Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090075533 | WATERCRAFT - A watercraft includes a plurality of outboard motors. Each of the outboard motors has a generator and a rudder deflecting system driven by an electric motor. The outboard motors are turned by the rudder deflecting systems thereby steering the watercraft. Electric power can be supplied from the generators of others of the plurality of outboard motors to the rudder deflecting system of an arbitrary outboard motor among the plurality of the outboard motors. Using this arrangement it is possible to provide a watercraft in which electric power for operation is stably supplied to the rudder deflecting system without increasing the size of the generators. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076671 | WATERCRAFT - A watercraft includes a plurality of watercraft operating devices arranged to adjust an amount and/or a direction of a propulsive force or a resistance provided to a prescribed position of the watercraft, operation devices arranged to operate the plurality of watercraft operating devices, actuators arranged to actuate the respective watercraft operating devices, and a control unit arranged to control an operation amount of each of the actuators based on an operational state of the operation devices. The control unit preferably includes a traveling state detecting device arranged to detect a traveling state of the watercraft, an operational state detecting device arranged to detect an operational state of the operation devices, a traveling plan estimating device arranged to estimate a traveling plan of an operator of the watercraft based on the traveling state and the operational state, and a watercraft operating device controlling device arranged to select one of the watercraft operating devices to be controlled from the plurality of watercraft operating devices, and arranged to control an operating amount of the actuator operating the watercraft operating device. | 03-19-2009 |
20090084299 | ELECTRIC STEERING DEVICE FOR WATERCRAFT AND CONTROL METHOD OF ELECTRIC STEERING DEVICE - An electric steering device includes a steering retaining device arranged to retain a steering angle against an external steering force applied from outside of a watercraft to an outboard motor main body. A reverse input shutoff clutch, for example, is preferably used as the steering retaining device. A steering retaining state in which a steering angle of the outboard motor main body is retained can be detected from a steering condition of the outboard motor main body, and a control is made to stop electric power from being supplied to an electric motor steering the outboard motor main body. Accordingly, the steering retaining device retains a steering angle while steering is retained, and thus the electric power supply to the electric motor can be stopped, which allows electric power to be saved. The steering retaining device provides an electric steering device for a watercraft in which no electric power is required when applying a steering retaining force for retaining a counter-steering state. | 04-02-2009 |
20090088927 | STEERING CONTROL METHOD, STEERING CONTROL DEVICE, AND WATERCRAFT - A watercraft includes an operating method in which a present steering wheel rotational angle is detected, and a steering wheel rotational angle variation is calculated by subtracting a steering wheel rotational angle in a preceding control period from the steering wheel rotational angle. Next, a steering angle ratio is set. A target steering angle variation is calculated by multiplying the steering wheel rotational angle variation by the steering angle ratio. Finally, a target steering angle in a present period is calculated by adding the target steering angle variation to a target steering angle in a preceding control period. A steering device is steered based on the target steering angle. The operating method operates to prevent a rider of a watercraft from feeling uncomfortable in the watercraft which has an electric steering mechanism when either a steering wheel or a steering device is turned in a state when a power supply is turned off or a case when steering wheel rotational angles of a plurality of operating stations differ from each other. | 04-02-2009 |
20090176418 | BOAT - A boat includes a steering load detector arranged to calculate an output value of a steering motor necessary for steering an outboard motor in a traveling state, a motor output detector arranged to detect a possible output value that can be output by the steering motor, a prediction determination unit arranged to compare the necessary output value from the steering load detector with the possible output value from the motor output detector, and an electric power load control unit arranged to perform a control operation so as to increase a battery charge amount and/or to reduce the electric power load when the necessary output value is determined to be larger than the possible output value. As a result, the boat that can effectively perform steering when a motor output becomes small as a result of a reduced battery charge amount. | 07-09-2009 |
20100114412 | BOAT - A boat that allows effective steering even when the motor output power is decreased due to the low battery charge includes a first predictive determination unit arranged to compare an actual charge amount of a battery supplying an electric power to a steering motor or a predicted charge amount of the battery calculated from a predicted working current with a threshold predetermined in relation to running states; a steering load detector arranged to calculate a required output value of a steering motor necessary to steer an outboard motor while the boat is under way; and a steering load controller arranged to control the required output value to be decreased from the present output value when the first predictive determination unit determines that the threshold is larger than the battery charge amount. | 05-06-2010 |
