Marine propulsion control system

Abstract

A marine propulsion control system for a marine vessel has a drive unit to be connected with the marine vessel. The drive unit comprises an upper part pivotably connected with the marine vessel and a lower part having propellers. The lower part is rotatable in relation to the upper part. An input unit obtains an activation message indicative of an operation mode for the drive unit. A control unit is configured to control the drive unit on basis of the activation message obtained from an input unit. The control unit controls the drive unit within different predetermined operation modes, wherein one of the predetermined operation modes is a swim mode in which the control unit rotates the lower part of the drive unit so that the one or more propellers is/are facing forward in a position of minimum 90 degrees compared to a rearward facing position of the one or more propellers. The control unit ensures no thrust force and/or rotation of the one or more propellers in the swim mode.

1 . A marine propulsion control system for a marine vessel, comprising
 a drive unit adapted to be connected with the marine vessel, the drive unit comprises an upper part being pivotable connected with the marine vessel and a lower part having one or more propellers providing a thrust force, the lower part is rotatable in relation to the upper part,   an input unit configured to obtain an activation message indicative of an operation mode for the drive unit,   a control unit being operatively connected with the drive unit and the input unit, the control unit is configured to control the drive unit on basis of the activation message obtained from the input unit,   wherein the control unit, based on at least the activation message, is configured to control the drive unit within different predetermined operation modes,   wherein one of the predetermined operation modes is a swim mode in which the control unit is configured to rotate the lower part of the drive unit so that the one or more propellers is/are facing forward in a position of minimum 90 degrees compared to a rearward facing position of the one or more propellers,   wherein the control unit is configured to ensure no thrust force and/or rotation of the one or more propellers in the swim mode.   
     
     
         2 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tilt and trim arrangement, the control unit is operatively connected with the tilt and trim arrangement. 
     
     
         3 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 1 , wherein the activation message is activated by an operator or captain and/or is an automatically generated activation message. 
     
     
         4 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 1 , wherein the automatically generated activation message is sensor data obtained from one or more sensor(s). 
     
     
         5 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensor(s), the one or more sensors is/are configured to detect one or more condition(s) of the marine vessel, the drive unit and/or a surrounding of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more conditions of the marine vessel is load, movement, components on the marine vessel, position of a bathing platform, and/or position of a bathing ladder. 
     
     
         7 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more conditions of marine unit is the position of one or more propellers, rpm of the propellers, trim angles, tilt angles, torque, consumption, position of the lower part compared to the upper part, height position, and others. 
     
     
         8 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 5 , wherein the surroundings is detection of persons and/or objects around the marine vessel, depth, waves, and/or direction of the waves. 
     
     
         9 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the predetermined operation modes is a normal/high speed mode in which the control unit is configured to control the drive unit, a steering unit, and/or the tilt and trim arrangement so that the trim of the drive unit and steering is set with limitations and no tilt capability of the drive unit. 
     
     
         10 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 9 , wherein the limitation is that the trim of the drive unit cannot exceed ±10 degrees compared to neutral trim, and that rotation of the lower part of the drive unit is limited to 30 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the predetermined operation modes is a slow speed mode in which the control unit is configured to control the drive unit, a steering unit, and/or the tilt and trim arrangement so that the trim of the drive unit is free, unlimited steering up to 360 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the predetermined operation modes is shallow water/beach mode in which the control unit is configured to control the drive unit, a steering unit, and/or the tilt and trim arrangement so that the trim and tilt is free, unlimited steering up to 360 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 12 , wherein the control unit is configured to rotate the lower part to a position with the one or more propellers facing aft in relation to the marine vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the predetermined operation modes is a storage mode in which the control unit is configured to control the drive unit, a steering unit, and/or the tilt and trim arrangement so that the drive unit is trimmed and tilted out of water, and the control unit is configured to ensure no thrust force and/or rotation of the one or more propellers. 
     
     
         15 . The marine propulsion control system of  claim 14 , wherein the control unit is configured to rotate the lower part to a position with the one or more propellers facing aft in relation to the marine vessel. 
     
     
         16 . A marine vessel comprising a marine propulsion control system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a marine propulsion control system of  claim 1 , comprising
 providing the marine propulsion control system on a marine vessel,   obtaining an activation message indicative of a predetermined operation mode for the drive unit,   controlling the drive unit on basis of the activation message,   obtaining a swim mode activation message,   rotating, in response to obtaining the swim mode activation message, the lower part of the drive unit so that the one or more propellers is/are facing forward in a position of minimum 90 degrees compared to a rearward facing position of the one or more propellers,   ensuring that no thrust force and/or rotation of the one or more propellers in the swim mode.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising
 obtaining a normal/high speed mode activation message,   setting, in response to obtaining the normal/high speed mode activation message, limitations to the trim of the drive unit and steering, and   setting no tilt capability of the drive unit.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising
 obtaining a slow speed mode activation messages,   setting, in response to obtaining the slow speed mode activation message, the trim of the drive unit free,   providing unlimited steering up to 360 degrees of the drive unit.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising
 obtaining a shallow water/beach mode activation message,   setting, in response to obtaining the shallow water/beach activation message, the trim and tilt is free,   providing unlimited steering up to 360 degrees.