Keel of a vessel with a compact electric propulsion assembly

Abstract

A keel of a vessel with a compact electric propulsion assembly. Said compact electric propulsion assembly is inserted into the upper part of the keel, while battery elements are inserted into dedicated bores in the keel. The keel of the vessel has an integrated housing (1) of the compact electric propulsion assembly with a cover (2), whereby a charging assembly (3) with electronics for wired or wireless control of the drive of the electric drive engine, as well as the electric drive engine (4) with a drive shaft (5) onto which a propeller (6) is attached, are inserted into the housing (1), and whereby bores into which battery elements (7) are inserted are made under the housing (1) and in the keel.

Description

[0001] KEEL OF A VESSEL WITH A COMPACT ELECTRIC PROPULSION ASSEMBLY

[0002] The subject of the invention is the keel of a vessel with a compact electric propulsion assembly. Said compact electric propulsion assembly is inserted into the upper part of the keel, while battery elements are inserted into dedicated bores in the keel. The invention belongs to the field of construction and modification of vessels.

[0003] The technical issue successfully resolved by the proposed construction is the design of a keel of a vessel into which a compact electric propulsion assembly, including battery elements, is inserted, whereby said battery elements are inserted into the keel of the vessel, which allows us to save a lot of space in comparison to known drive trains which are usually built into the stern or the hull of the vessel.

[0004] While the most widespread solutions with internal combustion engines are widely known and the use of electric drives is currently also on the rise, the latter are usually installed in the location where diesel engines were being installed until now, which is why they fail to save the much-needed space. Batteries are stored in the hull where they take up valuable space. No currently known systems resolve the problem of overcrowding in vessels and compensate for the load required by the keel of the vessel, while also being safe. In the event of a malfunction and battery combustion, safety valves are provided in order to release the heat and pressure generated during combustion into the water outside of the hull of the vessel, thus allowing the vessel to remain navigable and preventing it to sink. In addition, efficient cooling of the motor and battery elements is also provided, which improves the efficiency and smooth operation of the solution in comparison to other known solutions where batteries or motor fuel in the hull can combust.

[0005] In addition to space provided for the propulsion, known propulsion assembly designs also need space for fuel or for battery packs. In the design according to this invention, battery elements are inserted into the keel, meaning that, in addition to the energy necessary for the engine drive, they partially also replace the necessary keel load. In currently known solutions, the keel is filled with lead. The keel of the vessel with a propulsion assembly according to the invention reduces the total weight of the vessel, allowing for more living and storage space while maintaining the size of the vessel. Due to the reduced total mass and an optimised drive efficiency, less energy is required in order to move the vessel. Due to the direct transfer of power from the motor to the propeller, no losses occur, which cannot be said for the currently known transfers of drive power through drive shafts, i.e. transfers in motor heels. The carbon footprint of a vessel with a keel with a drive train according to the invention will therefore be even smaller than the carbon footprint of the currently known electric vessels, which makes it possible for the designers to make use of this revolutionary change when it comes to designing the interior of a vessel. The currently known internal combustion and electric drive train engines namely use precious space for the drive and storage of fuel or batteries in the hull of the vessel, while the construction with a drive train according to the invention can be built into the keel, thus allowing for the use of the previously wasted space. The hull of the vessel therefore remains entirely available for living and sailing needs.

[0006] The volume used by the diesel drive and the fuel container or the electric drive and batteries in known solutions can, for example, be used for two extra beds with the solution according to the invention. Sailing a vessel with a compact electric propulsion assembly in the keel according to the invention is completely noiseless. The propulsion assembly is integrated in a compact housing within the keel which, due to its mass, absorbs any noise and potential vibrations.

[0007] The invention addresses the problem of integrating a compact propulsion assembly into the keel of the vessel. In addition to the drive, the keel of the vessel also includes battery elements, in which the energy powering the motor is stored. In addition to the motor, the drive shaft and the propeller, the propulsion assembly also includes electronic elements used to control the motor, as well as a charging assembly. The invention also allows for the charging of battery elements during sailing; in addition, a connection for external charging and solarpanel charging is also provided. A malfunctioning propulsion assembly can simply be replaced, since it is integrated as a cartridge in the keel of the vessel.

[0008] Details of the invention will be explained based on the example of implementation and associated figures, of which:

[0009] Figure 1 shows the keel of the vessel with a compact electric propulsion assembly according to the invention, in cross-sectional side view;

[0010] Figure 2 shows the keel of the vessel with a compact electric propulsion assembly according to the invention, from above.

[0011] The housing 1 of the compact electric propulsion assembly with cover 2 is inserted into the keel of the vessel with a compact electric propulsion assembly according to the invention, shown in Figures 1 and 2. The housing 1 includes a charging assembly with electronics for wired or wireless control with the drive of the electric drive motor, and the electric drive motor 4 with a drive shaft 5, to which the propeller 6 is attached. Under the housing 1 , the keel includes bores, into which battery elements 7 are inserted.

[0012] The system with battery elements 7 is inserted into the keel of the vessel, which compensates for the additional necessary load of the keel. The system is included in a cartridge and can therefore simply be integrated and replaced.

[0013] In addition to the electric drive engine 4 with a drive shaft 5 and propeller 6, the compact electric propulsion assembly which is integrated in the housing 1 which, in itself, is integrated in the keel of the vessel, also includes a charging assembly 3 with electronics used to control the motor 4. The charging assembly 3 also allows for the charging of battery elements during sailing; in addition, a connection for external charging and solar-panel charging is also provided. A malfunctioning compact electric propulsion assembly can simply be replaced, since it is integrated as a cartridge in the housing 1 , and covered with the cover 2, in the keel of the vessel.

[0014] Preferentially, the compact electric propulsion assembly is integrated in the upper portion of the keel, while the battery elements 7 are integrated in the dedicated bores in the middle part of the keel. Since both the compact electric propulsion assembly and the battery elements 7 are integrated in the keel which is coated with water, this allows for the cooling of the compact electric propulsion assembly and battery elements 7 without the need to use any special cooling systems.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS1 . The keel of a vessel with a compact electric propulsion assembly, characterized in that it has an integrated housing (1) of the compact electric propulsion assembly with a cover (2), whereby a charging assembly (3) with electronics for wired or wireless control of the drive of the electric drive engine, as well as the electric drive engine (4) with a drive shaft (5) onto which a propeller (6) is attached, are inserted into the housing (1 ), and whereby bores into which battery elements (7) are inserted are made in the keel under the housing (1).

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