Remote control system of an internal combustion engine for a boat

• US 7,726,279 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanno, Isao, Okuyama, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US11/694,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20070246010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 123/397, 123/396, 123/395, 123/399, 123/350, 123/352, 123/479, 440/84, 440/88
• US Class Current: 123/397
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/107 Safety-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 25/00 Controlling two or more co-operating engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An electronic control device on an internal combustion engine side connected to an abnormal internal combustion engine detects an abnormality and outputs the abnormal signal; the target throttle opening angle signal is transmitted to the electric throttle actuator to set a throttle opening angle of an abnormal internal combustion engine to a predetermined opening angle; the abnormal signal is transmitted to the electronic control devices on a remote control device side of a normal internal combustion engine; and the electronic control devices on a remote control device side of a normal internal combustion engine, on receiving the abnormal signal, transmit the target throttle opening angle signal to the electronic control devices on an internal combustion engine side of a normal internal combustion engine.

Claims

1. A control system for internal combustion engines in a boat equipped with a plurality of propulsion units, the control system comprising:

a plurality of electronic control devices on an internal combustion engine side of each internal combustion engine, each of the plurality of electronic control devices programmed to control an operation of a throttle actuator of the internal combustion engine, an operation of a shift actuator, and an ignition timing of a spark plug of the boat; and

a remote control device comprising a plurality electronic control devices, which communicate with each other, on a remote control device side corresponding in number to the plurality of electronic control devices on the internal combustion engine side and programmed to transmit a signal to each internal combustion engine to execute a target drive state;

wherein

when an abnormality in an internal combustion engine in a propulsion unit occurs, an electronic control device on the internal combustion engine side connected to the abnormal internal combustion engine detects the abnormality and outputs an abnormal signal transmitting a target throttle opening angle signal to the throttle actuator to set a throttle opening angle of the abnormal internal combustion engine to a predetermined opening angle;

the abnormal signal is transmitted to an electronic control device on the remote control device side of a normal internal combustion engine via an electronic control device on the remote control device side of the abnormal internal combustion engine; and

the electronic control device on the remote control device side of the normal internal combustion engine, on receiving the abnormal signal, transmits the target throttle opening angle signal or the abnormal signal to the electronic control device on the internal combustion engine side of the normal internal combustion engine such that an engine speed of the abnormal internal combustion engine and the normal internal combustion engine are reduced.

2. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality comprises at least one of overheating and oil reduction in the abnormal internal combustion engine.

3. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the engine speed is reduced to a predetermined amount.

4. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control device on the internal combustion engine side includes an actuator control device programmed to control the operation of the throttle actuator and the operation of the shift actuator, and an engine controller programmed to control the ignition timing of the spark plug, wherein

when the actuator control device receives the abnormal signal from the engine controller, the target throttle opening angle corresponding to the target throttle opening angle signal and a throttle opening angle of the abnormal internal combustion engine are compared, and

the throttle actuator is operated to change the throttle opening angle of the abnormal internal combustion engine to the target throttle opening angle if the two throttle opening angles are different.

5. A control system according to claim 4, wherein the actuator control device operates the shift actuator to set a shift position of the abnormal internal combustion engine to a neutral position based on the abnormal signal when having received the abnormal signal from the engine controller.

6. A control system according to claim 1, wherein when receiving the abnormal signal, the electronic control device on the remote control device side sounds a warning buzzer.

7. A boat comprising:

the control system according to claim 1.

8. A control system according to claim 1, wherein when receiving the abnormal signal, the electronic control device on the remote control device side compares the target throttle opening angle and a throttle opening angle of the normal internal combustion engine, and, if the two throttle opening angles are different, transmits a target throttle opening angle signal to the actuator control device to set the throttle opening angle to the target throttle opening angle so that the actuator control device operates the throttle actuator to change a throttle opening angle of the normal internal combustion engine to the target throttle opening angle.

9. A control system according to claim 8, wherein when receiving the abnormal signal, the electronic control device on the remote control device side sounds a warning buzzer, and the target throttle opening angle signal controls the engine speed of the internal combustion engines.

10. A control system according to claim 8, wherein the actuator control device operates the shift actuator to set a shift position of the abnormal internal combustion engine to a neutral position based on the abnormal signal when having received the abnormal signal from the engine controller.

11. A boat comprising:

the control according to claim 8.

12. A control system according to claim 1, wherein when receiving the abnormal signal, the electronic control device on the remote control device side sounds a warning buzzer installed in the remote control device or in the vicinity thereof, and the target throttle opening angle signal controls the engine speed of the internal combustion engines.

13. A control system according to claim 12, wherein conditions to cancel a restricted mode state of the throttle actuator having received the abnormal signal include resolving the abnormality of the internal combustion engine causing the abnormal signal, and positioning an operation lever in a neutral position or in a low speed position corresponding to the target throttle opening angle.

14. A boat comprising:

the control system according to claim 13.

15. A control system according to claim 1, wherein conditions to cancel a restricted mode state of the throttle actuator having received the abnormal signal include resolving the abnormality of the internal combustion engine causing the abnormal signal, and positioning an operation lever in a neutral position or in a low speed position corresponding to the target throttle opening angle.

16. A boat comprising:

the control system according to claim 15.

17. A remote control system for internal combustion engines in a boat equipped with a plurality of propulsion units, the remote control system comprising:

an electronic control device on an internal combustion engine side of each internal combustion engine, the electronic control devices programmed to control a plurality of operations of the internal combustion engines; and

a remote control device comprising electronic control devices, which communicate with each other, on a remote control device side corresponding in number to the electronic control devices on the internal combustion engine side and programmed to transmit a signal to each internal combustion engine to execute a target drive state, wherein

when an abnormality in an internal combustion engine in a propulsion unit occurs, an electronic control device on the internal combustion engine side connected to the abnormal internal combustion engine detects the abnormality and outputs an abnormal signal transmitting a control signal to control at least a portion of the internal combustion engine;

the abnormal signal is transmitted to an electronic control device on the remote control device side of a normal internal combustion engine via an electronic control device on the remote control device side of the abnormal internal combustion engine, and

the electronic control device on the remote control device side of the normal internal combustion engine, on receiving the abnormal signal, transmits the control signal or the abnormal signal to the electronic control device on the internal combustion engine side of the normal internal combustion engine, such that an engine speed of the abnormal internal combustion engine and the normal internal combustion engine are reduced.

18. A remote control system according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of operations of the internal combustion engine comprise an operation of a throttle actuator of an internal combustion engine for each propulsion unit, an operation of a shift actuator, and an ignition timing of a spark plug of the boat.

19. A remote control system according to claim 17, wherein the control signal comprises a target throttle opening angle signal to the throttle actuator to set a throttle opening angle of the abnormal internal combustion engine to a predetermined opening angle.