Abstract: A method and system for defining a program to control the trim position of a propulsion unit mounted on a watercraft for a desired utility mode. Also, a method and system for controlling the trim position in a given utility mode by using the defined program. In defining the program, a first utility mode is defined and the watercraft is operated in the defined mode as in normal operation. Multiple trim positions are selected throughout the course of operation in the defined mode. For each selected trim position, an operational parameter of the watercraft is sensed. Multiple values of the same parameter may be sensed and measured for a single trim position. After the parameters have been sensed for each trim position, a correlated data set is created. A correlated data set is saved to a memory device for each selected trim position of the defined utility mode. In controlling the trim position, the watercraft is again operated in the first utility mode. A current operational parameter is then measured.

Abstract: A reciprocating fluid pump includes a drive section and a pump section. The drive section has a pair of coils which may be energized to cause displacement of a reciprocating assembly. Each coil is a reluctance gap arrangement in which a magnetic circuit is interrupted by a gap towards which an armature of the reciprocating assembly is drawn when energizing current is applied to the coil. The reciprocating assembly includes an element which is extended into and retracted from a pump chamber during its reciprocating motion, causing fluid to be drawn into and expelled from the pump chamber. The pump is particularly well suited for use in cyclic pumping applications, such as internal combustion engine fuel injection. Cycle times in such applications may be reduced by appropriate control of the current waveforms applied to the coils.

Abstract: A method and apparatus creating a two stage input to an integrated fuel pump of a fuel injector. The fuel pump has a reciprocating assembly for generating a fuel pulse and an actuating coil which induces linear motion of the reciprocating assembly. A nozzle is formed on the distal end of the injector for discharging fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. An energy controller coupled to the fuel pump generates an initial energy phase and a secondary energy phase in the actuating coil. The initial energy phase corresponds to an initial stage of movement of the reciprocating assembly. The initial stage of movement is associated with overcoming internal resistive forces initially present in the reciprocating assembly. The secondary energy phase corresponds to a secondary stage of movement of the reciprocating assembly wherein the initial resistive forces of the reciprocating assembly have been overcome.

Abstract: A permanent magnet alternator employing a mechanically regulated output. The alternator contains a rotor, or a flywheel which houses a plurality of permanent magnets. A rotating magnetic flux field is created by the rotation of the flywheel. A stator assembly, including a plurality of windings or coils is disposed concentrically with the rotor and adjacent to the rotating flux field. The coils produce an electrical output based on their exposure to the rotating flux field. A control assembly is disposed concentrically within the stator assembly. The stator assembly is rotatably coupled to the control assembly and becomes axially displaced relative to the magnetic flux field as a result of rotation relative to the control assembly.

Abstract: A modified fuel injector is fitted with a position sensing device that starts sending position information to the ECU at the onset of pressurization and displacement of fuel in the injector. Thus the effective stroke of the piston in the injector valve can be made to represent the fuel that is delivered to each cylinder of an engine. A position sensor is attached to the injector valve piston assembly. By electronically measuring the amount of effective piston travel, i.e. the piston travel that commences at the onset of pressurization of the injector valve, the amount of fuel delivered to the cylinder is known.

Abstract: A motor boat having a retractable trolling motor which motor is surrounded by a housing. The housing includes a top wall, two side walls and a bottom wall with openings at the front and rear of the housing to allow water to be pumped through the housing as if it were a tunnel. The housing is rotatable through 360 degrees and is simple, easy to used and reliable. The housing has a bottom surface which is shaped to be a continuation of the bottom surface of the boat so as not to interfere with the handling or performance of the boat or even the appearance of the boat. The retracted housing is unobtrusive and provides protection for the propeller against weeds and debris.

Abstract: Proportional control of the output of an alternator achieved mechanically to change the reluctance of the magnetic path between the stator and the rotor and thereby change the electrical output of the alternator.

Abstract: A system that provides rope-start capability on a fuel injected engine without the need of a battery. The system provides power to run an electronic fuel injection and the ignition directly from the alternator.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump driven by an electric coil, the pump including a poppet valve slidable within a fuel passage in an armature structure and relative thereto in response to movement of the armature structure relative to the pump housing and through a stroke length between a first position permitting flow in a fuel passage from a low pressure fuel chamber to a high pressure fuel chamber, and a second position preventing fuel flow between the high and low pressure fuel chambers, and comprising a head portion located in the high pressure fuel chamber and including a valve surface which is spaced from the valve seat when the poppet valve is in the first position permitting fuel flow from the low pressure fuel chamber to the high pressure fuel chamber, and which is sealingly engaged with the valve seat when the poppet valve is in the second position preventing fuel flow between the high and low pressure fuel chambers, an adjustment member extending in a bore in the housing wall and being engageable with the pop

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an engine assembly comprising an engine block, a crankshaft rotatably mounted in the engine block and having an end and an axis, a flywheel fixed to the end of the crankshaft and including a first flux plate including a plurality of angularly spaced pole pieces extending axially away from the end of the crankshaft, a second flux plate axially spaced from the first flux plate and including a plurality of angularly spaced pole pieces extending toward the first flux plate and being spaced from and inter-digitated between the pole pieces of the first flux plate, a core extending axially between the first and second flux plates, a coil located in surrounding relation to the core and radially inwardly of the pole pieces and between the first and second flux plates, and a stator coil stationarily mounted on the engine block in outward, radially adjacent relation to the pole pieces, and slip ring means mounted on the flywheel and on the engine block and connected to the coil for energization there

Abstract: The electric vehicle driven by a DC motor having a field winding. An electric resistance element can be switched into parallel circuit with the field winding to weaken the field and increase potential motor speed. A relay operates the switch, a Hall-effect switch responsive to motor rotation produces voltage pulses indicative of motor speed. A microcomputer counts pulses in a given time period to determine motor speed and compares the speed with that in the prior period to determine whether the motor speed is increasing or decreasing. The computer is programmed to operate the relay to close the switch as the motor speed increases above a first speed and to open the switch as motor speed subsequently decreases to a second speed lower than said first speed. The computer is programmed to respond to a third speed greater than the first speed to operate the relay to open said switch to prevent overspeed.

