Methods for positioning multiple trimmable marine propulsion devices on a marine vessel
First Claim
1. A method for positioning two or more trimmable marine propulsion devices coupled to a transom of a marine vessel and powered by respective internal combustion engines, the method being carried out by a controller and comprising:
- identifying two propulsion devices located one on each of a port side and a starboard side of a vertical centerline of the transom and spaced symmetrically with respect to the centerline of the transom;
defining the two propulsion devices as a first set of propulsion devices;
setting a first target trim position for the first set of propulsion devices as a function of a vessel operating condition;
determining if an actual trim position of each propulsion device in the first set of propulsion devices differs from the first target trim position by at least a given amount; and
actuating each propulsion device in the first set of propulsion devices to the first target trim position in response to a determination that the actual trim positions of all propulsion devices in the first set of propulsion devices differ from the first target trim position by at least the given amount.
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Abstract
A method for positioning two or more trimmable marine propulsion devices coupled to a transom of a marine vessel includes identifying two propulsion devices located one on each of a port side and a starboard side of a centerline of the transom and spaced symmetrically with respect to the centerline. The two propulsion devices are defined as a first set and are associated with a first target trim position. The method also includes defining a second set of propulsion devices and associating the second set with a second target trim position. When in auto-trim mode, each propulsion device in a set of propulsion devices is actuated to its target trim position only if the actual trim positions of all propulsion devices in the set differ from the target trim position by at least a given amount. The propulsion devices may be actuated individually in response to a user sync command.
114 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for positioning two or more trimmable marine propulsion devices coupled to a transom of a marine vessel and powered by respective internal combustion engines, the method being carried out by a controller and comprising:
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identifying two propulsion devices located one on each of a port side and a starboard side of a vertical centerline of the transom and spaced symmetrically with respect to the centerline of the transom; defining the two propulsion devices as a first set of propulsion devices; setting a first target trim position for the first set of propulsion devices as a function of a vessel operating condition; determining if an actual trim position of each propulsion device in the first set of propulsion devices differs from the first target trim position by at least a given amount; and actuating each propulsion device in the first set of propulsion devices to the first target trim position in response to a determination that the actual trim positions of all propulsion devices in the first set of propulsion devices differ from the first target trim position by at least the given amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for positioning two or more trimmable marine propulsion devices coupled to a transom of a marine vessel and powered by respective internal combustion engines, the method being carried out by a controller and comprising:
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identifying two propulsion devices located one on each of a port side and a starboard side of a vertical centerline of the transom and spaced symmetrically with respect to the centerline of the transom; defining the two propulsion devices as a first set of propulsion devices; identifying at least one additional propulsion device coupled to the transom of the marine vessel; defining the at least one additional propulsion device as a second set of propulsion devices; setting a first target trim position for the first set of propulsion devices; and setting a second target trim position for the second set of propulsion devices; wherein the controller sets the first and second target trim positions according to one of the following; (a) in response to a user sync command;
or(b) automatically as a function of a vessel operating condition; wherein when the controller sets the first and second target trim positions automatically as a function of the vessel operating condition, the method further comprises; actuating each propulsion device in the first set of propulsion devices to the first target trim position in response to a determination that actual trim positions of all propulsion devices in the first set of propulsion devices differ from the first target trim position by at least a given amount; and actuating each propulsion device in the second set of propulsion devices to the second target trim position in response to a determination that actual trim positions of all propulsion devices in the second set of propulsion devices differ from the second target trim position by at least the given amount; and wherein when the controller sets the first and second target trim positions in response to the user sync command, the method further comprises; actuating an individual propulsion device in the first set of propulsion devices to the first target trim position in response to an actual trim position of the individual propulsion device in the first set of propulsion devices differing from the first target trim position by at least the given amount; and actuating an individual propulsion device in the second set of propulsion devices to the second target trim position in response to an actual trim position of the individual propulsion device in the second set of propulsion devices differing from the second target trim position by at least the given amount. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification