Ship propulsion systems, and ships

Abstract

Improvement of a ship propulsion system that issues a warning for the auxiliary ship propulsion unit in a ship having a main propulsion unit and an auxiliary ship propulsion unit. [Solution] The ship propulsion system comprises a ship's main propulsion engine, a ship's auxiliary propulsion engine having a maximum output smaller than the maximum output of the ship's main propulsion engine, and a controller provided in the ship's auxiliary propulsion engine. The controller performs a notification process to notify an external party if an abnormality occurs in the ship's auxiliary propulsion engine.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a ship propulsion system and ships.

Background Art

[0002] Ships equipped with multiple ship propulsion engines of the same output have been known for a long time. Marine outboard motors sound a buzzer to warn the driver when an abnormality such as the internal combustion engine not rotating occurs (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 below).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a ship equipped with multiple ship propulsion engines with different characteristics (for example, different maximum outputs), there was room for improvement in a ship propulsion system that issues the above-mentioned warning for a ship propulsion engine that is used auxiliary to the main ship propulsion engine. Note that such a problem is a common problem not only when monitoring whether various conditions are satisfied in addition to abnormalities in the ship propulsion engine used auxiliary, but also for ships equipped with a ship system.

[0005] This specification discloses a technology capable of solving the above-mentioned problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The technologies disclosed herein can be implemented in the following forms:

[0007] (1) The ship propulsion system disclosed herein comprises a ship main propulsion engine, a ship auxiliary propulsion engine having a maximum output smaller than the maximum output of the ship main propulsion engine, and a controller provided in the ship auxiliary propulsion engine. The controller performs a notification process to notify an external party when an abnormality occurs in the ship auxiliary propulsion engine. According to this ship propulsion system, an abnormality in the ship auxiliary propulsion engine of the ship propulsion system can be notified by performing a notification process when an abnormality is detected in the ship auxiliary propulsion engine.

[0008] (2) In the above ship propulsion system, the auxiliary propulsion engine for ships may have a control device that controls the power of the auxiliary propulsion engine for ships, and the abnormality may be an abnormality of the control device. With this configuration, if an abnormality occurs in the control device of the auxiliary propulsion engine for ships in the ship propulsion system, a notification is sent to the notification device. As a result, the operator or others can be aware of the abnormality even if they are away from the auxiliary propulsion engine for ships.

[0009] (3) In the above ship propulsion system, the auxiliary propulsion motor for ships may have an electric power source, and the abnormality may be defined as the amount of charge stored in the power source falling below a certain level. With this configuration, in the auxiliary propulsion motor for ships of the ship propulsion system, when the electric power source of the auxiliary propulsion motor for ships falls below a certain level, a notification is sent to the notification device.

[0010] (4) The above ship propulsion system may further be equipped with a notification device, wherein the controller outputs a signal when it performs the notification process, and the notification device performs an external notification operation based on the signal. With this configuration, if an abnormality occurs in the auxiliary propulsion machine of the ship propulsion system, the abnormality is notified by the notification device, so that the operator or others can know about the abnormality even if they are away from the auxiliary propulsion machine.

[0011] (5) The above ship propulsion system may further be equipped with an operating device, and the notification device may be located on the operating device. With this configuration, the notification device, which notifies when the conditions for a malfunction in the ship's auxiliary propulsion system are met, is located on the operating device, so that the operator or others can become aware of the malfunction while operating the ship.

[0012] (6) In the above-described ship propulsion system, the operating device may be configured as a joystick unit. With this configuration, a notification device that notifies when the conditions for a malfunction in the auxiliary propulsion system of the ship are met is provided on the operating device of the main propulsion system of the ship, so that the operator can become aware of the malfunction while operating the ship.

[0013] (7) In the above-described ship propulsion system, the notification device may be configured to perform a light-emitting operation in response to the abnormality. With this configuration, by having the notification device perform a light-emitting operation in response to the abnormality, it is possible to know whether the conditions for a ship's auxiliary propulsion system to malfunction have been met, even in an environment where a calm state is maintained.

[0014] (8) The above ship propulsion system may be configured to have a mode of operation in which the main ship propulsion engine is stopped and only the auxiliary ship propulsion engine is operated. With this configuration, it is possible to determine that the conditions for the auxiliary ship propulsion engine to malfunction have been met even if the main ship propulsion engine of the ship propulsion system is not being operated.

