Means To Control The Supply Of Energy Responsive To A Sensed Condition Patents (Class 440/1)
  • Patent number: 9422047
    Abstract: Systems and methods are for facilitating shift changes in a marine propulsion device. The systems comprise an internal combustion engine; a shift linkage that operatively connects a shift lever to a transmission for effecting shift changes amongst a reverse gear, a neutral gear and a forward gear; a speed sensor that senses current speed of the engine; and a control circuit that controls the engine to provide a reduction in speed of the engine to facilitate a shift change. The control circuit compares the current speed of the engine to a stored threshold speed and waits to invoke a reduction in speed of the engine until the current speed of the engine reaches the stored threshold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: David G. Camp, Andrew J. Przybyl
  • Patent number: 9415345
    Abstract: A control method and system for monitoring a selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) device of an exhaust gas treatment system is disclosed. The method includes monitoring a plurality of operating conditions related to determining an efficiency of the SCR device and a SCR temperature. The method includes determining if each of the operating conditions are within a respective predetermined range and if the SCR temperature is below an operating temperature range. The method includes activating a hydrocarbon supply based on if each of the operating conditions are within the respective predetermined range and if the SCR temperature is below the operating temperature range. The hydrocarbon supply is located upstream of the SCR device to generate heat if activated. The method includes monitoring the SCR temperature to determine if the SCR device is operating within the operating temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Holbert, Eric M. Sisco, Janean E. Kowalkowski
  • Patent number: 9403586
    Abstract: A jet propelled watercraft includes a prime mover, a jet pump driven by the prime mover and jetting water from a jet port, a reverse gate changing a direction of the jet flow jetted from the jet pump, a shift actuator capable of moving the reverse gate to a plurality of shift positions, a reverse gate operator configured to set a position of the reverse gate, and a controller configured or programmed to prohibit startup of the prime mover when it is determined that the reverse gate operator is being operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukitaka Okamoto, Hirofumi Anma, Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9381989
    Abstract: A method for positioning a drive unit on a marine vessel includes receiving an initiation request from a user input device to operate the marine vessel in a desired operating mode and storing a first trim position of the drive unit in a memory upon receiving the initiation request. The method includes trimming the drive unit to a second trim position in response to the initiation request and subsequently operating the marine vessel in the desired operating mode with the drive unit in the second trim position. The method includes receiving a termination request to cancel the desired operating mode and trimming the drive unit to the first trim position automatically upon receiving the termination request. A system for positioning the drive unit is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Brian J. Poirier
  • Patent number: 9376189
    Abstract: A watercraft has a hull, a deck, an engine compartment, an engine disposed in the engine compartment, a steering assembly, a jet pump, a venturi connected to the jet pump, a variable trim system (VTS) support rotationally mounted relative to the venturi about a VTS axis, a steering nozzle rotationally mounted to the VTS support about a steering axis, and a gate rotationally mounted relative to the venturi about a gate axis. The gate is operatively connected to the VTS support such that rotation of the gate about the gate axis results in rotation of the VTS support about the VTS axis. An actuator is operatively connected to the gate to rotate the gate about the gate axis. The gate is operatively connected between the actuator and the VTS support. A jet propulsion system and a variable trim system and gate assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc De Henau, Sebastien Quirion, Michel Bourret, Jean-Philippe Gendron
  • Patent number: 9302754
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control device for an amphibious vehicle that can travel with a stable orientation even when the edge of the water consists of uneven terrain or terrain having an inclined surface along a different direction than the direction of travel. A vehicle control device for an amphibious vehicle capable of traveling on land, navigating on the water, and traveling on the edge of the water comprises a jet direction adjuster (15) for adjusting the direction of a jet created by a propeller (11), an orientation detector (31) for detecting the orientation of an amphibious vehicle (1), and a control device (30) for controlling the jet direction adjuster (15) and/or the propeller (11) on the basis of the orientation of the amphibious vehicle (1) detected by the orientation detector (31) when an edge-of-water travel mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasumichi Aoki
  • Patent number: 9290253
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an outboard motor mounted on a boat and equipped with a transmission having at least forward first and second speed gears and a reverse gear. The apparatus functions as a rudder angle detector that detects a rudder angle, a slip ratio detector that detects a slip ratio, and a transmission controller. The transmission controller controls the operation of the transmission to select one of the gears based on the detected engine speed or the detected slip ratio according to a comparison between the detected rudder angle and a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa, Hajime Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 9260903
