the second mode, allow an amount of air less than the maximum amount, when the engine output request device is positioned in the maximum position, wherein the air amount control device comprises a throttle valve, the control device being configured to position the throttle valve based on a position of the engine output request device, and additionally comprising a first cable connecting the engine output request device to the control device, and a second cable connecting the control device with the throttle valve, the control device being configured to change a ratio of the movements of the first and second cables when switched between the first and second modes.

2. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the engine output request device comprises a throttle lever.

3. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the movement of the first cable to the movement of the second cable is greater in the second mode than in the first mode.

4. The watercraft according to claim 1 additionally comprising a user operable switch disposed in the operator'"'"'s area, and configured to allow a user to switch the air amount control device between the first and second modes.

5. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the air amount control device comprises a throttle valve and a stepper motor driving the throttle valve.

6. A watercraft comprising a hull, the hull defining an operator'"'"'s area, an engine output request device disposed in the operator'"'"'s area being movable between a minimum position and a maximum position, an engine supported by the hull, the engine including an engine body defining at least one combustion chamber therein, an air amount control device configured to control an amount of air flowing into the combustion chamber, the air amount control device being operable in at least first and second modes, the air amount control device being configured to, in the first mode, allow a maximum amount of air to flow into the combustion chamber when the engine output request device is positioned in the maximum position, and being configured to, in the second mode, allow an amount of air less than the maximum amount, when the engine output request device is positioned in the maximum, wherein the air amount control device comprises an input pulley and output pulley, the at least one of the input pulley in the output pulley including at least two portions with different diameters.

7. A watercraft comprising a hull, the hull defining an operator'"'"'s area, an engine output request device disposed in the operator'"'"'s area being movable between a minimum position and a maximum position, an engine supported by the hull, the engine including an engine body defining at least one combustion chamber therein, an air amount control device configured to control an amount of air flowing into the combustion chamber, the air amount control device being operable in at least first and second modes, the air amount control device being configured to, in the first mode, allow a maximum amount of air to flow into the combustion chamber when the engine output request device is positioned in the maximum position, and being configured to, in the second mode, allow an amount of air less than the maximum amount, when the engine output request device is positioned in the maximum position, wherein the air amount control device comprises a lever pivotally mounted adjacent at least two grooves, the two grooves being arcuate in shape.

8. An internal combustion engine comprising an engine body defining at least one combustion chamber therein, an engine output request device, a control device configured to control an amount of air flowing into the combustion chamber based on a signal from the engine output request device, and means for changing the relationship between at least a maximum signal from the engine output request device and a maximum amount of air flowing into the combustion chamber, wherein the control device comprises a throttle valve, and additionally comprising a control unit, a first cable connecting the throttle lever to the control unit, and a second cable connecting the throttle valve to the control unit, the control unit including a mechanism for changing a ratio of the movement of the first cable to the movement of the second cable.

9. The engine according to claim 8, wherein the engine output request device is a throttle lever.

10. The engine according to claim 8, wherein the control unit comprises a stepper motor driving the throttle valve.