Systems and methods for facilitating shift changes in marine propulsion devices

摘要

Systems and methods are for facilitating shift changes in a marine propulsion device. The systems comprise an internal combustion engine; a shift linkage that operatively connects a shift lever to a transmission for effecting shift changes amongst a reverse gear, a neutral gear and a forward gear; a speed sensor that senses current speed of the engine; and a control circuit that controls the engine to provide a reduction in speed of the engine to facilitate a shift change. The control circuit compares the current speed of the engine to a stored threshold speed and waits to invoke a reduction in speed of the engine until the current speed of the engine reaches the stored threshold speed.

主权项

1. A method of facilitating shift changes in a marine propulsion device, the marine propulsion device having an internal combustion engine and a shift linkage that operatively connects a shift lever to a transmission for effecting the shift changes amongst a reverse gear, a neutral gear and a forward gear, the method comprising:
(a) determining that a reduction in speed of the internal combustion engine is necessary to facilitate an actual shift change; (b) sensing a current speed of the internal combustion engine; (c) comparing the current speed of the internal combustion engine to a stored threshold speed, wherein the stored threshold speed is an idle entry threshold speed at which the speed of the internal combustion engine is being ramped down to a stored idle set point speed by controlling at least one of an idle air control valve and a timing of spark in the internal combustion engine; (d) waiting to invoke the reduction in speed of the internal combustion engine if the current speed of the internal combustion engine is above the stored threshold speed; (e) invoking the reduction in speed of the internal combustion engine once the current speed of the internal combustion engine reaches the stored threshold speed; and (f) aborting step (e) if the actual shift change has already occurred.