    Abstract: Measuring a D.C. motor's armature voltage and current and measuring its rotation speed using a Hall-effect sensor enable a particular motor's characteristic equation to be determined empirically. After the equation that models a motor is determined, rotation speed can be determined between Hall-effect sensor signals using real-time measurements of armature voltage and current, which are substituted back into the equation. Current and/or voltage can also be adjusted to increase, decrease or maintain rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Piechocki
  • Patent number: 9248898
    Abstract: A system that controls the speed of a marine vessel includes first and second propulsion devices that produce first and second thrusts to propel the marine vessel. A control circuit controls orientation of the first and second propulsion devices about respective steering axes to control directions of the first and second thrusts. A first user input device is moveable between a neutral position and a non-neutral detent position. When a second user input device is actuated while the first user input device is in the detent position, the control circuit does one or more of the following so as to control the speed of the marine vessel: varies a speed of a first engine of the first propulsion device and a speed of a second engine of the second propulsion device; and varies one or more alternative operating conditions of the first and second propulsion devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas S. Kirchhoff, Jason S. Arbuckle, Matthew W. Snyder
  • Patent number: 9242709
    Abstract: A propulsion unit control system is provided for a boat having plural propulsion units provided side by side and electrically connected in association with two adjacent operation levers. The control system synchronizes engine speeds of the respective propulsion units with each other in light of inputs to the two operation levers. The control system computes a deviation between the averaged engine speed of a reference propulsion unit and the averaged engine speed of a propulsion unit to be synchronized, and corrects a throttle opening of the propulsion unit to be synchronized based on the computed deviation in order to synchronize the engine speeds of the respective propulsion units with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Kado, Shu Akuzawa
  • Patent number: 9205907
    Abstract: An outboard motor mounted on a stern of a boat is provided with a transmission and an oil pump. The transmission has a first-speed and second-speed gears, a first-speed gear clutch made of a mechanical dog clutch and a second-speed gear clutch made of a hydraulic clutch each adapted to engage the first and second-speed gears on a power transmission shaft, and a first-speed gear shift actuator adapted to couple the first-speed gear clutch with the first-speed gear. In the transmission, a first speed is established when the first-speed gear is engaged on the power transmission shaft and a second speed is established when the second-speed gear is engaged on the power transmission shaft while the first speed has been established such that power of the engine is transmitted to the propeller through the established speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa, Yoshiyuki Matsuda, Hajime Yoshimura, Nobuchika Katagiri, Masahide Shinokawa
  • Patent number: 9193430
    Abstract: To provide a technique capable of adjusting a tilt angle of a ship propulsion machine body with respect to a hull to a tilt angle suitable for a travelling state easily and with high accuracy. A motor adjusting a tilt angle of a ship propulsion machine body with respect to a hull and a control device controlling drive of the motor so as to change the tilt angle in accordance with an output from a hull angle sensor detecting a hull angle as an angle of the hull with respect to the water surface are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Narimasa Hosoya, Hayato Tsutsui, Shinya Horie
  • Patent number: 9180951
    Abstract: Provided is a ship maneuvering device that can increase operation sensitivity and enables smooth operation when simultaneously operating the rotation component determination unit and the oblique sailing component determination unit of an operation means. In the ship maneuvering device 1, a control device 31 computes a rotation component propulsion vector Trot for rotation and an oblique sailing component propulsion vector Ttrans for oblique sailing for left and right out-drive units 10A, 10B from the amount of operation of a joystick 21, calculates the combined torque T by combining the rotation component propulsion vector Trot and the oblique sailing component propulsion vector Ttrans for each of the left and right out-drive units 10A, 10B, and computes the propulsion and orientation for each of the left and right out-drive units 10A, 10B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Hitachi, Naohiro Hara
  • Patent number: 9162741
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surfboard assembly that can be controlled, comprising a surfboard (1), which has a stern and a bow and which has a standing surface for a surfer (2), a longitudinal axis (L) oriented from the stern to the bow, a drive having a thrust device, which thrust device can be pivoted in a pivoting plane along the standing surface (13), for producing left and right cornering of the surfboard assembly, and a propulsion unit, at least one sensor (18), which is integrated in the surfboard (1) and detects tilting clockwise and counterclockwise about the longitudinal axis (L) and which controls the pivoting direction of the nozzle (12) in such a way that tilting of the surfboard (1) counterclockwise about the longitudinal axis (L) pivots the nozzle (12) to the left in the pivoting plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Sashay GmbH
    Inventor: Benjamin Köhnsen
  • Patent number: 9162744
