Method for decelerating a watercraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017152012-A1
Application number	US-201615268045-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 16, 2016
Priority date	Nov 30, 2015
Publication date	Jun 1, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for decelerating a watercraft is disclosed. The watercraft has a reverse gate and a reverse gate actuator operatively connected to the reverse gate for moving the reverse gate between at least a stowed position and a deceleration position. The method includes: receiving, in a control unit, a deceleration signal from a deceleration device position sensor, the deceleration signal being indicative of an actuated position of a deceleration device; controlling, by the control unit, an operation of the reverse gate actuator based at least in part on the actuated position of the deceleration device; and moving the reverse gate from the stowed position to the deceleration position with the reverse gate actuator, the reverse gate actuator being controlled such that a speed of rotation of the reverse gate depends at least in part on the actuated position of the deceleration device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for decelerating a watercraft, the watercraft having a hull, a deck disposed on the hull, a seat disposed on the deck, a motor connected to at least one of the hull and the deck, a jet propulsion system operatively connected to the motor, a reverse gate connected to at least one of the hull and the jet propulsion system, the reverse gate being movable between at least a stowed position and a deceleration position, and a reverse gate actuator operatively connected to the reverse gate for moving the reverse gate between at least the stowed position and the deceleration position, the method comprising:
receiving, in a control unit, a deceleration signal from a deceleration device position sensor, the deceleration signal being indicative of an actuated position of a deceleration device; controlling, by the control unit, an operation of the reverse gate actuator based at least in part on the actuated position of the deceleration device; and moving the reverse gate from the stowed position to the deceleration position with the reverse gate actuator, the reverse gate actuator being controlled such that a speed of rotation of the reverse gate depends at least in part on the actuated position of the deceleration device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
controlling the operation of the reverse gate actuator includes:
controlling the reverse gate actuator to operate according to a first operation mode as the reverse gate moves from the stowed position to an intermediate position of the reverse gate, the intermediate position being intermediate the stowed and deceleration positions; and
controlling the reverse gate actuator to operate according to a second operation mode as the reverse gate moves from the intermediate position to the deceleration position; and
the speed of rotation of the reverse gate depends at least in part on the one of the first and second operation modes according to which the reverse gate actuator is being controlled.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the reverse gate actuator moves the reverse gate faster in the first operation mode than in the second operation mode.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the first operation mode is independent of the actuated position of the deceleration device; and the second operation mode is dependent on the actuated position of the deceleration device.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein, in the second operation mode, the reverse gate actuator moves the reverse gate slower as the actuated position of the deceleration device is smaller.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein moving the reverse gate toward the deceleration position with the reverse gate actuator includes:
moving the reverse gate from the stowed position to the intermediate position with the reverse gate actuator operating according to the first operation mode; stopping the reverse gate at the intermediate position for a time delay; and once the time delay has expired, moving the reverse gate from the intermediate position to the deceleration position with the reverse gate actuator operating according to the second operation mode.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the time delay is constant.

8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the intermediate position is a neutral position of the reverse gate.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
when the actuated position of the reverse gate actuator is less than a predetermined position, controlling the operation of the reverse gate actuator includes:
controlling the reverse gate actuator to operate according to a first operation mode as the reverse gate moves from the stowed position to an intermediate position of the reverse gate, the intermediate position being intermediate the stowed and decelerations positions; and
controlling the reverse gate actuator to operate according to a second operation mode as the reverse gate moves from the intermediate position to the deceleration position;
when the actuated position of the reverse gate actuator is greater than the predetermined position, controlling the operation of the reverse gate actuator includes:
controlling the reverse gate actuator to operate according to a third operation mode as the reverse gate moves from the stowed position to the deceleration position; and
the speed of rotation of the reverse gate depends at least in part on the one of the first, second and third operation modes according to which the reverse gate actuator is being controlled.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the reverse gate actuator moves the reverse gate faster in the first and third operation modes than in the second operation mode.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the first and third operation modes are independent of the actuated position of the deceleration device; and the second operation mode is dependent on the actuated position of the deceleration device.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
when the actuated position of the reverse gate actuator is less than the predetermined position, moving the reverse gate toward the deceleration position with the reverse gate actuator includes:
moving the reverse gate from the stowed position to the intermediate position with the reverse gate actuator operating according to the first operation mode;
stopping the reverse gate at the intermediate position for a time delay; and
once the time delay has expired, moving the reverse gate from the intermediate position to the deceleration position with the reverse gate actuator operating according to the second operation mode; and
when the actuated position of the reverse gate actuator is greater than the predetermined position, moving the reverse gate toward the deceleration position with the reverse gate actuator includes:
moving the reverse gate uninterruptedly from the stowed position to the deceleration position with the reverse gate actuator operating according to the third operation mode.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
reducing a thrust request upon receiving the deceleration signal prior to moving the reverse gate toward the deceleration position; reducing a speed of the motor in response to the reduction of the thrust request; continuing to reduce the speed of the motor as the reverse gate moves toward an intermediate position of the reverse gate, the intermediate position being intermediate the stowed and decelerations positions; increasing the thrust request at the intermediate position of the reverse gate; and increasing the speed of the motor in response to increasing the thrust request.

14 . A watercraft comprising:
a hull; a deck disposed on the hull; a seat disposed on the deck; a motor connected to one of the hull and the deck; a jet propulsion system operatively connected to the motor; an electronic control unit (ECU) communicating with the motor for controlling an operation of the motor; a reverse gate operatively connected to at least one of the hull and the jet propulsion system, the reverse gate being movable between at least a stowed position and a deceleration position; a reverse gate actuator operatively connected to the reverse gate for moving the reverse gate between at least the stowed position and the deceleration position, and being in communication with the ECU; a deceleration device position sensor in communication with the ECU; and a deceleration device connected to the deceleration device position sensor, the deceleration device position sensor sensing a position of the deceleration device, the ECU being configured to, upon receiving a deceleration signal indicative of an actuat

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Vachon Frederic

Classifications

• B63B34/10

  Power-driven personal watercraft, e.g. water scooters (water jet propulsion B63H11/00; jet steering B63H25/46); Accessories therefor · CPC title

• B63H11/11 Primary

  with bucket or clamshell-type reversing means · CPC title

• B63B35/731

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic