Electric ship propulsion systems, and ships

Abstract

This prevents short circuits between the circuit patterns on the circuit board of the electric ship propulsion system and the conductive walls of the duct. [Solution] The electric ship propulsion system comprises a cylindrical duct, a propeller rotatably supported within the duct having a plurality of blades arranged around a propeller axis along the central axis of the duct, and a cylindrical rim surrounding the plurality of blades, and an electric motor for rotating the propeller relative to the duct, having a stator provided in the duct and a rotor provided in the rim. A housing space is formed in the duct, and the inner wall constituting the housing space includes a conductive wall having electrical conductivity. The electric ship propulsion system further comprises a circuit board including a contact area in contact with the conductive wall and a non-contact area away from the conductive wall, a detection sensor that outputs a detection signal according to the rotation angle of the rotor, and a circuit pattern formed in the contact area so as to avoid the non-contact area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to an electric ship propulsion machine and a ship.

Background Art

[0002] A rim drive type electric ship propulsion machine is known. Such an electric ship propulsion machine includes a cylindrical duct, a propeller rotatably supported in the duct, an electric motor for rotating the propeller with respect to the duct, and a circuit board. The propeller has a plurality of blades arranged around a propeller axis along the central axis of the duct, and a cylindrical rim surrounding the plurality of blades. The electric motor has a stator provided in the duct and a rotor provided on the rim. Various electronic components and circuit patterns for controlling the rotation of the electric motor, for example, are arranged on the circuit board (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The inventor of the present invention is considering adopting a configuration in which the duct includes a conductive wall having conductivity in a rim drive type electric ship propulsion machine. When adopting such a configuration, there is room for examining the arrangement relationship between the conductive wall of the duct and the circuit pattern of the circuit board.

[0005] This specification discloses a technology capable of solving the above - mentioned problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The technology disclosed in this specification can be realized, for example, in the following forms.

[0007] (1) An electric ship propulsion system disclosed herein comprises: a cylindrical duct; a propeller rotatably supported within the duct, having a plurality of blades arranged around a propeller axis along the central axis of the duct, and a cylindrical rim surrounding the plurality of blades; and an electric motor for rotating the propeller relative to the duct, having a stator provided in the duct and a rotor provided on the rim, wherein the duct has a housing space formed therein, the inner wall constituting the housing space includes a conductive wall having conductivity; and a circuit board having a contact area in contact with the conductive wall and a non-contact area away from the conductive wall, the circuit board further comprising: a detection sensor that outputs a detection signal corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotor; and a circuit pattern formed in the contact area so as to avoid the non-contact area. According to this configuration, short circuits between the circuit pattern on the circuit board and the conductive wall of the duct are suppressed.

[0008] (2) In the above-described electric ship propulsion system, a steering device may be provided which is located radially outside the duct and has a steering shaft, and which rotates the duct around the steering shaft, and the circuit board may be located on the side of the duct that is on the steering device side. With this configuration, the placement of the circuit board in water is suppressed.

[0009] (3) In the above-described electric ship propulsion system, the circuit board may be configured to be located outside the rotor in the radial direction of the duct. With this configuration, for example, the axial size of the duct is suppressed compared to a configuration in which the circuit board is located at the same position as the rotor in the radial direction of the duct.

[0010] (4) In the above-mentioned electric ship propulsion system, at least a portion of the circuit board may be configured to overlap the rotor when viewed radially from the duct. With this configuration, for example, the axial size of the duct is suppressed compared to a configuration in which the circuit board does not overlap the rotor when viewed radially from the duct.

[0011] (5) In the above-mentioned electric ship propulsion system, the circuit board may be configured to be positioned so as to overlap the stator when viewed in the direction along the central axis. With this configuration, for example, the radial enlargement of the duct is suppressed compared to a configuration in which the circuit board is positioned offset from the stator when viewed in the direction along the central axis.