    Abstract: A ship maneuvering device rotates a propeller at a lower rotational frequency than the rotational frequency of the minimum idling speed of an engine. A control device has a crawling speed navigation mode. A crawling speed navigation mode button that selects whether or not to execute the crawling speed navigation mode is connected to the control device. When the crawling speed navigation mode is selected, and the amount of operation of a joystick lever is at or beneath a baseline amount of operation Ms, the control device causes the rotational frequency N of the engine to be the rotational frequency Nlow of the minimum idling speed, and in accordance with the amount of operation of the joystick lever, varies the duty ratio D, which is the fraction of time T1 that a main clutch is engaged in a predetermined cycle T, within a range of no greater than 100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Hitachi, Naohiro Hara, Takao Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9150294
    Abstract: An outboard motor control system includes a plurality of outboard motors, a vibration detecting section, and a control section. The outboard motors are mounted on a stern of a watercraft. Each of the outboard motors includes a propeller. The outboard motors are configured to be steered independently of one another. The vibration detecting section is configured to detect a vibration of the outboard motors. The control section is configured and programmed to execute a vibration suppression control when the vibration detecting section detects a vibration of the outboard motors. With the vibration suppression control, the control section is configured and programmed to change a propeller rotational axis direction and/or a propeller position of at least one of the outboard motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Ito, Katsutoshi Naito, Yoshikazu Nakayasu
  • Patent number: 9114861
    Abstract: A personal watercraft is provided which includes a body including a deck and a hull having a water intake on a bottom portion thereof; a water jet pump configured to suction water through the water intake and eject the water through an outlet port of an ejecting nozzle; an engine for actuating the water jet pump; an ejecting direction adjusting device for adjusting an ejecting direction of the water ejected from the water jet pump; a driver seat section provided on the deck and configured to accommodate a driver seated in a straddle state; a passenger seat section provided on the deck behind the driver seat section and configured to accommodate a passenger seated in a straddle state; a sensor for detecting the passenger seated on the passenger seat section; and a controller for controlling the engine to reduce an engine driving power, if the sensor detects the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kunihiko Kamio
  • Patent number: 9043057
    Abstract: A control device controls the operating state of each of a plurality of propulsion machines arranged in parallel in a marine vessel. Control devices are connected to each other by a communication line through which operating information of the propulsion machine is mutually transmitted and received. The control device includes a unit which determines the installation position of a corresponding propulsion machine, a unit which determines the connection state of another propulsion machine connected to the communication line, and a unit which determines a propulsion machine as a control reference from among a plurality of control devices. The propulsion machine as a control reference is switched to a propulsion machine which is arbitrarily designated by an operator or a propulsion machine which has the highest priority as a control reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Iwata, Makoto Itoi
  • Patent number: 9039468
    Abstract: A system that controls speed of a marine vessel includes first and second propulsion devices that produce first and second thrusts to propel the marine vessel. A control circuit controls orientation of the propulsion devices between an aligned position in which the thrusts are parallel and an unaligned position in which the thrusts are non-parallel. A first user input device is moveable between a neutral position and a non-neutral detent position. When the first user input device is in the detent position and the propulsion devices are in the aligned position, the thrusts propel the marine vessel in a desired direction at a first speed. When a second user input device is actuated while the first user input device is in the detent position, the propulsion devices move into the unaligned position and propel the marine vessel in the desired direction at a second, decreased speed without altering the thrusts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jason S. Arbuckle, Thomas S. Kirchhoff, Matthew W. Snyder
  • Patent number: 9026325
    Abstract: This invention relates to the field of very high current integrated power systems and defines a system where an alternating current inductive generator (13), controlled by a generator voltage regulator (14), is coupled to alternating current inductive load (11), controlled by an alternating current inductive load controller (12), all controlled by a supervisory control and data acquisition system (17) with externally adjustable power rate constraints (21) that define a new anticipatory mode integrated power system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Roettger, Mohamed Belkhayat, Craig J. Nordby, Joseph M. Maurio, William Patalon
  • Patent number: 8998661
    Abstract: A water jet propulsion boat includes a boat body, an engine, a jet propulsion mechanism, a first accelerator operation section, a second accelerator operation section, a reverse gate, and a control section. The engine is accommodated in the boat body. The jet propulsion mechanism generates a propulsion power using a drive power from the engine. The reverse gate is arranged to move to a first position and to a second position. The boat body advances when the reverse gate is in the first position. The reverse gate reduces the propulsion power which advances the boat body when the reverse gate is in the second position. The control section is programmed to set the position of the reverse gate and a throttle opening of the engine based on an operation amount of the first accelerator operation section and an operation amount of the second accelerator operation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8998664
