Electronic control systems for marine vessels

• US 6,965,817 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marine Acquisition Corporation (Dometic Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Teleflex Incorporated
• Inventors: Kern, Scott L., Graham, Dennis I., Carr, Daniel J., Lang, Howard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/835,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20040209731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 701/21, 701/36, 477/112, 744/71.R, 744/733, 440/84
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• 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

A control system for a marine vessel having one or more engines and a transmission associated with each engine is disclosed. The control system includes one or more control stations, each having a control arm and arm position means coupled to the control arm for providing an electrical signal that represents a position of the control arm within its operating range. The system includes one or more electronic control units, each of which is electro-mechanically coupled to an engine and a transmission. A first electronic control unit (ECU) includes input means for receiving the electrical signal, control means for controlling a throttle of a first engine and shift position of a first transmission based on the electrical signal, and output means for providing a control signal that represents a current position of the control arm to a second ECU. The second ECU is coupled to the first ECU via the communications link, and includes input means for receiving the control signal from the first ECU, and control means for controlling the throttle of a second engine and the shift position of a second transmission based on the power train control signal.

Claims

1. A control system for a marine vessel having a first engine, a first transmission associated with the first engine, a second engine, and a second transmission associated with the second engine, the control system comprising:

a control arm having an operating range;

arm position means coupled to the control arm for providing an electrical signal that represents a position of the control arm within its operating range;

a first electronic control unit (ECU), electrically coupled to the arm position means and coupled to a communications link, comprising;

first input means for receiving the electrical signal,

first control means for controlling a throttle of the first engine and shift position of the first transmission based on the electrical signal, and

first output means for providing a control signal that represents a current position of the control arm; and

a second ECU, coupled to the communications link, comprising;

second input means for receiving the control signal from the first ECU via the communications link, and

second control means for controlling the throttle of the second engine and the shift position of the second transmission based on the power train control signal.

2. A control system for a marine vessel having an engine, the system comprising:

a control arm having an operating range;

arm position means coupled to the control arm for providing an electrical signal that represents a position of the control arm within its operating range;

a memory that contains first and second idle throttle values, each said idle throttle value corresponding to a throttle speed of the engine;

first input means, coupled to the memory, for receiving at least one of the first and second idle throttle values;

second input means for receiving a current idle throttle indicator that identifies one of the first and second idle throttle values as a current idle throttle value; and

an electronic control unit (ECU) that is electrically coupled to the arm position means comprising;

input means for receiving the electrical signal from the arm position means, and

control means for controlling a throttle of the engine based on the electrical signal and the current idle throttle value.