Systems and methods for providing notification regarding trim angle of a marine propulsion device
First Claim
1. A method for notifying an operator of a marine vessel that a marine propulsion device propelling the marine vessel is not at an efficient trim angle, the method comprising:
- determining a throttle valve position for a throttle valve on an engine of the marine propulsion device based on a helm input;
moving the throttle valve to the throttle valve position;
measuring a speed of the engine after moving the throttle valve to the throttle valve position;
comparing the measured engine speed to an optimal engine speed corresponding to operation of the marine propulsion device at an optimal trim angle with the throttle valve at the same throttle valve position; and
providing a notification that the marine propulsion device is not at an efficient trim angle if the measured engine speed is less than the optimal engine speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for notifying an operator of a marine vessel that a marine propulsion device is not at an efficient trim angle includes a notification device and a controller that sends a signal to the notification device to provide a trim up notification when the controller determines that the marine propulsion device is not at the optimal trim angle. The controller determines this based on at least one of the following: a current load on an engine of the marine propulsion device; a current fuel flow provided to the engine; a current air flow provided via a throttle valve to the engine; or an output from a PID control section of the controller that controls a position of the throttle valve. A method that compares a measured engine speed to an optimal engine speed corresponding to operation of the marine propulsion device at an optimal trim angle is also provided.
141 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for notifying an operator of a marine vessel that a marine propulsion device propelling the marine vessel is not at an efficient trim angle, the method comprising:
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determining a throttle valve position for a throttle valve on an engine of the marine propulsion device based on a helm input; moving the throttle valve to the throttle valve position; measuring a speed of the engine after moving the throttle valve to the throttle valve position; comparing the measured engine speed to an optimal engine speed corresponding to operation of the marine propulsion device at an optimal trim angle with the throttle valve at the same throttle valve position; and providing a notification that the marine propulsion device is not at an efficient trim angle if the measured engine speed is less than the optimal engine speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for notifying an operator of a marine vessel that a marine propulsion device propelling the marine vessel is not at an efficient trim angle, the system comprising:
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an operator notification device; a controller that sends a signal to the operator notification device to provide a trim up notification when the controller determines that the marine propulsion device is not at an optimal trim angle; an input device for providing a helm input to the controller, wherein the controller determines a position for a throttle valve on an engine of the marine propulsion device based on the helm input and sends a signal to move the throttle valve to the throttle valve position; and an engine speed sensor that measures a speed of the engine after the throttle valve has been moved to the throttle valve position and sends the measured engine speed to the controller; wherein the controller compares the measured engine speed to an optimal engine speed corresponding to operation of the marine propulsion device at the optimal trim angle with the throttle valve at the same throttle valve position; and wherein the controller sends the signal to the operator notification device to provide the trim up notification in response to the measured engine speed being less than the optimal engine speed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification