Automated fuel economy optimization for marine vessel applications
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsKevin A. Cansiani, Tim J Clever
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for operating a marine vessel includes a cruise control module operating the marine vessel at a speed and a trim control module positioning an outdrive into a plurality of trim positions. A fuel economy determination module determines a plurality of fuel economies for each of the trim positions and determines an efficient trim position from the plurality of fuel economies for each of the trim positions. An operation control module operates the marine vessel at the efficient trim position. A trim tab position may also be taken into account for efficient operation.
Claims20
A system for operating a marine vessel comprising:
- a cruise control module that operates the marine vessel at a plurality of speeds;
- a trim control module that positions an outdrive into a trim position while the marine vessel is operated at the plurality of speeds;
- a fuel economy determination module that determines a fuel economy for each of the speeds and the trim position, and that selects a first speed from the plurality of speeds based on the fuel economy;
- and
- an operation control module that operates the marine vessel at the first speed and the trim position.
A system for operating a marine vessel comprising:
- a cruise control module that establishes a window of speeds having an upper speed and a lower speed and that operates the marine vessel at a plurality of speeds within the window of speeds;
- a trim control module that positions an outdrive into a plurality of trim positions at each of the plurality of speeds within the window of speeds;
- a fuel economy determination module that determines a fuel economy for each of the speeds and that selects a first speed from the plurality of speeds based on the fuel economy;
- and
- an operation control module that operates the marine vessel at the first speed.
A method of operating a marine vessel comprising:
- operating the marine vessel at a plurality of speeds;
- positioning an outdrive into a trim position while the marine vessel is operated at the plurality of speeds;
- determining a fuel economy for each of the speeds and the trim position;
- selecting a first speed from the plurality of speeds based on the fuel economy;
- and
- operating the marine vessel at the first speed and the trim position.
A method of operating a marine vessel comprising:
- establishing a window of speeds having an upper speed and a lower speed;
- operating the marine vessel at a plurality of speeds within the window of speeds;
- positioning an outdrive into a plurality of trim positions at each of the plurality of speeds within the window of speeds;
- determining a fuel economy for each of the speeds;
- selecting a first speed from the plurality of speeds based on the fuel economy;
- and
- operating the marine vessel at the first speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.