Backup method for controlling the operation of a marine vessel when a throttle lever is disabled

• US 8,224,512 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Dengel, Michael P., Smedema, Gene A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US12/356,588
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 701/21, 701/115, 701/22, 701/23, 701/27, 701/52, 701/53, 701/93, 701/102, 701/200, 701/468, 440/1, 440/5, 440/74, 440/84, 440/86, 440/87, 123/399, 114/144.RE, 30/392.7
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels

Abstract

A control system is provided which allows the operator of a marine vessel to select a transmission position (e.g. forward, neutral, or reverse) and an engine speed in the event that a throttle lever malfunctions. By providing messages to the operator on an annunciator and receiving selections from the operator on a plurality of push button switches, a microprocessor selects gear positions and engine operating speed in response to commands received from the operator.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operation of a marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:

providing a manually operable handle which is configured to control operation of said marine propulsion device;

recognizing a fault condition associated with said manually operable handle;

providing an annunciator;

providing a plurality of switches;

transmitting a message with said annunciator for receipt by an operator of said marine propulsion device;

receiving an input signal from at least one of said plurality of switches activated by said operator; and

changing an operating parameter of said marine propulsion device in response to said input signal, wherein said fault condition relates to a position signal which is responsive to a position of said manually operable handle and wherein said recognizing step comprises the steps of receiving said position signal and comparing said position signal to a preselected range of magnitudes of said position signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said operating parameter is a gear selection associated with a transmission of said marine propulsion device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said operating parameter is an operating speed of an engine of said marine propulsion device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said annunciator comprises a liquid crystal display device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of switches comprises at least one push button.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said manually operable handle is a throttle handle.

7. A method for controlling the operation of a marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:

providing a manually operable handle which is configured to control operation of said marine propulsion device;

recognizing a fault condition associated with said manually operable handle;

providing a visually readable annunciator;

providing a plurality of push buttons;

transmitting a message with said annunciator for receipt by an operator of said marine propulsion device;

receiving an input signal from at least one of said plurality of push buttons activated by said operator; and

changing an operating parameter of said marine propulsion device in response to said input signal, wherein said fault condition relates to a position signal which is responsive to a position of said manually operable handle and wherein said recognizing step comprises the steps of receiving said position signal and comparing said position signal to a preselected range of magnitudes of said position signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said manually operable handle comprises a plurality of resistive elements, said position signal being generated in response to a position of said manually operable handle relative to said plurality of resistive elements.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said annunciator comprises a liquid crystal display device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said manually operable handle is a throttle handle.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said operating parameter is a gear selection associated with a transmission of said marine propulsion device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said operating parameter is an operating speed of an engine of said marine propulsion device.

13. A method for controlling the operation of a marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:

providing a manually operable handle which is configured to control operation of said marine propulsion device;

providing an annunciator;

providing a plurality of switches;

transmitting a message with said annunciator for receipt by an operator of said marine propulsion device;

receiving an input signal from at least one of said plurality of switches activated by said operator;

changing an operating parameter of said marine propulsion device in response to said input signal;

recognizing a fault condition associated with said manually operable handle, wherein said operating parameter is a gear selection associated with a transmission of said marine propulsion device, said fault condition relating to a position signal which is responsive to a position of said manually operable handle, said annunciator comprising a liquid crystal display device, said recognizing step comprising the steps of receiving said position signal and comparing said position signal to a preselected range of magnitudes of said position signal, said plurality of switches comprising at least one push button.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

said operating parameter is an operating speed of an engine of said marine propulsion device.