DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR PROPELLING A BOAT

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive arrangement for propelling a boat, and to a boat with such a drive arrangement. State of the art

[0002] Optimizing space utilization in a boat is of central importance due to the inherently limited space. In this context, attempts are made, for example, to reduce the size of components in order to create more space inside the boat. Another approach is to position components outside the hull to further maximize interior space.

[0003] DE102008042702 describes, for example, a drive motor arranged in a boat hull, as well as at least one gearbox housing and at least one steering housing attached thereto, with at least one propeller on a drive shaft. The gearbox housing and the steering housing are arranged outside the hull. The propeller is pivotable to allow the boat to be steered.

[0004] US 2007 / 00232157 A1 describes an outboard motor with a mounting unit that is pivotally connected to a drive unit. EP 3 243 738 A1 describes a mounting for a boat propulsion system. US 2014 / 0014810 A1 describes a bracket for an outboard motor. US 2,545,086 A and US 3,602,181 A describe other outboard motors and their mounting on boats. Description of the invention

[0005] Based on the known state of the art, it can be considered an object of the invention to provide a drive arrangement that enables optimal use of space when integrating a drive arrangement for a boat.

[0006] The problem is solved by a drive arrangement with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are described in the dependent claims, the accompanying drawings, and the present description.

[0007] Accordingly, a drive arrangement for steering and propelling a boat is proposed, comprising an electric drive motor with a shaft and a receiving element for receiving the shaft, which can be installed in or on the boat's hull. According to the invention, the shaft is pivotably or rotatably mounted in a position of the receiving element located outside the boat's hull.

[0008] This allows for space-saving drive solutions. The drive motor can therefore be positioned outside the boat's hull. The shaft that holds the drive motor is also arranged in the mounting element in such a way that it is located outside the boat's hull.

[0009] By relocating the shaft's mounting point outside the boat hull, the space required inside the hull for mounting and receiving the mounting element can be reduced.

[0010] A pivotable shaft mounting means that the shaft can swivel around its axis or around a pivot axis passing through the shaft by up to 360°. A rotatable shaft mounting means that the shaft can rotate around its axis or around a pivot axis passing through the shaft by more than 360°. The pivotability or rotatability of the shaft allows the direction of the thrust exerted by the drive system to be varied by means of a corresponding rotational or pivoting orientation of the electric drive motor and the associated propeller, thus enabling steering in addition to propulsion of the boat. The electric drive motor can also be positioned in a way that is particularly well suited for hydrogeneration – for example, a 180° rotation.

[0011] The mounting element extends through the hull wall. In other words, a first section of the mounting element is located inside the hull, and a second section is located outside. However, the shaft is only supported in the second section of the mounting element, which lies outside the hull. This means that the first section of the mounting element needs to be relatively thin, resulting in a low overall height within the hull. Consequently, the mounting device reduces the space required by the drive unit compared to other known solutions.

[0012] The receiving element itself can preferably be designed such that the first section, to be received inside the hull, and the second section, to be arranged outside the hull, are already structurally separated from each other, for example by providing fastening means for attaching the receiving element to the hull. These fastening means can, for example, be in the form of a flange of the receiving element to be attached to the hull, which is then arranged accordingly in the longitudinal direction of the receiving element between the first and the second section.

[0013] This mounting element can also provide an opening through the boat hull for an electrical connection to a battery located inside the hull, which supplies the electric drive motor with electrical power. At the same time, the mounting element can also provide a complete seal for the boat's interior within the opening and simultaneously provide the open-ended recess for the drive motor shaft.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment, the receiving element can be arranged on a boat hull in such a way that it lies outside the hull; that is, the receiving element is located entirely outside the hull. The receiving element can be attached to the underside of the boat via fasteners, and an opening through the hull is also provided for an electrical connection to a battery located within the hull to supply the electric drive motor with electrical energy.

[0015] This means that no installation space is required for the receiving element, and thus the installation space can be further reduced compared to known solutions.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the shaft is essentially received in the receiving element along its entire length, with the shaft being supported outside the boat hull to minimize the space required within the hull. This minimizes bearing forces, as the bearing surface extends over the entire length of the shaft. This results in continuous and uniform support of the shaft within the receiving element.

