# US 10,118,682 B2 · Method and system for controlling trim position of a propulsion device on a marine vessel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,682 B2 - Document ID: US10118682B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/243,203 - Filed: 2016-08-22 - Published: 2018-02-22 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-22 - Assignees: Brunswick Corporation - Applicants: Brunswick Corporation - Inventors: Steven M. Anschuetz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118682B2 ## CPC - B63H 20/10: Means enabling trim or tilt, or lifting of the propulsion element when an obstruction is hit; Control of trim or tilt - B63H 2020/003: {Arrangements of two, or more outboard propulsion units} - B63H 2021/216: {using electric control means} - Y02T 70/50: Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to the propulsion system - B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A method of controlling trim position of a propulsion device includes receiving a current engine speed and a current trim position of the propulsion device, and then detecting at least a threshold increase in engine speed of the propulsion device or at least a threshold drop in engine load on the propulsion device. A reduced trim position is then determined based on the current trim position, and a trim actuator is operated to move the propulsion device to the reduced trim position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling trim position of a propulsion device on a marine vessel, the method comprising: receiving a current trim position of the propulsion device; detecting at least one of a threshold increase in engine speed of the propulsion device and a threshold drop in engine load on the propulsion device indicating reduced resistance on a propeller of the propulsion device; upon detecting the threshold increase in engine speed or the threshold drop in engine load, determining a reduced trim position based on the current trim position; and operating a trim actuator to move the propulsion device to the reduced trim position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the increase in engine speed or the drop in engine load is sustained for at least a predetermined time period before operating the trim actuator to move the propulsion device to the reduced trim position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a vessel speed, and determining the reduced trim position based on the vessel speed and the current trim position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a current engine speed, and wherein detecting the threshold increase in engine speed includes determining whether the current engine speed differs from a previous engine speed by more than a predetermined engine speed amount. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising determining the reduced trim position based on the previous engine speed and the current trim position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a current engine speed, and wherein detecting the threshold increase in engine speed includes determining whether the current engine speed differs from a filtered engine speed value by more than a predetermined engine speed amount. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising determining the reduced trim position based on the filtered engine speed value and the current trim position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a current throttle position, wherein detecting the threshold drop in engine load includes determining whether the current throttle position differs from a previous throttle position by more than a predetermined throttle position amount. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a current manifold pressure, wherein detecting the threshold drop in engine load includes determining whether the current manifold pressure differs from a previous manifold pressure by more than a predetermined manifold pressure amount. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a current mass flow rate, wherein detecting the threshold drop in engine load includes determining whether the current mass flow rate differs from a previous flow rate by more than a predetermined mass flow rate amount. ### Claim 11 A system for controlling trim position of a propulsion device on a marine vessel, the system comprising: a trim actuator configured to adjust a trim position of the propulsion device; a controller configured to: receive a current trim position of the trim actuator; detect at least one of a threshold increase in engine speed of the propulsion device and a threshold drop in engine load on the propulsion device indicating reduced resistance on a propeller of the propulsion device; upon detecting the threshold increase in engine speed or the threshold drop in engine load, determine a reduced trim position based on the current trim position; and operate the trim actuator to move the propulsion device to the reduced trim position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the increase in engine speed or the drop in engine load is sustained for at least a predetermined time period before operating the trim actuator to move the propulsion device to the reduced trim position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a vessel speed and determine the reduced trim position based on the vessel speed and the current trim position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a current engine speed and detect the threshold increase in engine speed by determining whether the current engine speed differs from a previous engine speed by more than a predetermined engine speed amount. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the reduced trim position based on the previous engine speed and the current trim position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a current engine speed and detect the threshold increase in engine speed by determining whether the current engine speed differs from a filtered engine speed value by more than a predetermined engine speed amount. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the reduced trim position based on the filtered engine speed value and the current trim position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a current throttle position, and to detect the threshold drop in engine load by determining whether the current throttle position differs from a previous throttle position by more than a predetermined throttle position amount. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a current manifold pressure, and to detect the threshold drop in engine load by determining whether the current manifold pressure differs from a previous manifold pressure by more than a predetermined manifold pressure amount. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a current mass flow rate, and to detect the threshold drop in engine load by determining whether the current mass flow rate differs from a previous flow rate by more than a predetermined mass flow rate amount.