Marine propulsion – Engine – motor – or transmission control means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-09-25
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Engine, motor, or transmission control means
C440S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293838
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to a marine propulsion system having an engine and a multi-speed transmission coupled to one another to provide mechanical power to, for example, one or more propellers that upon rotation propel a boat in a desired direction and, more particularly, to a propulsion system and method that uses an electronic controller for controlling operation of the engine and/or transmission without use of mechanical linkages.
As described in more detail in the context of
FIG. 1
, a known marine propulsion system has an automatic multi-speed transmission that is controlled by an electronic controller. Unfortunately, such known marine propulsion system suffers from various deficiencies. For example, such system has its electronic controller specifically designed for monitoring two engine parameters, and in particular uses engine revolution speed and engine load to generate a control signal in response to those two engine parameters. The control signal generated by the controller is, in turn, used to control shifting of the transmission. This known controller requires use of a signal supplied by engine sensors indicative of engine load. More specifically, the engine load is monitored by using an engine sensor either designed to sense engine manifold air pressure or to sense engine throttle valve position. Further, such controller appears to require use of cumbersome mechanical linkages between an operator control handle and the engine and/or transmission.
In view of the foregoing drawbacks, it is desirable to provide a marine propulsion system that advantageously eliminates cumbersome mechanical linkages, such as push-pull cables or rods, from the operator control handle to the engine and/or transmission for setting desired engine and/or transmission operational parameters by use of technology generally referred to as “fly-by-wire” technology, which up to now is believed to have been generally limited to aerospace or military applications. For example, any desired transmission setting, such as forward, neutral and reverse, that the operator selects can now be electromagnetically transmitted, in lieu of being mechanically transmitted via push-pull cables, from the operator control handle to a suitable electromechanical actuator in the transmission. It is further desirable for the propulsion system to have a controller that allows for generating respective shift commands for shifting the transmission from first to second gear or vice versa without having to depend on engine sensors indicative of an engine load signal.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, the foregoing needs are fulfilled by providing a marine propulsion system in a boat having an engine, and wherein the system is made up of a control for setting a desired engine speed signal; a signal link that is coupled to the control to electromagnetically transmit the desired engine speed signal set at the control; and an electronic controller that is coupled to the engine to receive a signal indicative of actual engine speed. The controller is further coupled to receive by way of the signal link the desired engine speed signal to generate, based on the received actual engine speed signal and the desired engine speed signal, an engine control signal for controlling engine speed.
The foregoing needs are further fulfilled by providing a method for controlling a marine engine. The method allows for setting a desired engine speed and for electromagnetically transmitting the desired engine speed signal from the control to a controller by way of a signal link. The method further allows for supplying to the controller a signal indicative of actual engine speed and the desired engine speed signal to generate, based on the respective signal values of the actual engine speed and the desired engine speed, an engine control signal for controlling engine speed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4739236 (1988-04-01), Burkenpas
patent: 4810216 (1989-03-01), Kawamura
patent: 4836809 (1989-06-01), Pelligrino
patent: 5142473 (1992-08-01), Davis
patent: 5711742 (1998-01-01), Leinonen et al.
patent: 5826557 (1998-10-01), Motoyama et al.
Bombardier Motor Corporation of America
Cook & Franke SC
Morano S. Joseph
Wright Andrew
Ziolkowski Timothy J.
LandOfFree
Marine propulsion system and method for controlling engine... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Marine propulsion system and method for controlling engine..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Marine propulsion system and method for controlling engine... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2436564