Marine Drive Trim Control With Variable Rate by Vessel Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trim systems for marine vessels are insufficiently responsive, particularly at high speeds and during acceleration events, leading to potential safety issues and a negative user experience due to slow trim rate changes.
Innovation Solution
A variable speed trim system that adjusts the trim rate based on vessel and engine parameters, including speed, pitch, acceleration, and engine operation state, using a controller to determine optimal trim rates and control a variable speed trim actuator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a fixed speed trim actuator is used, then the system structure is simple, but the trim rate is insufficient at high speeds and during acceleration events
Solution Approach 1:
The trim actuator speed is made variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the trim actuator speed based on real-time vessel speed and acceleration data, enabling the system to provide high trim rates during acceleration events and at low speeds, while reducing trim rates at high speeds for refined control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the trim actuator based on vessel conditions. By monitoring vessel speed and acceleration parameters, the controller adjusts the trim actuator speed parameter accordingly, optimizing trim performance across different operating conditions without requiring a completely different actuator system.
2Speed
If trim rate is increased at high speeds, then responsiveness is improved, but safety issues arise due to excessive trim movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different trim rate characteristics to different operating conditions. At high vessel speeds, the trim rate is automatically reduced to prevent excessive trim movement and associated safety issues. At low speeds and during acceleration events, the trim rate is increased to provide responsive trim control when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors vessel speed and acceleration feedback to dynamically adjust the trim actuator speed. This closed-loop control ensures that the trim rate is always appropriate for current operating conditions, preventing safety issues at high speeds while maintaining responsiveness when required.
3Ease of operation
If a variable speed trim actuator is used, then trim responsiveness is optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The variable speed trim actuator system is designed to perform multiple functions through a single integrated controller that manages both the variable speed control logic and the actuator operation. The controller uses readily available vessel sensor data (speed and acceleration) to make real-time adjustments, eliminating the need for separate complex control systems while achieving optimized trim responsiveness across all operating conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of automatically controlling trim position of a marine drive with a control system on a marine vessel includes receiving a user-selected command to enter a launch control mode and then controlling a trim actuator to automatically position the marine drive in a tucked position, tucked position is between a vertical trim position and a minimum running trim position. Once a vessel condition of the marine vessel reaches a first threshold vessel condition the trim actuator is controlled to trim up the marine drive to a predetermined target trim position to generate wave behind the marine vessel.