Brunswick Corporation

Carl G Schott

James R Jones

Roger E Koepsel

Blake R Suhre

Peter P Grinwald

Matthew J Manthey

Rick P Christians

A control method for controlling a controllable pitch propeller during gear shifting operations monitors the gear selector switch to determine a future or impending gear shifting operation, determines the current pitch setting of a controllable pitch propeller, saves the current pitch setting, moves the blades of the controllable pitch propeller to a minimal or zero pitch setting, implements the gear change operation, and then returns the blades of the controllable pitch propeller to the original setting or the current setting by minimizing the pitch of the blades of the controllable pitch propeller prior to the shifting operation, the impact shock load on the marine propulsion system can be decreased by minimizing the resistance to propeller hub rotation caused by the blades moving through the water.

Method for changing the pitch of a controllable pitch propeller during gear shifting operations

A control algorithm provides a method for selecting a pitch magnitude for a controllable pitch propeller. The pitch magnitude is selected as a function of the difference between a desired engine speed and an actual engine speed in addition to the actual pitch position of the controllable pitch propeller. The desired engine speed is selected as a function of the position of either a throttle control lever or the throttle plate of an internal combustion engine.

Method for selecting the pitch of a controllable pitch marine propeller

A controllable pitch propeller is provided with a blade that naturally tends to rotate in a direction toward maximum pitch as a result of the hydrodynamic forces on the blade. As a result, the blade will move toward a pitch position of increased pitch magnitude in the event that a control system failure occurs. If the blades of a propeller move naturally toward their maximum pitch position in the event of a hydraulic, mechanical, or electrical failure in the pitch control system, the propeller will be operable and will allow a marine vessel operator to navigate toward port even with a propeller pitch control system that has malfunctioned.

Controllable pitch propeller with a fail safe increased pitch movement

A jet propulsion system is provided for a water craft in which the secondary flow channel allows water to flow around the impeller region and bypass the impeller blades under certain conditions. The bypass feature provided by the secondary flow channel decreases static inlet pressure and improves the operation of the marine propulsion device at high speeds. In addition, the secondary flow channel increases the total mass flow of water through the steering rudder and therefore improves steering when the propulsion system is being rapidly decelerated, such as during sudden stopping conditions. The secondary flow channel can incorporate one or more individual conduits that bypass the impeller region of the propulsion system or, alternatively, can comprise an annular channel completely surrounding the impeller region.

Marine propulsion system with bypass eductor

A control mechanism is provided for a jet propelled watercraft that enables an operator to engage and disengage a braking gate with hand pressure using a lever on the handlebar of the watercraft. Hydrodynamic assist devices are provided to assist the operator during the engagement and disengagement of the brake by counteracting both rejecting forces and retaining forces exerted on the gate by the stream of water ejected from the nozzle of the jet propulsion device. During initial insertion of the gate into the stream of water, a first hydrodynamic assist device counteracts the rejection forces otherwise exerted by the stream of water against a deflecting surface of the gate. After full deployment of the gate within the stream of water, a second hydrodynamic assist device opposes the retaining forces exerted on the gate and reduce the magnitude of the force necessary to be exerted by the operator to move the gate out of the stream of water and disengage the brake. Combinations of the two hydrodynamic assist devices can be tailored to result in an appropriate force profile necessary to be exerted by the operator during the engagement and disengagement procedures.

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Fond du Lac, WI, United States of America

Carl G Schott