[0012] (6) In the above-mentioned electric ship propulsion system, the detection sensor may have a Hall element, the circuit board may have an inner surface facing radially inward of the duct, the inner surface may include a contact area and a non-contact area, and the detection sensor may be positioned in the non-contact area. With this configuration, for example, the accuracy of detecting the rotor rotation angle by the detection sensor is improved compared to a configuration in which the detection sensor is positioned on the outer surface of the circuit board.

[0013] (7) In the above-mentioned electric ship propulsion system, the non-contact area on which the detection sensor is located may be positioned to overlap with the rotor in a radial view of the duct, and the contact area may be positioned to be offset from the rotor in a direction along the central axis in a radial view of the duct. With this configuration, for example, the distance between the detection sensor and the rotor is closer compared to a configuration in which the non-contact area on which the detection sensor is located is offset from the rotor in a direction along the central axis in a radial view of the duct, thus improving the accuracy of the detection of the rotor's rotation angle by the detection sensor.

[0014] (8) In the above-mentioned electric ship propulsion system, the thickness of the non-contact portion of the inner wall facing the non-contact region where the detection sensor is located may be thinner than the thickness of the contact portion of the inner wall facing the contact region. With this configuration, for example, compared to a configuration in which the thickness of the wall facing the non-contact region where the detection sensor is located is greater than or equal to the thickness of the wall facing the contact region, a decrease in the accuracy of detection of the rotor rotation angle by the detection sensor due to the wall interposed between the detection sensor and the rotor is suppressed.

[0015] (9) In the above-mentioned electric ship propulsion system, one surface of the circuit board may include the contact area and the non-contact area, and the area of ​​the contact area on the one surface may be larger than the area of ​​the non-contact area. With this configuration, for example, the circuit board is more stably positioned relative to the duct compared to a configuration in which the area of ​​the contact area on one surface of the circuit board is less than or equal to the area of ​​the non-contact area.

[0016] (10) In the above-mentioned electric ship propulsion system, a fastening member may be provided that penetrates the contact area of ​​the circuit board and joins the contact area with the conductive wall. With this configuration, the contact area on which no circuit pattern is formed is effectively utilized to fix the circuit board to the duct.

[0017] (11) In the above-mentioned electric ship propulsion system, the fastening member may be conductive, and the ground pattern of the circuit pattern may be electrically connected to the conductive wall via the fastening member. With this configuration, the ground pattern of the circuit board is electrically connected to the duct.

[0018] (12) In the above-mentioned electric ship propulsion system, the detection sensor may have a Hall element, the Hall element may be located at one end of the circuit board, and the fastening member may be located at the other end of the circuit board. With this configuration, a decrease in the accuracy of detecting the rotor rotation angle by the detection sensor due to the electrical influence of the fastening member is suppressed.

[0019] (13) In the above-described electric ship propulsion system, one surface of the circuit board includes the contact area and the non-contact area, and the other surface of the circuit board may be provided with a connector located on the area opposite to the contact area. With this configuration, the connector is stably positioned on the circuit board.

[0020] (14) The above-mentioned vessel may be configured to include a hull and an electric ship propulsion system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which is arranged on the hull. With this configuration, short circuits between the circuit pattern on the circuit board and the conductive wall of the duct are suppressed.

[0021] (15) An electric ship propulsion system disclosed herein comprises: a cylindrical duct; a propeller rotatably supported within the duct, having a plurality of blades arranged around a propeller axis along the central axis of the duct, and a cylindrical rim surrounding the plurality of blades; and an electric motor for rotating the propeller relative to the duct, having a stator provided in the duct and a rotor provided on the rim, wherein the duct has a housing space formed therein, the inner wall constituting the housing space includes a conductive wall having electrical conductivity; and a circuit board having a contact area in contact with the conductive wall and a non-contact area away from the conductive wall, the circuit board having a circuit pattern formed in the contact area so as to avoid the non-contact area. According to this electric ship propulsion system, short circuits between the circuit pattern on the circuit board and the conductive wall of the duct are suppressed.