    Abstract: A water ski handle system used with a personal water ski towing watercraft that includes a handle component that selectively attaches to a standard water ski handle and contains a manual control module. The control module includes directional control buttons, power ON and OFF buttons, and power Up and Down buttons. Coupled to the control module is a self-correcting propulsion and steering system that senses undesirable changes to the watercraft's motion caused by the water-skier when pulled by the watercraft. When a difference is detected, a command module located in the watercraft automatically controls the watercraft's propulsion and steering systems so the watercraft follows the desired path and velocity. The system also includes an auto-back tracking feature that automatically reduces power to the last known marked geographic point the skier was upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Robin Sells
  • Publication number: 20150093946
    Abstract: A watercraft includes a vessel body, a propulsion mechanism, an engine, a shift operating unit, a vessel body state determining unit, and an engine controlling unit. The propulsion mechanism is switched among a forward thrust state to forwardly move the vessel body, a rearward thrust state to rearwardly move the vessel body, and a neutral state to maintain the vessel body in a stationary state. The shift operating unit is configured to move to a forward thrust position, a rearward thrust position, and a neutral position. The vessel body state determining unit is programmed and configured to determine whether or not the vessel body is in the stationary state. The engine controlling unit is programmed and configured to stop the engine when the shift operating unit is located in the neutral position and the vessel body state determining unit determines that the vessel body is in the stationary state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshimasa KINOSHITA, Yukitaka OKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8992274
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for a marine vessel having a first marine propulsor that propels the marine vessel, a first internal combustion engine that selectively powers the first marine propulsor, and a first electric motor that selectively powers the first marine propulsor. The system also has first and second user input devices and a control circuit that controls operation of the system in at least a first control mode and a second control mode. In the first control mode, the control circuit controls operation of both the first internal combustion engine and the first electric motor based upon actuation of the first user input device. In the second control mode, the control circuit controls operation of the first internal combustion engine based upon actuation of the first user input device and the control circuit controls operation of the first electric motor based upon actuation of the second user input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron J. Ward, Brett J. McNalley
  • Publication number: 20150072575
    Abstract: A vessel propulsion system includes propulsion apparatuses that are turnably mounted on a stern of a hull in an inclined manner such that a turning center line intersects a hull center line, turning actuators that respectively turn the propulsion apparatuses left and right with respect to the hull, a steering device that outputs a steering command, and a control unit that controls the turning actuators individually according to the steering command. The control unit includes a storage unit that stores a reference angle that the turning center line of each propulsion apparatus defines with respect to the hull center line, and a turning command angle computing unit that determines a turning command angle of each propulsion apparatus. The control unit drives each turning actuator based on each turning command angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Makoto MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20150064993
    Abstract: An apparatus for floatation and propulsion of a user on a body of water, with the user in a standing position, includes two pontoons, a mechanical connection of the pontoons and a propulsion system responsive to vertical articulation of the pontoons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Jerome C. Farmer
  • Patent number: 8968040
    Abstract: A marine vessel includes a plurality of turning mechanisms provided respectively in correspondence to a plurality of outboard motors. Each turning mechanism includes a hydraulic pump, an electric motor to drive the hydraulic pump, a hydraulic cylinder including two cylinder chambers partitioned by a piston, and a normally-closed bypass valve to put the two cylinder chambers of the hydraulic cylinder into communication with each other. Upon judging that there is a malfunction in the turning angle control of at least one of the outboard motors, a main ECU displays on a display an operation guidance screen to urge a marine vessel operator to open the bypass valve of the turning mechanism corresponding to the malfunctioning outboard motor. Also, the main ECU keeps a power transmission between an engine and a propeller in the malfunctioning outboard motor in an interrupted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Ito
  • Patent number: 8961247
