Marine propulsion – Engine – motor – or transmission control means – For transmission
Patent
1994-01-14
1995-12-12
Avila, Stephen
Marine propulsion
Engine, motor, or transmission control means
For transmission
440 87, B60K 4100
Patent
active
054744806
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention in general concerns a control system for operating a drive assembly of a ship. The drive assembly has at least an engine which drives a propeller shaft via a transmission having at least one adjustable clutch for forward and reverse motion. Control and sensor means are provided to make changing the engine speed or the degree of slip of the clutch possible. A control station with control means through which the pilot can influence the direction of motion and the speed of the ship, by actuating at least one control lever, are also provided. The control system further has control electronics for processing input and output signals in order to maintain the desired operating conditions of the drive assembly.
In a control system known already for operating a drive assembly, a mode selector device is provided in which a specific mode of operation can be preselected. Depending on the preselected mode of operation, a specific function is assigned to the control lever of the control station. If a travel (cruise) mode is selected, the clutch for forward motion is engaged. The engine speed is changed with the control lever in order to adjust a specific travel speed. If a slow (trolling) mode is preselected with the mode selector device, the function assigned to the control lever changes, As long as said mode is selected, the engine is operated at a specific, uniform speed. The speed of motion is changed with the control lever so as to select a higher or lower degree of slip of the clutch of the transmission.
The speed of the propeller shaft is thus changed by the degree of slip of the clutch. The known control system has control electronics to which an input and output unit, an indicator unit and control and sensor means are attached. In the control system already known, it is possible to effect changes of direction in the trolling or cruise mode by a corresponding movement of the direction/speed lever. The changes of direction are carried out in an automatically timed sequence by the control unit. When changing from a cruise to a trolling mode, the engine reduces the speed to a speed preselected by a torsion adjuster. When changing from the trolling to the cruise mode, the engine speed changes in direction toward an idling speed, fully engages the clutch and then the engine speed increases to the control lever position (DE-A 39 07 841, column 12, lines 16-33).
In the control system explained above, although the pilot is relieved of manual operation by an automatically timed sequence, the proposed procedure has practically no effect on the time characteristics of the ship both when changing from the trolling to the cruise mode and vice versa.
This invention is, therefore, based on the problem of influencing the reaction of the ship, when changing direction, by enabling the pilot to use at least one reversing aid which can change the time characteristics of the ship in a specific manner. Here the reaction periods, above all during starting or turning manoeuvres, should be improved specially with low propeller shaft speeds.
The problem on which the invention is based is solved by the fact that during an operation (trolling) mode of the drive assembly, the clutch is fully engaged after engaging a direction of motion and the acceleration phase is terminated by transmitting a control signal to the control electronics which, upon receipt of the signal, converts the clutch to the adjusted slip operation. This solution is a manual reversing aid which the pilot selects by actuating a selector key on the control station. When attempting starting or turning manoeuvres during the trolling mode, the clutch is fully engaged in the acceleration phase immediately after engaging the direction of motion. The ship is thereby accelerated with a thrust corresponding to the prevailing speed. The pilot can terminate the acceleration phase when there is sufficient reaction of the ship. In a preferred embodiment, termination of the acceleration phase is tied to an adjustment movement of the selector switch (control lever). When
REFERENCES:
patent: 2925156 (1960-02-01), Grant et al.
patent: 4099476 (1978-07-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 5031561 (1991-07-01), Nilsson
Auer Raimund
Braig Manfred
Brinck Peter
Gobel Christoph
Maurer Gerhard
Avila Stephen
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
LandOfFree
Control system for operating the drive assembly of a ship does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Control system for operating the drive assembly of a ship, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Control system for operating the drive assembly of a ship will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1356513