Outboard Motor Toe Angle Control via Lifting Force Minimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of operations required to adjust the toe angle of outboard motors on a ship to achieve optimal running performance and fuel efficiency, as the optimal toe angle varies with position, motor properties, and running state, making it difficult to set without complex operator interventions.
Innovation Solution
A toe angle control system that includes a running state detector, lifting force detector, memory for storing toe angle data, and a controller to adjust the toe angle based on detected states and data, minimizing lifting force and optimizing the angle without requiring complex operator inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the toe angle of outboard motors is adjusted manually according to switch operations by the ship operator, then the running performance can be optimized for different modes, but the operational complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects the current running state (speed, trim angles) and autonomously selects the optimal toe angle from the pre-stored data table, eliminating the need for manual switch operations by the ship operator. The outboard motors serve themselves by self-adjusting based on detected parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously detects the running state of the ship including speed and trim angles, compares this with the stored toe angle data table, and adjusts the toe angle accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures optimal performance without manual intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the toe angle is fixed for different running modes, then the system structure remains simple, but the adaptability to varying running conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optimal toe angle data for various running conditions is pre-calculated and stored in a data table in the memory unit before operation. When the system operates, it simply retrieves the appropriate pre-determined toe angle based on detected running state, avoiding complex real-time calculations while maintaining high adaptability.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment of toe angle is required, then the system requires fewer sensors and detectors, but the precision of toe angle optimization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment with automated electronic control based on detector inputs. The lifting force detector, speed detector, and trim angle detector provide precise measurements that enable the controller to automatically select the optimal toe angle, achieving higher precision than manual adjustment while justifying the added detector complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a toe angle control system for outboard motors. A memory stores therein a toe angle data table in which a running state of a ship and a lifting force generated along with propulsion of a plurality of outboard motors which are mounted on a body of the ship are associated with each other for each toe angle of the outboard motors. A controller is configured to adjust a toe angle of the outboard motors based on the running state of the ship and the toe angle data table. The toe angle data table is adapted to be associated with a plurality of running states of the ship mounted with the outboard motors. The controller selects a toe angle of the outboard motors so as to minimize the lifting force depending on a speed of the ship and trim angles of the outboard motors.