Vessel speed control system for small planing boat and small planing boat utilizing the same

• US 8,033,878 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Shibayama, Susumu, Kinoshita, Yoshimasa, Nakamura, Mitsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson; Lars A
• Application Number:
  US12/145,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20100240266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 440/1, 440/84, 440/87, 440/2, 701/21
• US Class Current: 440/87
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/213 Levers or the like for controlling the engine or the transmission, e.g. single hand control levers

Abstract

A speed control system for a small planing boat can comprise a speed sensor to detect a vessel speed of a boat body, a speed information storing unit on which data of a previously set maximum speed limit of the boat body is stored, and a speed control device for controlling the cruising speed of the boat body not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation between the cruising speed and the maximum speed limit. The speed control device can comprise a revolution speed sensor, a revolution speed acquiring unit and a revolution speed control unit. The speed control device can also work in conjunction with an intake air mass amount control device which can include an electronically-controlled throttle valve, an air mass amount acquiring unit and a throttle opening degree control unit.

Claims

1. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means;

wherein the vessel speed control means comprises output power control means for controlling an output power of the internal combustion engine based on the result of the correlation; and

wherein the output power control means comprises;

revolution speed detection means for detecting a revolution speed of the internal combustion engine;

surplus revolution-speed acquiring means for acquiring by calculation a surplus revolution speed value over the revolution speed of the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach the predetermined vessel speed, when the vessel speed exceeds the maximum speed limit as a result of the correlation; and

revolution speed control means for controlling the revolution speed of the internal combustion engine based on the acquired surplus revolution speed value.

2. The vessel speed control system for a small planing boat according to claim 1, wherein the speed information storing means comprises a storage media on which the stored maximum speed limit data can be rewritten.

3. The vessel speed control system for a small planing boat according to claim 1, in combination with a small planing boat.

4. The vessel speed control system for a small planing boat according to claim 1, wherein the maximum speed limit is a maximum speed that a driver of the boat can achieve during normal operation of a boat controlled by the vessel speed control system while in an operator'"'"'s area of the boat and with any user-adjustable systems of the boat adjusted for maximum speed.

5. The vessel speed control system for a small planing boat according to claim 1, wherein the speed detection means is a GPS type speed sensor.

6. The vessel speed control system for a small planing boat according to claim 1, wherein the speed detection means is a pitot tube type speed sensor and/or a paddle type speed sensor.

7. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means;

wherein the vessel speed control means comprises output power control means for controlling an output power of the internal combustion engine based on the result of the correlation;

wherein the output power control means comprises intake air mass amount control means for decreasing an amount of air mass flowing into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; and

wherein the intake air mass amount control means comprises;

an electronically-controlled throttle valve which is provided to an intake air passage through which air mass is supplied into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and an opening degree of which is controlled by electronic means;

surplus air mass amount acquiring means for acquiring by calculation, a surplus air mass amount value, over an air mass amount to be supplied into the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach a predetermined vessel speed, when the vessel speed of the boat body exceeds the maximum speed limit as a result of the correlation; and

throttle opening degree control means for decreasing an opening degree of the electronically-controlled throttle valve based on the acquired surplus air mass amount value.

8. The vessel speed control system for a small planing boat according to claim 7, wherein the vessel speed control system is provided with a valve position sensor for detecting an opening degree of the electronically-controlled throttle valve or the throttle valve, and the value of the air mass amount value to be supplied into the combustion chamber is decreased by decreasing the opening degree of the throttle valve based on a detected value of the valve position sensor.

9. The vessel speed control system for a small planing boat according to claim 7, wherein the speed detection means is a GPS type speed sensor.

10. The vessel speed control system for a small planing boat according to claim 7, wherein the speed detection means is a pitot tube type speed sensor and/or a paddle type speed sensor.

11. The vessel speed control system for a small planing boat according to claim 7, wherein the speed information storing means comprises a storage media on which the stored maximum speed limit data can be rewritten.

12. The vessel speed control system for a small planing boat according to claim 7, in combination with a small planing boat.

