Watercraft propulsion system, and watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft propulsion system includes an engine propulsion device attachable to a hull and including a propeller rotatable about a first propeller axis, an electric propulsion device attachable to the hull and including a propeller rotatable about a second propeller axis different from the first propeller axis, and a controller configured or programmed to control the engine propulsion device and the electric propulsion device. The controller is configured or programmed to perform a propulsive force matching control to match a propulsive force increasing characteristic of the electric propulsion device with a propulsive force increasing characteristic of the engine propulsion device when a command is inputted to simultaneously generate propulsive forces from the engine propulsion device and the electric propulsion device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft propulsion system comprising:
 an engine propulsion device attachable to a hull and including a propeller rotatable about a first propeller axis;   an electric propulsion device attachable to the hull and including a propeller rotatable about a second propeller axis different from the first propeller axis; and   a controller configured or programmed to control the engine propulsion device and the electric propulsion device and, when a command is inputted to cause the engine propulsion device and the electric propulsion device to simultaneously generate propulsive forces, to perform a propulsive force matching control to match a propulsive force increasing characteristic of the electric propulsion device with a propulsive force increasing characteristic of the engine propulsion device.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the propulsive force matching control includes a delay control to delay an increase of the propulsive force of the electric propulsion device. 
     
     
         3 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the propulsive force matching control includes a filtering process in which the propulsive force increasing characteristic of the electric propulsion device is gradual. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the propulsive force matching control includes a driving start delay control to delay a driving start timing of the electric propulsion device. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the propulsive force matching control includes a driving start delay control to delay a driving start timing of the electric propulsion device, and a filtering process in which the propulsive force increasing characteristic of the electric propulsion device is gradual after driving of the electric propulsion device is started. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the propulsive force matching control includes a limitation control to maintain the propulsive force of the electric propulsion device at a constant propulsive force level that is lower than a target propulsive force level for a predetermined time period after driving of the electric propulsion device is started. 
     
     
         7 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a translation commander to input a translation command to the controller to translate the hull; wherein   the controller is configured or programmed to perform the propulsive force matching control when the translation command is inputted from the translation commander.   
     
     
         8 . The watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the engine propulsion device and the electric propulsion device are attachable to a stern of the hull. 
     
     
         9 . A watercraft propulsion system comprising:
 a first propulsion device attachable to a hull and including a propeller rotatable about a first propeller axis, and having a first propulsive force increasing characteristic;   a second propulsion device attachable to the hull and including a propeller rotatable about a second propeller axis different from the first propeller axis, and having a second propulsive force increasing characteristic different from the first propulsive force increasing characteristic; and   a controller configured or programmed to perform a propulsive force matching control to match the first propulsive force increasing characteristic and the second propulsive force increasing characteristic with each other when both the first propulsion device and the second propulsion device are to be driven.   
     
     
         10 . A watercraft comprising:
 a hull; and   the watercraft propulsion system according to  claim 1  provided on the hull.   
     
     
         11 . A watercraft comprising:
 a hull; and   the watercraft propulsion system according to claim  9  provided on the hull.