Patent ID: 7996122

Claim:
A method of measuring coupling ratios in a marine vessel, the vessel comprising: (a) a source of mechanical power; (b) a coupling system operatively coupled via a first input shaft to the source of power and operatively coupled via a second output shaft to one or more propellers of the vessel; and (c) a controller coupled to a user interface and also to the coupling system such that the user interface is operable via the controller to control a degree of power coupling occurring in operation through the coupling system, the first and second shafts being provided with first and second rotation rate sensors respectively coupled to the controller for generating first and second rotation rate signals indicative in operation of rotation rates of the first and second shafts respectively, wherein the method includes at least one of steps (d) to (e), such steps including: (d) adjusting the user interface to invoke substantially full engagement of coupling in the coupling system such that substantially full coupling of the source of power to the one or more propellers occurs corresponding to propelling the vessel at substantially full forward speed, and recording corresponding values of the first and second indicative signals in the controller; and (e) adjusting the user interface to invoke substantially full engagement of coupling in the coupling system such that full coupling of the source of power to the one or more propellers occurs corresponding to propelling the vessel at substantially full reverse speed, and recording corresponding values of the first and second indicative signals in the controller.