Brunswick Corporation

Troy J Kollmann

Michael A Torgerud

David J Belter

Brian L Merten

Simon H McFarland

Andrew Peoples

Cody Sullivan

Steven J Gonring

Michael A Karls

Trevor George

Mark W Henker

Timothy S Reid

Jeffrey J Broman

Eric S Mueller

Wade A Loberger

Timothy P Wickman

Yana V Foltice

Steve Wynveen

David M Heap

Amir Abou Zeid

Jon M Nowick

James S Wylie

Luke A Doepke

A livewell system for a marine vessel includes a tank configured to hold water, a fill pump configured to pump water into the tank from a body of water in which the marine vessel is located, and a recirculation pump configured to pump water out of the tank and subsequently back into the tank. A first temperature sensor senses a temperature of the water in the body of water, and a second temperature sensor senses a temperature of the water in the tank. A controller is provided in signal communication with the fill pump, the recirculation pump, and the first and second temperature sensors. The controller operates the fill pump and the recirculation pump based on information from the first and second temperature sensors to maintain the temperature of the water in the tank within a predetermined temperature range. A method for maintaining livewell water temperature is also provided.

Livewell system and method

A livewell system for installation on a marine vessel includes a tank configured to hold water, a lid configured to be secured over an opening at an upper end of the tank, and an overflow outlet located proximate the upper end of the tank. When the lid is secured over the opening and the tank is filled with water, an underside of the lid is configured to contact substantially an entire upper surface of the water such that substantially no air gap is present between the upper surface of the water and the lower surface of the lid. A hybrid aerator spray head and venturi fitting coupled to the tank provides oxygenated water into the tank.

Livewell system

A livewell system comprises a tank for holding water and aquatic life. A scale measures a weight of the tank and any contents of the tank. At least one sensor determines a property of the water in the tank. A pump pumps water into the tank. A controller is provided in signal communication with the scale, the at least one sensor, and the pump. The controller controls the pump based on information from the scale and the at least one sensor. A kit for a livewell system on a marine vessel, including a scale and a measurement module in signal communication with a controller, is also provided.

Smart livewell system

An object detection system for a marine vessel having at least one marine drive includes at least one image sensor positioned on the marine vessel and configured to capture an image of a marine environment on or around the marine vessel, and a processor. The object detection system further includes an image scanning module executable on the processor that receives the image as input. The image scanning module includes an artificial neural network trained to detect patterns within the image of the marine environment associated with one or more predefined objects, and to output detection information regarding a presence or absence of the one or more predefined objects within the image of the marine environment.

Person detection in a marine environment

A system for automatically trailering a marine vessel includes a set of coded tags coupled to a boat trailer, each storing data regarding its location on the trailer. A tag reader is located aboard the vessel, and estimates a first distance to a first coded tag in the set and a second distance to a second coded tag in the set. A position determination module uses the first and second estimated distances to determine position and heading of the vessel and the trailer in a given coordinate system. A feedback control module calculates a difference between the positions of the vessel and the trailer and a difference between the headings of the vessel and the trailer and determines vessel movements required to minimize the position and heading differences. A marine propulsion system automatically actuates a propulsion device to produce the required vessel movements to propel the vessel onto the trailer.

Systems and methods for automatically trailering a marine vessel on a boat trailer

A control system of a marine vessel includes a vessel control unit that controls the rotational position of at least one rotatable device on the marine vessel, and a head-mounted display in data communication with the vessel control unit. The head-mounted display has a sensor system that detects a facing direction and a display positioned in the operator's field of view that displays an indicator of the facing direction. The head-mounted display also includes an interface element that allows the operator to select the facing direction. The control system operates such that the vessel control unit adjusts the rotational position of the rotatable device based on the facing direction.

Method and system for controlling rotatable device on marine vessel

A marine engine fuel system provides a low pressure lift pump to draw fuel from a fuel tank and cause the fuel to flow into a reservoir and a high pressure fuel pump which draws fuel from the reservoir and provides it to a fuel rail. An inlet conduit of the high pressure fuel pump is provided with a primary and a secondary opening. The secondary opening can be an orifice formed through a wall of the inlet conduit. The secondary opening is positioned, relative to the primary opening, at a location which assists in controlling the fuel level within the reservoir and the quantity of gaseous fuel contained within an ullage above the liquid pool of fuel.

Marine fuel system with an ullage control device

A fuel system for a marine propulsion device controls the pressure of liquid fuel within a fuel rail by altering the pump speed of a fuel pump. The fuel pressure in the rail is measured by a pressure transducer which provides an output signal to a microprocessor that allows the microprocessor to select an operating speed for the fuel pump that conforms to a desired fuel pressure in the rail. By decreasing or increasing the operating speed of the positive displacement fuel pump as a function of the measured pressure in the rail, the microprocessor can accurately regulate the fuel pressure.

Electronic voltage regulation for a marine returnless fuel system

A fuel system for a marine propulsion system provides a container, in addition to the fuel tank of the marine vessel, which contains fuel pumps, a filter, a pressure regulator, and possibly a fuel cooler. Some or all of these components can be submerged under the surface of a pool of liquid fuel within the container. The container is displaced physically from the fuel tank of a marine vessel.

Fuel system container for a marine vessel

A marine propulsion device is provided with a fuel filter that is connectable between a fuel tank and a fuel pump, wherein the fuel filter is disposed below an adapter plate of the marine propulsion device. The adapter plate is located between the fuel filter and the engine so that the fuel filter is not located under the cowl of the marine propulsion device where an engine is housed.

Fuel filter located below an adapter plate of an outboard motor

An air intake system for an outboard motor provides parallel air flow paths between an opening formed in a cowl of the outboard motor and an air intake manifold of an engine under the cowl. A first air path flows in a relatively direct path between the opening in the cowl and the first inlet of a plenum chamber. A second air flow flows in a less direct path from the opening in the cowl to a second inlet of the plenum chamber. The second air flow is used to remove heat from a preselected component, such as an alternator, before it rejoins the first air flow within the cavity of the plenum chamber and is directed, in combination with the first air flow, through an intake air conduit connected to an outlet of the plenum chamber and to an air intake manifold of the engine.

Undercowl plenum chamber with preferential air paths

A marine propulsion device is provided with a thermoelectric device connected in thermal communication with fuel as it flows through the fuel system of an engine. The thermoelectric device can be a Peltier-effect device that uses electric current to cause heat to flow from a cold portion of the Peltier-effect device to a hot portion of the Peltier-effect device. A secondary heat exchanger removes heat from the Peltier-effect device. As a result, heat is removed from the fuel in order to inhibit the creation of a 'vapor lock' condition in association with the engine.

Marine fuel system with peltier-effect device

The temperature regulation system is provided which places a flow controlling valve at a location which can be different than the location of the temperature being controlled. In other words, a valve can be located at a remote position relative to, cooling passages of an engine block or head. Signals from temperature sensors are provided to a microprocessor of an engine control module and the engine control module controls the operation of the valve in response to the measured temperatures. The engine control module can select different temperature ranges as a function of selected operating conditions of the engine, such as engine speed. In addition, the engine control module can cycle the valve in order to free it of debris when it is sensed that the valve is not responding in an expected manner.

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Mt. Calvary, WI, United States of America

Troy J Kollmann