[0017] By mounting the shaft in the receiving element, the shaft can be pivoted or rotated around its axis, which in turn allows the electric motor to pivot or rotate, in order to align the thrust of the propeller driven by the electric motor so that the boat can be steered accordingly.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, at least two bearings are provided, which are preferably arranged at two positions as far apart as possible between the shaft and the receiving element, in order to keep the bearing forces low, also due to the widely separated bearing points.

[0019] However, more than two bearings can be used to further reduce the bearing forces acting on each individual bearing. All bearings are preferably located outside the boat hull. Alternatively, the bearings can also be located inside the boat's hold.

[0020] Similarly, a seal can extend along the shaft, providing an essentially continuous seal, which can also be in the form of a labyrinth seal, for example. This seal offers protection against water ingress, even if the shaft pivots within the receiving element.

[0021] However, one or more seals can also be provided along the shaft, each of which ensures tightness, and accordingly, if several seals are provided, they are designed to be (multiple) redundant.

[0022] As a safety measure, one or more swelling seals can be provided, which swell upon contact with water and thus ensure a secure seal.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the receiving element is tubular, in particular in the form of a so-called Hennegat tube. By extending the tubular receiving element, in particular the Hennegat tube, outside the boat hull, the installation space and height within the boat can be kept small, while still providing a torsion-resistant mounting of the shaft, since the shaft of the drive motor assembly is received and supported over a greater length within the Hennegat tube.

[0024] The receiving element can be positioned open at the top within the boat. For example, the receiving element can terminate in the cockpit floor and be either open or covered there. Any spray escaping upwards from the receiving element can then be drained away in the same way as other water entering the cockpit – for example, via an open cockpit transom. In a preferred design, the upper end of the receiving element, for example, in the form of a hennage tube, is positioned above the waterline. With this design, a seal can be completely omitted.

[0025] The receiving element can also be completely closed at the top, thus preventing water from passing through. Accordingly, the upper end can also be positioned below the waterline without raising any safety concerns.

[0026] Preferably, the tube, designed as a receiving element, is hermetically sealed at its upper end when installed, for example by a cap. This prevents water from penetrating the boat's hull while simultaneously ensuring secure and stable mounting of the drive motor shaft. The cap can, for example, incorporate an electrical feedthrough in the form of a sealed connector, to which a power source, such as a battery, can be connected to supply power to the drive motor.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the shaft is mounted in the receiving element by at least one bearing, preferably a rolling bearing or a sliding bearing or a bearing bushing, particularly preferably a ball bearing, and the bearing is provided in a position of the receiving element located outside the boat hull.

[0028] According to the invention, the shaft is supported in the receiving element by more than one bearing, and all bearings are located in positions of the receiving element outside the boat hull. This allows for a further saving of installation space within the boat hull, while at the same time, a particularly stable and torsionally rigid design can be achieved through appropriate dimensioning of the receiving element in combination with a predetermined distance between the bearings.

[0029] According to one embodiment, at least one sealing element is arranged in the receiving element to provide a seal between the shaft and the receiving element. The sealing element reduces or prevents the ingress of water into the space between the receiving element and the shaft, thus providing a seal. This protects, for example, the bearings against water ingress and reduces potential corrosion.

[0030] To ensure a seal in a dead space between the shaft and the receiving element, which lies towards the boat hull, a swelling seal can also be provided, which only swells when water enters this area and provides a corresponding seal.

[0031] The receiving element can be hermetically sealed from the boat hull. For example, the receiving element can be in the form of a cylinder closed towards the boat hull, such as a tube closed at the top. This prevents water from penetrating the boat hull through the gap between the receiving element and the shaft.

[0032] Preferably, an electrical connection for the electric drive motor is provided from the inside of the boat hull to the electric drive motor in a hermetically sealed manner. For example, a connector that seals tightly against the mounting element and points towards the inside of the boat hull can be provided on the mounting element, to which the battery can then be connected. This can also be a watertight cable gland.

[0033] The propulsion arrangement is preferably designed and dimensioned in such a way that it can be arranged completely below the design waterline of the boat.

