WATERCRAFT WITH FLOODING ROOM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a watercraft with a hull which has a flow channel or to which a flow channel is assigned, wherein a motor-driven water acceleration arrangement, in particular a propeller, is assigned to the flow channel.

[0002] Such a watercraft is known from DE 10 2004 049 615 A1. Such watercraft are used in particular as diving sleds. They have a handle arrangement that a user can hold on to while resting a portion of their upper body on the top of the watercraft's hull. A flow channel is arranged within the hull, in which a propeller is housed. The propeller is driven by an electric motor that is supplied with power via a battery. During operation, the battery and the motor generate waste heat, which must be dissipated into the environment to maintain reliable, continuous operation. For this purpose, the batteries are installed in an aluminum housing, with the batteries being in heat-conducting contact with the aluminum housing. The hull has a receptacle on the underside into which the aluminum housing can be inserted and locked.In this way, the aluminum housing is in contact with the flowing water on the underside and heat exchange can take place here.

[0003] The electric motor is located within the flow channel for cooling purposes. The water flowing through the flow channel is directed around the electric motor housing, enabling effective motor cooling. The electric motor restricts the free flow cross-section in the flow channel. The flow channel must therefore be sufficiently large to compensate for the shading caused by the electric motor. This influences the size of the watercraft.

[0004] To operate these watercraft both underwater and on the water, precise weight balancing is required. Accordingly, the watercraft should develop enough buoyancy to ensure it is sufficiently buoyant and thus cannot sink. However, the buoyancy should not be excessive, allowing for a quick transition from surface to submerged operation. Due to the weight of the electrical components, the watercraft must have a sufficiently large buoyancy body in the hull, which influences the overall size and thus the driving dynamics of the watercraft.

[0005] From US 4 341 177 A a watercraft is known which has a flow channel and a flooding chamber.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a watercraft of the type mentioned at the outset which offers high driving dynamics with sufficient operational safety.

[0007] This task is solved by the fact that the hull has a flooding space which is connected to the environment via water passage openings, in particular water inlet and water outlet openings.

[0008] The flooding chamber thus provides a variable mass component that can be used to influence the weight of the vessel. During operation, the flooding chamber fills. When the vessel submerges, air is expelled from the flooding chamber, allowing the vessel to submerge quickly and easily. When the vessel is lifted out of the water after use, the flooding chamber empties and does not affect the vessel's transport weight.

[0009] According to a preferred variant of the invention, it can be provided that at least one electrical component is arranged in the flooding chamber. The flooding chamber is thus also used to cool the electrical component. The electrical component can transfer its waste heat to the water flowing in the flooding chamber. Effective heat exchange is particularly possible because the flooding chamber is connected to the environment via both water inlet and water outlet openings. Consequently, a flow can be generated in the flooding chamber through which cool water is continuously supplied. Depending on the speed of the watercraft, the flow velocity in the flooding chamber can then also vary. This has the advantage that a large cooling volume is available when traveling at high speeds, which also generate a high level of waste heat.

[0010] Electrical components such as the control electronics, the electric motor driving the water acceleration system, and / or an energy storage device can be located in the flooding chamber. These components generate relatively high power losses and are therefore particularly suitable for use in the flooding chamber.

[0011] A simple construction is then obtained for the watercraft if it is provided that the hull has an upper part and a lower part, between which the flooding space is formed, and that the upper and / or lower part form the outer shell of the hull, at least in part.

[0012] Advantageously, the lower section can be detachably connected to the upper section. This allows the flooding chamber to be accessible for easy maintenance. If, for example, dirt has penetrated the flooding chamber, it can be easily removed. If electrical components are located in the flooding chamber, they can be easily serviced or replaced after removing the lower section.

[0013] An effective flow through the flooding space can be achieved by the hull forming at least one inlet opening in the area of the bow and at least one outlet opening in the area of the stern.

[0014] A preferred variant of the invention is such that the flow channel is arranged at least partially in the area of the flooding chamber and tapers the free cross-section of the flooding chamber, and that an electrical component is arranged in the area of the tapered cross-section. The cross-sectional taper allows the flow velocity in the flooding chamber to be varied. Accordingly, the flow velocity increases in some areas of the tapered cross-section, thereby influencing the cooling performance.

[0015] It is also conceivable for two sections within the flooding chamber to be structurally separated from each other, with each section being assigned a water inlet and / or outlet opening. This measure also allows the volume flow in the individual sections and thus the cooling performance to be specifically influenced.

[0016] According to the invention, the flow channel separates two sub-areas in the flooding chamber from each other, at least in some areas. An electrical component is arranged in each of the sub-areas. By using the flow channel to separate the areas, the number of components required can be reduced.

[0017] One possible variant of the invention is such that the electrical unit is mounted by means of a suspension, and the suspension keeps the electrical unit spaced apart from the wall elements defining the flooding chamber. This allows for a large-area flow around the electrical unit and thus effective heat dissipation.

