Abstract: There is elucidated a safety system for a marine vessel. The vessel includes two engines coupled to propellers for propelling the vessel through water. The vessel is provided with a digital anchor in communication with the two engines for maintaining the vessel substantially at a defined location when the anchor is activated. The safety system includes a sensor assembly coupled to a data processing assembly for sensing a region of said water at least partially surrounding the vessel for detecting one or more persons present in the region and for modifying operation of the digital anchor is response to the one or more persons being detected. The invention is of advantage in that the digital anchor is capable of responding to the one or more persons being present in the water and thereby reducing a risk of injury or loss of life when the digital anchor is employed.

Abstract: Steering control system for a vessel including at least two propulsion units pivotally arranged in relation to the hull of the vessel for generating a driving thrust of the vessel in a desired direction, wherein each propulsion unit is moveable within a working volume defined for each propulsion unit and wherein the working volume for neighboring propulsion units of the at least two propulsion units have a common space, the control system including at least two separate control units each controlling an associated propulsion unit, and a steering control instrument for determining the desired angular position of the propulsion units, where each of the separate control units are arranged for receiving a first input signal from the steering control instrument for determining the desired angular position of its associated propulsion unit and second input signal(s) originating from the other separate control units, associated with neighboring propulsion units, which second input signal(s) indicating the status of

Abstract: Steering control system for a vessel including at least two propulsion units pivotally arranged in relation to the hull of the vessel for generating a driving thrust of the vessel in a desired direction, wherein each propulsion unit is moveable within a working volume defined for each propulsion unit and wherein the working volume for neighboring propulsion units of the at least two propulsion units have a common space, the control system including at least two separate control units each controlling an associated propulsion unit, and a steering control instrument for determining the desired angular position of the propulsion units, where each of the separate control units are arranged for receiving a first input signal from the steering control instrument for determining the desired angular position of its associated propulsion unit and second input signal(s) originating from the other separate control units, associated with neighboring propulsion units, which second input signal(s) indicating the status of

Abstract: Outboard drive for boats, including a gear housing, an underwater housing connected rotatably to the gear housing, and a mounting element arranged between the gear housing and the underwater housing for mounting the drive in a boat hull with the gear housing on the inside and the underwater housing on the outside of the hull and including an exhaust passage with an exhaust outlet. The exhaust outlet is surrounded by a plate made of polytetrafluoroethylene fixed on the underside of the mounting element. The underwater housing is rotatable relative to the gear housing by an electric servomotor communicating with a control computer, which communicates with an engine control computer for an internal combustion engine connected to the drive and is arranged so as, when the engine is shut off, to give a signal to the servomotor to put the underwater housing in a position corresponding to moving straight ahead.

Abstract: Boat with a hull with double engines which are controlled by a respective electronic engine control unit and are coupled to a respective outboard drive, which drives are driven by electric servomotors/electronic drive control units. The drive control units communicate with the engine control units and continuously monitor the steering function of the drives and together with the engine control units, upon detection of a steering fault in a control system, gradually to reduce the speed of the engine in question to idling, to activate an alarm, to reduce the throttle of the other engine, to disengage and lock in neutral position the gear of the failing drive, and to lock the drive in the current angular position. After acknowledgement from the driver, neutral lock is cancelled and a gear can be engaged. The associated engine can then be used with but limited to approximately half throttle.

Abstract: Outboard drive for boats, including a gear housing, an underwater housing connected rotatably to the gear housing, and a mounting element arranged between the gear housing and the underwater housing for mounting the drive in a boat hull with the gear housing on the inside and the underwater housing on the outside of the hull and including an exhaust passage with an exhaust outlet. The exhaust outlet is surrounded by a plate made of polytetrafluoroethylene fixed on the underside of the mounting element. The underwater housing is rotatable relative to the gear housing by an electric servomotor communicating with a control computer, which communicates with an engine control computer for an internal combustion engine connected to the drive and is arranged so as, when the engine is shut off, to give a signal to the servomotor to put the underwater housing in a position corresponding to moving straight ahead.

Abstract: Boat with a hull with double engines which are controlled by a respective electronic engine control unit and are coupled to a respective outboard drive, which drives are driven by electric servomotors/electronic drive control units. The drive control units communicate with the engine control units and continuously monitor the steering function of the drives and together with the engine control units, upon detection of a steering fault in a control system, gradually to reduce the speed of the engine in question to idling, to activate an alarm, to reduce the throttle of the other engine, to disengage and lock in neutral position the gear of the failing drive, and to lock the drive in the current angular position. After acknowledgement from the driver, neutral lock is cancelled and a gear can be engaged. The associated engine can then be used with but limited to approximately half throttle.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing a remote control system for a vehicle (1) including a primary heading sensor (14) fixedly attached to the vehicle (1). The primary heading sensor (14) is adapted to detect a reference heading (N). A remote control unit (15) having a steering input manipulator (16) that is either portable by a user or rotationally attached to the vehicle (1) relative to a main axis (4) of the vehicle (1). The remote control unit (1) is adapted to communicate steering input data to a steering computer (12) that is programmed to process the steering input data into steering commands and to communicate the steering commands to a steering mechanism (9) of the vehicle (1). The remote control unit (1) has a secondary heading sensor that is synchronized with the primary heading sensor (14) with respect to the reference heading.

