Motor-Boat Control System

Abstract

The invention concerns a computer-based system to control and steer high-speed boats by means of handlebar ( 23 ) and a plurality of control members ( 8, 9, 11 ) for a plurality of functions, critical for the manoeuvre, with a retained two-hand control of steering.

1 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A motor-boat control system, comprising:
 a turnable handlebar having two handles, at least one of which is twisted to control motor speed, the turnable handlebar connected to a steering housing and controlling steering of the motor-boat; and   an electronic processor that controls members that activate steering deflection of a power train in response to electronically decoded turning motion of the handlebar and commands for rotational speed control and gear changing;   wherein the members are carried by the handlebar or by the steering housing for the handlebar;   the two handles each have an outer part and an inner part, either the outer part or the inner part is coupled to a twist position decoder and the other of the outer part and inner part is rotationally fixed, or the two handles are split such that respective outer and inner parts are twistable and coupled to respective twist position decoders;   the handles cause the electronic processor to control motor-boat functions, including at least one of throttle, location of water-jet bucket, trim position, and trim interceptors;   both handles are connected to a steering shaft and are coupled to an angle decoder for gear changing regulation; and   the steering shaft is twistable and is coupled to an angle decoder for steering the motor-boat according to the two handles and steering case housing.   
     
     
         28 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein the handles have electronic locking so that a selected inactive handle is stopped from rotating. 
     
     
         29 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein steering deflection of the motor-boat is progressive in relation to steering deflection of the handlebar. 
     
     
         30 . The control system of  claim 29 , wherein sensitivity of steering deflection decreases at steering positions near midship rudder and increases at greater rudder angles. 
     
     
         31 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein members for controlling interceptors are placed so that they can be activated with a retained grip around the handles, and members for activating impulse action of the interceptors are placed where they can be activated with the retained grip. 
     
     
         32 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein the handles are attached by separate fastening devices but are electronically linked together so that they are immovable separately but can be moved together. 
     
     
         33 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein the steering housing accommodates the electronic processor. 
     
     
         34 . The control system of  claim 33 , wherein the steering housing further accommodates the angle decoder for steering the motor-boat. 
     
     
         35 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein the steering housing includes a concentric hydraulic steering damper that damps a speed of steering deflection and makes a turning resistance speed dependent. 
     
     
         36 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein the steering case housing includes an electronic steering damper that damps a speed of steering deflection. 
     
     
         37 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein members for controlling power trim are placed on the handlebar and activated with a retained grip around the handles. 
     
     
         38 . The control system of  claim 27 , further comprising a control member that selects between controlling respective power trains with respective handles and controlling several power trains by one handle. 
     
     
         39 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein members are arranged so that gear position is selected using the same handles that control rotational speed, whereby twisting a handle in one direction past a certain angle engages a forward gear and continued twisting in the one direction successively increases the rotational speed, and twisting the handle past a certain angle in an opposite direction engages a rear gear and then successively increases the rotational speed. 
     
     
         40 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein a speed of turning the handlebar is limited by a steering damper so that the handlebar is prevented from being turned faster than steering deflection of the motor-boat has time to follow. 
     
     
         41 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein up to a first turning force the handlebar is prevented from being turned substantially further than its correspondence to an actual steering deflection and the handlebar includes a force sensor that transmits signals to the electronic processor to increase a speed of rudder deflection upon a turning force greater than the first turning force. 
     
     
         42 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein the handlebar is suspended in elastic elements so that shocks propagating through the handlebar are damped. 
     
     
         43 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein the steering housing has a display that graphically displays at least one of a selected gear position and a selected single mode or a dual mode. 
     
     
         44 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein the steering housing has a joystick for control. 
     
     
         45 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein the steering housing has a display that graphically displays how the motor-boat is intended to move according to commands given by the electronic processor. 
     
     
         46 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein twist positions of the handles are tactilely or visibly indicated. 
     
     
         47 . The control system of  claim 27 , wherein gear selector regulators are placed on the handlebar and activated with a retained grip of the handles.