Thrust control device for jet propulsion watercraft

• US 7,140,930 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yamada, Hiroshi, Araki, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Vasudeva, Ajay
• Application Number:
  US11/011,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20050130513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 440/1, 440/2, 440/38, 440 40- 43, 440/84, 440/87, 114/55.5, 114/55.52, 114/144.R
• US Class Current: 440/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 11/113 Pivoted outlet
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18

Abstract

A thrust control apparatus for a jet propulsion watercraft is provided. The thrust control apparatus includes a throttle sensor for detecting a fully-closed operation of a throttle of the engine, a steering sensor for detecting steering of a steering device more than a predetermined amount from a neutral position of the steering device and a direction of the steering; a control device configured to control the engine such that the water jet pump generates a different thrust for rightward and leftward steering, in accordance with the steering direction detected by the steering sensor, when the throttle sensor detects the fully-closed operation of the throttle and the steering sensor detects steering of more than the predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A thrust control apparatus for a jet propulsion watercraft including a water jet pump driven by an engine, wherein the watercraft travels by a thrust generated by the water jet pump, the thrust control apparatus comprising:

a throttle sensor for detecting a fully-closed operation of a throttle of the engine;

a steering sensor for detecting steering of a steering device more than a predetermined amount from a neutral position of the steering device, and a direction of the steering;

a control device configured to control the engine such that the water jet pump generates a different predetermined thrust for rightward steering than for leftward steering at a given traveling speed of the watercraft, in accordance with the steering direction detected by the steering sensor, when the throttle sensor detects the fully-closed operation of the throttle and the steering sensor detects steering of more than the predetermined amount.

2. The thrust control apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the water jet pump rotates counterclockwise when seen from rear when the watercraft travels forward;

and

wherein the control device is configured to control the engine to generate a larger thrust for leftward steering than that for rightward steering.

3. The thrust control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to operate when the watercraft travels rearward.

4. The thrust control apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the watercraft includes a steering column coupled with the water jet pump so as to change a direction of the thrust to steer the watercraft;

wherein the steering sensor includes a permanent magnet configured to rotate together with the steering column and a pair of proximity switches configured to detect an approach of the permanent magnet thereto;

wherein each of the proximity switches are provided at positions angularly spaced apart evenly in the rotational direction of the steering column with respect to the permanent magnet, so as to detect a rotation of the permanent magnet with the steering column; and

wherein the steering sensor detects the direction of the steering by a detection made by one of the proximity switches on the respective side of the steering.

5. The thrust control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to control the thrust by changing an engine speed of the engine.

6. The thrust control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to increase the engine speed by changing at least one of an amount of fuel injection from an injector of a fuel supplying device with which the engine is equipped and an ignition timing of an ignition coil.

7. The thrust control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to increase the engine speed by changing at least one of an amount of fuel injection from an injector of a fuel supplying device with which the engine is equipped, an amount of air in a bypass passage of a throttle body, and an ignition timing of an ignition coil.

8. The thrust control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to increase the engine speed by changing at least one of an amount of valve opening of a carburetor and an ignition timing of an ignition coil.