[0034] According to one embodiment, a servomotor acting on the shaft is provided to rotate the electric drive motor about the axis of rotation formed by the shaft. The servomotor is preferably supported on the mounting element, thus providing a self-contained drive assembly that enables electrical control of the direction of the thrust exerted on a boat by the drive assembly.

[0035] Alternatively, the pivoting motion can also be transmitted to the moving part of the unit, i.e., the shaft, via a linkage lever (a so-called quadrant). Both the servo motor and the linkage lever can be located inside or outside the boat hull. The direction and intensity of the thrust can be transmitted electrically from a control station to the drive unit.

[0036] According to one embodiment, a fastening element is provided for attaching the receiving element to the boat hull. The fastening element can, for example, be in the form of a flange.

[0037] According to another aspect, a boat with the propulsion arrangement proposed above and with a power source to supply energy to the electric drive motor is proposed. In one example, the power source is a battery. The battery connects the electric drive motor via electrical wires. These wires can be routed through a space provided for them in the mounting element and the shaft.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the energy source also supplies energy to an electric servomotor. The servomotor acts on the shaft arranged in the receiving element to rotate the electric drive motor around the axis of rotation formed by the shaft. Brief description of the characters

[0039] Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. These show: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a propulsion arrangement and its arrangement on a boat according to one embodiment; and Figure 2 shows a detailed view of a propulsion arrangement and its arrangement on a boat according to one embodiment. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0040] Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar, or equivalent elements in the different figures are designated with identical reference numerals, and repeated descriptions of these elements are sometimes omitted to avoid redundancy.

[0041] In Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a propulsion arrangement and its arrangement on a boat 1.

[0042] The drive arrangement 10 comprises an electric drive motor 14 with a shaft 14a and a receiving element 12 for receiving the shaft 14a, which can be inserted into the hull 3 of the boat 1. The shaft 14a is pivotably or rotatably mounted in the receiving element 12 in a position located outside the hull 3 in order to control the boat 1 in this way.

[0043] The example shown schematically depicts a battery 20 housed in the boat 1, which supplies energy to the electric drive motor 14. An electrical conductor 24 runs from the electric drive motor 14 to an upper end of the mounting element 12. The electrical conductor 24 is designed as a coiled conductor to allow easy rotation of the electric drive motor 14 relative to the mounting element 12.

[0044] A connector 240 is provided at the upper end of the receiving element 12, which is hermetically sealed to the receiving element 12. The receiving element 12 is thus completely watertight from the outside of the boat hull 3 of the boat 1. The battery 20 can be connected to the connector 240 via a corresponding supply line 242 to enable contact with the electric drive motor 14.

[0045] The receiving element 12 and the shaft 14a are designed in such a way that electrical lines 24 connect the battery 20 and the electric drive motor 14.

[0046] The drive assembly 10, and in particular the mounting element 12, is located entirely below the design waterline (WL) of the boat 1, thus leaving the installation space above it available. This is particularly important, for example, if the drive assembly 10 is to be used in a boat 1 under a low-mounted cockpit, such as in a sailboat that is also open towards the transom.

[0047] Figure 2 shows a detailed section of the drive arrangement 10.

[0048] The receiving element 12 has a first section 120, which is arranged inside the hull 3 of the boat 1. The receiving element 12 has a second section 122, which is arranged outside the hull 3.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the shaft 14a is located entirely within the second section 122, i.e., the part of the receiving element 14a situated outside the boat hull 3. The bearing of the shaft 14a is also located entirely within the second section 122, which is situated outside the boat hull 3.

[0050] The arrangement of the position of the shaft 14a and / or the position of the bearing of the shaft 14a can, for example, also be determined on the drive assembly 10 itself by means of the position of a fastening element 17, which is provided for mounting the drive assembly 10 on the boat hull 3.

[0051] As shown in the example, the shaft 14a is essentially enclosed in the mounting element 12 along its entire length. This allows the installation space and height of the mounting element 12 in the boat 1 to be kept to a minimum, since the shaft 14a does not have to protrude into the interior of the boat hull 3. The mounting of the shaft 14a of the electric drive motor 14 on the boat 1 can nevertheless be designed to minimize torsional rigidity, so that with appropriate dimensioning, there is no loss of functionality.

