Patents by Inventor Robert R. Osthelder

Robert R. Osthelder has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240159833
    Abstract: An electric marine propulsion system includes a power storage system comprising at least one marine battery, an electric marine drive powered by the power storage system, a display, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive a reported time to empty (reported TTE) from each of the at least one battery and/or receive a battery current from each of the at least one battery, upon detection of an update condition, update at least one of a smoothed time to empty (smoothed TTE) value and a smoothed distance to empty (smoothed DTE) value for the power storage system based on the reported TTE and/or the battery current from each of the at least one battery, and control the display to display the smoothed TTE value and/or the smoothed DTE value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Mitchell J. Baer, Jared D. Kalnins, Robert R. Osthelder, Lukas G. Neveau, Bradley J. Phelps
  • Patent number: 11932370
    Abstract: A system for steering marine propulsion devices. Steering actuators are configured to change steering angles of the marine propulsion devices. A control system is operatively connected to the steering actuators. The control system is configured to receive a steering request for steering a first device among the marine propulsion devices, compare a steering angle of the first device to a steering angle of a second device among the marine propulsion devices, and control the steering actuators to steer the first device only when the steering angle of the first device is within a threshold range of the steering angle of the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jason S. Arbuckle, Thomas S. Kirchhoff, Robert R. Osthelder
  • Patent number: 11685499
    Abstract: A steering system for marine propulsion devices having a steering device and steering actuators configured to change steering angles of the marine propulsion devices. A control system is operatively connected to the steering actuators and operatively connected to the steering device to receive steering requests from the steering device. The control system is configured to receive a request to activate the steering for a first device among the marine propulsion devices. The control system is further configured to change the steering angle of the first device according to a steering request when the steering request is received after receiving the request to activate the steering for the first device and to leave the steering angle for the first device unchanged when the steering request is received before receiving the request to activate the steering for the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jason S. Arbuckle, Thomas S. Kirchhoff, Robert R. Osthelder
  • Patent number: 11673633
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of marine drives on a marine vessel includes detecting that at least one of the plurality of marine drives and that at least one of the plurality of marine drives is not running, and then determining, based on the trim position of each of the at least one non-running marine drives, that at least one non-running marine drive is trimmed down. If so, an output limit restriction is effectuated for each of the at least one running marine drive and an alert is generated to advise an operator of the output limit restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jason S. Arbuckle, Matthew W. Snyder, Travis C. Malouf, Robert R. Osthelder
  • Patent number: 11519327
    Abstract: A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel has an outboard motor including a cowl covering an internal combustion engine that powers the outboard motor and an accelerometer mounted to the outboard motor. A control module is communicatively connected to the accelerometer. The control module receives information regarding an acceleration of the outboard motor from the accelerometer. The control module uses the information regarding the acceleration of the outboard motor to do at least one of the following: determine an angle of the outboard motor with respect to gravity; determine an amount of oil in an oil sump of the outboard motor; and determine if a reading of the amount of oil in the oil sump is accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Lemancik, Jason S. Arbuckle, Matthew W. Snyder, Robert R. Osthelder, Steven J. Andrasko
  • Patent number: 11370521
    Abstract: A method for aligning steering angles of marine propulsion devices. The method includes receiving a first steering request to steer the marine propulsion devices, where when the first steering request is received, steering for a first device is deactivated and steering for a second device is activated, and changing a steering angle of the second device according to the first steering request while leaving a steering angle of the first device unchanged. The method includes receiving a request to activate steering for the first device and receiving a second steering request, then changing the steering angles of both the first and second devices when the second steering request is received after receiving the request to activate steering, and changing the steering angle of the second device while leaving the steering angle for the first device unchanged when the second steering request is received before receiving the request to activate steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jason S. Arbuckle, Thomas S. Kirchhoff, Robert R. Osthelder
  • Patent number: 11008926
    Abstract: A system for controlling exhaust flow from an internal combustion engine powering a marine propulsion device includes a primary exhaust conduit having an upstream end receiving exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine and a downstream end discharging exhaust gas to a body of water via a gearcase housing. A bypass exhaust conduit has an upstream end receiving exhaust gas from the primary exhaust conduit and a downstream end discharging exhaust gas from a bypass outlet of the marine propulsion device. A bypass valve is selectively openable to allow exhaust gas to flow through the bypass conduit. A control module is in signal communication with the bypass valve. The control module opens the bypass valve to divert the exhaust gas through the bypass conduit and out the bypass outlet in response to selection of a control mode of the marine propulsion device other than a default lever control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Osthelder, Travis C. Malouf, Jeffrey C. Etapa, Andrew S. Waisanen
  • Patent number: 10961940