[0015] (9) A ship may be configured to include a hull and the above-mentioned ship propulsion system provided on the hull.

[0016] (10) A ship disclosed herein comprises a ship's main propulsion engine, a ship's auxiliary propulsion engine having a maximum output less than the maximum output of the ship's main propulsion engine, and a controller. The controller comprises a ship's propulsion system which performs a notification process to notify an external party when the ship's auxiliary propulsion engine satisfies a first condition. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the ship propulsion system disclosed in this specification, in the auxiliary propulsion machine for ships of the ship propulsion system, when an abnormality is detected or certain conditions are satisfied, by performing notification processing, an abnormality of the auxiliary propulsion machine for ships can be notified.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] Perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a ship in an embodiment [Figure 2] Side view schematically showing the configuration of the main propulsion machine for ships [Figure 3] Side view schematically showing the configuration of the auxiliary propulsion machine for ships [Figure 4] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of the drive unit of the auxiliary propulsion machine for ships [Figure 5] Block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a ship [Figure 6] Flowchart showing the flow of abnormality notification of the auxiliary propulsion machine for ships

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] A. Embodiment: A-1. Configuration of Ship 1: FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a ship 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1 and other drawings described later, arrows indicating each direction based on the position of the ship 1 are shown. More specifically, each drawing shows arrows representing FRONT (front), REAR (rear), LEFT (left), RIGHT (right), UPPER (upper), and LOWER (lower), respectively. The front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction (vertical direction) are directions orthogonal to each other. As shown in FIG. 1, the ship 1 includes a hull 10, a main propulsion machine for ships 100 (hereinafter referred to as "main propulsion machine 100"), and an auxiliary propulsion machine for ships 200 (hereinafter referred to as "auxiliary propulsion machine 200"). The auxiliary propulsion machine 200 is an auxiliary propulsion machine for ships for the main propulsion machine 100.

[0020] The hull 10 is the part of the vessel 1 where the operator (crew) is seated. The hull 10 comprises the main hull section 12, the cockpit 16, and the control device 17.

[0021] A living space 11 is formed in the main hull section 12. The cockpit 16 is installed in the living space 11. Operating devices 17 are located in front of the cockpit 16. The hull 10 further includes a partition wall 13 and a transom 14. The partition wall 13 demarcates the rear side of the living space 11. The transom 14 is located at the rear end of the hull 10. In the longitudinal direction, a space 15 exists between the transom 14 and the partition wall 13.

[0022] (Operating device 17) The control device 17 is installed near the cockpit 16. The control device 17 is a device for steering the ship. The control device 17 comprises a main engine control device 50, an auxiliary engine control device 60, a first notification device 50A, and a second notification device 60A. The main engine control device 50 is a device for operating the main propulsion engine 100. The auxiliary engine control device 60 is a device for operating the auxiliary propulsion engine 200. The main engine control device 50 and the auxiliary engine control device 60 are, for example, a steering wheel 52, a shift / throttle lever 54, a joystick unit 62, an input device 56, and a display device 58. The steering wheel 52 is a control device for steering the ship 1. The shift / throttle lever 54 is a control device for shifting the ship 1 and changing the propulsion force. The joystick unit 62 is a control device for steering the ship 1, shifting the ship 1, and changing the propulsion force. The display device 58 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, which displays various images (operation images, etc.) related to the ship 1. The input device 56 is, for example, a button for changing the ship's operating mode. In this embodiment, the main engine operating device 50 consists of a steering wheel 52, a shift / throttle lever 54, and the input device 56. The auxiliary engine operating device 60 is a joystick unit 62.

[0023] The first notification device 50A and the second notification device 60A are devices that notify the status of the vessel 1, including any abnormalities on the vessel 1. The first notification device 50A is mounted on the main engine control device 50. The second notification device 60A is mounted on the auxiliary engine control device 60. The first notification device 50A is, for example, a lamp 52A and a display device 58 mounted on the shift / throttle lever 54. The second notification device 60A is, for example, a lamp mounted on the joystick unit 62. The first notification device 50A and the second notification device 60A (hereinafter collectively referred to as "notification device 40A") perform a light emission operation. Examples of notification devices 40A include fluorescent lamps, light-emitting diodes, and liquid crystal monitors.

