US 12,459,628 B2
Marine propulsion system and marine vessel
Yuji Ikegaya, Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Shizuoka (JP)
Filed by YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Iwata (JP)
Filed on Oct. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/972,600.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-180207 (JP), filed on Nov. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0140525 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. B63H 25/42 (2006.01); B63H 20/00 (2006.01); B63H 20/12 (2006.01); B63H 21/20 (2006.01); B63H 25/02 (2006.01); B63H 25/04 (2006.01)
CPC B63H 25/42 (2013.01) [B63H 20/12 (2013.01); B63H 2020/003 (2013.01); B63H 2021/205 (2013.01); B63H 2025/026 (2013.01); B63H 25/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A marine propulsion system comprising:
a main propulsion device including a main thruster and operable to rotate in a right-left direction to change a direction of a thrust;
an auxiliary propulsion device including an electric motor to drive an auxiliary thruster to generate a thrust, operable to rotate in the right-left direction to change a direction of the thrust, and having a maximum output smaller than a maximum output of the main propulsion device; and
a controller configured or programmed to perform an automatic marine vessel maneuvering control to direct a bow or a stern of a hull to a target point by rotating the hull and maintain the hull, the bow or the stern of which has been directed to the target point, at the target point by moving the hull in a forward-rearward direction by the main propulsion device; wherein
the controller is configured or programmed to:
rotate the hull by driving the auxiliary thruster while stopping the main thruster of the main propulsion device moving the hull in the forward-rearward direction in the automatic marine vessel maneuvering control;
stop the auxiliary thruster when the stern or the bow has been directed to the target point; and
then move the hull in the forward-rearward direction by the main propulsion device.