Control device and method for influencing the engine speed and the degree of slip of a clutch of a ship drive system

Abstract

A control device and method for influencing the rotation speed of an engine ( 3 ) and the degree of slip of a clutch, downstream therefrom, of a transmission ( 5 ) of a ship drive system, by way of an electronic control unit ( 2 ) in accordance with a manual command transducer ( 1 ) for selecting the rotation direction and travel speed, wherein upon engagement of the clutch in order to initiate travel ahead or back, a slip definition unit ( 10 ) of the electronic control unit ( 2 ) influences the degree of slip of the clutch in accordance with a ramp function characteristic curve, in order to decrease clutch slip (s) during a defined clutch engagement time span (t).

1 . A control device for influencing the rotation speed of an engine ( 3 ) and the degree of slip of a clutch of a transmission ( 5 ) of a ship drive system, the clutch being downstream from the engine, the ship drive system having a manual command transducer (I) manually operable to select an engine rotation direction and a travel speed, wherein the control device comprises:
 an electronic control unit ( 2 ) connecting the manual command transducer to the engine ( 3 ) and to the transmission ( 5 ), the electronic control unit ( 2 ) including a slip definition unit ( 10 ), wherein upon engagement of the clutch in order to initiate travel ahead or back, the slip definition unit ( 10 ) influences the degree of slip of the clutch in accordance with a ramp function characteristic curve in order to decrease clutch slip (s) during a defined clutch engagement time span (t).   
   
   
       2 . The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit ( 2 ) further includes a first converter unit ( 8 ) and a second converter unit ( 9 ), wherein a control instruction from the manual command transducer ( 1 ) is delivered to both the first converter unit and the second converter unit, wherein the first converter unit ( 8 ) determines an engine speed signal ( 13 ) for the connected engine ( 3 ) in accordance with a characteristic curve for engine speed, and wherein the second converter unit ( 9 ) determines a rotation direction signal ( 14 ) for the connected transmission ( 5 ) in accordance with a characteristic curve for rotation direction. 
   
   
       3 . The control device according to  claim 2 , wherein the electronic control unit ( 2 ) further includes a rotation speed limiting unit ( 11 ) between the first converter unit ( 8 ) and the connected engine ( 3 ), wherein the rotation speed limiting unit ( 11 ) limits the engine speed to a range suitable for trolling operation. 
   
   
       4 . The control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the manual command transducer ( 1 ) includes at least one operating lever, wherein both a direction of travel and a travel speed are manually definable, by way of the command transducer ( 1 ), depending on a selected position of the at least one operating lever. 
   
   
       5 . A method for influencing the rotation speed of an engine ( 3 ) and the degree of slip of a clutch of a transmission ( 5 ) connected to the engine in a ship drive system, the method comprising the step of:
 receiving a control instruction from a manual command transducer, the control instruction indicating a rotation direction and a travel speed each selected using the manual command transducer;   engaging the clutch to initiate travel ahead or back according to the rotation direction indicated by the control instruction;   influencing, upon engagement of the clutch in order to initiate travel ahead or back, the degree of slip of the clutch in accordance with a ramp function characteristic curve such that the degree of clutch slip decreases over time.   
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the control instruction is received by an electronic control unit ( 2 ) having a slip definition unit ( 10 ), wherein the degree of clutch slip is influenced by the slip definition unit ( 10 ) of the electronic control unit ( 2 ). 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:
 directing the control instruction from the manual command transducer ( 1 ) to a first converter unit ( 8 ) and to a second converter unit ( 9 );   determining an engine speed signal ( 13 ) for controlling the speed of the engine, wherein the engine speed signal ( 13 ) is determined by the first converter unit ( 8 ) in accordance with a characteristic curve for engine speed; and   determining a rotation direction signal ( 14 ) for controlling the rotation direction of the transmission ( 5 ), wherein the rotation direction signal ( 13 ) is determined by the second converter unit ( 9 ) in accordance with a characteristic curve for rotation direction;   
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the step of determining the engine speed signal ( 13 ) further comprises limiting the engine speed to a range suitable for trolling operation by way of a rotation speed limiting unit ( 11 ) connected to the first converter unit ( 8 ). 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the rotation speed limiting unit ( 11 ) is activated by a switching signal ( 17 ) generated by the slip definition unit ( 10 ). 
   
   
       10 . A ship drive system comprising:
 an engine ( 3 ) to generate a drive power output;   a transmission ( 5 ) connected to the engine ( 3 ), the transmission ( 5 ) having an adjustable clutch;   a manual command transducer ( 1 ) manually operable to select an engine rotation direction and a travel speed; and   an electronic control unit ( 2 ) connecting the manual command transducer to the engine ( 3 ) and to the transmission ( 5 ), the electronic control unit ( 2 ) including a slip definition unit ( 10 ), wherein upon engagement of the clutch in order to initiate travel ahead or back, the slip definition unit ( 10 ) influences the degree of slip of the clutch in accordance with a ramp function characteristic curve in order to decrease clutch slip (s) during a defined clutch engagement time span (t).   
   
   
       11 . The ship drive system according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a propeller shaft ( 6 ) connected to an output side of the transmission ( 5 ): and   a propeller ( 7 ) mounted on the propeller shaft ( 6 ).