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US 7,467,595 B1Granted
Joystick method for maneuvering a marine vessel with two or more sterndrive units
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsWilliam D. Lanyi, Richard A. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for controlling the movement of a marine vessel rotates one of a pair of marine propulsion devices and controls the thrust magnitudes of two marine propulsion devices. A joystick is provided to allow the operator of the marine vessel to select port-starboard, forward-reverse, and rotational direction commands that are interpreted by a controller which then changes the angular position of at least one of a pair of marine propulsion devices relative to its steering axis.
Claims19
A method for controlling the movement of a marine vessel, comprising the steps of:
- attaching a first marine propulsion device to said marine vessel for rotation about a first steering axis;
- attaching a second marine propulsion device to said marine vessel for rotation about a second steering axis;
- connecting a first steering actuator to said first marine propulsion device;
- connecting a second steering actuator to said second marine propulsion device;
- providing a first manually manipulatable control device which is configured to receive vessel movement commands from an operator of said marine vessel;
- providing a second manually manipulatable control device which is configured to receive vessel maneuver commands from said operator of said marine vessel;
- providing a controller connected in signal communication with said first and second manually manipulatable control devices;
- receiving a set of vessel maneuver commands from said second manually manipulatable control device;
- calculating a first thrust magnitude for said first marine propulsion device, a second thrust magnitude for said second marine propulsion device, and an angular position of said second marine propulsion device which will achieve a maneuver of said marine vessel which accomplishes said vessel maneuver commands;
- maintaining said first marine propulsion device in a position which disposes a propeller shaft of said first marine propulsion device in parallel association with a central axis of said marine vessel;
- causing said second marine propulsion device to move to said angular position;
- causing said first marine propulsion device to generate said first thrust magnitude;
- and
- causing said second marine propulsion device to generate said second thrust magnitude.
11 more elements
A method for controlling the movement of a marine vessel, comprising the steps of:
- attaching a first sterndrive unit to said marine vessel for rotation about a first steering axis;
- attaching a second sterndrive unit to said marine vessel for rotation about a second steering axis;
- connecting a first steering actuator to said first sterndrive unit;
- connecting a second steering actuator to said second sterndrive unit;
- connecting a third steering actuator between said first and second sterndrive units, said third steering actuator being selectively configurable in a first state wherein said first and second sterndrive units are rigidly attached together for synchronous rotation about their respective steering axes and a second state wherein said first and second sterndrive units are movable relative to each other;
- providing a first manually manipulatable control device which is configured to receive vessel movement commands from an operator of said marine vessel;
- providing a second manually manipulatable control device which is configured to receive vessel maneuver commands from said operator of said marine vessel;
- providing a controller connected in signal communication with said first and second manually manipulatable control devices;
- receiving a set of vessel maneuver commands from said second manually manipulatable control device;
- calculating a first thrust magnitude for said first sterndrive unit, a second thrust magnitude for said second sterndrive unit, and an angular position of said second sterndrive unit which will achieve a maneuver of said marine vessel which accomplishes said vessel maneuver commands;
- causing said second sterndrive unit to move to said angular position;
- causing said first sterndrive unit to generate said first thrust magnitude;
- and
- causing said second sterndrive unit to generate said second thrust magnitude.
11 more elements
A method for controlling the movement of a marine vessel, comprising the steps of:
- attaching a first sterndrive unit to said marine vessel for rotation about a first steering axis;
- attaching a second sterndrive unit to said marine vessel for rotation about a second steering axis;
- connecting a first hydraulic actuator to said first sterndrive unit;
- connecting a second hydraulic actuator to said second sterndrive unit;
- connecting a third hydraulic actuator between said first and second sterndrive units, said third hydraulic actuator being selectively configurable in a first state wherein said first and second sterndrive units are rigidly attached together for synchronous rotation about their respective steering axes and a second state wherein said first and second sterndrive units are movable relative to each other;
- providing a steering wheel which is configured to receive vessel movement commands from an operator of said marine vessel;
- providing a joystick which is configured to receive vessel maneuver commands from said operator of said marine vessel;
- providing a controller connected in signal communication with said steering wheel and joystick;
- receiving a set of vessel maneuver commands from said joystick;
- calculating a first thrust magnitude for said first sterndrive unit, a second thrust magnitude for said second sterndrive unit, and an angular position of said second sterndrive unit which will achieve a maneuver of said marine vessel which accomplishes said vessel maneuver commands;
- causing said second sterndrive unit to move to said angular position;
- causing said first sterndrive unit to generate said first thrust magnitude;
- and
- causing said second sterndrive unit to generate said second thrust magnitude.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.