Water Intake Sensor Control for Electric Motor Debris Clearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Personal watercrafts face issues with debris entering the water intake, causing damage and noise during wave jumping, as existing solutions are not fully effective in addressing these problems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling an electric motor in personal watercrafts, using sensors to detect undesirable conditions in the water intake, such as obstructions or surfacing, and adjusting the motor's operation by reversing its direction or shutting it off temporarily to expel debris or reduce noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the water intake is positioned outside the water for wave jumping, then noise is reduced, but debris can enter the water intake causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system reverses the motor rotation direction to expel debris from the water intake. When a sensor detects debris obstruction, the controller commands the motor to rotate in reverse, creating a flow that pushes debris out of the intake passage, thereby clearing the blockage without requiring the intake to be repositioned
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors (optical, flow rate, or pressure sensors) to continuously monitor the water intake condition and provides feedback to the controller. When debris is detected, the controller adjusts motor operation in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to actual intake conditions
2Reliability
If sensors and control systems are added to detect and respond to water intake conditions, then debris removal and noise reduction are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to handle multiple functions: it monitors water intake conditions using sensors, detects debris obstructions, controls motor reversal to expel debris, and manages noise reduction during wave jumping. This multi-functional approach consolidates several potential separate systems into one integrated controller
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the motor's own rotation capability to clear debris from the water intake by reversing direction, eliminating the need for separate mechanical clearing mechanisms. The motor serves both propulsion and debris removal functions
Data Source
AI summary
There are described herein methods and systems for operating an electric motor of a watercraft. In one method, the electric motor of the watercraft is controlled based on commands received from an accelerator of the watercraft, a sensor signal is received from at least one sensor of the watercraft while the electric motor is in operation, the sensor signal indicative of an undesirable condition of a water intake of the watercraft, and a change is effected to the controlling of the electric motor in response to receiving the sensor signal.