[0022] Furthermore, the technologies disclosed herein can be implemented in various forms, for example, in the form of an electric ship propulsion system, a ship control system equipped with an electric ship propulsion system, or a ship equipped with an electric ship propulsion system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the technology disclosed herein, short circuits between circuit patterns on a circuit board and conductive walls of a duct are suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] Perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a ship in an embodiment [Figure 2] Side view showing the configuration of an electric propulsion unit [Figure 3] Schematic diagram showing the configuration of a drive unit [Figure 4] Block diagram showing the configuration of a ship control system in a ship [Figure 5] Side view showing an enlarged internal configuration of an electric propulsion unit [Figure 6] Top view showing the configuration of a circuit board 160 [Figure 7] Bottom view showing the configuration of a circuit board 160

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a ship 10 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1 and other drawings described later, arrows indicating respective directions based on the position of the ship 10 may be shown. Specifically, in each figure, arrows indicating FRONT, REAR, LEFT, RIGHT, UPPER, and LOWER may be shown. The front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction (vertical direction) are directions orthogonal to each other.

[0026]

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the ship 10 includes a hull 200 and an electric propulsion unit 100. The electric propulsion unit 100 employs a rim drive system as a drive system for an electric motor 134 described later. The electric propulsion unit 100 includes a rim 137 that connects a plurality of blades 131 of a propeller 132. The electric propulsion unit 100 is a system that transmits the driving force of the electric motor 134 not to the shaft of the propeller 132 described later but to the rim 137 to rotate it. The electric propulsion unit 100 is an example of an electric ship propulsion unit.The hull 200 is the part of the vessel 10 where the operator (crew) is seated. The hull 200 comprises the main hull section 210, the cockpit 220, and the control system 230.

[0028] A living space 212 is formed in the main hull section 210. The cockpit 220 is located in the living space 212. The hull 200 further includes a partition wall 214 and a transom 216. The partition wall 214 demarcates the rear side of the living space 212. The transom 216 is located at the rear end of the hull 200. In the longitudinal direction, a space 215 exists between the transom 216 and the partition wall 214.

[0029] The control device 230 is a device for steering the ship. The control device 230 is installed near the cockpit 220. The control device 230 includes a steering wheel 232, a shift / throttle lever 240, a joystick unit 250, a display device 260, and an input device 270.

[0030] The steering wheel 232 is an operating device for steering the vessel 10. The shift / throttle lever 240 is an operating device for shifting gears and changing the thrust of the vessel 10. The joystick unit 250 is an operating device for steering, shifting gears, and changing the thrust of the vessel 10. The display device 260 is, for example, a liquid crystal display that displays various images related to the vessel 10 (such as operation images). The input device 270 is a button for changing the steering mode, for example. The input device 270 includes an LED (Light-emitting Diode).

[0031] Figure 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the electric propulsion system 100. The electric propulsion system 100 is a device that generates thrust to propel the ship 10. The electric propulsion system 100 is an electric propulsion system driven by an electric motor 134. The electric propulsion system 100 in this embodiment is an outboard motor. In the following, unless otherwise specified, the electric propulsion system 100 in the reference position will be described. The reference position is the position of the electric propulsion system 100 when the ship 10 is underway (the position shown in Figures 1 and 2), and is the position in which the propeller rotation axis L of the propeller 132, which will be described later, extends in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions are each determined based on the electric propulsion system 100 in the reference position.

[0032] The electric propulsion system 100 is mounted on the transom 216 located at the rear (stern) of the hull 200 (see Figure 1). The electric propulsion system 100 comprises a propulsion unit 101 and a suspension system 102.

[0033] The thruster body 101 includes a cowl 110, a middle housing 150, a lower housing 120, a duct 122, and a drive unit 130.

[0034] The cowl 110 is located on top of the electric propulsion system 100. The cowl 110 is a cover that houses various wiring and other components.

[0035] The middle housing 150 is located below the cowl 110 of the electric propulsion system 100. The middle housing 150 is a cover that houses the steering device 152, SCU 154, and various wiring, which will be described later.

