PROPULSION CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR A MARINE VESSEL

Abstract

A propulsion control arrangement operable to control a speed and possible direction of a marine vessel. A marine propulsion control system controlling a carried by a hull of a marine vessel, wherein the marine propulsion control system is adapted to receive an input command from the propulsion control arrangement.

Claims

1. A propulsion control arrangement operable to provide speed commands for controlling a marine vessel, the propulsion control arrangement comprising a movable lever extending on an axis and adapted to be manually tilted by an operator from a neutral position to a maximum forward position, wherein: an operational range between the neutral position and the maximum forward position comprises a first and a second sub-range separated by an intermediate position, the first sub-range arranged between the neutral position and the intermediate position, the intermediate position is different from the neutral position, adjustable and selected depending on a pre-set operational parameter for the marine vessel, and the propulsion control arrangement further comprising means arranged to automatically return the movable lever to the intermediate position and to stay at the intermediate position if the movable lever is released within the second sub-range.

2. The propulsion control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein means arranged to automatically return the movable lever to the intermediate position comprises a spring.

3. The propulsion control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein means arranged to automatically return the movable lever to the crossover comprises an electrically controlled stepper motor.

4. The propulsion control arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising means for manually adjusting the intermediate position.

5. The propulsion control arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising means for electrically adjusting the intermediate position.

6. The propulsion control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the movable lever remains at a position within the first sub-range if the movable lever is released.

7. The propulsion control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a predefined level of a frictional resistance is applied when the movable lever is moved within the first sub-range.

8. The propulsion control arrangement according to claim 5, further comprising a control unit connected to the means for electrically adjusting the intermediate position, wherein the control unit is adapted to: received the pre-set operational parameter for the marine vessel, and operating the means for electrically adjusting the intermediate position based on the received pre-set operational parameter.

9. The propulsion control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein means for electrically adjusting the intermediate position comprises an actuator.

10. The propulsion control arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the pre-set operational parameter is received from a navigation control system for the marine vessel.

11. The propulsion control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the movable lever is further adapted to be manually tilted from the neutral position to a maximum rearward position.

12. The propulsion control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the movable lever is further adapted to be rotatable around the axis.

13. A marine propulsion control system adapted to control a propulsion unit carried by a hull of a marine vessel, the marine propulsion control system comprising: propulsion control arrangement according to claim 1, and a navigation control system comprising a digital map, wherein the control system is adapted to: determine, using the navigation control system, present coordinates for the vessel, determine, using the navigation control system, a speed limit based on the present coordinates and the digital map, and adjust the intermediate position for the propulsion control arrangement based on the speed limit.

14. A marine vessel, comprising: a propulsion unit, and a marine propulsion control system according to claim 13.

15. The marine vessel according to claim 14, wherein the propulsion unit comprises at least a first and a second propulsion unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the present disclosure cited as examples.

[0024] In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 conceptually illustrates a propulsion control arrangement according to a currently preferred embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0026] FIG. 2 provides an illustrative example of a marine propulsion control system comprising the propulsion control arrangement as shown in FIG. 1, and

[0027] FIG. 3 exemplifies a marine vessel comprising a marine propulsion control system as shown in FIG. 2 for operating the marine vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled addressee. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout.

[0029] Referring now to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, there is conceptually depicted a propulsion control arrangement 100 adapted for controlling a marine vessel 300 (as is illustrated in FIG. 3). The propulsion control arrangement 100 comprises a movable lever 102 extending on an axis V and adapted to be manually tilted by an operator from a neutral position 104 to a maximum forward position 106. When the movable lever 102 is in the neutral position 104 it is generally desirable that propulsion units (e.g. 308, 310, 312 and 314 as also shown in FIG. 3) are disengaged or at least “non-active” to not propel the marine vessel 300. Accordingly, when the movable lever 102 is in the neutral position 104 it may generally be desirable that speed commands for controlling the marine vessel 300 are to control the propulsion units 308, 310, 312, 314 to be non-active. However, when the operator tilts the lever 102 forward, then speed commands are formed to activate the propulsion units 308, 310, 312, 314 to propel the marine vessel 300 in a forward direction. Generally, the further the lever 102 is moved towards the maximum forward position 106, the faster the forward speed of the marine vessel 300.

[0030] In some embodiments, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, it may be desirable to also allow the lever 102 to be moved from the neutral position 104 to a maximum rearward position 108. Similar to the discussion above, the further the lever 102 is moved towards the maximum rearward position 108, the faster the backward speed of the marine vessel 300.

[0031] In accordance to the present disclosure and as is illustrated in FIG. 1, it is desirable to define an operational range 120 between the neutral position and the maximum forward position comprises a first 122 and a second 124 sub-range separated by an intermediate position 126, the first sub-range 122 arranged between the neutral position 104 and the intermediate position 126. The movable lever 102 is in accordance to the present disclosure adapted to provide different “feedback” to the operator depending of if the movable lever 102 is currently positioned within the first 122 or the second 124 sub-range. Specifically, when the movable lever 102 is within the first sub-range 122, it may be desirable to allow a minor frictional feedback to be provided to the operator. When the operator removes his hand from the movable lever 102, the movable lever 102 will stay in the position where the movable lever 102 was left.

[0032] However, when the movable lever 102 is moved forward past the intermediate position 126 and into the second sub-range 126, the general frictional feedback is substituted to an opposing force, for example implemented using a spring arrangement. Furthermore, when the operator removes his hand from the movable lever 102, the movable lever 102 will “spring back” to the intermediate position 126.

