Jet propulsion watercraft and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9760091-B2
Application number	US-201514882494-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2015
Priority date	Mar 13, 2015
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A jet propulsion watercraft includes a vessel body, an engine, a jet propulsion unit, a weight information obtaining processor, an engine controller, and a target rotational speed determining processor. The engine is accommodated in the vessel body. The jet propulsion unit is driven by the engine and propels the vessel body. The weight information obtaining processor obtains weight information regarding a weight of the vessel body. The engine controller controls an engine rotational speed such that a vessel velocity reaches a predetermined set velocity. The target rotational speed determining processor determines a target engine rotational speed corresponding to the set velocity in accordance with the weight information. The engine controller controls the engine rotational speed such that the vessel velocity reaches the set velocity based on the target engine rotational speed determined in accordance with the weight information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A jet propulsion watercraft comprising:
a vessel body;
an engine accommodated in the vessel body;
a jet propulsion unit that is driven by the engine and propels the vessel body;
a weight information obtaining processor that obtains weight information regarding a weight of the vessel body;
an engine controller that controls an engine rotational speed such that a vessel velocity reaches a predetermined set velocity;
a cruise control operator that switches a cruise control function between an activated state and a deactivated state;
an acceleration selector that selects any one of a plurality of acceleration modes having different acceleration settings, and that sets a predetermined acceleration at which the vessel velocity is accelerated to reach the predetermined set velocity based on a selected acceleration mode when the cruise control function is activated; and
a target rotational speed determining processor that determines a target engine rotational speed corresponding to the predetermined set velocity in accordance with the weight information; wherein
the engine controller controls the engine rotational speed based on the predetermined set velocity and the weight information such that the vessel velocity reaches the predetermined set velocity at the predetermined acceleration when the cruise control function is activated.

2. The jet propulsion watercraft according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a ballast tank accommodated in the vessel body; wherein
the weight information obtaining processor obtains the weight information based on a weight of the ballast tank.

3. The jet propulsion watercraft according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a pump that draws ballast water into the ballast tank; wherein
the weight information obtaining processor determines the weight of the ballast tank based on a driving time of the pump.

4. The jet propulsion watercraft according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a pump that draws ballast water into the ballast tank; and
a ballast water selector that sets an amount of the ballast water in the ballast tank; wherein
the weight information obtaining processor determines the weight of the ballast tank based on the set amount of the ballast water.

5. The jet propulsion watercraft according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a display that displays a screen to set the predetermined set velocity; wherein
the display transmits the predetermined set velocity to the engine controller.

6. The jet propulsion watercraft according to claim 5 , wherein the display is a touch operable display.

7. The jet propulsion watercraft according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a steering wheel to steer the vessel body.

8. A method of controlling a jet propulsion watercraft, the jet propulsion watercraft including a vessel body, an engine accommodated in the vessel body, and a jet propulsion unit that is driven by the engine and propels the vessel body, the method comprising the steps of:
activating a cruise control function and setting a vessel velocity to a predetermined set velocity;
setting a predetermined acceleration, from among a plurality of acceleration modes having different acceleration settings, at which the vessel velocity is accelerated to reach the predetermined set velocity;
obtaining weight information regarding a weight of the vessel body;
determining a target engine rotational speed corresponding to the predetermined set velocity in accordance with the weight information; and
controlling an engine rotational speed based on the predetermined vessel velocity and the weight information such that the vessel velocity reaches the predetermined set velocity at the predetermined acceleration.

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Okamoto Yukitaka
• Ikeya Wataru

Classifications

• B63H21/21

  Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels · CPC title

• B63H21/22

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

• B63H25/46 Primary

  Steering or dynamic anchoring by jets {or by rudders carrying jets (steering or dynamic anchoring by deflecting or directing main propulsion jets B63H11/00)} · CPC title

• B63B39/03

  by transferring liquids · CPC title

• B63H25/42

  Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements (by jets B63H25/46); Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers · CPC title