IP Library Granted Patent US 12668348
Granted Patent B2
US 12668348 · App. 18/779,415 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Marine propulsion system, control method therefor, and marine vessel

Inventors: Shuichi Moromi (Shizuoka, JP); Akihiro Tagata (Shizuoka, JP); Yuta Kubota (Shizuoka, JP); Katsutoshi Naito (Shizuoka, JP); Koshiro Inaba (Shizuoka, JP); Teppei Morishita (Shizuoka, JP); Kazumichi Yoshida (Shizuoka, JP)
Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B63H25/42
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12668348
App. No.
18/779,415
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A marine propulsion system includes a first propulsion device that is steerable, located at a stern of a hull, and includes a rudder, a second propulsion device that is steerable and located in front of the stern of the hull, and a controller configured or programmed to control a propulsion force of the second propulsion device and a steering angle of the rudder without generating a propulsion force of the first propulsion device according to a maneuvering instruction in predetermined modes in which the propulsion force of the second propulsion device is used.

Claims (29)

1 . A marine propulsion system comprising:

a first propulsion device that is steerable, located at a stern of a hull, and includes a rudder;

a second propulsion device that is steerable and located in front of the stern of the hull; and

a controller configured or programmed to, in predetermined modes in which the propulsion force of the second propulsion device is used, control a propulsion force of the second propulsion device and also a steering angle of the rudder of the first propulsion device but without generating a propulsion force of the first propulsion device, according to a maneuvering instruction in the predetermined modes.

2 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to control the steering angle of the rudder according to a steering instruction in the maneuvering instruction while maintaining the steering angle of the second propulsion device in a straight direction in a first mode among the predetermined modes.

3 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to control the steering angle of the second propulsion device and the steering angle of the rudder according to a steering instruction in the maneuvering instruction in a second mode among the predetermined modes.

4 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to control the steering angle of the second propulsion device according to a steering instruction amount indicated by a steering instruction in the maneuvering instruction in a third mode among the predetermined modes.

5 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 4 , wherein the controller, in the third mode, is configured or programmed to set the steering angle of the second propulsion device to a straight direction in a case where the steering instruction amount is less than a predetermined amount, and set the steering angle of the second propulsion device to an angle corresponding to the steering instruction amount in a case where the steering instruction amount is not less than the predetermined amount.

6 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller, in a fourth mode among the predetermined modes, is configured or programmed to control the steering angle of the rudder according to a steering instruction in the maneuvering instruction, and control the second propulsion device according to a steering instruction amount indicated by the steering instruction and a vessel speed of the marine vessel.

7 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 6 , wherein the controller, in the fourth mode, is configured or programmed to maintain the steering angle of the second propulsion device in a straight direction in a case where the vessel speed is not less than a predetermined speed and the steering instruction amount is less than a predetermined amount, and change the steering angle of the second propulsion device according to the steering instruction amount in a case where the vessel speed is not less than the predetermined speed and the steering instruction amount is not less than the predetermined amount.

8 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 6 , wherein the controller, in the fourth mode, is configured or programmed to change the steering angle of the second propulsion device according to the steering instruction amount in a case where the vessel speed is less than the predetermined speed.

9 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 8 , wherein the controller, in the fourth mode, is configured or programmed to increase the steering angle of the second propulsion device corresponding to the steering instruction amount in a case where the vessel speed is less than the predetermined speed as compared to a case where the vessel speed is not less than the predetermined speed.

10 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the maneuvering instruction is obtained based on an operation of a joystick.

11 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to control the propulsion force and the steering angle of the second propulsion device according to a tilting operation of the joystick, and control the steering angle of the rudder according to a twisting operation of the joystick.

12 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to set both the steering angle of the second propulsion device and the steering angle of the rudder in a straight direction in a case where the joystick is returned to a neutral position.

13 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to function as an obtaining unit to obtain an operation of a steering of the marine vessel; wherein

the steering includes at least a wheel that provides a turning instruction to the hull by a rotational operation, first operation instructors to generate an instruction to provide a propulsion force in a lateral direction to the hull, and second operation instructors to generate an instruction to provide a propulsion force in a front-back direction to the hull; and

the obtaining unit is configured or programmed to obtain the maneuvering instruction from one operation or a combination of two or more operations of the wheel, the first operation instructors, and the second operation instructors.

14 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the second propulsion device is located at a bow of the hull.

15 . The marine propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the second propulsion device includes a trolling motor.

16 . A marine vessel comprising:

a hull; and

a marine propulsion system comprising:

a first propulsion device that is steerable, located at a stern of a hull, and includes a rudder;

a second propulsion device that is steerable and located in front of the stern of the hull;

a controller configured or programmed to, in a predetermined mode in which the propulsion force of the second propulsion device is used, control a propulsion force of the second propulsion device and also a steering angle of the rudder of the first propulsion device but without generating a propulsion force of the first propulsion device according to a maneuvering instruction in the predetermined mode.

17 . A control method for a marine propulsion system including a first propulsion device that is steerable, located at a stern of a hull, and includes a rudder and a second propulsion device that is steerable and located in front of the stern of the hull, the control method comprising:

controlling a propulsion force of the second propulsion device according to a maneuvering instruction in predetermined modes in which the propulsion force of the second propulsion device is used; and

while in the predetermined modes, also controlling a steering angle of the rudder of the first propulsion device but without generating a propulsion force of the first propulsion device according to the maneuvering instruction.