Outboard motor, control apparatus and control method for outboard motor

Abstract

A control apparatus for an outboard motor ( 4 , 5 ) mounted on a hull ( 2 ), comprises a detection unit ( 46 ) that detects a variation of rotation of a propeller ( 25 ), a protruding portion ( 60 ) provided at a rear end portion ( 25 b ) of the propeller ( 25 ) to rotate integrally with the propeller ( 25 ) and extending from the propeller ( 25 ) to a rear of the hull ( 2 ), and a control unit ( 30 , 40 ) that determines that an object has contacted the protruding portion ( 60 ) when a variation of rotation of the propeller ( 25 ) exceeds a predetermined threshold is detected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outboard motor ( 4 ,  5 ) mounted on a hull ( 2 ) comprising:
 a protruding portion ( 60 ) provided at a rear end portion ( 25   b ) of a propeller ( 25 ) to rotate integrally with the propeller ( 25 ) and extending from the propeller ( 25 ) to a rear of the hull ( 2 ).   
     
     
         2 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion ( 60 ) is arranged coaxially with a rotary axis (R 3 ) of the propeller ( 25 ). 
     
     
         3 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion ( 60 ) extends from the propeller ( 25 ) to the rear of the hull ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion ( 60 ) includes an elastic material. 
     
     
         5 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion ( 60 ) is equipped with an airbag (61). 
     
     
         6 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portion ( 60 ) is detachably attached to the propeller ( 25 ). 
     
     
         7 . The outboard motor according to  claim 1 , wherein the outboard motor includes a first outboard motor ( 4 ) and a second outboard motor ( 5 ), which are spaced apart in a width direction of the hull ( 2 ). 
     
     
         8 . A control apparatus for an outboard motor ( 4 ,  5 ) mounted on a hull ( 2 ), comprising:
 a detection unit ( 46 ) that detects a variation of rotation of a propeller ( 25 );   a protruding portion ( 60 ) provided at a rear end portion ( 25   b ) of the propeller ( 25 ) to rotate integrally with the propeller ( 25 ) and extending from the propeller ( 25 ) to a rear of the hull ( 2 ); and   a control unit ( 30 ,  40 ) that determines that an object has contacted the protruding portion ( 60 ) when a variation of rotation of the propeller ( 25 ) exceeds a predetermined threshold is detected.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the protruding portion ( 60 ) is arranged coaxially with a rotary axis (R 3 ) of the propeller ( 25 ). 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the protruding portion ( 60 ) extends from the propeller ( 25 ) to a rear of the hull ( 2 ). 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the protruding portion ( 60 ) includes an elastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the control unit ( 30 ,  40 ) issues a warning when the control unit ( 30 ,  40 ) determines that an object has contacted the protruding portion ( 60 ). 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the control unit ( 30 ,  40 ) stops the propeller ( 25 ) when the control unit ( 30 ,  40 ) determines that an object has contacted the protruding portion ( 60 ). 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the protruding portion ( 60 ) is equipped with an airbag ( 61 ), and
 the control unit ( 30 ,  40 ) deploys the airbag ( 61 ) when the control unit ( 30 ,  40 ) determines that an object has contacted the protruding portion ( 60 ).   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined threshold is different when the object is a person and when the object is not a person. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the variation of rotation is a variation of angular velocity or angular acceleration of a drive shaft ( 25   a ) of the propeller ( 25 ). 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the protruding portion ( 60 ) is detachably attached to the propeller ( 25 ). 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the outboard motor includes a first outboard motor ( 4 ) and a second outboard motor ( 5 ), which are spaced apart in a width direction of the hull ( 2 ). 
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling an outboard motor ( 4 ,  5 ) mounted on a hull ( 2 ),
 wherein the outboard motor ( 4 ,  5 ) has a protruding portion ( 60 ) provided at a rear end portion ( 25   b ) of a propeller ( 25 ) to rotate integrally with the propeller ( 25 ) and extending from the propeller ( 25 ) to a rear of the hull ( 2 ),   the method comprising:
 detecting a variation of rotation of the propeller ( 25 ); and 
 determining that an object has contacted the protruding portion ( 60 ) when a variation of rotation of the propeller ( 25 ) exceeds a predetermined threshold value is detected.