Systems and methods for automatically draining marine drives at multiple trim angles
A method for draining a marine drive at a plurality of preset trim angles less than a fully trimmed out angle is disclosed. The method includes receiving via a controller a request to drain the marine drive and operating a trim actuator via the controller to change a trim angle of the marine drive to a first trim angle among the plurality of preset trim angles. The method further includes waiting a first preset time after the marine drive is trimmed to the first trim angle and operating the trim actuator to change the trim angle of the marine drive to a second trim angle among the plurality of preset trim angles that is different than the first trim angle. The marine drive is configured to drain when trimmed at each of the first trim angle and the second trim angle.
1 . A method for automatically draining a marine drive, the method comprising:
receiving via a controller a request to drain the marine drive, wherein a trim angle of the marine drive is trimmable between a maximum trim angle and a minimum trim angle;
receiving from a memory system a drain profile for the marine drive, the drain profile defining a first trim angle and a second trim angle, and a first preset time and a second preset time corresponding thereto, respectively, for draining the marine drive based on at least one cooling pathway that retains fluid at different trim angles such that draining requires trimming the marine drive in both the first trim angle and the second trim angle, wherein the first trim angle is different than the second trim angle and neither is the maximum trim angle for trimming the marine drive:
automatically trimming the marine drive to the first trim angle within the drain profile;
waiting the first preset time within the drain profile after the marine drive is trimmed to the first trim angle;
automatically trimming the marine drive to the second trim angle within the drain profile after the first preset time has lapsed; and
waiting the second preset time within the drain profile after the marine drive is trimmed to the second trim angle, wherein trimming to the first trim angle, waiting the first preset time, trimming to the second trim angle, and waiting the second preset time all responsive to receiving the request provides draining specific to the marine drive based on the one or more particular cooling pathways therein.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising generating a notification for an operator to check a clearance of the marine drive before automatically trimming the marine drive to the first trim angle.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising generating a notification before and/or during automatically changing the trim angle of the marine drive to warn an operator of the marine drive moving, the notification being other than communicating a measurement of the trim angle itself.
4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the notification comprises audible warnings.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising measuring with a sensor whether the marine drive is positioned in water and automatically changing the trim angle thereof after determining that the marine drive is positioned out of the water.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first trim angle is approximately ±2° relative to a horizontal axis, wherein the maximum trim angle is a positive angle greater than 2° relative to the horizontal axis, and wherein the second trim angle is a negative angle less than −2° relative to the horizontal axis.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, after waiting the second preset time after the marine drive is trimmed to the second trim angle, automatically trimming the marine drive to the maximum trim angle for storage.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first trim angle is approximately ±2° relative to a horizontal axis, and the second trim angle is the minimum trim angle and is less than −2° relative to the horizontal axis.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first preset time is at least 1 minute.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the change of the trim angle and, when the trim angle stops changing before the marine drive reaches the first trim angle for at least a threshold time, ceasing to change the trim angle to prevent damage.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the request to drain the marine drive via a single operator input.
12 . A method for automatically draining a marine drive at a plurality of preset trim angles less than a fully trimmed out angle, the method comprising:
receiving via a controller a request to drain the marine drive;
operating a trim actuator via the controller to change a trim angle of the marine drive to a first trim angle among the plurality of preset trim angles;
waiting a first preset time after the marine drive is trimmed to the first trim angle; and
operating the trim actuator to change the trim angle of the marine drive to a second trim angle among the plurality of preset trim angles that is different than the first trim angle, wherein the marine drive is configured to drain when trimmed at each of the first trim angle and the second trim angle, wherein changing the trim angle to the first trim angle, waiting the first preset time, and changing the trim angle to the second trim angle all responsive to receiving the request prevents operator error and provides consistency in automatically draining the marine drive, wherein the powerhead of the marine drive comprises an internal combustion engine, further comprising cranking the internal combustion engine for a preset crank time and controlling the marine drive to prevent the internal combustion engine from starting while cranking to assist in draining the marine drive.
13 . A method for automatically draining a marine drive at a plurality of preset trim angles less than a fully trimmed out angle, the method comprising:
receiving via a controller a request to drain the marine drive;
operating a trim actuator via the controller to change a trim angle of the marine drive to a first trim angle among the plurality of preset trim angles;
waiting a first preset time after the marine drive is trimmed to the first trim angle;
operating the trim actuator to change the trim angle of the marine drive to a second trim angle among the plurality of preset trim angles that is different than the first trim angle, wherein the marine drive is configured to drain when trimmed at each of the first trim angle and the second trim angle, wherein changing the trim angle to the first trim angle, waiting the first preset time, and changing the trim angle to the second trim angle all responsive to receiving the request prevents operator error and provides consistency in automatically draining the marine drive; and
detecting that the marine drive is not operating before changing the trim angle to the first trim angle, wherein the powerhead of the marine drive is determined to not be operating by detecting that a key is in an off-position.
14 . A method for automatically draining a marine drive at a plurality of preset trim angles less than a fully trimmed out angle, the marine drive being coupled to a marine vessel, the method comprising:
receiving via a controller a request to drain the marine drive;
operating a trim actuator via the controller to change a trim angle of the marine drive to a first trim angle among the plurality of preset trim angles;
waiting a first preset time after the marine drive is trimmed to the first trim angle;
operating the trim actuator to change the trim angle of the marine drive to a second trim angle among the plurality of preset trim angles that is different than the first trim angle, wherein the marine drive is configured to drain when trimmed at each of the first trim angle and the second trim angle, wherein changing the trim angle to the first trim angle, waiting the first preset time, and changing the trim angle to the second trim angle all responsive to receiving the request prevents operator error and provides consistency in automatically draining the marine drive; and detecting via a sensor a vessel angle of the marine vessel and operating the trim actuator to adjust for the vessel angle when changing the trim angle of the marine drive.