Method for controlling the tilt position of a marine propulsion device

• US 7,156,709 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Staerzl, Richard E., Treptow, Daniel D., Dengel, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): AVILA, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US11/479,503
• Time in Patent Office: 186 Days
• Field of Search: 440/61.T, 440/61.G
• US Class Current: 440/61.00T
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/10 Means enabling trim or tilt, or lifting of the propulsion element when an obstruction is hit; Control of trim or tilt

Abstract

The calibration procedure allows an upward maximum limit of tilt to be automatically determined and stored as an operator rotates a marine propulsion device relative to a marine vessel with a particular indication present. That indication can be a grounded circuit point which informs a microprocessor that at calibration procedure is occurring in relation to an upward trim limit. When the ground wire is removed or disconnected from the circuit point, the microprocessor knows that the calibration process is complete. During the rotation of the outboard motor or marine propulsion device in an upward direction, both the angular position of the outboard motor and the direction of change of a signal from a trim sensor are stored.

Claims

1. A method for operating a trim system for a marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor which is configured to transmit a first signal which is representative of a position of said marine propulsion device;

causing said marine propulsion device to move to a desired uppermost trim position, said causing step comprising the step of responding to a manually caused actuation of a switch by energizing a hydraulic cylinder to cause said marine propulsion device to tilt upwardly relative to a marine vessel, said switch being disposed on said marine propulsion device;

receiving a second signal which is indicative of a change in a monitored condition; and

storing a magnitude of said first signal when said change in said monitored condition occurs.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the direction of change of a magnitude of said first signal.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

setting a trim limit magnitude which is a function of said direction of change of a magnitude of said first signal and said magnitude of said first signal when said change in said monitored condition occurs.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, as a function of said direction of change, to which side of said marine propulsion device said sensor is attached.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said second signal, which is indicative of said change in said monitored condition, changes state when a ground wire is disconnected from signal communication with a microprocessor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said sensor is a potentiometer.

7. A method for operating a trim system for a marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor which is configured to transmit a first signal which is representative of a position of said marine propulsion device;

causing said marine propulsion device to move to a desired uppermost trim position, said causing step comprising the step of responding to a manually caused actuation of a switch by energizing a hydraulic cylinder to cause said marine propulsion device to tilt upwardly relative to a marine vessel, said switch being disposed on said marine propulsion device;

receiving a second signal which is indicative of a change in a monitored condition;

storing a magnitude of said first signal when said change in said monitored condition occurs; and

setting a trim limit magnitude which is a function of said magnitude of said first signal when said change in said monitored condition occurs.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining the direction of change of a magnitude of said first signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

said step of setting a trim limit magnitude is also performed a function of said direction of change of a magnitude of said first signal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining, as a function of said direction of change, to which side of said marine propulsion device said sensor is attached.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein:

said second signal, which is indicative of said change in said monitored condition, changes state when a ground wire is disconnected from signal communication with a microprocessor.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said sensor is a potentiometer.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said causing step comprises the step of responding to a manually caused actuation of a switch by energizing a hydraulic cylinder to cause said marine propulsion device to tilt upwardly relative to a marine vessel.

14. A method for operating a trim system for a marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor which is configured to transmit a first signal which is representative of a position of said marine propulsion device;

causing said marine propulsion device to move to a desired uppermost trim position;

receiving a second signal which is indicative of a change in a monitored condition;

storing a magnitude of said first signal when said change in said monitored condition occurs;

determining the direction of change of a magnitude of said first signal; and

setting a trim limit magnitude which is a function of said direction of change of a magnitude of said first signal and said magnitude of said first signal when said change in said monitored condition occurs, said second signal, which is indicative of said change in said monitored condition, changing state when a ground wire is disconnected from signal communication with a microprocessor, said causing step comprising the step of responding to a manually caused actuation of a switch by energizing a hydraulic cylinder to cause said marine propulsion device to tilt upwardly relative to a marine vessel.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining, as a function of said direction of change, to which side of said marine propulsion device said sensor is attached.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said sensor is a potentiometer.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said switch is disposed on said marine propulsion device.