[0024] A-2. Configuration of the main thruster 100: Figure 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the main propulsion unit 100. The main propulsion unit 100 is the main device that generates the thrust to propel the ship 1. The main propulsion unit 100 is an internal combustion type propulsion unit driven by an engine. In the following, unless otherwise specified, the main propulsion unit 100 in the reference position will be described. The reference position is the position of the main propulsion unit 100 when the ship 1 is underway (the position shown in Figure 1), and is the position in which the propeller rotation axis of the propeller 132, which will be described later, extends in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions are each determined based on the main propulsion unit 100 in the reference position.

[0025] The main propulsion system 100 is mounted on the transom 14 located at the rear (stern) of the hull 10 (see Figure 1). The main propulsion system 100 comprises a main propulsion system body 101 and a suspension system 102.

[0026] (Configuration of the main thruster unit 101) The main propulsion unit 101 comprises a cowl 112, a casing 116, and a propeller 132.

[0027] The cowl 112 is a housing located on top of the main thruster body 101. The cowl 112 has an upper cowl 113 and a lower cowl 114. The upper cowl 113 constitutes the upper part of the cowl 112. The lower cowl 114 constitutes the lower part of the cowl 112. The upper cowl 113 is detachably attached to the lower cowl 114. The cowl 112 houses an engine assembly (not shown), which is a collection of multiple parts including the engine body 122, which will be described later.

[0028] The casing 116 is a housing located below the main thruster body 101. The casing 116 is located below the cowl 112. The casing 116 has an upper case 117 and a lower case 118. The upper case 117 constitutes the upper part of the casing 116. The lower case 118 constitutes the lower part of the casing 116.

[0029] The propeller 132 is a rotating body having multiple blades. The propeller 132 rotates due to the driving force from the engine body 122. The propeller 132 generates thrust for the ship 1 by rotating.

[0030] (Configuration of suspension system 102) The suspension device 102 is a device that suspends the main propulsion unit 101 from the hull 10. The suspension device 102 rotates the main propulsion unit 101 around the tilt axis At. This enables a tilt operation that rotates the main propulsion unit 101 vertically relative to the hull 10.

[0031] A-3. Configuration of the auxiliary propulsion unit 200:

[0032] Figure 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the auxiliary propulsion unit 200. The auxiliary propulsion unit 200 is a device that generates thrust to propel the ship 1. The auxiliary propulsion unit 200 is an auxiliary ship propulsion unit to the main propulsion unit 100. The auxiliary propulsion unit 200 is an electrically driven propulsion unit driven by an electric motor. In the following, unless otherwise specified, the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 in the reference position will be described. The reference position is the position of the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 when the ship 1 is underway (the position shown in Figure 1), and is the position in which the propeller rotation axis L of the propeller 232, which will be described later, extends in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions are each determined based on the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 in the reference position.

[0033] The auxiliary propulsion unit 200 is mounted on the transom 14 located at the rear (stern) of the hull 10 (see Figure 1). The auxiliary propulsion unit 200 comprises an auxiliary propulsion unit body 201 and a suspension device 202. Note that the suspension device 202 is the same as the suspension device 102 of the main propulsion unit 100, so its explanation is omitted.

[0034] The auxiliary thruster body 201 includes a cowl 210, a middle housing 224, a lower housing 226, a duct 222, and a drive unit 230.

[0035] The cowl 210 is located on top of the auxiliary thruster 200. The cowl 210 is a cover that houses, for example, various wiring.

[0036] The middle housing 224 is located below the cowl 210 of the auxiliary propulsion unit 200. The middle housing 224 is a cover that houses, for example, the auxiliary steering device 250 (described later), various wiring, etc.

[0037] The lower housing 226 is located below the middle housing 224 in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200. The lower housing 226 is a cover that houses, for example, the auxiliary MCU 238 (described later), various wiring, etc. The lower housing 226 is rotatably mounted to the middle housing 224 around an axis (steering axis) that runs vertically.

[0038] The duct 222 is located below the lower housing 226 of the auxiliary thruster 200. The duct 222 is tubular. In the reference position, the duct 222 is positioned below the water surface W. The drive unit 230 is located radially inside the duct 222. Inside the duct 222 are stator fins 233 and a bearing 235. The bearing 235 supports the propeller 232, described later, so that it can rotate around the propeller rotation axis L. The stator fins 233 have multiple (e.g., three) fins. The multiple fins are arranged radially around the bearing 235. The multiple fins are arranged at equal intervals around the propeller rotation axis L. The multiple fins are fixed to the duct 222. The multiple fins are provided so as to protrude rearward from the duct 222 behind the propeller 232 (see Figures 1 and 3).