13. The vessel speed control system for a small planing boat according to claim 7, wherein the maximum speed limit is a maximum speed that a driver of the boat can achieve during normal operation of a boat controlled by the vessel speed control system while in an operator'"'"'s area of the boat and with any user-adjustable systems of the boat adjusted for maximum speed.

14. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means, the vessel speed control means comprising output power control means for controlling an output power of the internal combustion engine based on the result of the correlation, the output power control means comprising intake air mass amount control means for decreasing an amount of air mass flowing into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; and

wherein the intake air mass amount control means comprises;

a bypass passage which is a passage provided separately from the intake air passage to which a throttle valve is provided and through which air mass flows into the combustion chamber, the bypass passage being branched from the intake air passage and bypassing the throttle valve to feed the air mass into the combustion chamber;

an electronically controlled valve for controlling an air mass flowing through the bypass passage, the air mass flow being controlled in accordance with an opening degree of the electronically controlled valve which is controlled by electrical means;

an actuator for driving the electronically controlled valve;

surplus air mass amount acquiring means for acquiring by calculation a surplus air mass amount value over the air mass amount to be supplied into the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach the predetermined vessel speed, when the vessel speed of the boat body exceeds the maximum speed limit as a result of the correlation; and

electronically-controlled valve-opening-degree control means for decreasing an opening degree of the electronically controlled valve by driving the actuator based on the acquired surplus air mass amount value.

15. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means, the vessel speed control means comprising output power control means for controlling an output power of the internal combustion engine based on the result of the correlation, the output power control means comprising intake air mass amount control means for decreasing an amount of air mass flowing into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; and

wherein the internal combustion engine includes a supercharger disposed to an intake air passage, and wherein the intake air mass amount control means comprises;

a throttle valve provided in the intake air passage;

a second electronically controlled valve, provided at a position more downstream than that of the supercharger provided in the intake air passage, the second electronically controlled valve being configured to discharge a portion of air mass passing through the intake air mass passage into a space other than the combustion chamber when the second electronically controlled valve whose opening degree is controlled by electronic means is opened;

surplus air mass amount acquiring means for acquiring by calculation a surplus air mass amount value over an air mass amount to be supplied into the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach the predetermined vessel speed, when the vessel speed of the boat body exceeds the maximum speed limit as a result of the correlation; and

second electronically-controlled valve-opening-degree control means for increasing the opening degree of the second electronically controlled valve based on the acquired surplus air mass amount value.

16. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means, the vessel speed control means comprising output power control means for controlling an output power of the internal combustion engine based on the result of the correlation, the output power control means being provided with ignition state control means for controlling an ignition state of the fuel into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; and

wherein the ignition state control means comprises;

surplus output power acquiring means for acquiring by calculation based on the result of the correlation, a surplus output power value in a current output power of the internal combustion engine over an output power of the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach the predetermined vessel speed; and

ignition frequency control means for decreasing the number of ignition with respect to a revolution speed of the internal combustion engine, based on the acquired surplus output power value.

17. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means, the vessel speed control means comprising output power control means for controlling an output power of the internal combustion engine based on the result of the correlation, the output power control means being provided with ignition state control means for controlling an ignition state of the fuel into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; and

wherein the ignition state control means comprises;

surplus output power acquiring means for acquiring by calculation based on the result of the correlation, a surplus output power value in a current output power of the internal combustion engine over an output power of the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach the predetermined vessel speed; and

ignition timing control means for retarding ignition timing of the internal combustion engine based on the acquired surplus output power value.

18. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means, the vessel speed control means comprising output power control means for controlling an output power of the internal combustion engine based on the result of the correlation, the output power control means comprising fuel feed state control means for decreasing a fuel feed amount to be supplied into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; and

wherein the fuel feed state control means comprises;

surplus output power acquiring means for acquiring by calculation based on the result of the correlation, a surplus output power value in a current output power of the internal combustion engine over an output power of the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach the predetermined vessel speed; and

injection time period control means for decreasing an injection time period of fuel supplied into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine based on the acquired surplus output power value.

19. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means, the vessel speed control means comprising output power control means for controlling an output power of the internal combustion engine based on the result of the correlation, the output power control means comprising fuel feed state control means for decreasing a fuel feed amount to be supplied into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; and

wherein the fuel feed state control means comprises;

surplus output power acquiring means for acquiring by calculation based on the result of the correlation, a surplus output power value in a current output power of the internal combustion engine over an output power of the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach the predetermined vessel speed; and

injection stop means for stopping the injection of fuel to the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine for a predetermined time period based on the acquired surplus output power value.

20. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means;

jet pressure control means for decreasing the thrust force by controlling the jet pressure of the liquid jetted from the nozzle, wherein the jet pressure control means comprises;

a nozzle cone for controlling a pipe diameter of the nozzle, the nozzle cone being provided at a vicinity of a front end portion in an inner side of the nozzle and movable back and forth in a direction of a shaft of the nozzle by an operation of an actuator;

surplus output power acquiring means for acquiring by calculation based on the result of the correlation, a surplus output power value in a current output power of the internal combustion engine over an output power of the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach the predetermined vessel speed; and

back-and-forth movement control means for decreasing the thrust force generated by the jet by moving the nozzle cone back and forth based on the acquired surplus output power value.

21. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means;

jet pressure control means for decreasing the thrust force by controlling the jet pressure of the liquid jetted from the nozzle, wherein the jet pressure control means is formed into such a shape that a diameter of a front end portion of the nozzle is increased or decreased by an operation of an actuator, and the jet pressure control means comprises;

surplus output power acquiring means for acquiring by calculation based on the result of the correlation, a surplus output power value in a current output power of the internal combustion engine over an output power of the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach the predetermined vessel speed; and

front end diameter control means for decreasing the thrust force generated by the jet by increasing a diameter of the front end portion of the nozzle, based on the acquired surplus output power value.

22. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means; and

jet pressure control means for decreasing the thrust force by controlling the jet pressure of the liquid jetted from the nozzle, wherein the jet pressure control means comprises;

a bypass passage, branched from the nozzle, for flowing a portion of the liquid flowing through the nozzle in a direction other than a direction along the front end portion of the nozzle;

a bypass valve, driven by an actuator, for controlling the flow rate of the liquid flowing through the bypass passage;

surplus output power acquiring means for acquiring by calculation based on the result of the correlation, a surplus output power value in a current output power of the internal combustion engine over an output power of the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach the predetermined vessel speed; and

jet amount control means for decreasing the thrust force generated by the jet by increasing an opening degree of the bypass valve based on the acquired surplus output power value.

23. A vessel speed control system for a small planing boat for controlling a vessel speed of the small planing boat, a boat body of the small planing boat being driven by thrust force generated by jetting liquid from a nozzle supported by a portion of the boat body and driven by an internal combustion engine, the vessel speed control system comprising:

vessel speed detection means for detecting a speed of the boat body;

speed information storing means on which previously set maximum speed limit data of the boat body are stored;

vessel speed control means for controlling the speed of the boat body so as not to exceed the maximum speed limit based on a result of a correlation, the correlation being performed by correlating a speed detected by the vessel speed detection means with the maximum speed limit stored on the speed information storing means;

resistance control means for increasing a resistance of the boat body to the liquid by changing a water-contacting area of the boat body, wherein the resistance control means comprises;

a nozzle deflector, formed to be a front end portion of the nozzle and changeable in its attitude between vertical and horizontal positions by an operation of an actuator, for changing a jet direction of the liquid;

surplus output power acquiring means for acquiring by calculation based on the result of the correlation, a surplus output power value in a current output power of the internal combustion engine over an output power of the internal combustion engine necessary to make the small planing boat reach the predetermined vessel speed; and

jet direction control means for increasing a resistance of the boat body to the liquid by changing the jet direction of the liquid downward by moving the nozzle deflector based on the acquired surplus output power value.