[0033] The intermediate position 126 is in accordance to the present disclosure adjustable, depending on a pre-set operational parameter for the marine vessel 300. As discussed above and with further reference to FIG. 2, the pre-set operational parameter for the marine vessel 300 may for example be manually selected and adapted by the operator, by a captain of the marine vessel 300, or automatically for example using means for electrically adjusting the intermediate position. Such means may for example include an actuator, a servo motor (not shown) or a stepper motor (not shown).

[0034] The actuator or a stepper motor may in turn be controlled using a control unit (not shown) that has been adapted to receive the pre-set operational parameter for the marine vessel, and to operate the actuator or stepper motor for electrically adjusting the intermediate position based on the received pre-set operational parameter. For reference, the control unit comprises processing circuitry arranged to at least in part perform the scheme according to the present disclosure. The processing circuitry may for example be manifested as a general-purpose processor, an application specific processor, a circuit containing processing components, a group of distributed processing components, a group of distributed computers configured for processing, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. The processor may be or include any number of hardware components for conducting data or signal processing or for executing computer code stored in memory. The memory may be one or more devices for storing data and/or computer code for completing or facilitating the various methods described in the present description. The memory may include volatile memory or non-volatile memory. The memory may include database components, object code components, script components, or any other type of information structure for supporting the various activities of the present description. According to an exemplary embodiment, any distributed or local memory device may be utilized with the systems and methods of this description. According to an exemplary embodiment the memory is communicably connected to the processor (e.g., via a circuit or any other wired, wireless, or network connection) and includes computer code for executing one or more processes described herein.

[0035] In some embodiments, and with further reference to FIG. 2 it may be desirable to allow the propulsion control arrangement 100 to be comprised with a marine propulsion control system 200, where the marine propulsion control system 200 further comprises a navigation control system 202. In some embodiments it may be possible to adapt the navigation control system 202 to be arranged in communication with e.g. a GPS receiver 204 and to comprise e.g. a digital map being representative of at least the area where the marine vessel 300 is currently positioned. It may further be possible to adapt the navigation control system 202 to determine present coordinates for the vessel 300 based on information received from the GPS receiver 204.

[0036] Based on the present coordinates for the vessel 300 and the digital map it could be possible to determine a present speed limit for the area where the marine vessel 300 is located. The speed limit may in turn be used for selecting the pre-set operational parameter for the marine vessel 300. As such, the speed limit influences the intermediate position 126 of the propulsion control arrangement 100. It may, as indicated above, be desirable to select the intermediate position 126 such that when the movable lever is positioned at the intermediate position 126, the marine vessel 300 is operating at a slightly lower speed as compared to the determined speed limit for the area where the marine vessel 300 is currently located.

[0037] It should be explicitly noted that other factors may influence the selection of the pre-set operational parameter for the marine vessel 300, in turn used for adjusting the intermediate position 126 of the propulsion control arrangement 100. As an example, if it has been determined that the marine vessel 300 has an optimal energy efficiency at specific engine speeds (e.g. rpm), then the pre-set operational parameter may be selected to influence the intermediate position 126 of the propulsion control arrangement 100. As such, in case an operator removes his hand from the movable lever 102 when in the second sub-range 124, the lever 102 will automatically spring back to the intermediate position 126 and as such be operating at the optimal energy efficiency. Such an implementation may have a great impact on the overall energy efficiency for operating the marine vessel 300, specifically for a novice operator.

[0038] Turning finally to FIG. 3, there is shown an example of a marine vessel 300 comprising a marine propulsion control system 200 for operating the marine vessel 300 using the propulsion control arrangement 100 as defined in accordance to the present disclosure.

[0039] In the illustration provided, the vessel 300 is designed with a hull 302 having a bow 304, a stern 306. In the stern 306, four propulsion units 308, 310, 312 and 314 may be mounted. The propulsion units 308, 310, 312 and 314 may be pivotally arranged in relation to the hull 302 for generating a driving thrust in a desired direction of a generally conventional kind. The propulsion units may alternatively be inboard propulsion units, mounted under the vessel on the hull 302, or mounted on the stern 306 as so called stern drives. That is, the propulsion units 308, 310, 312 and 314 may be outboard propulsion units or inboard propulsion units.

[0040] It should be understood that the vessel 300 may be provided with more than four (or less) propulsion units. Furthermore, the vessel 300 may be provided with e.g. a bow thruster (not shown) for assisting in “moving” the bow 304, e.g. in windy situations. The 308, 310, 312 and 314, as well as the bow thruster, are operated based on the commands generated when tilting and/or rotating the movable lever 102 in a manner as discussed above.

[0041] In summary, the present disclosure relates to a propulsion control arrangement operable to provide speed commands for controlling a marine vessel, the propulsion control arrangement comprising a movable lever extending on an axis and adapted to be manually tilted by an operator from a neutral position to a maximum forward position, wherein an operational range between the neutral position and the maximum forward position comprises a first and a second sub-range separated by an intermediate position, the first sub-range arranged between the neutral position and the intermediate position, the intermediate position is different from the neutral position, adjustable and selected depending on a pre-set operational parameter for the marine vessel, and the propulsion control arrangement further comprising means arranged to automatically return the movable lever to the intermediate position and to stay at the intermediate position if the movable lever is released within the second sub-range.

[0042] Advantages following the present disclosure include for example improvements as to the perceived feedback provided when handling the movable lever of the propulsion control arrangement, as well as possibly a lower energy consumption and thus a lower environmental impact when propelling the marine vessel.

[0043] The present disclosure contemplates methods, devices and program products on any machine-readable media for accomplishing various operations. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computer processor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or another purpose, or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor.

[0044] By way of example, such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data that cause a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

[0045] Although the figures may show a specific order of method steps, the order of the steps may differ from what is depicted. In addition, two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variation will depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps and decision steps. Additionally, even though the disclosure has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art.

[0046] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. Furthermore, in the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.