[0039] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the drive unit 230. The drive unit 230 generates thrust to propel the ship 1. The drive unit 230 includes a propeller 232 and an auxiliary electric motor 234.

[0040] The propeller 232 is a rotating body having multiple blades. The propeller 232 generates thrust by rotating. The propeller 232 is located inside the duct 222. The propeller 232 is rotatable around a horizontal propeller rotation axis L. The propeller rotation axis L is parallel to the central axis of the duct 222. The duct 222 covers the entire circumference of the propeller 232. Due to the duct effect of the duct 222, the flow velocity of the water flowing into the duct 222 increases.

[0041] The auxiliary electric motor 234 rotates the propeller 232. The auxiliary electric motor 234 includes a rotor 236 and a stator 237. The rotor 236 and stator 237 are both tubular. The rotor 236 is located radially inward of the stator 237. The rotor 236 and stator 237 are coaxial. The rotor 236 is rotatably supported relative to the duct 222. The rotor 236 rotates about the propeller rotation axis L relative to the stator 237. The propeller 232 is located radially inward of the rotor 236. The propeller 232 is fixed to the rotor 236. The propeller 232 rotates together with the rotor 236. The rotor 236 includes a plurality of permanent magnets 240. In Figure 4, only one of the plurality of permanent magnets 240 is referenced, and the reference numerals for the other permanent magnets 240 are omitted. Multiple permanent magnets 240 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the rotor 236.

[0042] The stator 237 is fixed to the duct 222. The stator 237 includes several coils 242. In Figure 4, only one of the coils 242 is referenced, and the references for the other coils 242 are omitted. The coils 242 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the stator 237. When the coils 242 are energized, an electromagnetic force is generated that rotates the rotor 236. With this configuration, the propeller 232 generates forward thrust when the rotor 236 of the auxiliary electric motor 234 rotates in the forward direction, and backward thrust when the rotor 236 of the auxiliary electric motor 234 rotates in the reverse direction.

[0043] A-4. Ship control system 10S of ship 1: Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the ship control system 10S, which is the ship propulsion system of ship 1. The ship control system 10S includes a main propulsion engine 100, an auxiliary propulsion engine 200, a BCU (Boat Control Unit) 300, a fuel tank 180, an auxiliary battery 280, and the aforementioned operating device 17.

[0044] The BCU300 controls the overall operation of the vessel 1 based on signals transmitted from each component of the hull 10, for example. The BCU300 includes, for example, a CPU, a multi-core CPU, and programmable devices (such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and a Programmable Logic Device (PLD)). The BCU300 is communicatively connected to the operating device 17, which consists of a main engine operating device 50 and an auxiliary engine operating device 60, as well as a first notification device 50A and a second notification device 60A.

[0045] The fuel tank 180 is the power source for the main propulsion system 100. The fuel tank 180 includes a fuel storage tank, a fuel pump, an injector, and the like. The fuel tank 180 is connected to the BCU 300 for communication.

[0046] The auxiliary battery 280 is the power source for the auxiliary propulsion unit 200. The auxiliary battery 280 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery or a lead-acid battery.

[0047] The main propulsion system 100 comprises the aforementioned engine assembly, a main engine steering device 150, a main engine ECU (Engine Control Unit) 138, a main engine SCU (Steering Control Unit) 158, and various main engine sensors 160.

[0048] The engine assembly is a collection of several parts, including the engine body 122. In addition to the engine body 122, the engine assembly includes intake system components (e.g., throttle body, supercharger, etc.) and electrical components (e.g., fuse box, main engine ECU 138, main engine SCU 158, etc.). The engine assembly is located relatively high up on the main propulsion unit 100. The engine body 122 is the prime mover that generates power. The engine body 122 is, for example, an internal combustion engine.

[0049] The main engine steering device 150 is a device that controls the rudder angle of the ship 1. The main engine steering device 150 is housed in a casing 116. The main engine steering device 150 includes, for example, an electric motor for steering (not shown) and a steering shaft (not shown) extending in the vertical direction. When the rudder angle is changed by the main engine steering device 150, for example, the electric motor rotates the steering shaft. When the steering shaft rotates, the lower part of the main propulsion unit 101, including the lower case 118 connected to the steering shaft, rotates. This changes the rudder angle of the ship 1.

