Marine Drive Unit Trim Control for Launch Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for marine vessels do not adequately address the issue of drive unit trim position changes upon cancellation of reverse, joysticking, or station-keeping modes, leading to unexpected responses like porpoising during launch, as they fail to automatically return the drive units to the optimal trim position.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that involve receiving user input to initiate and terminate desired operating modes, storing and automatically changing the trim position of the drive units between a first (trimmed in) and a second (neutral) trim position, ensuring the drive units are in the optimal position for launch by automatically returning to the first trim position upon mode cancellation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the drive unit trim position is manually adjusted or remains static, then the system complexity is reduced, but the vessel stability and performance during mode transitions deteriorates due to porpoising and unexpected responses
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically adjusting the drive unit trim position in advance before mode transitions occur. The control system monitors the operating mode status and proactively trims the drive units to optimal positions before reverse, joysticking, or station-keeping modes are activated or canceled, preventing porpoising and instability rather than reacting after the problem occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the operating mode status through sensors and control systems that detect when modes are activated or canceled. This feedback loop enables the control system to automatically adjust drive unit trim positions in response to mode changes, maintaining vessel stability without requiring manual intervention. The feedback mechanism tracks the relationship between mode status and optimal trim positions.
2Ease of operation
If automatic trim position adjustment is implemented, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control systems and sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by enabling the drive unit trim control system to automatically adjust its own trim position without external manual intervention. When the operating mode changes (reverse, joysticking, or station-keeping activation or cancellation), the control system autonomously commands the trim actuators to move the drive units to the appropriate positions, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for operator action.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system achieves universality by designing a multi-functional system that handles multiple operating modes (reverse, joysticking, station-keeping) with a single automated trim control mechanism. The same control system and actuators serve all mode transitions, rather than requiring separate manual adjustment mechanisms for each mode, thereby improving ease of operation while managing device complexity through consolidation.
3Productivity
If the drive unit remains in the second trim position after mode cancellation, then the productivity is maintained, but the harmful factors increase due to porpoising during launch
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by automatically returning the drive units to the first trim position upon cancellation of reverse, joysticking, or station-keeping modes. This preemptive adjustment prevents porpoising and instability during subsequent launch operations by ensuring the drive units are in the correct trim position before the vessel accelerates, thereby eliminating the harmful effect before it can manifest.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for positioning a drive unit on a marine vessel includes receiving an initiation request from a user input device to operate the marine vessel in a desired operating mode and storing a first trim position of the drive unit in a memory upon receiving the initiation request. The method includes trimming the drive unit to a second trim position in response to the initiation request and subsequently operating the marine vessel in the desired operating mode with the drive unit in the second trim position. The method includes receiving a termination request to cancel the desired operating mode and trimming the drive unit to the first trim position automatically upon receiving the termination request. A system for positioning the drive unit is also disclosed.