System for controlling a marine vessel using a single command operator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020108902-A1
Application number	US-201916590369-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 1, 2019
Priority date	Oct 1, 2018
Publication date	Apr 9, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for controlling a marine vessel comprises an input device for inputting an operator command, a sensor which senses and signals an engine function variable or a vessel dynamic variable, and a first structural element and a second structural element. The first structural element and the second structural element each control speed or direction of motion of the marine vessel, and the first structural element and the second structural element each affect the marine vessel dynamic variable. There is a controller which receives the operator command and the engine function variable or the vessel dynamic variable. The controller moves the first structural element and the second structural element based on the engine function variable or the vessel dynamic variable, after receiving the single operator command.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for controlling a marine vessel, the system comprising:
an input device for inputting a single operator command; a sensor which senses and signals an engine function variable or a marine vessel dynamic variable; a first structural element and a second structural element, the first structural element and the second structural element each control speed or direction of motion of the marine vessel, and the first structural element and the second structural element each affect a marine vessel affected dynamic variable; and a controller, the controller receiving the single operator command and the controller receiving the engine function variable or the marine vessel dynamic variable, wherein the controller actuates the first structural element and the second structural element after receiving the single operator command.

2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the engine function variable is selected from the group engine function variables including an RPM command, an actual RPM, a throttle command, and fuel consumption.

3 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the marine vessel dynamic variable is selected from the group of marine vessel dynamic variables including pitch angle, roll angle, heading, rate of change of heading, speed, and vertical movement.

4 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the marine vessel affected dynamic variable is selected from the group of vessel dynamic variables including pitch angle, roll angle, heading, rate of change of heading, marine vessel speed, and marine vessel vertical movement.

5 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the structural elements are selected from the structural elements including an anchor, a jack plate, an engine trim actuator, a steering actuator, a trim tab, and a wake gate.

6 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the sensor senses and signals engine RPM to the controller;
the first structural element includes a jack plate mounted on a transom of the marine vessel, the jack plate including an actuator for raising and lowering a propulsion unit relative to the transom of the marine vessel;
the second structural element includes a shallow water anchor mounted to the marine vessel, the shallow water anchor including an actuator for moving the shallow water anchor between a deployed configuration and a retracted configuration; and
the controller controls the actuator for raising and lowering the propulsion unit and controls the actuator for moving the shallow water anchor between a deployed configuration and a retracted configuration, and raising the propulsion unit and movement of shallow water anchor from the deployed configuration to the retracted configuration occur when the operator command is received by the controller if engine RPM is below a threshold.

7 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the sensor senses and signals marine vessel speed to the controller;
the first structural element includes a port trim tab and a starboard trim tab each mounted on a transom of the marine vessel, the port trim tab including an actuator for deploying and retracting the port trim tab, and the starboard trim tab including an actuator for deploying and retracting the starboard trim tab;
the second structural element includes an actuator for steering the marine vessel; and
the controller controls the actuator for deploying and retracting the port trim tab, and controls the actuator for deploying and retracting the starboard trim tab, to deploy or retract the port trim tab and to deploy or retract the starboard trim tab to induce a marine vessel row angle such that a side of the marine vessel near a center of a turn is lower than the other side when the controller controls the actuator for steering the marine vessel.

8 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the sensor senses and signals marine vessel speed to the controller;
the first structural element includes a port trim tab and starboard trim tab each mounted on a transom of the marine vessel, the port trim tab including an actuator for deploying and retracting the port trim tab, and the starboard trim tab including an actuator for deploying and retracting the starboard trim tab;
the second structural element includes a an actuator for steering the marine vessel; and
the controller controls the actuator for deploying and retracting the port trim tab, and controls the actuator for deploying and retracting the starboard trim tab, to deploy or retract the port trim tab and deploy or retract the starboard trim tab to correct a marine vessel row angle when the controller controls the actuator for steering the marine vessel to compensate for a drag from the port trim tab, the starboard trim tab, or both the port trim tab and the starboard trim tab.

9 . The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein a heading sensor provides feedback to the controller in a closed loop system.

10 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the sensor senses and signals marine vessel speed to the controller;
the first structural element includes a port wake gate and starboard wake gate each mounted on the marine vessel, the port wake gate including an actuator for deploying and retracting the port wake gate, and the starboard wake gate including an actuator for deploying and retracting the starboard wake gate;
the second structural element includes a an actuator for steering the marine vessel; and
the controller controls the actuator for deploying and retracting the port wake gate, and controls the actuator for deploying and retracting the starboard wake gate, to deploy or retract the port wake gate and to deploy or retract the starboard wake gate to shape a side wake when the controller controls the actuator to compensate for a rudder effect from the port wake gate, the starboard wake gate, or both the port wake gate and the starboard wake gate.

11 . The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein a heading sensor provides feedback to the controller in a closed loop system.

12 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the sensor senses and signals a control head position to the controller;
the first structural element includes a port trim tab and starboard trim tab each mounted on a transom of the marine vessel, the port trim tab including an actuator for deploying and retracting the port trim tab, and the starboard trim tab including an actuator for deploying and retracting the starboard trim tab;
the second structural element includes a propulsion unit, the propulsion unit including an engine; and
the controller controls the actuator for deploying and retracting the port trim tab, and controls the actuator for deploying and retracting the starboard trim tab, to deploy the port trim tab and deploy the starboard trim tab when the controller accelerates the engine, and then controls the actuator for deploying and retracting the port trim tab, and controls the actuator for deploying and retracting the starboard trim tab, to retract the port trim tab and retract the starboard trim tab after a predetermined period of time.

13 . A system for steering a marine vessel, the system comprising:
a joystick for inputting an operator command to steer the marine vessel; an actuator for steering the marine vessel; a port trim tab and a starboard trim tab each mounted on a transom of the marine vessel, the port trim tab including an actuator for deploying and retracting the port trim tab, and the starboard trim tab including an actuator for deploying and retracting the starboard trim tab; and the controller receiving the operator command, wherein the controller controls the actuator

Assignees

• Marine Canada Acquisition Inc

Inventors

• Wong Ray
• Baros Davor
• Higgs Dave
• Chan Anson Chin Pang

Classifications

• B63H20/06

  on an intermediate support · CPC title

• B63H20/106

  Means enabling lifting of the propulsion element in a substantially vertical, linearly sliding movement · CPC title

• B63H21/213

  Levers or the like for controlling the engine or the transmission, e.g. single hand control levers · CPC title

• B63H2021/216

  using electric control means · CPC title

• B63B39/061

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