    Abstract: A power supply system for a marine drilling vessel is provided. The power supply system comprises a first power grid section coupled to a generator configured to generate electric power and further coupled to an electrically powered active heave compensator. The heave compensator is configured to raise and lower a drill string relative to the marine drilling vessel. The power supply system further comprises a second power grid section coupled to a generator configured to generate electric power and further coupled to an electrically powered thruster drive of the marine drilling vessel. The first power grid section is electrically coupled to the second power grid section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Paul Fredrik Gjerpe
  • Patent number: 8961246
    Abstract: Systems and methods are for controlling shift in a marine propulsion device. A shift sensor outputs a position signal representing a current position of a shift linkage. A control circuit is programmed to identify an impending shift change when the position signal reaches a first threshold and an actual shift change when the position signal reaches a second threshold. The control circuit is programmed to enact a shift interrupt control strategy that facilitates the actual shift change when the position signal reaches the first threshold, and to actively modify the first threshold as a change in operation of the marine propulsion device occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas S. Kirchhoff, David G. Camp
  • Patent number: 8951078
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an onboard floating drilling installation and to a method for operating an onboard floating drilling installation, comprising a draw-works for reeling out and reeling in a drilling line, comprising several thrusters for dynamic positioning the onboard floating drilling installation and comprising at least one generator to operate the thrusters and the draw works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ove Boe
  • Patent number: 8944865
    Abstract: A system for controlling power in a hybrid marine vessel arrangement. A first water sensor senses a presence of water at a first location on the marine vessel. An intermediate switch is activated when the first water sensor senses the presence of water at the first location. An interlock switch disconnects power to at least one high voltage electrical component on the marine vessel when the intermediate switch is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew S. Krabacher, Peter A. Chisholm
  • Patent number: 8944864
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine and a generator driven by the engine, comprising: an actuator adapted to open and close a throttle valve of the engine; a neutral position detector adapted to detect whether a shift mechanism interposed between an output shaft of the engine and a propeller is in a neutral position; a power generation demand value detector adapted to detect a demand value for an amount of power generation of the generator; and an actuator controller adapted to determine a desired speed of the engine based on the detected demand value when the shift mechanism is detected to be in the neutral position, and control operation of the actuator such that a speed of the engine converges to the determined desired engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa, Akifumi Fujima
  • Patent number: 8944868
    Abstract: An outboard motor attached to a hull includes a body, a body driving device, and a control device. The body includes an engine and a propeller shaft. The propeller shaft is configured to be rotated by a drive force from the engine. The body is configured to pivot about a tilt axis extending in a lateral direction of the hull. The body driving device is configured to drive the body about the tilt axis. The control device is programmed to control the body driving device so that a rear end of the propeller shaft is positioned higher than a front end of the propeller shaft when the control device determines that the propeller shaft is to rotate in a direction in which the hull is propelled in reverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Kanno
  • Patent number: 8926383
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor having a shift shaft to be rotated in response to manipulation by an operator to switch a shift position between an in-gear position that enables driving force of a prime mover to be transmitted to a propeller by engaging a clutch with one of a forward gear and a reverse gear, and a neutral position that cuts off transmission of the driving force by disengaging the clutch from the forward or reverse gear, comprising a neutral operation detector connected to the shift shaft and adapted to detect a neutral operation in which the shift position is switched from the in-gear position to the neutral position; and a driving force controller adapted to conduct driving force decreasing control to decrease the driving force of the prime mover when the neutral operation is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa, Hiroshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140378012
    Abstract: A vessel comprising a plurality of hulls, a propulsion system including propulsion devices at respective end regions of the plurality of hulls and a control system connected to the propulsion system to control operation of the propulsion devices so as to position the hulls, wherein the propulsion devices are angled relative to the vertical longitudinally of each hull. Such vessel can perform installation functions of sub-surface assets such as tidal turbines, wave energy devices, cable laying and the like, or to facilitate foundation installations and also the function of inspecting sub-surface areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Richard Parkinson
  • Publication number: 20140370764
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling a boat equipped with an outboard motor mounted on its stem and having an internal combustion engine, a propeller to be driven by the engine and a propeller pitch changer adapted to variably change a pitch of the propeller, an opening of a throttle valve installed at an air intake system of the engine and its change amount are detected, and based on the change amount of the detected opening of the throttle valve, it is determined whether or not the pitch of the propeller is to be changed through the propeller pitch changer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Koji KURIYAGAWA, Hiroshi YAMAMOTO, Hajime YOSHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20140364018
