Multi-speed marine propulsion system with automatic shifting mechanism
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsBrian M. Leinonen, Philip T. Scott, Robert F. Novotny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A marine propulsion system, preferably having dual counterrotating propellers, has an automatic multi-speed shifting mechanism such as a transmission. An electronic controller monitors engine parameters such as engine revolution speed and load, and generates a control signal in response thereto, which is used to control shifting. Engine load is preferably monitored by sensing engine manifold air pressure. The electronic controller preferably has a shift parameter matrix stored within a programmable memory for comparing engine speed and engine load data to generate the control signal. The system can also have a manual override switch to override shifting of the shifting mechanism.
Claims16
A marine propulsion system comprising:
- an engine that provides power through a crankshaft rotating at an engine revolution rate;
- a shifting mechanism, having at least a high gear and a lower gear, that inputs power from the engine crankshaft and outputs power to drive at least one propeller to propel a boat;
- an electronic controller that inputs an RPM signal that is proportional to the engine revolution rate and an engine load signal that gives an indication of engine load, and outputs a control signal to control shifting of the shifting mechanism;
- wherein said controller causes the shifting mechanism to shifts to high gear before the onset of propeller cavitation.
A marine propulsion system comprising:
- an engine that provides power through a crankshaft rotating at an engine revolution rate;
- a drive unit that receives power through an input drive shaft and transmits the power to at least one propeller that propels a boat;
- a transmission, having at least a high gear and a low gear, that receives power from the engine crankshaft and outputs power to the drive unit input shaft;
- and
- an electronic controller that receives an RPM signal that is proportional to the engine revolution rate and receives an engine load signal that gives an indication of engine load, and outputs a control signal to control shifting of the transmission, wherein the control signal is generated at least in part in response to the RPM signal and the engine load signal;
- wherein said controller causes the shifting mechanism to shift to high gear before the onset of propeller cavitation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.