[0050] The various main engine sensors 160 are sensors for monitoring the status of the main propulsion system 100, such as the engine body 122 and the main engine steering device 150. The various main engine sensors 160 include, for example, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the cooling water and exhaust gas, an oil pressure sensor for measuring the oil pressure, and a torque sensor for monitoring the load on the propeller 132 underwater.

[0051] The main ECU 138 controls the engine body 122. The main ECU 138 includes, for example, a CPU, a multi-core CPU, and programmable devices (Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Programmable Logic Device (PLD), etc.). The main ECU 138 is communicatively connected to the operating device 17, which includes the main operating device 50, the auxiliary operating device 60, the first notification device 50A, the second notification device 60A, the engine body 122, the various main sensors 160, the BCU 300, and the fuel tank 180.

[0052] The main engine SCU 158 controls the operation of the main engine steering device 150. The main engine SCU 158 includes, for example, a CPU, a multi-core CPU, and programmable devices (Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Programmable Logic Device (PLD), etc.). The main engine SCU 158 is communicatively connected to the operating device 17, which includes the main engine operating device 50, the auxiliary operating device 60, the first notification device 50A, the second notification device 60A, the main engine steering device 150, the BCU 300, and the main engine ECU 138.

[0053] The auxiliary propulsion system 200 includes the aforementioned auxiliary electric motor 234, auxiliary steering device 250, auxiliary MCU 238, auxiliary SCU 258, and various auxiliary sensors 260. The auxiliary MCU 238 is an example of both a controller and a control device.

[0054] The auxiliary steering device 250 is a device that controls the rudder angle of the vessel 1. The auxiliary steering device 250 includes, for example, an electric motor. The auxiliary steering device 250 is housed in the middle housing 224. When the auxiliary steering device 250 is operated, the lower housing 226 and the drive unit 230 connected to the lower housing 226 rotate around the steering axis. This controls the rudder angle of the vessel 1.

[0055] The auxiliary sensors 260 are sensors for monitoring the status of auxiliary propulsion devices 200, such as the auxiliary electric motor 234 and the auxiliary steering device 250. The auxiliary sensors 260 include, for example, a current sensor 261 that monitors whether or not an abnormal current is flowing through the auxiliary electric motor 234, and a temperature sensor 262 that monitors the temperature of the auxiliary MCU 238.

[0056] The auxiliary MCU (Motor Control Unit) 238 controls the drive of the auxiliary electric motor 234. The auxiliary MCU 238 includes, for example, a CPU, a multi-core CPU, and a programmable device (Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Programmable Logic Device (PLD), etc.). The auxiliary MCU 238 is communicatively connected to the operating device 17, which includes the main operating device 50 and the auxiliary operating device 60, the first notification device 50A and the second notification device 60A, the auxiliary electric motor 234, various auxiliary sensors 260, and the BCU 300.

[0057] The auxiliary SCU258 controls the operation of the auxiliary steering device 250. The auxiliary SCU258 includes, for example, a CPU, a multi-core CPU, and programmable devices (such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or Programmable Logic Device (PLD)). The auxiliary SCU258 is communicatively connected to the operating device 17, which includes the main engine operating device 50, the auxiliary operating device 60, the first notification device 50A, the second notification device 60A, the auxiliary steering device 250, the auxiliary MCU238, and the BCU300.

[0058] A-5. Main thruster 100 and auxiliary thruster 200: The auxiliary propulsion system 200 is a marine propulsion system that provides auxiliary power to the main propulsion system 100. Specifically, the auxiliary propulsion system 200 is a marine propulsion system with a lower maximum output compared to the main propulsion system 100. Furthermore, the auxiliary propulsion system 200 is electrically powered, while the main propulsion system 100 is an internal combustion engine. Therefore, when both the main propulsion system 100 and the auxiliary propulsion system 200 are operating, the auxiliary propulsion system 200 is quieter than the main propulsion system 100. When the angle of rudder rotation is greater than that of the main propulsion system 100, the auxiliary propulsion system 200 can control the ship 1 more precisely.

