# US 8,751,075 B2 · Engine control system and method

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- Number: US 8,751,075 B2
- Document ID: US8751075B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/122,069
- Filed: 2009-11-16
- Published: 2011-12-08
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2008-11-14
- Assignees: Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc.
- Applicants: Conor A. Leehaug; Joseph H. Scott; Andrew H. Bazan; Jiuzhu Yi
- Inventors: Conor A. Leehaug; Joseph H. Scott; Andrew H. Bazan; Jiuzhu Yi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751075B2

## CPC

- F16H 61/68: specially adapted for stepped gearings
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 10/11: Stepped gearings
- B60W 30/19: Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
- B63H 21/21: Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
- B63H 21/22: the propulsion power units being controlled from exterior of engine room, e.g. from navigation bridge; Arrangements of order telegraphs
- F02D 31/002: {controlling air supply}
- F02D 41/0225: {in relation with the gear ratio or shift lever position}
- F16H 61/0403: {Synchronisation before shifting}
- F16H 61/08: Timing control
- F16H 61/16: Inhibiting {or initiating} shift during unfavourable conditions {, e.g. preventing forward-reverse shift at high vehicle speed, preventing engine overspeed} (F16H61/18 takes precedence)
- B60W 2510/0604: Throttle position
- B60W 2510/0638: Engine speed
- B60W 2510/10: Change speed gearings
- B60W 2710/10: Change speed gearings
- B60Y 2200/24: Military vehicles
- B60Y 2200/42: Amphibious vehicles
- F02D 11/105: {characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque}
- F02D 37/02: one of the functions being ignition
- F16H 63/502: {for smoothing gear shifts}
- F16H 2306/40: Shifting activities
- F16H: GEARING
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00)
- F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W)
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

An engine control strategy for a marine vessel propulsion system receives a request for a gear from among plural transmission gears, determines an engine speed for the requested transmission gear shift, adjusts the engine to the determined speed for a predetermined amount of time, and prevents the requested transmission gear shift from occurring for the predetermined amount of time while maintaining the engine at the predetermined speed. After the predetermined amount of time elapses, the requested shift is allowed to occur.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An engine control system of a marine vessel propulsion system, comprising:
a shifter and throttle control including movable element that generates a signal indicating a requested gear from among plural transmission gears and an engine throttle level corresponding to a position of the movable element;
a controller connected to the shifter and throttle control and to an engine of the marine vessel propulsion system to monitor and control the speed of the engine, said controller adapted to receive the shift and throttle request signal and to maintain the engine at a predetermined speed for a predetermined amount of time in response to the received request; and
a shift actuator moveably coupled to a clutch member operable to engage and disengage the requested transmission gear with a propulsion element,
wherein the controller prevents the actuator from performing the requested shift for the predetermined amount of time while the engine is maintained at the predetermined speed, and allows the requested shift to occur after the predetermined amount of time elapses.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the shifter and throttle control includes a position sensor, and the signal is generated based on the position sensor sensing a position of the movable element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts the throttle level to the requested level after the completion of the requested shift.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the request is generated by moving of one of a lever or joy stick.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the engine speed by at least one of adjusting the throttle, the engine ignition timing and the amount of fuel supplied to the engine.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the requested shift is from neutral to one of a forward and reverse gear.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the requested shift is from one of a forward and reverse gear to neutral.

### Claim 8

A method of controlling an engine of a marine vessel propulsion system, comprising:
receiving a signal indicating a requested transmission gear shift and an engine throttle level;
determining an engine speed for the requested transmission gear shift and adjusting the engine to the determined speed for a predetermined amount of time;
preventing the requested transmission gear shift from occurring for the predetermined amount of time while maintaining the engine at the predetermined speed; and
allowing the requested shift to occur after the predetermined amount of time elapses.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the received signal is generated by sensing a position of a movable element of a shifter and throttle control.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein preventing transmission gear shift comprises preventing an actuator from shifting the transmission gears.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting the throttle level to the requested level after the completion of the requested shift.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the request signal is generated by moving of one of a lever or joy stick.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the engine speed is maintained by at least one of adjusting the throttle, the engine ignition timing, and the amount of fuel supplied to the engine.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the commanded shift is from neutral to one of a forward and reverse gear.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the commanded shift is from one of a forward and reverse gear to neutral.