Synchronous Drive Trim Alignment Device

Abstract

A unique method for automatically monitoring, trimming, and adjusting or synchronizing multi-propeller drives of a boat to remain aligned with each other in the desired trim positions during operation. In each instance that a driver or operator activates all of the stern drives at the same time to adjust or synchronize the trim, the position of each of the propeller drives is monitored by the system. If any of the propeller drives are found not to be in alignment or out of synchronization with one another, the system will automatically make the appropriate adjustments in the necessary propeller drive(s) to synchronize all of the stern drive into the same desired trim positions. An automatic calibration process is also provided to ensure that the system has, and is using, accurate position data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for a boat, comprising:
 a dash panel having a control switch;   a first propeller drive and a second propeller drive;   means for moving the first propeller drive and the second propeller drive;   the control switch communicating with the means for moving the first propeller drive and the second propeller drive;   means for indicating the location of the first propeller drive and the location of the second propeller drive; and   means for automatically synchronizing the first propeller drive into the same location as the second propeller drive if the means for indicating the location of the first propeller drive and the location of the second propeller drive indicates that the first propeller drive is in a different location than the second propeller drive.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control switch is a rocker switch, the rocker switch activating the movement of the first propeller drive and the second propeller drive. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the movement of the first propeller drive and the second propeller drive is anywhere between a full up position and a full down position. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for moving the first propeller drive and the second propeller drive is a first pump assembly having a first solenoid and a second pump assembly having a second solenoid. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first solenoid comprises both an up solenoid and a down solenoid. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the second solenoid comprises both an up solenoid and a down solenoid. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for indicating the location of the first propeller drive and the location of the second propeller drive is a first trim sender and a second trim sender. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for automatically synchronizing the first propeller drive into the same location as the second propeller drive if the means for indicating the location of the first propeller drive and the location of the second propeller drive indicates that the first propeller drive is in a different location than the second propeller drive is a controller. 
     
     
         9 . A method for automatically synchronizing a first propeller drive in relation to a second propeller drive, comprising the steps of:
 determining if a first means for activating the first propeller drive and a second means for activating the second propeller drive have both been activated;   collecting a first value for the first propeller drive, the first value representing a current location of the first propeller drive;   collecting a second value for the second propeller drive, the second value representing a current location of the second propeller drive;   calculating a delta value from the difference between the first value and the second value;   activating the first means for activating the first propeller drive to move the first propeller drive from the current location of the first propeller drive to a new location of the first propeller drive if the delta value is greater than zero;   collecting a new value for the first propeller drive, the new value representing the new location of the first propeller drive;   calculating a new delta value from the difference between the new value and the second value; and   confirming that the new location of the first propeller drive is at the same location as the current location of the second propeller drive if the delta value is equal to zero.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  and further comprising the step of monitoring the first means for activating the first propeller drive and the second means for activating the second propeller drive. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  and further comprising the step of activating the first means for activating the first propeller drive to move the first propeller drive from the new location of the first propeller drive to a second new location of the first propeller drive if the new delta value is greater than zero. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising the step of collecting a second new value for the first propeller drive, the second new value representing the second new location of the first propeller drive. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  and further comprising the step of calculating a second new delta value from the difference between the second new value and the second value. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  and further comprising the step of confirming that the second new location of the first propeller drive is at the same location as the current location of the second propeller drive if the second new delta value is equal to zero. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising the step of determining a time when the first means for activating the first propeller drive was activated. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  and further comprising the step of determining a time when the second means for activating the second propeller drive was activated. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  and further comprising the step of calculating a time differential between the time when the first means for activating the first propeller drive was activated and the time when the second means for activating the second propeller drive was activated. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  and further comprising the step of proceeding if the time differential is less than or equal to a pre-determined time differential.