Single control lever for combined control of the throttle of one or more engines and of a reversing gear mechanism

A single lever control for combined throttle control of one or more engines and of a reversing gear mechanism comprising:

• a lever integrally mounted to a support shaft oscillating about a longitudinal axis and defining two end positions of a predetermined oscillation range of the lever, a first end position being a positive end position corresponding to a forward gear at maximum rpm of the one or more engines, a second end position being a negative end position corresponding to the reverse gear the maximum rpm of the one or more engines, the support shaft further defining an intermediate position corresponding to a neutral state at minimum rpm of the one or more engines;
• a mechanical reversing actuator having a drive mechanism;
• mechanical means for remote control of engine throttle control members;
• kinematic chains converting an angular motion of the lever and of the support shaft either into an angular motion driving the mechanical reversing actuator, or into an angular motion driving a control shafts of the one or more mechanical means, such that the control members receive a signal uniquely related to the angular motion of the lever;
• and
• means for alternately coupling and uncoupling the motion of the lever to the reversing gear driving mechanism or to mechanical means as a function of the angular position of the lever,
• wherein, during a first angular travel from the intermediate position through a first oscillation range smaller than a maximum oscillation range between the positive and the negative end positions, the coupling and uncoupling means hold the lever operatively coupled to the reversing gear driving mechanism and operatively uncoupled from the mechanical means, and
• wherein, during further displacement toward the positive or the negative end position beyond the first angular travel, the coupling and uncoupling means switch state and operatively uncouple the lever from the reversing gear driving mechanism and operatively couple the lever to the mechanical means.

A two-lever control comprising:

• a reversing control lever that oscillates and controls a reversing gear for switching an engine among forward gear, neutral, and backward gear states;
• and
• an engine throttle control lever,
• wherein means are provided for alternately coupling and uncoupling a motion of the reversing control lever and the engine throttle control lever to and from a reversing gear mechanism and electromechanical transducers according to an angular position of the reversing control lever and the second throttle control lever.

A three-lever control comprising:

• a reversing control lever that oscillates and controls a reversing gear for switching one or more engines among forward gear, neutral, and backward gear states;
• a second engine throttle control lever;
• a third engine throttle control lever;
• and
• means for alternately coupling and uncoupling a motion of the reversing control lever and each of the second and third engine throttle control levers to and from a reversing gear mechanism and electromechanical transducers according to an angular position of the reversing control lever and one or both of the second or third throttle control levers.