20100120303 | PROPULSION DEVICE - A propulsion device includes a propulsion device main body, an attachment mechanism, and a steering mechanism. The attachment mechanism is arranged to attach the propulsion device main body to a hull such that the propulsion device main body turns right and left with respect to the hull about a swivel shaft. Further, the attachment mechanism is arranged to attach the propulsion device main body to the hull such that the propulsion device main body turns up and down with respect to the hull about a tilt shaft. The steering mechanism includes a motor and a transmitting mechanism. The transmitting mechanism is arranged to transmit a driving force of the motor to the propulsion device main body to turn the propulsion device main body to the right or the left. The attachment mechanism includes a housing space in which the motor and the transmitting mechanism are housed. | 05-13-2010 |
20100178818 | STEERING APPARATUS FOR PROPULSION DEVICE AND PROPULSION DEVICE - A steering apparatus for a propulsion device includes a swivel portion, a motor, a lock portion, and a lock release mechanism. The motor is arranged to generate a driving force to turn the propulsion device main body in right and left directions. The lock portion is provided in a transmission path of the driving force. The lock portion is arranged to transmit a force from an upstream side to a downstream side thereof and to be locked when a force is applied from the downstream side to thereby prevent a turning of the propulsion device main body in the right and left directions. The lock release mechanism is provided in the transmission path at the downstream side relative to the lock portion. The lock release mechanism is arranged to shut off or stop a transmission of force to the upstream side thereof to thereby prevent application of the force to the lock portion. | 07-15-2010 |
20100191396 | MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION SYSTEM AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel propulsion system includes multiple propulsion devices, multiple operation levers, and multiple lever position sensors arranged to detect the positions of the multiple operation levers, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to control, based on detection results from the multiple lever position sensors, the shift states of the respective propulsion devices and to change the steering angle of at least one of the propulsion devices. The control unit may be arranged to change the steering angles of the propulsion devices to facilitate the behavior of the hull corresponding to the shift states of the respective propulsion devices. | 07-29-2010 |
20100191397 | MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION SYSTEM AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel propulsion system includes first and second propulsion devices arranged to be mounted on a hull so as to enable a steering angle to change, a first operation lever arranged to be operated by a marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the first propulsion device to have a shift state selected from among a forward drive state, a neutral state, and a reverse drive state and to control a power output of the first propulsion device, a second operation lever arranged to be operated by the marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the second propulsion device to have a shift state selected from among a forward drive state, a neutral state, and a reverse drive state and to control a power output of the second propulsion device, a first lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the first operation lever, a second lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the second operation lever, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting speed according to the positions of the first and second operation levers relative to each other and set a target travel speed according to amounts of displacement of the first and second operation levers with respect to neutral positions. The control unit is also programmed to control the steering angles, shift states, and propulsive forces of the respective first and second propulsion devices such that the hull pivots at the target pivoting speed and travels at the target travel speed. | 07-29-2010 |
20100250035 | MARINE VESSEL STEERING APPARATUS AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel steering apparatus includes a steering mechanism arranged to be operable by an operator, a steering unit arranged to turn a pivoting unit mounted pivotally on a marine vessel, a detecting unit arranged to detect if an actual pivoting angle, the turning angle of the pivoting unit, becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, a locking unit arranged to lock the turning of the steering mechanism, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting angle based on the turning state of the steering mechanism and to drive the steering unit to make the actual pivoting angle equal to the target pivoting angle. The control unit is also programmed, when the detecting unit detects that the actual pivoting angle becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined angle, to drive the locking unit to lock the turning of the steering mechanism. | 09-30-2010 |
20100292876 | BOAT PROPELLING SYSTEM - A boat propelling system capable of determining operation accuracy of a transmission mechanism includes an outboard engine main body, a swivel bracket arranged to allow the outboard engine main body to pivot in a right-left direction with respect to a hull, an electric motor provided in the swivel bracket to pivot the outboard engine main body in the right-left direction, a pivot sensor provided in the electric motor to detect a pivot angle of a motor shaft, a transmission mechanism provided in the swivel bracket to transmit a driving force of the electric motor to the outboard engine main body, a pivot sensor arranged to detect an actual pivot angle of the outboard engine main body, and an ECU arranged and programmed to control an operation of the boat propelling system. The ECU determines operation accuracy of the transmission mechanism by comparing an actual pivot angle change amount of the outboard engine main body based on a result of detection by the pivot sensor and a calculated theoretical change amount based on a drive amount of the electric motor. | 11-18-2010 |
20110010028 | BOAT PROPELLING SYSTEM - A boat propelling system capable of determining an abnormality regarding steering of a propelling system main body includes an outboard engine main body, a steering section arranged to steer the outboard engine main body, a steering angle sensor arranged to detect a steering angle of the steering section, a pivot sensor arranged to detect an actual pivot angle of the outboard engine main body, and an ECU. The ECU calculates a target pivot angle change amount based on a target pivot angle derived from the steering angle and a baseline target pivot angle, calculates an actual pivot angle change amount based on the actual pivot angle and a baseline actual pivot angle, and obtains a gap amount between the target pivot angle change amount and the actual pivot angle change amount. Then, the ECU determines an abnormality regarding steering of the outboard engine main body based on a result of comparison between the gap amount and the first threshold value. Setting of the baseline target pivot angle and the baseline actual pivot angle is based on a result of a comparison between the gap amount and a second threshold value. | 01-13-2011 |
20130096742 | MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION SYSTEM AND MARINE VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A marine vessel propulsion system includes first and second propulsion devices, a first operation lever arranged to be operated by a marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the first propulsion device, a second operation lever arranged to be operated by the marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the second propulsion device, a first lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the first operation lever, a second lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the second operation lever, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting speed according to the positions of the first and second operation levers relative to each other and set a target travel speed according to amounts of displacement of the first and second operation levers with respect to neutral positions. | 04-18-2013 |
20140046515 | MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION CONTROL DEVICE, MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION APPARATUS, AND MARINE VESSEL - A marine vessel propulsion control device includes a marine vessel maneuvering pattern storage section that stores a plurality of marine vessel maneuvering patterns corresponding to a plurality of combinations of a propulsion device attached to a marine vessel and an operation device attached to the marine vessel, a selection information storage section that stores selection information that specifies one marine vessel maneuvering pattern selected from the plurality of marine vessel maneuvering patterns, and a control section programmed to read out from the marine vessel maneuvering pattern storage section a marine vessel maneuvering pattern corresponding to selection information stored in the selection information storage section, and to output a command signal to the propulsion device according to an operation signal of the operation device based on the read-out marine vessel maneuvering pattern. | 02-13-2014 |
20150072575 | VESSEL PROPULSION SYSTEM AND VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A vessel propulsion system includes propulsion apparatuses that are turnably mounted on a stern of a hull in an inclined manner such that a turning center line intersects a hull center line, turning actuators that respectively turn the propulsion apparatuses left and right with respect to the hull, a steering device that outputs a steering command, and a control unit that controls the turning actuators individually according to the steering command. The control unit includes a storage unit that stores a reference angle that the turning center line of each propulsion apparatus defines with respect to the hull center line, and a turning command angle computing unit that determines a turning command angle of each propulsion apparatus. The control unit drives each turning actuator based on each turning command angle. The turning command angle computing unit determines the turning command angle of each propulsion apparatus based on the steering command output by the steering device and the reference angle of each reference angle stored in the storage unit. | 03-12-2015 |