[0018] A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the watercraft has a buoyancy of at least 4 kilograms when the flooding compartment is flooded. This ensures that the watercraft remains sufficiently afloat even in rough seas. It is particularly advantageous if the buoyancy of the watercraft is at least 7 kilograms. This provides sufficient buoyancy in the event of an accident, keeping both the watercraft and the user afloat.

[0019] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 in perspective side view from behind a watercraft, Fig. 2 the watercraft according to Fig. 1 in perspective side view from below and with the lower part removed, Fig. 3 a vertical section through the stern area of the watercraft according to the view according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 the watercraft according to Fig. 2 in detailed view from below.

[0020] In Fig. 1 A watercraft is shown having a hull 10. The hull 10 is composed of an upper section 20 and a lower section 30. The upper section is equipped with two control handles 14 arranged on either side of the hull 10. A user can hold onto these control handles 14 and steer the watercraft using control elements attached to the control handles 14. In particular, the engine power of the watercraft can be varied here. The user, who holds onto the control handles 14, rests with his upper body partially on the upper section 20 in the area behind a display 15.

[0021] How Fig. 2 As can be seen, the lower part 30 can be removed from the upper part 20. For this purpose, it is screwed to the upper part 20. Fig. 2 shows the watercraft with the lower part 30 removed. As can be seen from this illustration, a receiving space is formed between the upper part 20 and the lower part 30. This receiving space is delimited at the top by a bottom wall 22 of the upper part 20. Components of the watercraft can be securely mounted on this bottom wall 22.

[0022] How Fig. 2 As can be seen, an electronic control unit 40 is mounted in the area of the bow 11 of the watercraft. Offset towards the stern 12, behind the electronic control unit 40, a drive unit designed as an electric motor 50 is housed in a protected housing. The output shaft of the motor 50 is passed through a casing 51 and has a propeller 52 at its free end. The propeller 52 is arranged in a flow channel 60. The flow channel 60 is formed by a hollow body which forms an intake opening 61 in the area of the underside of the watercraft. This intake opening 61 is stabilized by a guide element 62 arranged centrally in the intake opening 61. In addition to its mechanical protective function, the guide element 62 has the task of stabilizing the driving operation. It acts in a similar way to the centerboard of a sailboat.Furthermore, the guide element 62 also protects the flow channel 61 in the area of the intake opening from mechanical stress if the watercraft runs aground or is placed on land. As mentioned above, a receiving space is formed below the bottom wall 22 in the area between the upper part 20 and the lower part 30, in which the electrical components, namely the control electronics 40, the motor 50, and the energy storage units 70 (accumulators), are housed. This receiving space is connected to the environment via water passages. The water passages are formed in the lower part 30. As . Fig. 1 As can be seen, the water passage openings in the area of the bow 11 are designed as water inlet openings 35 and in the area of the stern 12 as water outlet openings 33. The receiving space thus forms a flooding space. As soon as the watercraft is placed in the water, this is flooded with water which penetrates through the water passage openings. As soon as the watercraft goes into operation, a current is generated in the flooding space. Accordingly, water enters the flooding space through the water inlet openings 35. The water flows through the flooding space and washes around the electrical components held in the flooding space. The water absorbs the power loss of the electrical components and cools them. After flowing through the flooding space, the water leaves it through the water outlet openings 33, which are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the jet outlet 34.

[0023] Fig. 2 It can further be seen that the flow channel 60 runs in the region of the flooding chamber and partially delimits two sub-regions within the flooding chamber. An energy storage device (accumulator) is arranged in each of the sub-regions. Each of the sub-regions also has one of the two water outlet openings 33. The electrical components are attached to the bottom wall 22 of the upper part 20 by means of suspensions. The suspension is selected such that the electrical components are held at a distance from the bottom wall 22 in the regions through which the lost heat is exchanged. This allows the water in the flooding chamber to flow effectively around the components. It has been shown that the arrangement of the flow channel 60 in the flooding chamber results in a cross-sectional tapering of the flooding chamber. This results in an increase in the flow velocity in the tapered region.This speed variation allows the water flow and thus the cooling effect to be specifically adjusted depending on the electrical component to be cooled. In the present embodiment, the energy storage devices 70 are arranged in the region of the tapered cross-sections in the sub-areas.

[0024] At its end facing away from the intake opening 61 in the direction of flow, the hollow body forms a flange area to which an impeller housing 63 can be flanged. The propeller 52 projects into the impeller housing 63. A flow stator 53 is arranged behind the propeller 52 in the direction of flow. During operation, the propeller 52 sucks water through the intake opening 61 into the flow channel 16, accelerates it, and expels it through the impeller housing 63 in the area of a jet outlet 34. The stator 53 has the task of straightening the rotating water movement so that the flow exits the jet outlet with as little swirl as possible, thereby improving efficiency.

