Brunswick Corporation

Matthew W Snyder

Jason S Arbuckle

Thomas S Kirchhoff

Robert Raymond Osthelder

Travis C Malouf

William P O'Brien

Andrew J Przybyl

Aaron J Ward

Justin R Poirier

Mitchell J Baer

David J Belter

Steven M Anschuetz

Charles A Lubitz

Steven J Andrasko

Brad E Taylor

David M Van Buren

Michael P Dengel

John R Boatman

Kenneth G Gable

Michael J Lemancik

Christopher J Taylor

Brett Bielefeld

Gene A Smedema

David G Camp

Brian L Merten

Ryan A Fergus

Andrew Sheely

A method of controlling a marine propulsion system is provided wherein the marine propulsion system includes at least one rear marine drive steerable to a range of steering positions. The method includes receiving a propulsion demand input. For each of the at least one rear marine drive, a propeller direction and a commanded steering position are determined based on the propulsion demand input, a steering actuator is controlled to steer the rear marine drive toward the commanded steering position, a delayed time to begin propeller engagement is determined to coordinate initiation of propeller rotation with the rear marine drive reaching the commanded steering position. The rear marine drive is then controlled to begin rotating the propeller in the propeller direction based on the delayed time to generate the surge movement, the sway movement, and/or the yaw movement commanded.

Marine propulsion system and control method

A system for steering a marine vessel includes first and second marine drives connected by a mechanical link such that they are steered in parallel, a first steering actuator configured to rotate the first marine drive and a first steering position sensor configured to measure a steering position thereof. A second steering actuator configured to rotate the second marine drive. The control system is configured to receive a steering command and a current steering position from the first steering position sensor. A first steering instruction is then determined for the first steering actuator based on the steering command and the current steering position such that the first steering actuator bears a first portion of a total steering load to effectuate the steering command. A coordinated steering instruction is determined for the second steering actuator such that the second steering actuator bears a remaining portion of the total steering load.

Parallel steering actuation system and method for a marine vessel

A method for shifting a multi-speed transmission of a marine propulsion device from a first gear being engaged to a second gear being engaged by selectively filling a first clutch and a second clutch with a fluid. The method includes operating the marine propulsion device with the second gear disengaged and controlling the second clutch to perform a first prefill in which fluid is injected into the second clutch to partially fill the second clutch while the second gear remains disengaged. The method further includes receiving, after the first prefill, a request to shift from the first gear to the second gear and subsequently increasing a pressure in the second clutch to cause the second gear to engage and decreasing a pressure in the first clutch to cause the first gear to disengage to thereby shift the multi-speed transmission.

Systems and methods for shifting a multi-speed transmission

A method for shifting a marine propulsion device transmission between first and second gears transmitting torque from a powerhead with a redline RPM. The transmission has a transition time for completing a shift. The method includes measuring an RPM of the powerhead, comparing the RPM to a first threshold, and starting a timer when the RPM exceeds the first threshold. The method includes measuring the RPM of the powerhead after the first threshold is exceeded, comparing the RPM to a second threshold, stopping the timer when the RPM exceeds the second threshold, determining an elapsed time between starting and stopping the timer, and determining a shift RPM based on the determined elapsed time, the redline RPM, and the transition time of the transmission. The method includes controlling the transmission to shift when the RPM measured for the powerhead reaches the shift RPM such that shifting completes before the redline RPM.

Systems and methods for shifting multi-speed transmissions

A method for shifting multi-speed transmissions of marine propulsion devices each having a power head and a shift schedule for shifting between first and second gears to transmit torque from the powerhead. The method includes configuring the transmissions of leader and follower marine propulsion devices to shift when shift schedules of the leader and of the follower indicate shift recommendations, respectively. The method further includes receiving a request to shift the transmission of the leader when the shift schedule of the leader indicates the shift recommendation. The method further includes determining whether conditions are met for the follower to follow the leader in shifting. The method further includes automatically requesting, when conditions are determined to be met for the follower to follow the leader, to shift the transmission of the follower so as to be coordinated with shifting the transmission of the leader.

A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel includes at least two marine drives, a control system communicatively connected to the at least two marine drives and configured to detect that at least one of the marine drives is running and that least one of the marine drives is not running and determine, based on a trim position of each of the at least one non-running marine drive, that at least one non-running marine drive is trimmed down. The control system then controls each of the at least one running marine drive based on an output limit restriction until the at least one non-running marine drive is sufficiently trimmed up.

