Systems and methods for controlling speed of a marine vessel

• US 9,248,898 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Kirchhoff, Thomas S., Arbuckle, Jason S., Snyder, Matthew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): AVILA, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US14/258,516
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 440/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 49/00 Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2005/1254 Podded azimuthing thrusters, i.e. podded thruster units arranged inboard for rotation about vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2020/003 Arrangements of two, or more outboard propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2023/0291 Trolling gears, i.e. mechanical power transmissions comprising controlled slip clutches, e.g. for low speed propulsion
• 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 2025/028 using remote control means, e.g. wireless control; Equipment or accessories therefor
• 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 25/04 automatic, e.g. reacting to compass
• 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 5/07 of propellers forming part of outboard units or Z-drives B63H20/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 5/10 of coaxial type, e.g. of counter-rotative type
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/203 Specially adapted for sailing ships
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04

Abstract

A system that controls the speed of a marine vessel includes first and second propulsion devices that produce first and second thrusts to propel the marine vessel. A control circuit controls orientation of the first and second propulsion devices about respective steering axes to control directions of the first and second thrusts. A first user input device is moveable between a neutral position and a non-neutral detent position. When a second user input device is actuated while the first user input device is in the detent position, the control circuit does one or more of the following so as to control the speed of the marine vessel: varies a speed of a first engine of the first propulsion device and a speed of a second engine of the second propulsion device; and varies one or more alternative operating conditions of the first and second propulsion devices.

Claims

1. A system that controls a speed of a marine vessel, the system comprising:

a first propulsion device that produces a first thrust to propel the marine vessel;

a second propulsion device that produces a second thrust to propel the marine vessel;

a control circuit that controls orientation of the first and second propulsion devices about first and second steering axes, respectively, so as to control a direction of the first thrust and a direction of the second thrust;

a first user input device moveable between a neutral position and a non-neutral detent position; and

a second user input device;

wherein when the second user input device is actuated while the first user input device is in the detent position, the control circuit selects between doing one or more of the following so as to control the speed of the marine vessel;

varying a speed of a first engine of the first propulsion device and a second engine of the second propulsion device; and

varying one or more alternative operating conditions of the first and second propulsion devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user input device is a throttle/shift lever and the second user input device is a joystick that is actuatable from a rest position in at least a first direction and a second, opposite direction.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein when the throttle/shift lever is in the detent position, actuation of the joystick in the first direction commands the control circuit to increase the speed of the marine vessel, and actuation of the joystick in the second direction commands the control circuit to decrease the speed of the marine vessel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more alternative operating conditions comprises:

a splay angle between the direction of the first thrust and the direction of the second thrust; and

a slip of first and second transmissions of the first and second propulsion devices, respectively.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising first and second trolling valves controlling the slip of the first and second transmissions, respectively.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein upon repeated actuation of the joystick in the first direction, the control circuit does one or more of the following:

decreases the splay angle until a minimum splay angle is reached;

decreases the slip of the first and second transmissions until a minimum slip is reached; and

increases the speed of the first and second engines until a maximum engine speed is reached.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the control circuit prioritizes one of decreasing the splay angle and decreasing the slip over increasing the engine speed in response to repeated actuation of the joystick in the first direction.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein upon repeated actuation of the joystick in the second direction, the control circuit does one or more of the following:

decreases the speed of the first and second engines until a minimum engine speed is reached;

increases the slip of the first and second transmissions until a maximum slip is reached; and

increases the splay angle until a maximum splay angle is reached.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuit prioritizes decreasing the engine speed over one of increasing the slip and increasing the splay angle in response to repeated actuation of the joystick in the second direction.

10. A method for controlling a speed of a marine vessel having a first propulsion device that produces a first thrust to propel the marine vessel and a second propulsion device that produces a second thrust to propel the marine vessel, the method comprising:

receiving a trolling mode command from a first user input device with a control circuit; and

thereafter varying a trolling speed of the marine vessel with the control circuit by selecting between doing one or more of the following in response to an input from a second user input device;

varying a speed of a first engine of the first propulsion device and a second engine of the second propulsion device; and

varying one or more alternative operating conditions of the first and second propulsion devices;

wherein varying the one or more alternative operating conditions comprises one or more of the following;

varying a slip of first and second transmissions of the first and second propulsion devices, respectively; and

varying orientation of the first and second propulsion devices about first and second steering axes, respectively, so as to vary a splay angle between a direction of the first thrust and a direction of the second thrust.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first user input device is a throttle/shift lever, and further comprising receiving the trolling mode command in response to actuation of the throttle/shift lever into a forward gear deters position.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second user input device is a joystick, and further comprising varying the trolling speed of the marine vessel in response to actuation of the joystick in one of a first direction and a second, opposite direction while the throttle/shift lever is in the forward gear detent position.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising one of increasing the trolling speed of the marine vessel in response to actuation of the joystick in the first direction while the throttle/shift lever is in the forward gear detent position, and decreasing the trolling speed of the marine vessel in response to actuation of the joystick in the second direction while the throttle/shift lever is in the forward gear detent position.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising doing one or more of the following in response to repeated actuation of the joystick in the first direction:

decreasing the splay angle until a minimum splay angle is reached;

decreasing the slip of the first and second transmissions until a minimum slip is reached; and

increasing the speed of the first and second engines until a maximum engine speed is reached.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the control circuit prioritizes one of decreasing the splay angle and decreasing the slip over increasing the speed of the first and second engines in response to repeated actuation of the joystick in the first direction.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising doing one or more of the following in response to repeated actuation of the joystick in the second direction:

decreasing the speed of the first and second engines until a minimum engine speed is reached;

increasing the slip of the first and second transmissions until a maximum slip is reached; and

increasing the splay angle until a maximum splay angle is reached.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the control circuit prioritizes decreasing the speed of the first and second engines over one of increasing the slip and increasing the splay angle in response to repeated actuation of the joystick in the second direction.

18. A method for controlling a speed of a marine vessel having first and second propulsion devices with first and second engines operatively connected to first and second transmissions, the first and second propulsion devices controlled by a control circuit communicatively connected to a throttle/shift lever and a joystick, the method comprising:

determining if the throttle/shift lever has been placed in a forward detent position, and if so;

determining if the joystick has been actuated in a forward direction, and, if so doing one of the to following;

decreasing a splay angle between a direction of thrust of the first propulsion device and a direction of thrust of the second propulsion device;

decreasing a slip of the first and second transmissions; and

increasing a speed of the first and second engines; and

determining if the joystick has been actuated in a rearward direction, and, if so doing one of the following;

decreasing the speed of the first and second engines;

increasing the slip of the first and second transmissions; and

increasing the splay angle;

wherein the control circuit prioritizes one of decreasing the splay angle and decreasing the slip over increasing the speed of the first and second engines in response to repeated actuation of the joystick in the forward direction; and

wherein the control circuit prioritizes decreasing the speed of the first and second engines over one of increasing the slip and increasing the splay angle in response to repeated actuation of the joystick in the rearward direction.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the speed of the first and second engines is a trolling speed, and a minimum speed of the first and second engines is about 600 RPM and a maximum speed of the first and second engines is about 1200 RPM.