[0025] How Fig. 1 As can be seen, the upper part 20 has receptacles 21 in the area of the bottom wall 22. These receptacles 21 are arranged on both sides of the flow channel 60.

[0026] Fig. 3 shows that the receptacles 21 on both sides of the longitudinal axis L (see Fig. 2 ) running central longitudinal plane of the vessel. The central longitudinal plane runs in Fig. 3 vertically. The arrangement of the two receptacles 21 relative to the central longitudinal plane is selected to result in a symmetrical design. Energy storage devices 70, which in this case are designed as electric accumulators, can be arranged in the receptacles 21. Due to the symmetrical arrangement of the receptacles 21, the energy storage devices 70 are also arranged symmetrically relative to the central longitudinal plane.

[0027] Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of the energy storage devices 70 in the receptacles 21. How Fig. 4As illustrated, the receptacle 21 is dimensioned longer in the longitudinal direction L of the watercraft than the extension of the energy storage device 70 in this direction. Thus, the receptacle 21 offers space for the alternative installation of a different energy storage device 70, which has a correspondingly larger design and thus enables higher performance.

Claims

1. Watercraft with a hull (10) that has a flow channel (60) or to which a flow channel (60) is assigned, wherein a motor-driven water acceleration arrangement, in particular a propeller, is assigned to the flow channel (60), wherein the hull (10) has a flooding space which is connected to the environment via water passage openings (35, 33), characterized in that the flow channel (60) delimits two sub-areas in the flooding space from each other at least in some areas, and in that an electrical component, namely an energy storage (70), is arranged in each of the sub-areas.

2. Watercraft according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one further electrical component is arranged in the flooding space.

3. Watercraft according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the further electrical component is control electronics (40) an electric motor (50).

4. Watercraft according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the hull (10) has an upper part (20) and a lower part (30) between which the flooding space is formed, and in that the upper and / or lower part (20, 30) form the outer shell of the hull (10) at least in some areas.

5. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lower part (30) is detachably connected to the upper part (20).

6. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the hull (10) forms at least one inlet opening (35) in the area of the bow (11) and at least one outlet opening (33) in the area of the stern (12).

7. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the flow channel (60) is arranged at least in part in the region of the flooding space and reduces the free cross-section of the flooding space, and in that an electrical component (energy storage (70)) is arranged in the region of the reduced cross-section.

8. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that two sub-areas are structurally separated from each other in the flooding space, wherein each sub-area is assigned a water inlet and / or water outlet opening (35, 33).

9. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the electrical component is fastened by means of a suspending device, and in that the suspending device holds the electrical component at a distance from the wall element bounding the flooding space.

10. Watercraft according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it has a buoyancy of at least 4 kilograms, preferably 7 kilograms, when the flooding space is flooded.

11. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the upper part (20) is equipped with two control handles (14) which are arranged on both sides of the hull (10), wherein it is preferably provided that control elements are attached to the control handles (14) in order to control the watercraft.

12. Watercraft according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a receiving space is formed between the upper part (20) and the lower part (30), in that the receiving space is bounded on the upper side by a bottom wall (22) of the upper part (20), and in that components of the watercraft are mounted on the bottom wall (22).

13. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the control electronics (40) are mounted in the bow (11) area of the watercraft and that a propulsion unit designed as an electric motor (50) is offset toward the stern (12) behind the control electronics (40) and protected in a housing.

14. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a drive shaft of the motor (50) is guided through a jacket tube (51), and the drive shaft carries a propeller (52) at its free end, which is arranged in a flow channel (60), and that the flow channel (60) is formed by a hollow body which forms a suction opening (61) in the region of the underside of the watercraft, wherein it is preferably provided that the hollow body forms a flange region at its end facing away from the suction opening (61) in the direction of flow, to which an impeller housing (63) is flanged, wherein the propeller (52) projects into the impeller housing (63).

15. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the suction opening (61) is stabilized by a guide element (62) arranged centrally in the suction opening (61).

16. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that a flow stator (53) is arranged downstream of the propeller (52) in the direction of flow, in that during operation the propeller (52) draws water through a suction opening (61) into the flow channel (16), accelerates it and ejects it through the impeller housing (63) in the region of a jet outlet (34),17. Watercraft according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the upper part (20) has receptacles (21) in the region of a bottom wall (22), which are arranged on both sides of the flow channel (60), wherein it is preferably provided that the receptacles (21) are arranged on both sides of a longitudinal center plane of the watercraft extending through the longitudinal center axis L, and / or in that energy storages (70), which may be designed as electric accumulators, are arranged in the receptacles (21), wherein the energy storages (70) are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center plane, and / or in that the receptacles (21) are dimensioned in the longitudinal direction L of the watercraft to be longer than the extension of the energy storage (70) in this direction.

18. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the water passage openings (35, 33) form water inlet and water outlet openings through which the flooding space communicates with the environment to generate a flow in the flooding space.