Marine propulsion control

Details Marine propulsion control Marine propulsion control

1998-02-26

2001-01-16

Estremsky, Sherry (Department: 3681)

Interrelated power delivery controls, including engine control

Transmission control

Engine ignition control for transmission change

C477S111000, C477S112000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06174264

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a control for a marine propulsion unit. More particularly, the present invention is a control which changes one or more operating conditions of an engine of the marine propulsion unit dependent upon a condition of a transmission of the unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Watercraft are often powered by inboard or outboard motors which have internal combustion engines as their power source. The motor includes a water propulsion device, generally a propeller, which is driven by the engine. Conventionally, a transmission is provided between the engine and propeller for selectively driving the propeller in forward or reverse, or for not driving the propeller (i.e. neutral).
A throttle associated with the engine and a transmission control are commonly combined, there being a combined throttle and shift lever which controls both the angle of a throttle valve associated with an air intake of the engine and transmission position. This arrangement has the disadvantage that engine stall sometimes occurs.
In particular, when the shift lever is moved so that the throttle moves from an open to generally closed state, little air is provided to the engine in relation to fuel. If the shift lever is further moved to shift the transmission, a load may be induced upon the propeller, and thus the engine. This load, coupled with the fuel rich mixture, may cause the engine to stall. This situation may arise, for example, when an operator has the shift lever positioned in a high speed forward position and then moves the lever quickly back through neutral and then into a reverse position.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a control for a marine propulsion unit which controls the engine thereof dependent upon movement of a combined throttle and shift lever, thereby resulting in smooth engine operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a control for a marine propulsion unit. Preferably, the marine propulsion unit is an outboard motor including a water propulsion device powered by an engine through a transmission. The transmission has forward, neutral and reverse positions.
The engine has at least one combustion chamber and an air and fuel supply system for supplying an air and fuel charge to the combustion chamber. At least one ignition element is provided corresponding to the combustion chamber for igniting an air and fuel mixture supplied to the combustion chamber.
The control is arranged to delay the firing of the ignition element when the engine is idling from a normal firing timing, and is arranged to advance the firing of the ignition element if the engine speed rapidly reduces and the position of said transmission is changed from neutral to reverse or forward.
Preferably, the air supply system of the engine includes an intake passage having a throttle valve movably positioned therein. The throttle valve and transmission position are controlled through a combined throttle and shift lever. In one lever position, the transmission is in neutral and the throttle valve is set to an engine idle position. In this position, the control is arranged to delay the ignition element firing timing. When the lever is moved from this position to the forward or reverse position, the control is arranged to advance the firing timing.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4718014 (1988-01-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 5373821 (1994-12-01), Nishi et al.
patent: 5403246 (1995-04-01), Umemoto
patent: 5795266 (1998-08-01), Hasegawa et al.
patent: 5833572 (1998-11-01), Leising et al.

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