US 12,258,113 B2
Marine propulsion control system with synchronized troll and method of operation
Brian P. Neathery, Hockley, TX (US); and Cameron S. Gandy, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/383,571.
Prior Publication US 2023/0028865 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B63H 21/21 (2006.01); B63H 23/28 (2006.01)
CPC B63H 21/213 (2013.01) [B63H 23/28 (2013.01); B63H 2021/216 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A marine vessel, comprising:
a hull;
an operator station supported by the hull having an operator interface configured to receive a mode input and a lever position input;
a left propulsion system having a left engine, a left transmission, a left troll valve configured to adjust clutch slip, a left shaft, a left shaft speed sensor configured to detect a speed of rotation of the left shaft, and a left propeller;
a right propulsion system having a right engine, a right transmission, a right troll valve configured to adjust clutch slip, a right shaft, a right shaft speed sensor configured to detect the speed of rotation of the right shaft, and a right propeller; and
a control module configured to:
receive the mode input and the lever position input from the operator interface,
receive signals from the left shaft sensor indicating a left shaft speed,
receive signals from the right shaft sensor indicating a right shaft speed,
determine if the vessel is operating in a trolling state in a traditional troll mode or an advanced troll mode, based on the mode input and the lever position input,
determine if a sync mode is active, based on the mode input,
if the vessel is operating in the advanced troll mode, controlling the left troll valve and the right troll valve from a lever position of 0% to an advanced troll transition point, and controlling engine speed of the left engine and the right engine from a lever position of the advanced troll transition point to 100%, and
if the sync mode is active and the vessel is in the trolling state, synchronize the speed of the left shaft and the right shaft based on the left shaft speed signal and the right shaft speed signal.