Abstract: A motor driven vehicle has a safety control preventing operation of the motor if the operator is not in the drivers seat to close a seat switch for a predetermined period of time. The motor includes an electric circuit which when complete enables motor operation and which prevents motor operation when the circuit is open. A microprocessor opens the circuit when the seat switch is open and is programmed to provide a predetermined time delay before opening the circuit to stop motor operation. The computer decrements the time delay whenever the seat switch is open. The computer includes means for testing to determine whether the time delay has been reduced to 0 at periodic intervals shorter than the predetermined time delay. The decremented time delay is restored to full value if the seat switch is closed during such testing before said time delay has been decremented to 0.

Abstract: In an impressed current cathodic protection system for a boat and/or its propulsion system the boat battery is connected to a switching type power converter which supplies the anode higher current at lower voltage than taken from the battery. The voltage on the anode is regulated to be constant or to be fixed relative to the voltage at a reference half cell. With either arrangement, the voltage drop across a reference resistor can be applied to an op amp to turn on a transistor to connect an alternate power source to the anode. The voltage across the resistor is regulated by the power converter chip so the chip also regulates the alternate source to prevent excessive voltage on the anode.

Abstract: A motor vehicle powered by a DC motor has a pedal which is depressed by the driver to increase speed by actuating a tapping switch which has two sets of moving contacts cooperating with stationary contacts to progressively connect with the motor batteries from one or the other end of a bank of series connected batteries. An alternate action relay connected between said motor and the switch determines which of the two sets is connected in circuit with the motor. The relay has two positions to alternately connect one or the other of the tapping switch contact sets in circuit with said motor. A main solenoid switch is connected in series with the relay and the tapping switch. When the pedal is depressed, a foot switch operated by the pedal is operative to close a circuit enabling energization of the alternate action relay and the main solenoid switch. A microprocessor controls operation of the relay and the main solenoid.

Abstract: A marine propulsion unit having a housing exposed to sea water and subject to attack by the sea water is provided with a permanent type anode housing substantially constant surface characteristics mounted on the housing and supplied with constant voltage. Holes under the anode through the housing to interior passages permits the current on the anode to influence and protect the passages.

Abstract: The linear motion power assist mechanism includes a stationary member, a friction drum rotatably supported on the stationary member, an output member mounted for linear, reciprocative movement relative to the stationary member, an input member mounted for linear, reciprocative movement relative to the stationary member and relative to the output member, a first flexible member, such as a wire cable, loosely wound around the drum in one direction, a second flexible member loosely wound around the drum in the opposite direction, and an unidirectional motor rotating the drum. The first cable is tightened on the rotating drum and pulls the output member in a first direction in response to movement of the input member in the first direction. The second cable is tightened on the rotating drum and pulls the output member in the opposite or second direction in response to movement of the input in the second direction.

Abstract: A reversible motor is coupled to the stern leg of a watercraft for angulating the leg up and down through a trim and tilt range. A manually settable device provides a voltage signal corresponding to the desired trim angle and a position sensor provides a voltage signal corresponding to the present stern leg position. A first comparator changes the state of its output if the difference between the signals has one polarity and a second comparator changes state for the opposite polarity. The state changes turn on one of two transistor switches which provide an up or a down signal, respectively, to a motor control circuit for causing the motor to run until the difference is nulled. When the active transistor switch turns off, the other delivers a momentary pulse for plugging the motor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for charging a battery including a case containing at least one cell formed of a pair of electrodes immersed in an electrolyte. The apparatus includes a transducer associated with the battery and operable without sensing gas pressure in the battery case for providing a variable signal output in response to electrolyte gassing within the battery case. The apparatus also includes a control circuit arrangement coupled to the signal output for providing a variable control output in response to the signal output, and a battery charger connected to the battery electrodes and operable for charging the battery at a rate subject to the variable control output. In one embodiment of the invention, the transducer is a sound transducer, preferably a ceramic microphone, which provides a variable signal output in response to sound generated within the battery case.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rotary pulse generator including an armature having a two-magnet assembly including spaced pole pieces defining a pair of spaced gaps, an armature plate including a charge core and charge coil mounted thereon, and a trigger core and trigger coil mounted thereon, said trigger core being separate from said charge core but located in proximity to said charge core so that, at a given armature speed, said trigger coil produces a repeating series of trigger pulses including a first major voltage pulse of one polarity and of a major magnitude closely followed by a second minor voltage pulse of opposite polarity and of a minor magnitude substantially less than the major magnitude, the repeating series of trigger pulses being produced in response to the two-magnet assembly sequentially rotating past the trigger core and the charge core.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a digital timing control system for an internal combustion engine comprising a processing circuit for receiving a cyclical engine timing reference pulse and for producing a cyclical control pulse offset from the reference pulse. The processing circuit includes a counter connected to a NAND gate for producing a control pulse when the counter reaches a preset count, a monostable device, subject to the control pulse, for resetting the counter, an oscillator for providing preload pulses to the counter for a predetermined period of time to establish a preload count, and a phase-locked loop, subject to the reference pulse, for transmitting a fixed number of signal pulses per engine revolution to the counter to increment the preload count until said preset count is reached, whereby the control pulse is produced.