US 8,801,477 B2 · Outboard motor control apparatus

Abstract

In a control apparatus for an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine and a transmission adapted to establish speeds including first and second speeds and transmit an engine output to a propeller with an established speed, it is configured to determine whether acceleration is instructed to the engine by an operator when the second speed is established; detect an engine speed; detect a navigation acceleration indicative of a change amount of navigation speed per predetermined time; change the gear position from the second speed to the first speed when the acceleration is determined to be instructed; and change the gear position from the first speed to the second speed when the engine speed is at or above a predetermined speed and the navigation acceleration is at or below a predetermined value after the gear position is changed to the first speed.

Claims27

Dependent claims

An apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on a stern of a boat and having an internal combustion engine to power a propeller through a power transmission shaft;

and a transmission that is installed at the power transmission shaft, is changeable in gear position to establish speeds including at least a first speed and a second speed to transmit an output of the engine to the propeller with a gear ratio determined by established one of the speeds, comprising:
an acceleration instruction determiner adapted to determine whether acceleration is instructed to the engine by an operator when the second speed is established;
an engine speed detector adapted to detect an engine speed of the engine;
a navigation acceleration detector adapted to detect a navigation acceleration indicative of a change amount of navigation speed of the boat per predetermined time;
a first-speed changer adapted to change the gear position from the second speed to the first speed by operating the transmission when the acceleration is determined to be instructed;
and
a second-speed changer adapted to change the gear position from the first speed to the second speed when the detected engine speed is equal to or greater than a first predetermined speed and the detected navigation acceleration is equal to or less than a first predetermined value after the gear position is changed to the first speed by the first-speed changer.

4 more elements

An apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor mounted on a stern of a boat and having an internal combustion engine to power a propeller through a power transmission shaft;

and a transmission that is installed at the power transmission shaft, is changeable in gear position to establish speeds including at least a first speed and a second speed, and transmits an output of the engine to the propeller with a gear ratio determined by established one of the speeds, comprising:
acceleration instruction determining means for determining whether acceleration is instructed to the engine by an operator when the second speed is established;
engine speed detecting means for detecting an engine speed of the engine;
navigation acceleration detecting means for detecting a navigation acceleration indicative of a change amount of navigation speed of the boat per predetermined time;
first-speed changing means for changing the gear position from the second speed to the first speed by operating the transmission when the acceleration is determined to be instructed;
and
second-speed changing means for changing the gear position from the first speed to the second speed when the detected engine speed is equal to or greater than a first predetermined speed and the detected navigation acceleration is equal to or less than a first predetermined value after the gear position is changed to the first speed by the first-speed changing means.

4 more elements

A method for controlling operation of an outboard motor mounted on a stern of a boat and having an internal combustion engine to power a propeller through a power transmission shaft;

and a transmission that is installed at the power transmission shaft, is changeable in gear position to establish speeds including at least a first speed and a second speed, and transmits an output of the engine to the propeller with a gear ratio determined by established one of the speeds, comprising the steps of:
determining whether acceleration is instructed to the engine by an operator when the second speed is established;
detecting an engine speed of the engine;
detecting a navigation acceleration indicative of a change amount of navigation speed of the boat per predetermined time;
changing the gear position from the second speed to the first speed by operating the transmission when the acceleration is determined to be instructed;
and
changing the gear position from the first speed to the second speed when the detected engine speed is equal to or greater than a first predetermined speed and the detected navigation acceleration is equal to or less than a first predetermined value after the gear position is changed to the first speed.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Outboard motor control apparatus

Life of this patent

Outboard motor control apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27