[0036] The lower housing 120 is located below the middle housing 150 in the electric propulsion system 100. The lower housing 120 is a cover that houses the MCU 139 (described later), various wiring, etc. The lower housing 120 is rotatably mounted to the middle housing 150 around the steering axis As, which is aligned vertically.

[0037] The duct 122 is located below the lower housing 120 of the electric propulsion system 100. The duct 122 is a tubular body extending in the longitudinal direction. In the reference posture, the duct 122 is positioned lower than the water surface W (see Figure 2). The drive unit 130 is located radially inside the duct 122. A stator fin 133 and a bearing 135 are provided radially inside the duct 122 (see Figure 2). The bearing 135 supports the propeller 132, described later, so that it can rotate around the propeller rotation axis L. The stator fin 133 has multiple (e.g., three) fins. The multiple fins are arranged radially around the bearing 135. The multiple fins are arranged at equal intervals around the propeller rotation axis L. The multiple fins are fixed to the duct 122. Multiple fins are positioned behind the propeller 132, protruding rearward from the duct 122 (see Figures 1 and 2).

[0038] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the drive unit 130. The drive unit 130 generates thrust to propel the ship 10. The drive unit 130 includes a propeller 132 and an electric motor 134.

[0039] The propeller 132 is a rotating body having multiple blades 131. The propeller 132 generates thrust by rotating. The propeller 132 is located radially inward of the duct 122. The propeller 132 is rotatable around a horizontal propeller rotation axis L. The propeller rotation axis L is parallel to the central axis of the duct 122. The propeller 132 is covered all around by the duct 122. Specifically, the propeller 132 has multiple (e.g., four) blades 131 and a rim 137. The multiple blades 131 are arranged around the propeller rotation axis L. The rim 137 is an annular member that surrounds the multiple blades 131. The rim 137 supports the radially outer ends of each of the multiple blades 131. The rim 137 rotates integrally with the multiple blades 131 around the propeller rotation axis L.

[0040] The electric motor 134 rotates the propeller 132. The electric motor 134 includes a rotor 136 and a stator 138.

[0041] The rotor 136 is a tubular body extending in the longitudinal direction. The rotor 136 is mounted on the rim 137 and is rotatably supported relative to the duct 122. The rotor 136 rotates around the propeller rotation axis L relative to the stator 138. The propeller 132 is positioned radially inward of the rotor 136. The propeller 132 is fixed to the rim 137 (rotor 136). The propeller 132 rotates together with the rim 137 (rotor 136). The rotor 136 includes a plurality of permanent magnets 140. In Figure 3, only one of the plurality of permanent magnets 140 is referenced, and the reference numerals for the other permanent magnets 140 are omitted. The plurality of permanent magnets 140 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the rotor 136.

[0042] The stator 138 is a tubular body extending in the front-rear direction. The stator 138 is located radially outward from the rotor 136. The stator 138 is located on the same axis as the rotor 136. The stator 138 is fixed to the duct 122. The stator 138 includes a plurality of coils 142. In Figure 3, only one of the coils 142 is referenced, and the reference numerals for the other coils 142 are omitted. The plurality of coils 142 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the stator 138.

[0043] When multiple coils 142 are energized, an electromagnetic force is generated that rotates the rotor 136. With this configuration, the propeller 132 generates forward thrust when the rotor 136 of the electric motor 134 rotates in the forward direction, and backward thrust when the rotor 136 of the electric motor 134 rotates in the reverse direction.

[0044] The suspension device 102 is a device that suspends the propulsion unit 101 from the hull 200. The suspension device 102 rotates the propulsion unit 101 around the tilt axis At (see Figure 2). This enables a tilt operation that rotates the propulsion unit 101 vertically relative to the hull 200.

[0045] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the ship control system 10S in the ship 10. Each component of the ship control system 10S is connected to each other in a communicative manner, for example, by CLP (Command Line Processor) communication. As shown in Figure 4, the hull 200 has a BCU 300, a GPS 310, a battery 320, and a display control device 262.