A method for shifting a multi-speed transmission of a marine propulsion device between a first gear and a second gear each configured to transmit torque from a powerhead to a transmission output shaft. The method includes determining an actual power level requested for operating the marine propulsion device and measuring a transmission output shaft speed in which the transmission output shaft is rotating. The method further includes comparing the actual power level to a shift threshold, the shift threshold corresponding to expected power levels for operating the marine propulsion device as a function of the transmission output shaft speed of the transmission output shaft. The method further includes controlling the multi-speed transmission to shift when the actual power is outside the shift threshold.

A method of controlling at least one marine drive on a marine vessel includes determining that a trim position sensor has failed for a first marine drive, determining an allowable steering angle range for the first marine drive based on a first assumed trim position, and determining a steering position adjustment based on the allowable steering angle range. A steering actuator is controlled to automatically adjust the steering position of the marine drive based on the steering position adjustment. A trim position adjustment is determined based on a second assumed trim position for the marine drive and a trim actuator is controlled to adjust the trim position of the first marine drive based on the trim position adjustment.

System and method for controlling position of a marine drive

A method for downshifting a multi-speed transmission of a marine propulsion device to a first gear from a second gear. The method includes providing a shift schedule that indicates a shift recommendation for when to downshift from the second gear to the first gear. The method further includes configuring the transmission to downshift when the shift schedule indicates the shift recommendation, determining a requested speed of the marine propulsion device, measuring an actual speed of the marine propulsion device, calculating an error between the requested speed and the actual speed, comparing the error to an error threshold, and determining when the error exceeds the error threshold longer than a duration threshold. The method further includes controlling the transmission to downshift, despite the shift schedule indicating a non-shift recommendation, when the duration threshold is exceeded so as to reduce the error between the requested speed and the actual speed.

A method for shifting a multi-speed transmission for transmitting rotation between an input shaft and an output shaft for a marine vessel. The method includes providing a multi-speed transmission having first and second gears engaged by actuating first and second clutches, and providing first and second pressure sensors that measure first and second pressures within the first and second clutches, respectively. The method further includes performing a first shift from the first gear to the second gear by de-actuating the first clutch a first delay after the second clutch is actuated, then measuring the first and second pressures and determining a first shift pressure at which the first and second pressures are substantially equal while performing the first shift. The method further includes comparing the first shift pressure to a first pressure threshold range and adjusting the first delay when the first shift pressure is outside the first pressure threshold range.

Multi-speed transmissions and methods for shifting multi-speed transmissions for marine vessels

A method of controlling a marine drive on a marine vessel includes receiving a trim position instruction to adjust a trim position of the marine drive, receiving a steering position of the marine drive, determining an allowable steering angle range based on the trim position instruction and/or the adjusted trim position of the marine drive, and controlling a trim actuator to adjust the trim position of the marine drive based on the trim position instruction, the steering position, and the allowable steering angle range such that the steering position of the marine drive remains within the allowable steering angle range for the adjusted trim position.

A method of controlling a plurality of marine drives on a marine vessel includes detecting that at least one of the plurality of marine drives and that at least one of the plurality of marine drives is not running, and then determining, based on the trim position of each of the at least one non-running marine drives, that at least one non-running marine drive is trimmed down. If so, an output limit restriction is effectuated for each of the at least one running marine drive and an alert is generated to advise an operator of the output limit restriction.

A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel has a first marine propulsion device coupled to the marine vessel and a second marine propulsion device coupled to the marine vessel. The first marine propulsion device has a first engine controlled by a first electronic control module. The second marine propulsion device has a second engine controlled by a second electronic control module. In response to the first marine propulsion device being keyed ON, the second electronic control module of the second marine propulsion device is turned ON.

Marine propulsion system and method for preventing collision of marine propulsion devices

A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel has an outboard motor including a cowl covering an internal combustion engine that powers the outboard motor and an accelerometer mounted to the outboard motor. A control module is communicatively connected to the accelerometer. The control module receives information regarding an acceleration of the outboard motor from the accelerometer. The control module uses the information regarding the acceleration of the outboard motor to do at least one of the following: determine an angle of the outboard motor with respect to gravity; determine an amount of oil in an oil sump of the outboard motor; and determine if a reading of the amount of oil in the oil sump is accurate.

Systems and methods for enhancing features of a marine propulsion system

A method for controlling a valve to disengage a gear in a transmission. The method includes reducing, after receiving a request to disengage the gear, a current supplied to the valve from a starting to a first current. The method further includes counting a first elapsed time since the valve was reduced to the first current, comparing the first elapsed time to a first wait time, and increasing the current supplied to the valve to a second current once the first elapsed time exceeds the first wait time. The method further includes counting a second elapsed time since the valve was increased to the second current, comparing the second elapsed time to a second wait time, and reducing the current supplied to the valve to a third current once the second elapsed exceeds the second wait time. The valve is closed when the current is the third current.

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Fond du Lac, WI, United States of America

Matthew W Snyder