[0059] The operator utilizes the characteristics of both the main propulsion system 100 and the auxiliary propulsion system 200, and uses them accordingly. For example, the BCU 300 can selectively execute a first operating mode and a second operating mode. The first operating mode is one in which the auxiliary propulsion system 200 is stopped and the main propulsion system 100 is activated. The second operating mode is one in which the main propulsion system 100 is stopped and the auxiliary propulsion system 200 is activated. For example, the first operating mode allows the vessel 1 to move quickly to its destination. For example, the second operating mode allows the vessel 1 to move quietly. Also, the second operating mode allows for movement at an extremely low speed. In this specification, the stopping of each ship's propulsion system includes not only a state in which the propulsion system is completely stopped, but also a state in which it can be immediately activated if the operator gives a command (a so-called standby state).

[0060] A-6. Notification processing for auxiliary thruster 200: Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of abnormality notification for a marine auxiliary propulsion system. When an abnormality occurs in the auxiliary propulsion system 200, it notifies an external party of the abnormality. An abnormality here refers to a failure of the auxiliary propulsion system 200, a situation where the auxiliary propulsion system 200 becomes inoperable, or a situation where, even if the auxiliary propulsion system 200 is operational, there is a high probability that it will become inoperable within a short period of time (e.g., within one hour). Specific examples of abnormalities in the auxiliary propulsion system 200 are listed below. Note that these are just examples and are not limited to these. • Abnormalities in various sensors of the auxiliary electric motor 234 • Auxiliary MCU 238 of auxiliary electric motor 234 is malfunctioning. • Malfunctions of various sensors in the auxiliary steering system 250 • Malfunction of auxiliary SCU258 of auxiliary steering device 250 • Abnormalities in the auxiliary battery 280 (e.g., overcurrent, overvoltage, etc.) • The charge level of the auxiliary battery 280 is below a certain level. • Unexpected input signals to the auxiliary thruster 200 (for example, interference with input signals to the main thruster 100)

[0061] The auxiliary propulsion unit 200 starts up when power is supplied from the auxiliary battery 280 (S110) and enters a standby state. The BCU 300 controls the ship 1 by selecting a first mode, a second mode, etc. The auxiliary MCU 238 monitors for abnormalities in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 (S120). When the auxiliary MCU 238 detects an abnormality in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 (S130 YES), it causes the notification device 40A to perform an external notification action regarding the abnormality (S140). The notification action is a light-emitting action. Examples of light-emitting actions include the illumination, flashing, or display of specific characters or pictures on the notification device 40A.

[0062] If the auxiliary MCU 238 no longer detects an abnormality in the auxiliary thruster 200 (S150 NO), it instructs the notification device 40A to stop the notification operation (S160). Note that if the auxiliary MCU 238 no longer detects an abnormality in the auxiliary thruster 200, methods such as the auxiliary MCU 238 receiving a signal from an external source to forcibly stop the notification operation are also included. If the auxiliary MCU 238 detects an abnormality in the auxiliary thruster 200 (S150 YES), it instructs the notification device 40A to continue the external notification operation for the abnormality (S140). After the notification operation of the notification device 40A is stopped (S160), if the auxiliary MCU 238 does not receive a signal from an external source indicating the termination of the auxiliary thruster 200 (S170 NO), it continues to monitor the auxiliary thruster 200 for abnormalities (S120). If the auxiliary MCU238 receives a signal from an external source indicating the termination of the auxiliary thruster 200 (S170 YES), it terminates the operation of the auxiliary thruster 200.

[0063] The notification device 40A that performs the above notification operation is the second notification device 60A. The auxiliary MCU 238 can also cause the first notification device 50A to perform a notification operation for an abnormality in the auxiliary thruster 200 by transmitting a signal for an abnormality, etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "notification signal") to the first notification device 50A. For example, the display device 58 can also notify the outside of an abnormality in the auxiliary thruster 200 using text or pictures. Furthermore, in the first mode and the second usage mode, the auxiliary MCU 238 can also cause the first notification device 50A to perform a notification operation for an abnormality in the auxiliary thruster 200 by transmitting a notification signal to the first notification device 50A.

[0064] A-7. Effects of this embodiment: The ship propulsion system of this embodiment is a system that quickly notifies the operator of any abnormality in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 in a ship 1 equipped with a main propulsion unit 100 and an auxiliary propulsion unit 200. By using the main propulsion unit 100 and the auxiliary propulsion unit 200, which each have different characteristics, ship 1 can quickly reach its destination and make small movements around the destination (for example, by moving ship 1 laterally). In addition, ship 1 moves quietly around its destination.

