Outboard Motor Control Preventing Speed Drop During Acceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Outboard motor systems with transmissions that change gear position from second to first speed at medium boat speed and high engine speed result in decreased boat speed without accelerating feel, limiting acceleration performance.
Innovation Solution
An outboard motor control apparatus with an engine speed detector, acceleration instruction determiner, and controller that increases fuel supply to the engine when the engine speed exceeds a predetermined level, allowing for appropriate transmission and engine operation control during acceleration, thereby maintaining acceleration performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the gear position is changed from the second speed to the first speed when the boat speed has already reached the medium level and the engine speed is relatively high, then torque amplification is achieved, but the boat speed decreases without giving accelerating feel
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus dynamically adjusts transmission control based on real-time detection of engine speed and acceleration status. When high engine speed with acceleration instruction is detected, the system maintains second speed gear position dynamically rather than statically shifting to first speed, preventing boat speed decrease while still providing torque support through engine fuel enrichment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fuel supply parameter to the engine when high engine speed is detected during acceleration, enriching the fuel mixture to increase engine output torque without changing the transmission gear ratio. This parameter change allows torque amplification while maintaining the propeller's effective grip on water.
2Force
If the gear position is changed from the second speed to the first speed during acceleration, then torque is amplified, but acceleration performance is limited due to propeller slip
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus performs preliminary detection of engine speed and acceleration instructions before gear shift occurs. When high engine speed is detected during acceleration, the system preemptively maintains second speed gear position and enriches fuel supply to prevent propeller slip and maintain acceleration performance, rather than allowing the harmful gear shift to occur first.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the engine speed detector and acceleration instruction determiner to continuously monitor operating conditions. This feedback loop enables the control apparatus to make real-time decisions about transmission control and fuel supply, ensuring acceleration performance is maintained by preventing gear shifts that would cause propeller slip.
3Force
If the gear position is changed from the second speed to the first speed at medium boat speed, then torque transmission is improved, but the operator does not feel acceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus replaces the mechanical gear shift mechanism with an electronic control system that manages fuel supply and transmission control separately. Instead of relying on mechanical torque amplification through gear shifting, the system uses electronic fuel enrichment to increase engine torque output while maintaining the propeller-driven acceleration feel that operators expect.
Data Source
AI summary
In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine and a transmission being selectively changeable in gear position to establish speeds including at least a first speed and a second speed and transmitting power of the engine to the propeller with a gear ratio determined by established speed, it is determined whether acceleration is instructed to the engine when the second speed is established and operation of the engine is controlled to increase a fuel amount to be supplied to the engine when detected engine speed is greater than a predetermined speed, thereby improving the performance immediately after acceleration is started.