    Abstract: A ship steering device capable of steering a hull in an intended direction by correcting an unintended rotation that occurs during an oblique sailing operation regardless of the type and size of the hull. A ship steering device is provided with an elevation angle sensor for detecting the elevation angle ? of a hull, a hull speed sensor for detecting the speed V of the hull, a storage means storing the relation among the elevation angle ? of the hull, the speed V of the hull, and a correction value K, and a calculation means serving as a correction value determination means, and an operation amount by which a joystick is operated such that the hull does not turn in the state in which the hull is obliquely sailed is determined by the calculation means and used as the correction value K.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiro HARA, Akiyoshi Hayashi, Toshimitsu Hirose
  • Publication number: 20140364019
    Abstract: An outboard motor control system includes a plurality of outboard motors, a vibration detecting section, and a control section. The outboard motors are mounted on a stern of a watercraft. Each of the outboard motors includes a propeller. The outboard motors are configured to be steered independently of one another. The vibration detecting section is configured to detect a vibration of the outboard motors. The control section is configured and programmed to execute a vibration suppression control when the vibration detecting section detects a vibration of the outboard motors. With the vibration suppression control, the control section is configured and programmed to change a propeller rotational axis direction and/or a propeller position of at least one of the outboard motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Ito, Katsutoshi Naito, Yoshikazu Nakayasu
  • Publication number: 20140349530
    Abstract: A marine vessel includes an outboard motor mounting portion provided at a stern of a hull, an outboard motor locating hole provided rearward of the outboard motor mounting portion and near the outboard motor mounting portion and penetrating vertically through the stern, a platform provided rearward of the outboard motor locating hole, and an outboard motor located in the outboard motor locating hole and mounted to the outboard motor mounting portion. This structure enables an occupant of the marine vessel to freely move in a space around the outboard motor on the platform and use the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Yasushi MOCHIZUKI, Yoshifumi NAKAZONO, Hirohide IHARA, Takayuki MOUE
  • Patent number: 8888542
    Abstract: Provided is an electric outboard motor that includes a drive motor, which is an AC motor, as a drive source. The electric outboard motor includes: an outboard motor main body that includes the drive motor and an inverter that converters a direct current to an alternating current to supply the alternating current to the drive motor; a control/power supply unit that is formed separately from the outboard motor main body and that can supply the direct current to the inverter; and a connection cable that electrically connects the outboard motor main body and the control/power supply unit. The inverter and the drive motor are stacked and arranged in an axial direction of a rotation output axis of the drive motor. Part of the inverter falls within an outline of the drive motor in a view in the axial direction of the rotation output axis of the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Kinpara, Yohei Nakano, Satoru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8886442
    Abstract: A water jet propulsion watercraft includes a hull, an engine, a jet propulsion device, a fuel injection apparatus, an exhaust channel, and an engine control unit. The engine includes a combustion chamber arranged to combust fuel therein, an exhaust port arranged to discharge exhaust gas, an exhaust valve arranged to open and close the exhaust port, an intake port arranged for flow of air and the fuel into the combustion chamber, and an intake valve arranged to open and close the intake port. The engine control unit is arranged to control the engine to deliver the exhaust gas, retained at the intake side relative to the exhaust port, to the exhaust channel side in a state where a fuel injection amount of the fuel injection apparatus is set lower than an ordinary fuel injection amount during a predetermined period when starting of the engine is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8882550
    Abstract: A ship propulsion device is configured so that a control device operates an engine at a first engine speed when a clutch is in a disengaged state; so that, based on the input of an input device, the control device changes the state of the clutch from the disengaged state to a partially engaged state and operates the engine at a second engine speed that is higher than the first engine speed; so that, based on the detection of a rotational speed detection device, the control device operates the engine at an engine speed that is lower than the second engine speed; and so that, based on the input of an input device, the control device changes the state of the clutch from the partially engaged state to an engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisanori Mori
  • Publication number: 20140329422
    Abstract: A plurality of outboard motors are mounted to a stern of a watercraft, and configured to be steered independently. A target steering angle setting section is configured to set a target steering angle for each of the outboard motors. Actuators are configured to steer the outboard motors such that the steering angle of each of the outboard motors is equal or substantially equal to a target steering angle. An actual steering angle detecting section is configured to detect an actual steering angle of each of the outboard motors. A control section is programmed and configured to control the steering operation of the outboard motors such that, when a steering angle difference defining a difference between the actual steering angles of adjacently arranged outboard motors becomes equal to or larger than a prescribed value, an increase of the steering angle difference is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Ito
