Automatic thruster control of a marine vessel during sport fishing mode

• US 9,067,664 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Twin Disc Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Yuet, Fu P., Marzuq, Hashim, Callaghan, Merritt P., Lee, Patrick, Hutchison, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US13/906,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20140352595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 701/21, 701/116, 440/1, 440/39, 440/40, 114/144.R, 114/144.A, 114/146, 180/333, 318/588
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/05 Vessels specially adapted for hunting or fishing
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 39/08 to decrease vessel movements by using auxiliary jets or propellers for steering or dynamic anchoring B63H25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/026 using multi-axis control levers, or the like, e.g. joysticks, wherein at least one degree of freedom is employed for steering, slowing down, or dynamic anchoring
• 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 25/42 Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements by jets B63H25/46; Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/46 Steering or dynamic anchoring by jets or by rudders carrying jets steering or dynamic anchoring by deflecting or directing main propulsion jets B63H11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 3/02 from propulsion power plant
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/00 Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/02 Control of position or course in two dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/08 Control of attitude, i.e. control of roll, pitch, or yaw
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0875 specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/10 Measures concerning design or construction of watercraft hulls

Abstract

A marine vessel is disclosed having a control system for automatically controlling thrusters for steering the marine vessel for the purpose of aiding an angler who has hooked a fish. The control system will automatically control the thrusters based on the positions of the propulsion unit control levers if the control levers are split. The control system may also control the thrusters if the propulsion unit control levers have moved past a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold can be set by the operator of the marine vessel.

Claims

1. A method for steering a marine vessel having a thruster system and a first and second propulsion unit comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first control lever corresponding to a first setting for a first propulsion unit;

receiving a second signal from a second control lever corresponding to a second setting for a second propulsion unit; and

activating said thruster system to produce a clockwise turning moment if the first signal is greater than the second signal and a counter-clockwise turning moment if the second signal is greater than the first signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said thruster system includes a bow thruster.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said thruster system includes a stern thruster.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said thruster system is activated in response to the first or second signal above a predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said threshold corresponds to an engine speed.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said threshold is selected by a user.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said thruster system includes a bow thruster.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein said thruster system includes a stern thruster.

9. A control system for steering a marine vessel comprising:

an electronic controller configured to

receive a first signal from a first control lever corresponding to a first setting for a first propulsion unit;

receive a second signal from a second control lever corresponding to a second setting for a second propulsion unit; and

activate a thruster system to produce a clockwise turning moment if the first signal is greater than the second signal and a counter-clockwise turning moment if the second signal is greater than the first signal.

10. The control system of claim 9 wherein said thruster system includes a bow thruster.

11. The control system of claim 9 wherein said thruster system includes a stern thruster.

12. The control system of claim 9 wherein said thruster system is activated in response to the first or second signal above a predetermined threshold.

13. The control system of claim 12 wherein said threshold corresponds to an engine speed.

14. The control system of claim 12 wherein said threshold is selected by a user.

15. The control system of claim 12 wherein said thruster system includes a bow thruster.

16. The control system of claim 12 wherein said thruster system includes a stern thruster.

17. A marine vessel comprising:

an electronic controller configured to

receive a first signal from a first control lever corresponding to a first setting for a first propulsion unit;

receive a second signal from a second control lever corresponding to a second setting for a second propulsion unit; and

activate a thruster system to produce a clockwise turning moment if the first signal is greater than the second signal and a counter-clockwise turning moment if the second signal is greater than the first signal.

18. The marine vessel of claim 17 wherein said thruster system includes a bow thruster.

19. The marine vessel of claim 17 wherein said thruster system includes a stern thruster.

20. The marine vessel of claim 17 wherein said thruster system is activated in response to the first or second signal above a predetermined threshold.