US 12,134,454 B1
Marine propulsion system and method with single rear drive and lateral marine drive
Matthew E. Derginer, Butte des Mort, WI (US); Mark R. Hanson, Oshkosh, WI (US); Peter C. Schneider, Oshkosh, WI (US); and David J. Belter, Oshkosh, WI (US)
Assigned to Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed by Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/869,515.
Int. Cl. B63H 25/42 (2006.01); B63H 21/21 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01)
CPC B63H 25/42 (2013.01) [B63H 21/213 (2013.01); G05D 1/0206 (2013.01); B63H 2021/216 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel comprising:
one steerable rear marine drive positioned along a centerline of the marine vessel and configured to generate forward and reverse thrusts, wherein the rear marine drive is steerable about a vertical steering axis to a range of steering angles;
a lateral marine drive positioned at a bow region of the marine vessel and at a fixed angle with respect to the marine vessel, wherein the lateral marine drive is configured to generate lateral thrust on the marine vessel;
a user input device operable by a user to provide a propulsion demand input commanding surge movement, sway movement, and yaw movement of the marine vessel; and
a control system configured to control steering and thrust of the rear marine drive and thrust of the lateral marine drive based on the propulsion demand input to generate the surge movement, the sway movement, and/or the yaw movement commanded by the user.