Electronic Controls for Diesel Powered Ships with Controllable Pitch Propellers

This paper describes an electronic control system which provides propulsion control for a ship fitted with one or more controllable pitch propellers. The movement of a single control lever combines by means of programs, both the engine speed and the propeller pitch of each propulsion shaft, to produce the most efficient use of the power plant while maneuvering or cruising.

An electronic method of providing a load control system (to prevent demanding more power from an engine than can safely be produced) and a load sharing system (to ensure that all engines on a shaft share the total load equally) is also described.