[0052] The shaft 14a is pivotably or rotatably mounted in the receiving element 12 by at least two bearings 16, so that a pivoting of the shaft 14a also results in a pivoting of the electric drive motor 14, which can lead to a control of the boat 1.

[0053] A flange 14b is provided at the upper end of the shaft 14a to prevent the shaft 14a from slipping out of the bearings 16 and out of the receiving element 12.

[0054] All bearings 16 are provided in positions outside the boat hull 3 in the receiving element 12, i.e. in the second section 122 of the receiving element 12.

[0055] Boat 1 with drive arrangement 10 is shown here with a power source 20 to supply energy to the electric drive motor 14. In an example (not shown), the power source 20 also supplies energy to an electric servo motor 15. The servo motor 15 can act on the shaft 14a arranged in the mounting element 12 to rotate the electric drive motor 14 about the axis of rotation formed by the shaft 14a. This makes steering easier for the user of the boat and allows for a "steer-by-wire" function.

[0056] Furthermore, according to Figure 2 In the receiving element 12 at least one sealing element 18 is arranged to provide a seal 19 between the shaft 14a and the receiving element 12 and to reduce or prevent the ingress of water into the receiving element 12.

[0057] Furthermore, it is shown by way of example that the receiving element 12 is tubular, in particular in the form of a Hennegat tube, which may preferably be arranged completely below the design waterline and which is sealed watertight towards the boat hull 3.

[0058] In one example, the receiving element 12 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the part of the bottom of the boat hull 3 surrounding the receiving element 12, wherein a first section 120 of the receiving element 12 is arranged inside the boat hull 3, and wherein a second section 122 of the receiving element 12 extends outside the boat hull 3.

[0059] The receiving element 12 can be attached to the boat hull 3 by means of a flange 17. Other ways of attaching the receiving element 12 are also conceivable, such as bolting the tubular receiving element 12 to the bottom of the boat hull 3.

[0060] Where applicable, all individual features shown in the exemplary embodiments can be combined and / or exchanged without leaving the scope of the invention. Reference symbol list

[0061] 1 Boat 10 Drive assembly 12 Mounting element 14 Drive motor 14a Shaft 14b Flange 15 Servo motor 16 Bearing 17 Flange 18 Sealing element 19 Seal 120 First section 122 Second section 20 Power source 24 Electrical line 240 Plug 242 Supply line 3 Boat hull KWL Design waterline

Claims

1. Drive arrangement (10) for driving and controlling a boat (1), having an electric drive motor (14) with a shaft (14a) and a receiving element (12), which can be received in or on a boat hull (3) of the boat (1), for receiving the shaft (14a), wherein the shaft (14a) is mounted pivotably or rotatably in the receiving element (12) in a position of the receiving element (12) which is to be arranged outside the boat hull (3), and the receiving element (12) is configured and designed to be arranged substantially perpendicularly to the floor of the boat hull (3), wherein a first section (120) of the receiving element (12) can be arranged inside the boat hull (3), and wherein a second section (122) of the receiving element (12) can be arranged outside the boat hull (3), characterized in that the shaft (14a) is mounted in the receiving element (12) by more than one bearing (16) and all the bearings (16) are provided in positions arranged outside the boat hull (3).

2. Drive arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft (14a) is received in the receiving element (12) substantially over its entire length.

3. Drive arrangement (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiving element (12) is of tubular design, in particular in the form of a Hennegatt tube.

4. Drive arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one bearing (16) between the shaft (14a) and the receiving element (12) is a rolling bearing or a plain bearing or a bearing bush, particularly preferably a ball bearing.

5. Drive arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sealing element (18) is arranged in the receiving element (12) in order to provide a seal (19) between the shaft (14a) and the receiving element (12).

6. Drive arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving element (12) has a fastening element (17) for receiving on the boat hull (3) and the first section (120) is arranged above and the second section (122) below the fastening element (17).

7. Drive arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a servomotor acting on the shaft (14a) or an articulated lever is provided for rotating the electric drive motor (14) about the rotational axis formed by the shaft (14a).

8. Boat (1) having a drive arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims and having an energy source (20) for supplying the electric drive motor (14) with energy.