Marine propulsion system, control method therefor, and marine vessel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025050996-A1
Application number	US-202418779415-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 22, 2024
Priority date	Aug 10, 2023
Publication date	Feb 13, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A marine propulsion system includes a first propulsion device that is steerable, located at a stern of a hull, and includes a rudder, a second propulsion device that is steerable and located in front of the stern of the hull, and a controller configured or programmed to control a propulsion force of the second propulsion device and a steering angle of the rudder without generating a propulsion force of the first propulsion device according to a maneuvering instruction in predetermined modes in which the propulsion force of the second propulsion device is used.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A marine propulsion system comprising:
a first propulsion device that is steerable, located at a stern of a hull, and includes a rudder; a second propulsion device that is steerable and located in front of the stern of the hull; and a controller configured or programmed to control a propulsion force of the second propulsion device and a steering angle of the rudder without generating a propulsion force of the first propulsion device according to a maneuvering instruction in predetermined modes in which the propulsion force of the second propulsion device is used.

2 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to control the steering angle of the rudder according to a steering instruction in the maneuvering instruction while maintaining the steering angle of the second propulsion device in a straight direction in a first mode among the predetermined modes.

3 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to control the steering angle of the second propulsion device and the steering angle of the rudder according to a steering instruction in the maneuvering instruction in a second mode among the predetermined modes.

4 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to control the steering angle of the second propulsion device according to a steering instruction amount indicated by a steering instruction in the maneuvering instruction in a third mode among the predetermined modes.

5 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 4 , wherein the controller, in the third mode, is configured or programmed to set the steering angle of the second propulsion device to a straight direction in a case where the steering instruction amount is less than a predetermined amount, and set the steering angle of the second propulsion device to an angle corresponding to the steering instruction amount in a case where the steering instruction amount is not less than the predetermined amount.

6 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller, in a fourth mode among the predetermined modes, is configured or programmed to control the steering angle of the rudder according to a steering instruction in the maneuvering instruction, and control the second propulsion device according to a steering instruction amount indicated by the steering instruction and a vessel speed of the marine vessel.

7 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 6 , wherein the controller, in the fourth mode, is configured or programmed to maintain the steering angle of the second propulsion device in a straight direction in a case where the vessel speed is not less than a predetermined speed and the steering instruction amount is less than a predetermined amount, and change the steering angle of the second propulsion device according to the steering instruction amount in a case where the vessel speed is not less than the predetermined speed and the steering instruction amount is not less than the predetermined amount.

8 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 6 , wherein the controller, in the fourth mode, is configured or programmed to change the steering angle of the second propulsion device according to the steering instruction amount in a case where the vessel speed is less than the predetermined speed.

9 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 8 , wherein the controller, in the fourth mode, is configured or programmed to increase the steering angle of the second propulsion device corresponding to the steering instruction amount in a case where the vessel speed is less than the predetermined speed as compared to a case where the vessel speed is not less than the predetermined speed.

10 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the maneuvering instruction is obtained based on an operation of a joystick.

11 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to control the propulsion force and the steering angle of the second propulsion device according to a tilting operation of the joystick, and control the steering angle of the rudder according to a twisting operation of the joystick.

12 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to set both the steering angle of the second propulsion device and the steering angle of the rudder in a straight direction in a case where the joystick is returned to a neutral position.

13 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to function as an obtaining unit to obtain an operation of a steering of the marine vessel; wherein
the steering includes at least a wheel that provides a turning instruction to the hull by a rotational operation, first operation instructors to generate an instruction to provide a propulsion force in a lateral direction to the hull, and second operation instructors to generate an instruction to provide a propulsion force in a front-back direction to the hull; and the obtaining unit is configured or programmed to obtain the maneuvering instruction from one operation or a combination of two or more operations of the wheel, the first operation instructors, and the second operation instructors.

14 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the second propulsion device is located at a bow of the hull.

15 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the second propulsion device includes a trolling motor.

16 . A marine vessel comprising:
a hull; and a marine propulsion system comprising:
a first propulsion device that is steerable, located at a stern of a hull, and includes a rudder;
a second propulsion device that is steerable and located in front of the stern of the hull;
a controller configured or programmed to control a propulsion force of the second propulsion device and a steering angle of the rudder without generating a propulsion force of the first propulsion device according to a maneuvering instruction in a predetermined mode in which the propulsion force of the second propulsion device is used.

17 . A control method for a marine propulsion system including a first propulsion device that is steerable, located at a stern of a hull, and includes a rudder and a second propulsion device that is steerable and located in front of the stern of the hull, the control method comprising:
controlling a propulsion force of the second propulsion device according to a maneuvering instruction in predetermined modes in which the propulsion force of the second propulsion device is used; and controlling a steering angle of the rudder without generating a propulsion force of the first propulsion device according to the maneuvering instruction in the predetermined modes.

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Moromi Shuichi
• Tagata Akihiro
• Kubota Yuta
• Naito Katsutoshi
• Inaba Koshiro
• Morishita Teppei
• Yoshida Kazumichi

Classifications

• B63H2025/026

  using multi-axis control levers, or the like, e.g. joysticks, wherein at least one degree of freedom is employed for steering, slowing down, or dynamic anchoring · CPC title

• B63H25/02

  Initiating means for steering {, for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring} · CPC title

• B63H2021/216

  using electric control means · CPC title

• B63B79/40

  for controlling the operation of vessels, e.g. monitoring their speed, routing or maintenance schedules · CPC title

• B63H20/12

  Means enabling steering · CPC title