Methods and systems for controlling trim position of a marine drive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11827325-B1
Application number	US-202217585269-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 26, 2022
Priority date	Sep 15, 2020
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A method of automatically controlling trim position of a marine drive with a control system on a marine vessel includes receiving a user-selected command associated with wake surfing and then controlling a trim actuator to automatically position the marine drive in a tucked position, tucked position is between a vertical trim position and a minimum running trim position. Once a vessel condition of the marine vessel reaches a first threshold vessel condition the trim actuator is controlled to trim up the marine drive to a predetermined target trim position to generate wave behind the marine vessel. The first threshold vessel condition is at least one of a threshold vessel speed, a threshold engine speed, a threshold engine load, and a threshold vessel pitch.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of automatically controlling trim position of a marine drive on a marine vessel, the method comprising:
receiving a user-selected command to enter a launch control mode;
controlling a trim actuator to automatically position the marine drive in a tucked position, wherein the tucked position is between a vertical trim position and a minimum running trim position;
detecting that a vessel condition of the marine vessel has reached a first threshold vessel condition; and
after the marine vessel reaches the first threshold vessel condition, automatically controlling the trim actuator to trim up the marine drive to a predetermined target trim position to generate a wave behind the marine vessel, wherein the predetermined target trim position is between the vertical trim position and a maximum running trim position.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold vessel condition is at least one of a threshold vessel speed, a threshold rotational speed, a threshold load, and a threshold vessel pitch.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first threshold vessel condition includes the threshold rotational speed being a speed of a drive shaft causing rotation of a propeller of the marine drive.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first threshold vessel condition includes the threshold rotational speed being an engine RPM or a motor RPM of the marine drive.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first threshold vessel condition includes the threshold load being an engine load or a motor load of the marine drive.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold vessel condition includes a threshold vessel speed between 8 and 15 mph.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold vessel condition includes a threshold vessel pitch.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user-selected command to enter the launch control mode is includes a target speed setpoint, wherein target speed setpoint is one of a vessel speed or a rotational speed and wherein the first threshold vessel condition is less than or equal to the target speed setpoint.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user-selected command further includes selection to engage automatic propulsion control.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling the trim actuator to begin trimming up the marine drive to the predetermined target trim position upon expiration of a predetermined time after the marine vessel has reached the first threshold vessel condition.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting that the vessel condition of the marine vessel has reached a second threshold vessel condition and then controlling the trim actuator to trim down the marine drive to the minimum running trim position, wherein the first threshold vessel condition and the second threshold vessel condition are both one of a threshold vessel speed or a threshold rotational speed, and wherein the second threshold vessel condition is less than or equal to the first threshold vessel condition.

12. A system for automatically controlling trim position of a marine drive on a marine vessel, the system comprising:
a trim actuator configured to rotate the marine drive about a trim axis to position the marine drive at trim positions between a minimum running trim position and a maximum running trim position;
a control system configured to:
receive a user-selected command to enter a launch control mode;
control the trim actuator to position the marine drive in a tucked position, wherein the tucked position is between a vertical trim position and the minimum running trim position;
detect that a vessel condition has reached a first threshold vessel condition; and
after the marine vessel reaches the first threshold vessel condition, control the trim actuator to trim up the marine drive to a predetermined target trim position to generate a wave behind the marine vessel, wherein the predetermined target trim position is between the vertical trim position and a maximum running trim position.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first threshold vessel condition is at least one of a threshold vessel speed, a threshold rotational speed, a threshold load, and a threshold vessel pitch.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control system receives a rotational speed of a drive shaft of the marine drive from a speed sensor, and wherein the first threshold vessel condition includes the threshold rotational speed being a threshold speed of the drive shaft.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first threshold vessel condition includes the threshold rotational speed being an engine RPM or a motor RPM of the marine drive.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first threshold vessel condition includes the threshold load being an engine load or a motor load of the marine drive.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first threshold vessel condition includes a threshold vessel speed between 8 and 15 mph.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the user-selected command to enter the launch control mode is includes a target speed setpoint, wherein target speed setpoint is one of a vessel speed or a rotational speed and wherein the first threshold vessel condition is less than or equal to the target speed setpoint.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controls system is further configured to control the trim actuator to begin trimming up the marine drive to the predetermined target trim position upon expiration of a predetermined time after the marine vessel has reached the first threshold vessel condition.

Assignees

• Brunswick Corp

Inventors

• Przybyl Andrew J
• Karnick Kyle F
• Graf Mark A
• Reifsnyder Jeffrey D

Classifications

• B63H20/10 Primary

  Means enabling trim or tilt, or lifting of the propulsion element when an obstruction is hit; Control of trim or tilt · CPC title

• B63B39/061

  by using trimflaps, i.e. flaps mounted on the rear of a boat, e.g. speed boat · CPC title

• B63H2020/003

  Arrangements of two, or more outboard propulsion units · CPC title

• F02B61/045

  for marine engines · CPC title