Electric Marine Tiller Control for Shift Handle or Throttle Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no consensus among marine drive operators on whether to prefer a separate shift handle or to shift via the throttle grip for controlling electric motors, and existing systems do not conveniently accommodate this preference due to the transition from mechanical to electronic control.
Innovation Solution
A tiller system for electric marine drives that includes a shift handle and a throttle grip, with a controller determining the mode of operation, allowing either separate handle or throttle grip control, and electronically controlling the motor direction and speed based on user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate shift handle is used for controlling electric motor direction, then the control mechanism is mechanically simple and reliable, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation decreases due to requiring two separate controls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shift handle and throttle grip into a single integrated tiller assembly. The shift handle is positioned adjacent to the throttle grip, allowing both direction control (shift) and speed control (throttle) to be operated from one location. This merging reduces the number of separate mechanical linkages and control mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable control through the unified structure.
2Device complexity
If shifting is integrated into the throttle grip, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of mechanical connections may deteriorate due to increased functional integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control functions within the integrated tiller by providing distinct operational zones: the shift handle for direction control and the throttle grip for speed control. Although physically integrated, the functional segmentation maintains clear separation of control paths, reducing mechanical interference and maintaining reliability. The electronic control system further segments the control signals, receiving separate inputs for shift and throttle operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical linkages with electronic control mechanisms. Sensors detect the position of the shift handle and throttle grip, and the controller processes these signals to control the electric motor. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical connections while maintaining reliability through electronic signaling, resolving the contradiction between integration and mechanical reliability.
3Ease of operation
If electronic control is used for both shift and throttle, then the ease of operation is improved through unified control, but the loss of information increases due to the need for controller interpretation of combined inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that provide real-time feedback on the position of the shift handle and throttle grip to the controller. This feedback mechanism ensures that the controller receives accurate information about the operator's intentions, reducing information loss. The controller uses this feedback to precisely control the electric motor's direction and speed, maintaining faithful representation of the operator's input despite the electronic mediation.
Data Source
AI summary
A tiller system for a marine drive having an electric motor is provided. The tiller system includes a tiller having a shift handle and a throttle grip configured to be rotated about a throttle axis to control a speed of the electric motor. The tiller system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the throttle grip and the shift handle. The controller is configured to determine whether the tiller is in a separate handle mode or a throttle grip mode. Responsive to a determination that the tiller is in the throttle grip mode, the controller is configured to operate the electric motor such that a rotation of the throttle grip about the throttle axis controls a rotation direction of the electric motor.