    Abstract: A method for controlling a marine internal combustion engine is carried out by a control module and includes: operating the engine according to a initial set of mapped parameter values configured to achieve a first fuel-air equivalence ratio in a combustion chamber of the engine; measuring current values of engine operating conditions; and comparing the engine operating conditions to predetermined lean-burn mode enablement criteria. In response to the engine operating conditions meeting the lean-burn enablement criteria, the method includes: (a) automatically retrieving a subsequent set of mapped parameter values configured to achieve a second, lesser fuel-air equivalence ratio and transitioning from operating the engine according to the initial set of mapped parameter values to operating the engine according to the subsequent set of mapped parameter values; or (b) presenting an operator-selectable option to undertake such a transition, and in response to selection of the option, commencing the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Anschuetz, William P. O'Brien, Matthew W. Snyder, Andrew J. Przybyl, Robert R. Osthelder
  • Patent number: 10494967
    Abstract: A system for determining an oil amount in a marine drive includes an oil level sensor that senses an oil level in the sump and temperature sensor sensing an engine temperature. A control module for the system is configured to determine that the engine temperature is greater than a temperature threshold, and that an engine speed exceeds a speed threshold for at least a predetermined time period or that a throttle position exceeds a throttle position threshold. If both such conditions are met, and a threshold drop in engine speed to an idle threshold is detected or a threshold change in throttle position to an idle position is detected, then an oil level in the sump is sampled with an oil level sensor. An oil amount is then determined based on the sampled oil level in the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Osthelder, Matthew W. Snyder
  • Patent number: 10436145
    Abstract: A marine engine operates according to first and second sets of mapped parameter values to achieve a first fuel-air equivalence ratio and maintains a stable output torque while transitioning to operating according to third and fourth sets of mapped parameter values to achieve a different fuel-air equivalence ratio. The first and third sets of mapped parameter values correspond to a first combustion parameter. The second and fourth sets correspond to a second combustion parameter. The transition includes: (a) transitioning from operation according to a current value of the first combustion parameter to operation according to a target value thereof; (b) transitioning from operation according to a current value of the second combustion parameter to operation according to a target value thereof; and (c) timing commencement or completion of step (b) and setting a rate of step (b) to counteract torque discontinuity that would otherwise result when performing step (a) alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Anschuetz, Andrew J. Przybyl, William P. O'Brien, Matthew W. Snyder, Robert R. Osthelder
  • Patent number: 10414478
    Abstract: A marine propulsion system configured to propel a marine vessel in a body of water. The marine propulsion system includes an engine and an exhaust system that conveys exhaust gas from the engine. A controller controls the marine propulsion system and includes a memory module that stores operating modes with corresponding sound profiles for controlling the marine propulsion system. An input device is provided for selecting one of the operating modes for controlling the marine propulsion system. Selecting a first operating mode causes the marine propulsion system to sound different than selecting a second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew S. Waisanen, William P. O'Brien, Steven M. Anschuetz, Robert R. Osthelder
  • Patent number: 10358997
    Abstract: A method for controlling a marine internal combustion engine includes operating the engine in a lean-burn mode, wherein a first fuel/air equivalence ratio of an air/fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of the engine is less than 1. The method includes comparing a change in operator demand to a delta demand deadband; comparing a speed of the engine to an engine speed deadband; and comparing a throttle position setpoint to a throttle position threshold. The method also includes immediately disabling the lean-burn mode in response to: (a) the change in operator demand being outside the delta demand deadband, and (b) at least one of: (i) the engine speed being outside the engine speed deadband, and (ii) the throttle position setpoint exceeding the throttle position threshold. The engine thereafter operates according to a set of mapped parameter values configured to achieve a second fuel/air equivalence ratio of at least 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Anschuetz, Robert R. Osthelder, William P. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 10322786
    Abstract: A method for controlling a marine engine's operating mode includes operating the engine in an initial operating mode according to an initial set of mapped parameter values configured to achieve an initial fuel/air equivalence ratio of an air-fuel mixture for combustion. If measured operating conditions of the engine meet lean-burn mode enablement criteria, the engine is operated in lean-burn mode according to a lean-burn set of mapped parameter values configured to achieve a lean-burn fuel/air equivalence ratio that is less than the initial fuel/air equivalence ratio. If the measured engine operating conditions no longer meet the lean-burn mode enablement criteria, the engine is operated in the initial operating mode. Transitions between the lean-burn mode and the initial operating mode are monitored. If the transitions indicate that the engine's operating mode is unstable, the engine is prevented from operating in the lean-burn mode until after a reset condition has been met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Anschuetz, Robert R. Osthelder, Andrew J. Przybyl
  • Patent number: 10094321
    Abstract: Controlling a marine engine includes operating the engine according to an initial set of mapped parameter values to achieve a first target fuel-air equivalence ratio, determining a first actual fuel-air equivalence ratio, and using a feedback controller to minimize a difference between the first target and actual ratios. Feedback controller outputs are used to populate an initial set of adapt values to adjust combustion parameter values from the initial set of mapped parameter values. The method includes transitioning to operating the engine according to a subsequent set of mapped parameter values to achieve a different target fuel-air equivalence ratio. The method includes determining a second actual fuel-air equivalence ratio, using the feedback controller to minimize a difference between the second target and actual ratios, and using feedback controller outputs to populate a subsequent set of adapt values to adjust combustion parameter values from the subsequent set of mapped parameter values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Anschuetz, Andrew J. Przybyl, William P. O'Brien, Matthew W. Snyder, Robert R. Osthelder