Propulsion device control apparatus

Abstract

Propulsion device control apparatus controlling boat propulsion device includes: lever instructing propulsion direction and target propulsion force; and controller controlling propulsion device based on instruction from lever. Propulsion device includes: right propulsion device on starboard side; left propulsion device on port side; and middle propulsion device between right propulsion device and left propulsion device. Lever includes: right lever corresponding to one of right propulsion device and left propulsion device; and left lever corresponding to other of right propulsion device and left propulsion device. Controller switches between: normal mode controlling middle propulsion device based on instruction from right and left levers; and preset mode controlling middle propulsion device based on instruction from preset lever. Controller controls middle propulsion device in normal mode when right and left levers are normal, while limits propulsion force corresponding to one and switches from normal mode to preset mode when one fails.

1 . A propulsion device control apparatus configured to control a propulsion device of a boat, comprising:
 a lever configured to instruct a propulsion direction of forward, neutral, or rearward and a target propulsion force of the propulsion device; and   a controller including a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and configured to control the propulsion device based on an instruction from the lever, wherein   the propulsion device includes:
 a right propulsion device provided on a starboard side of the boat; 
 a left propulsion device provided on a port side of the boat; and 
 at least one middle propulsion device provided between the right propulsion device and the left propulsion device, wherein 
   the lever includes:
 a right lever corresponding to one of the right propulsion device and the left propulsion device; and 
 a left lever corresponding to other of the right propulsion device and the left propulsion device, wherein 
   the controller is configured to switch between:
 a normal mode in which the middle propulsion device is controlled based on the instruction from the right lever and the instruction from the left lever; and 
 a preset mode in which the middle propulsion device is controlled based on the instruction from a preset lever of the right lever and the left lever, wherein 
   the controller controls the middle propulsion device in the normal mode when both the right lever and the left lever are normal, while limits a propulsion force of the propulsion device corresponding to the one and switches from the normal mode to the preset mode when the one fails.   
     
     
         2 . The propulsion device control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller switches from the normal mode to the preset mode on condition that the propulsion direction of the middle propulsion device is the neutral and the propulsion direction instructed by the preset lever is the neutral when the one fails.   
     
     
         3 . The propulsion device control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the controller controls the middle propulsion device to change the propulsion direction to the neutral when the propulsion direction instructed by the right lever is different from the propulsion direction instructed by the left lever in the normal mode.   
     
     
         4 . The propulsion device control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller switches from the normal mode to the preset mode on condition that a difference between the target propulsion force of the middle propulsion device and the target propulsion force instructed by the preset lever is equal to or less than a predetermined value when the one fails.   
     
     
         5 . The propulsion device control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller controls the middle propulsion device so that the propulsion force gradually changes up to the target propulsion force in a case where a difference between the propulsion force of the middle propulsion device and the target propulsion force instructed by the preset lever is equal to or larger than a predetermined value when the normal mode is switched to the preset mode.   
     
     
         6 . The propulsion device control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller controls the middle propulsion device in the preset mode when at least one of the right propulsion device and the left propulsion device fails.   
     
     
         7 . The propulsion device control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller limits the propulsion force of the middle propulsion device when the preset lever fails in the preset mode.