US 4,872,857 A · Operation optimizing system for a marine drive unit

Abstract

A system for optimizing the operation of a marine drive of the type whose position may be varied with respect to the boat by the operation of separate lift and trim/tilt means includes an automatic control system which stores preselected drive unit positions for various operating modes and is operative to return the drive unit to any pre-established position by pressing a selected operating mode positioning button. The various operating modes may include cruising, acceleration, trolling and trailering position, any of which may be selectively modified to accomodate changes in both operating or environmental conditions. This system may incorporate other optimization routines and/or automatic engine protection systems to provide virtually complete push button operation for complex marine drive unit positioning mechanisms.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A system for optimizing the operation of an engine-driven marine drive unit for a boat comprising:

means for trimming the drive unit relative to the boat;
means for moving the drive unit vertically relative to the boat;
means for sensing the trim position of the drive unit with respect to the boat and for generating an output signal representative of the drive unit trim position;
means for sensing the vertical position of the drive unit with respect to the boat and for generating an output signal representative of the drive unit vertical position;
and
control means operative to receive and store said output signals, said control means being responsive to a selected input signal to cause the trimming means and the moving means to move the drive unit to a position based on stored output signals.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Operation optimizing system for a marine drive unit

Life of this patent

Operation optimizing system for a marine drive unit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18