[0065] In the ship propulsion system of this embodiment, the auxiliary engine MCU 238 causes the second notification device 60A of the auxiliary engine control device 60 of the auxiliary propulsion unit 200, which is mounted near the cockpit 16, to notify the operator of any abnormality in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200. This allows the operator to accurately know of any abnormality in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 even when they are away from it. Furthermore, when the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 is in standby mode and the operator is steering the ship 1 with the main propulsion unit 100, the auxiliary engine MCU 238 can also transmit a notification signal from the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 to the first notification device 50A mounted on the main engine control device 50 of the main propulsion unit 100. This allows the first notification device 50A to inform the operator of any abnormality in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200. The operator can know of any abnormality in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 even when they are steering the main propulsion unit 100.

[0066] In this embodiment, the system comprises a main propulsion unit 100, an auxiliary propulsion unit 200 having a maximum output smaller than the maximum output of the main propulsion unit 100, and an auxiliary MCU 238, which is a controller provided in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200. The auxiliary MCU 238 performs a notification process to notify an external party when an abnormality occurs in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200. According to the ship propulsion system, when an abnormality is detected in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 of the ship propulsion system, a notification process can be performed to notify the external party of the abnormality in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200.

[0067] In this embodiment, the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 may have an auxiliary MCU 238 that controls the power of the auxiliary propulsion unit 200, and the abnormality may be defined as an abnormality of the auxiliary MCU 238. This allows the notification device to be notified if an abnormality occurs in the control device of the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 in the ship's propulsion system. As a result, the operator or others can be aware of the abnormality even if they are away from the auxiliary propulsion unit 200.

[0068] In this embodiment, the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 may have an auxiliary battery 280 which is an electric power source, and the abnormality may be defined as the amount of charge stored in the auxiliary battery 280 falling below a certain level. In this configuration, when the amount of charge stored in the auxiliary battery 280 of the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 of the ship propulsion system falls below a certain level, an alert is sent to the notification device.

[0069] In this embodiment, the system may also be further equipped with a notification device 40A, which outputs a signal when the auxiliary MCU 238 performs notification processing, and the notification device 40A performs an external notification operation based on the signal. This allows the operator or others to be aware of an abnormality in the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 of the ship's propulsion system, by notifying the operator of the abnormality via the notification device 40A, even if they are far away from the auxiliary propulsion unit 200.

[0070] In this embodiment, the system may also be configured to include an operating device 17, with the notification device 40A located on the operating device 17. This allows the operator to become aware of any abnormalities while operating the vessel, as the notification device 40A, which notifies the operator when the auxiliary propulsion system 200 malfunctions, is located on the operating device 17.

[0071] In this embodiment, the notification device 40A may be configured to perform a light emission operation in response to an abnormality. This allows the notification device 40A to perform a light emission operation in response to an abnormality, making it possible to know whether the auxiliary thruster 200 is abnormal even in an environment where a quiet state is maintained.

[0072] In this embodiment, a configuration may be provided that includes a second operating mode in which the main propulsion unit 100 is stopped and only the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 is operated. This makes it possible to determine that the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 is malfunctioning even if the main propulsion unit 100 of the ship's propulsion system is not being operated.