  • Patent number: 8858277
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a propulsion system of a waterborne vessel, comprising adjusting recovery of energy generated from the propulsion system to maintain position of the waterborne vessel in response to at least an indication of vessel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wolfgang Daum, Kyle Stott, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Rekha Prasad, Tab Mong, John Manison
  • Patent number: 8858281
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine to power a propeller, and a transmission being selectively changeable in gear position to establish speeds including a first speed and a second speed and transmitting power of the engine to the propeller with a gear ratio determined by established speed, it is determined whether acceleration is instructed to the engine when the second speed is established and whether a preset condition is met, and operation of the transmission is controlled to change the gear position from the second speed to the first speed when the acceleration is determined to be instructed and the preset condition is met, thereby improving the acceleration performance of immediately after the acceleration is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa, Hajime Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8851946
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine and transmission, it is configured to determine whether acceleration is instructed to the engine by an operator when the gear position is the second speed, detect a slip ratio of a propeller based on theoretical velocity and actual velocity of a boat, control a throttle opening to suppress increase in the slip ratio when the acceleration is determined to be instructed, and change the gear position from the second speed to the first speed when the slip ratio is equal to or less than a first predetermined value and the change amount of the slip ratio is equal to or less than a prescribed value. With this, it becomes possible to appropriately control operation of the engine and the transmission during acceleration, thereby improving the acceleration performance of immediately after acceleration start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa, Hajime Yoshimura, Nobuchika Katagiri
  • Publication number: 20140295717
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on a hull of a boat and equipped with an internal combustion engine to power a propeller and a trim angle regulating mechanism adapted to regulate a trim angle relative to the hull, comprising: a throttle opening change amount calculator that calculates a throttle opening change amount of the engine; an accelerating state determiner that determines whether the boat is in an accelerating state based on the calculated throttle opening change amount; and a trim angle controller that controls operation of the trim angle regulating mechanism to increase the trim angle based on an operating parameter that indicates a state of the engine and the propeller when the accelerating state determiner determines that the boat is in the accelerating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji KURIYAGAWA, Hajime YOSHIMURA, Masahide SHINOKAWA
  • Patent number: 8838341
    Abstract: An electric drive steering locking apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes an electric motor, a motor driving control unit that allows the motor to perform locking actuation or unlocking actuation, a lower-level microcomputer that outputs an unlocking actuation signal and a locking actuation signal to the motor driving control unit, a first switching unit that electrically connects and disconnects a power supply route from the motor driving control unit to the motor, a checking power supply that applies a predetermined voltage to the electric motor; a switch unit that electrically connects and disconnects the checking power supply and the motor; a first diagnostic unit that outputs a voltage corresponding to an internal resistance of the electric motor; and a motor breakdown determination unit (lower-level microcomputer) that determines a breakdown of the electric motor by the voltage input from the first diagnostic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: U-Shin Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Kumano
  • Patent number: 8827758
    Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion device includes an engine, a propeller shaft, a drive shaft that is rotated by power transmitted from the engine, a dog clutch that transmits rotation of the drive shaft to the propeller shaft, and an engine load generating unit. The engine load generating unit detects relative rotation speed between the drive shaft and the propeller shaft, and generates an engine load opposite in phase to the relative rotation speed detected therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Agemura
  • Patent number: 8814613
    Abstract: An aeration control system and method for a marine vessel. The system includes a valve configured to be coupled to an aeration conduit of a marine vessel. The valve is configured to be responsive to a valve control signal having a first value so as to be open and to provide air to the aeration conduit, and the valve configured to be responsive to the valve control signal having a second value so as to be closed and not provide air to the aeration conduit. The aeration control system also includes a control device, electrically coupled to the valve, that provides the valve control signal to the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: Robert A. Morvillo