US 9,434,460 B1Granted

Marine vessels and systems for laterally maneuvering marine vessels

AssigneeBrunswick Corporation

InventorsWilliam J. Samples, Robert S. Mirman, William R. Robertson, Kenneth G. Gable

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Abstract

Systems for maneuvering a marine vessel comprise an input device for requesting lateral movement of the marine vessel with respect to the longitudinal axis and a plurality of propulsion devices including at least a port propulsion device, a starboard propulsion device and an intermediate propulsion device disposed between the port and starboard propulsion devices. A control circuit controls orientation of the port and starboard propulsion devices inwardly towards a common point on the marine vessel, and upon a request for lateral movement of from the input device, operates one of the port and starboard propulsion devices in forward gear, operates the other of the port and starboard propulsion devices in reverse gear, and operates the intermediate propulsion device in reverse gear.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of maneuvering a marine vessel, the marine vessel comprising a longitudinal centerline and a plurality of propulsion devices comprising a port propulsion device, a starboard propulsion device and an intermediate propulsion device, each of the port propulsion device, starboard propulsion device and intermediate propulsion device comprising forward and rearward ends, wherein the intermediate propulsion device is disposed between the port and starboard propulsion devices, and wherein the intermediate propulsion device is rotatable about a steering axis, the method comprising:

operating an input device to request a lateral movement of the marine vessel with respect to the longitudinal centerline;
controlling an orientation of the forward ends of the port and starboard propulsion devices inwardly towards the longitudinal centerline so as to create propulsive thrusts along axes that intersect at a common point,
maintaining an orientation of the forward end of the intermediate propulsion device parallel with the longitudinal centerline so as to create propulsive thrusts parallel to the longitudinal centerline;
and
operating one of the port and starboard propulsion devices in a forward gear, operating the other of the port and starboard propulsion devices in a reverse gear, and operating the intermediate propulsion device in a reverse gear to thereby achieve the lateral movement.

2 more elements

The method of maneuvering a marine vessel, the marine vessel comprising a longitudinal centerline and a plurality of propulsion devices comprising a port propulsion device, a starboard propulsion device and an intermediate propulsion device, each of the port propulsion device, starboard propulsion device and intermediate propulsion device comprising forward and rearward ends, wherein the intermediate propulsion device is disposed between the port and starboard propulsion devices, and wherein the intermediate propulsion device is rotatable about a steering axis, the method comprising:

operating an input device to request a lateral movement of the marine vessel with respect to the longitudinal centerline;
controlling an orientation of the forward ends of the port and starboard propulsion devices inwardly towards the longitudinal centerline so as to create propulsive thrusts along axes that intersect at a common point,
maintaining an orientation of the forward end of the intermediate propulsion device parallel with the longitudinal centerline so as to create propulsive thrusts parallel to the longitudinal centerline;
and
operating one of the port and starboard propulsion devices to apply a forward thrust on the marine vessel, operating the other of the port and starboard propulsion devices to apply a reverse thrust on the marine vessel, and operating the intermediate propulsion device to apply a reverse thrust on the marine vessel to thereby achieve the lateral movement.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/314,415Filed 25 Jun 2014 · division
Priority: 8 Sep 2011
Granted: 6 Sep 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B63H 25/42
Steering; Slowing-down otherwise than by use of propulsive elements ; Dynamic anchoring, i.e. positioning vessels by means of main or auxiliary…:…
B63H 5/125
Of propellers: movably mounted with respect to hull, e.g. adjustable in direction , e.g. podded azimuthing thrusters
B63H 20/12
Means enabling movement of the position of the propulsion element, e.g. for trim, tilt or steering; Control of trim or tilt: means enabling steering
B63H 20/20
Transmission between propulsion power unit and propulsion element: with provision for reverse drive

Family

Application13/227,578Parent of this division · filed 8 Sep 2011
US 8,807,059 B1Parent of this division
US 9,434,460 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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