[0073] B. Variations: The technologies disclosed herein are not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified in various forms without departing from their essence, for example, the following modifications are possible.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the main thruster 100 was powered by an internal combustion thruster and the auxiliary thruster 200 was powered by an electric thruster, but the configuration is not limited to this. The main thruster 100 may be an electric thruster. The auxiliary thruster 200 may be an internal combustion thruster.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the notification operation of the notification device 40A was a light emission operation, but it is not limited to a light emission operation. For example, notification by sound may also be used.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the controller was the auxiliary MCU238, but it may be both the auxiliary MCU238 and the auxiliary SCU258.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the controller was the auxiliary MCU238, but it does not have to be the auxiliary MCU238. For example, it may be the BCU300, the main ECU138, or another control unit. Furthermore, the controller may be a combination of multiple control units, such as the auxiliary MCU238 and the BCU300.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the auxiliary sensors 260 were given as an example of a current sensor 261 and a temperature sensor 262, but other sensors may also be used. For example, a torque sensor for monitoring the load on the propeller 232 underwater may be used.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the notification operation for an abnormality in the auxiliary thruster 200 was described, but it does not have to be an abnormality in the auxiliary thruster 200. For example, the auxiliary MCU 238 can also perform a notification process that notifies an external party that a first condition has been met when the auxiliary thruster 200 meets certain conditions. For example, the first condition is as follows. Note that the following is just an example and is not limited thereto. - When the main propulsion system 100 is stopped and the vessel 1 is sailed using only the auxiliary propulsion system 200 (second operating mode). - When the auxiliary propulsion system 200 is stopped and the vessel 1 is sailed using only the main propulsion system 100 (first mode of use). The propeller rotation axis L of the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 is tilted horizontally at an angle greater than a certain angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the ship 1. • The auxiliary propulsion system 200 operates at an output above / below a certain level. - If the auxiliary battery 280 of the auxiliary propulsion unit 200 falls below a certain charge level. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0080] 1: Ship 10: Hull 10S: Ship control system 11: Living space 12: Main hull section 13: Partition wall 14: Transom 15: Space 16: Cockpit 17: Control devices 40A: Notification device 50: Main engine control device 50A: First notification device 52: Steering wheel 52A: Lamp 54: Shift / throttle lever 56: Input device 58: Display device 60: Auxiliary engine control device 60A: Second notification device 62: Joystick unit 100: Main propulsion unit 101: Main propulsion unit 102: Suspension system 112: Cowl 113: Upper cowl 114: Lower cowl 116: Casing 117: Upper case 118: Lower case 122: Engine unit 132: Propeller 138: Main engine ECU 150: Main engine steering gear 158: Main engine SCU 160: Various main engine sensors 180: Fuel tank 200: Auxiliary propulsion system 201: Auxiliary propulsion system body 202: Suspension system 210: Cowl 222: Duct 224: Middle housing 226: Lower housing 230: Drive unit 232: Propeller 233: Stator fins 234: Auxiliary electric motor 235: Bearing 236: Rotor 237: Stator 238: Auxiliary MCU 240: Permanent magnet 242: Coil 250: Auxiliary steering gear 258: Auxiliary SCU 260: Various auxiliary sensors 261: Current sensor 262: Torque sensor 280: Auxiliary battery 300: BCU At: Tilt axis W: Water surface

Claims

1. A ship propulsion system, Main propulsion engines for ships, A ship's auxiliary propulsion engine having a maximum output smaller than the maximum output of the aforementioned ship's main propulsion engine, The aforementioned auxiliary propulsion system for ships includes a controller, The controller executes a notification process to notify an external party if an abnormality occurs in the auxiliary propulsion system of the ship. Ship propulsion system.

2. A ship propulsion system according to claim 1, The aforementioned auxiliary propulsion system for ships has a control device for controlling the power of the auxiliary propulsion system for ships, The aforementioned abnormality is an abnormality of the control device. Ship propulsion system.

3. A ship propulsion system according to claim 1 or claim 2, The aforementioned auxiliary propulsion system for ships has an electric power source, The aforementioned abnormality is that the amount of stored energy in the power source falls below a certain level. Ship propulsion system.

4. A ship propulsion system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Furthermore, it is equipped with a notification device, The controller outputs a signal by executing the notification process. The notification device performs an external notification operation based on the signal. Ship propulsion system.

5. A ship propulsion system according to claim 4, Furthermore, it is equipped with an operating device, The notification device is located on the operating device. Ship propulsion system.

6. A ship propulsion system according to claim 5, The aforementioned operating device is a joystick unit. Ship propulsion system.

7. A ship propulsion system according to claim 5 or claim 6, The notification device performs a light emission operation in response to the abnormality. Ship propulsion system.

8. A ship propulsion system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The ship has a mode of operation in which the main propulsion engine is stopped and only the auxiliary propulsion engine is operated. Ship propulsion system.

9. A ship comprising a hull and a ship propulsion system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 provided on the hull.

10. A ship equipped with a ship propulsion system, Main propulsion engines for ships, A ship's auxiliary propulsion engine having a maximum output smaller than the maximum output of the aforementioned ship's main propulsion engine, Equipped with a controller, The controller executes a notification process to notify an external party when the first condition of the marine auxiliary propulsion system occurs. A ship equipped with a ship propulsion system.

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