Systems and methods for controlling shift in marine propulsion devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9493220-B2
Application number	US-201414587113-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2014
Priority date	May 2, 2012
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shift control system for a marine propulsion device, the system comprising:
a control lever;
a shift linkage operably connected with the control lever so as to cause a shift change in the marine propulsion device upon movement of the control lever;
a shift sensor outputting a position signal representing a current position of the shift linkage; and
a control circuit that 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;
wherein the control circuit is programmed to enact a shift interrupt control strategy that facilitates the shift change when the position signal reaches the first threshold; and
wherein the control circuit is programmed to actively modify the first threshold as a change in operation of the marine propulsion device occurs.

2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a throttle valve position sensor sensing a position of a throttle valve on a marine engine associated with the marine propulsion device, wherein the change in operation of the marine propulsion device is a change in position of the throttle valve, sensed by the throttle valve position sensor.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is programmed to modify the first threshold based on a value of a position signal generated by the shift sensor until the throttle valve position sensor senses a certain amount of change in position of the throttle valve.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the shift sensor comprises a potentiometer and an electronic converter that outputs digital counts, and wherein the shift sensor outputs a digital count corresponding to a current position of the shift linkage.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein when the position signal reaches the modified first threshold, the control circuit is programmed to enact the shift interrupt control strategy.

6. The system according to claim 5 , further wherein the control circuit is programmed to thereafter stop enacting the shift interrupt control strategy when the shift sensor provides a position signal that is different than the first threshold by a certain amount.

7. The system according to claim 5 , further wherein the control circuit is programmed to thereafter stop enacting the shift interrupt control strategy when the position signal reaches the second threshold.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the shift change is from a forward gear to a neutral gear.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the shift interrupt control strategy comprises modifying a timing of an ignition event in a marine engine associated with the marine propulsion device.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the shift interrupt control strategy comprises modifying a timing of spark in the marine engine without causing misfire.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the shift interrupt control strategy comprises cutting fuel to certain cylinders in a marine engine associated with the marine propulsion device.

12. A system for controlling shift in a marine propulsion device having an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
a throttle valve position sensor that senses a change in position of a throttle valve of the internal combustion engine;
a shift sensor that senses a position of a shift linkage when the change in position of the throttle valve is sensed;
a control circuit that receives the position of the shift linkage from the shift sensor; and
wherein the control circuit is configured to modifying, based upon the position of the shift linkage when the change in position of the throttle valve is sensed, a position threshold upon which the control circuit is configured to initiate a change in engine speed to facilitate a shift event.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the control circuit is configured to continue to modify the position threshold upon which the control circuit is configured to initiate the change in engine speed to facilitate the shift event until the position of the throttle valve changes by a certain amount.

14. A system for controlling shift in a marine propulsion device having an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
a first sensor that senses a change in operation of the internal combustion engine;
a second sensor that senses a current position of a shift linkage in the marine propulsion device when the change in operation of the internal combustion engine occurs;
a control circuit that receives a position signal from the second sensor representing the current position of the shift linkage; and
wherein the control circuit is configured to
i) identify an impending shift change when the position signal reaches a first position threshold and a shift change when the position signal reaches a second position threshold;
ii) enact a shift interrupt control strategy that facilitates the actual shift change when the position signal reaches the first position threshold; and
iii) actively modify the first position threshold when the change in operation of the internal combustion engine occurs.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a throttle valve, and wherein the first sensor comprises a throttle valve position sensor, and wherein the change in operation of the internal combustion engine is a change in position of the throttle valve that is sensed by the throttle valve position sensor.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the second sensor comprises a shift sensor that senses the current position of a shift linkage and wherein the control circuit is configured to actively modify the first threshold based on a value of a position signal generated by the shift sensor until the throttle valve position sensor senses a certain amount of change in position of the throttle valve.

17. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to enact the shift control strategy once the position signal reaches the first position threshold.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to stop enacting the shift interrupt control strategy when the position signal reverts back away from the first position threshold by a certain amount.

19. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to stop enacting the shift interrupt control strategy when the position signal reaches the second position threshold.

20. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to modify a timing of spark in the internal combustion engine as part of the shift interrupt control strategy.

Assignees

• Brunswick Corp

Inventors

• Kirchhoff Thomas S
• Camp David G

Classifications

• F02D31/002

  controlling air supply · CPC title

• F02D11/02

  characterised by hand, foot, or like operator controlled initiation means · CPC title

• F02B61/045

  for marine engines · CPC title

• Y10T477/675

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B63H21/22

  the propulsion power units being controlled from exterior of engine room, e.g. from navigation bridge; Arrangements of order telegraphs · CPC title