Abstract: Outboard drive unit for boats, including an underwater housing (6), in which two propeller shafts (7, 8) are mounted and are driven via a first bevel gearing (19, 20, 21) enclosed in the underwater housing, and a second bevel gearing (13, 14, 15) enclosed in a gear housing (11). With the aid of a mounting element (23) joined to the underwater housing and the gear housing, the drive unit can be mounted in an opening (2) in the bottom (1) of a boat hull, with the underwater housing on the outside and the gear housing on the inside of the hull. The mounting element forms a housing which defines, firstly, an oil reservoir (33) for the oil of the drive unit and, secondly, a surrounding chamber (36) through which engine cooling water flows and which is used for cooling the oil in the reservoir.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing a remote control system for a vehicle (1) including a primary heading sensor (14) fixedly attached to the vehicle (1). The primary heading sensor (14) is adapted to detect a reference heading (N). A remote control unit (15) having a steering input manipulator (16) that is either portable by a user or rotationally attached to the vehicle (1) relative to a main axis (4) of the vehicle (1). The remote control unit (1) is adapted to communicate steering input data to a steering computer (12) that is programmed to process the steering input data into steering commands and to communicate the steering commands to a steering mechanism (9) of the vehicle (1). The remote control unit (1) has a secondary heading sensor that is synchronized with the primary heading sensor (14) with respect to the reference heading.

Abstract: A method of steering a planning V-bottomed boat with double individually steerable outboard drive units with underwater housings (6), which extend down from the bottom (1) of the boat. When running at planning speed straight ahead, the underwater housings are set with “toe-in”, i.e. inclined towards each other with opposite angles (alpha) of equal magnitude relative to the boat centre line (b). When turning, the inner drive unit is set with a greater steering angle than the outer drive unit.

Abstract: A method of steering a planning V-bottomed boat with double individually steerable outboard drive units with underwater housings (6), which extend down from the bottom (1) of the boat. When running at planning speed straight ahead, the underwater housings are set with “toe-in”, i.e. inclined towards each other with opposite angles (alpha) of equal magnitude relative to the boat centre line (b). When turning, the inner drive unit is set with a greater steering angle than the outer drive unit.

Abstract: Outboard drive unit for boats, including an underwater housing (6), in which two propeller shafts (7, 8) are mounted and are driven via a first bevel gearing (19, 20, 21) enclosed in the underwater housing, and a second bevel gearing (13, 14, 15) enclosed in a gear housing (11). With the aid of a mounting element (23) joined to the underwater housing and the gear housing, the drive unit can be mounted in an opening (2) in the bottom (1) of a boat hull, with the underwater housing on the outside and the gear housing on the inside of the hull. The mounting element forms a housing which defines, firstly, an oil reservoir (33) for the oil of the drive unit and, secondly, a surrounding chamber (36) through which engine cooling water flows and which is used for cooling the oil in the reservoir.

Abstract: A shift assist apparatus for a marine drive includes a tube having a pair of biased springs, between which a sleeve at the end of a transmission cable is movably retained. A remote control cable is fixedly attached to the tube. High transmission cable shift forces associated with resistance to shifting cause the sleeve to move against the bias of one of the springs. A sensor detects this movement and sends an electrical signal to interrupt the engine ignition circuit, thereby preventing the firing of one or more cylinders of the engine. The interruption of the engine ignition reduces the torque on the shift mechanism, in turn reducing the shift forces in the transmission cable and enabling the operator to shift the transmission. When the shift operation is completed, the engine resumes normal firing.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder provided in its piston with axial channels with check valves permitting fluid flow in one direction from one cylinder chamber to the other. Constricting means in the form of a spring-biased plate displaceably mounted on the piston rod covers, after a certain displacement of the piston, a portion of the outlet openings of the axial channels to reduce the flow-through cross-sectional area and brake the piston movement.

Abstract: Servo-assisted cable steering arrangement, especially for boats, with an operating cable (4) connected to a steering wheel mechanism (1, 2) and displaceable in a casing (3). The outer end of the operating cable is joined to an operating rod (6) connected to a steering mechanism. The rod is displaceable in a guide tube (20) which is fixed to a valve tube (5), which is limitedly displaceable relative to and forms an operating element for a servo valve (8) of a hydraulic servo-unit in the form of piston cylinder device (10).