Marine Transmission Valve Current Pulsing for Gear Disengagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve control systems in marine propulsion devices face issues with stickiness due to residual pressure and sediment buildup, leading to slow gear disengagement and potential overheating, especially during trolling operations, resulting in delayed or incomplete disengagement and risk of damage.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that control the current supplied to the valve by reducing it to a first current, then increasing it to a second current after a wait time, and finally reducing it to a third current after another wait time, with specific wait times and currents managed by a processing module to ensure proper disengagement without residual pressure, using a memory module to store these values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a valve is de-energized to disengage a gear, then the gear disengagement speed is improved, but residual pressure and sediment buildup cause stickiness that delays and incomplete disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies periodic pulsing signals to the valve during the disengagement process. Instead of a single de-energization event, the valve receives a series of pulsed signals that create periodic pressure fluctuations, helping to overcome sediment buildup and residual pressure that cause stickiness, thereby ensuring complete and reliable gear disengagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameters supplied to the valve by varying the pulse width, frequency, and amplitude of the pulsing signals. By dynamically adjusting these parameters based on operational conditions, the system optimizes the valve's response characteristics to overcome stickiness while maintaining fast disengagement speed.
2Loss of time
If a valve is de-energized to disengage a gear, then the response time is improved, but overheating occurs due to delayed disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The pulsing signal mechanism creates periodic pressure variations that accelerate the disengagement process by preventing the valve from sticking in the engaged position. This reduces the overall disengagement time, preventing the gear from remaining engaged longer than necessary and thus avoiding overheating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor disengagement progress and thermal conditions, dynamically adjusting the pulsing signal parameters to optimize disengagement speed while preventing overheating. The feedback ensures the valve completes disengagement before critical temperature thresholds are reached.
3Productivity
If a valve is de-energized to disengage a gear, then the operational efficiency is improved, but the valve gets stuck in gear due to residual pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic pulsing signals that create oscillating pressure patterns within the valve mechanism. These pressure oscillations prevent residual pressure from maintaining the valve in a stuck position, ensuring complete disengagement while maintaining high operational efficiency through rapid and reliable gear changes.
Solution Approach 2:
Before complete de-energization occurs, the system applies preliminary pulsing signals to the valve that begin the disengagement process by overcoming residual pressure and sediment adhesion. This preliminary action ensures the valve starts moving toward the disengaged position before full de-energization, preventing sticking and ensuring complete disengagement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces disengagement delays, prevents overheating, and ensures complete gear disengagement, eliminating the risk of the marine propulsion device getting stuck in gear, thereby enhancing safety and performance.
Implementation Method 1
A solenoid valve is normally closed and opens in response to an applied electromagnetic force
Implementation Method 2
A multi-disc clutch is positioned within the gear case and includes a set of friction discs and steel discs
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a valve to disengage a gear in a transmission. The method includes reducing, after receiving a request to disengage the gear, a current supplied to the valve from a starting to a first current. The method further includes counting a first elapsed time since the valve was reduced to the first current, comparing the first elapsed time to a first wait time, and increasing the current supplied to the valve to a second current once the first elapsed time exceeds the first wait time. The method further includes counting a second elapsed time since the valve was increased to the second current, comparing the second elapsed time to a second wait time, and reducing the current supplied to the valve to a third current once the second elapsed exceeds the second wait time. The valve is closed when the current is the third current.