[0046] The Boat Control Unit (BCU) 300 controls the overall operation of the ship 10 based on signals transmitted from, for example, the various components of the ship control system 10S. The BCU 300 includes, for example, a CPU, a multi-core CPU, and programmable devices (such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or Programmable Logic Device (PLD)).

[0047] The GPS (Global Positioning System) 310 is a device that determines the current position of the ship 10 using signals received from satellites. The battery 320 is an energy storage device. The battery 320 supplies power to the electric motor 134 and the input device 270. The display control device 262 controls the display of the display device 260.

[0048] The electric propulsion system 100 includes the aforementioned electric motor 134, steering device 152, MCU 139, SCU 154, and detection sensor 155.

[0049] The steering device 152 is a device that controls the rudder angle of the vessel 10. The steering device 152 is housed in the middle housing 150. The steering device 152 includes, for example, an electric motor for steering (not shown) and a steering shaft As (see Figure 2) extending in the vertical direction. When the rudder angle is changed by the steering device 152, for example, the electric motor rotates the steering shaft As. When the steering shaft As rotates, the lower housing 120 connected to the steering shaft As, and the drive unit 130 connected to the lower housing 120, rotate around an axis along the vertical direction. This changes the rudder angle of the vessel 10.

[0050] The MCU (Motor Control Unit) 139 drives the electric motor 134. The MCU 139 is housed in the lower housing 120.

[0051] The Steering Control Unit (SCU) 154 controls the operation of the steering device 152. The SCU 154 includes, for example, a CPU, a multi-core CPU, and a programmable device (Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Programmable Logic Device (PLD), etc.). The SCU 154 is housed in a middle housing 150.

[0052] Figure 5 is an enlarged side view showing the internal configuration of the electric propulsion system 100. Figure 5 shows an enlarged view of the internal configuration of section V of the electric propulsion system 100 as shown in Figure 2. A cross-sectional view of a portion of the internal configuration of section V is shown. Section V is the upper part of the duct 122, and this upper part is connected to the lower housing 120. Figure 5 shows the electric motor 134 (rotor 136, stator 138) and the upper part of the rim 137.

[0053] The duct 122 has a housing space 121. The housing space 121 is located in the upper part of the duct 122. The housing space 121 is located behind the stator 138. The housing space 121 is a recess that opens radially outward from the duct 122. The duct 122 is made of a conductive material (e.g., metal). Therefore, all the inner walls constituting the housing space 121 are conductive walls. The conductive walls are electrically connected to the outer surface of the duct 122. In this embodiment, in order to reduce the weight of the electric propulsion system 100, the entire duct 122 is made of aluminum. The stator 138 is housed in the stator housing chamber 123. The housing space 121 and the stator housing chamber 123 are separated by a partition wall 124.

[0054] The circuit board 160 is located on the bottom wall 126 of the inner wall constituting the housing space 121, which is located on the propeller rotation axis L side (rotor 136 side). In other words, the circuit board 160 is located on the steering device 152 side of the duct 122. The circuit board 160 is located outside the rotor 136 in the radial direction of the duct 122. In a radial view of the duct 122 (upward view in Figure 5), the front portion of the bottom wall 126 and the rear portion of the rotor 136 overlap each other. A recess 127 is formed at the front end of the bottom wall 126. The recess 127 opens radially outward from the duct 122.

[0055] The circuit board 160 includes a substrate 162, the detection sensor 155, and a circuit pattern 165 (see Figure 6). The substrate 162 is rectangular in shape and is formed of, for example, resin. The detection sensor 155 is a sensor that outputs a detection signal corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotor 136, and in this embodiment, it has a plurality of Hall elements 164 and an encoder (not shown).

[0056] The surface of the substrate 162 of the circuit board 160 includes a contact area M and non-contact areas N1 and N2. The substrate 162 is positioned on the bottom wall 126 so as to cover the recess 127. That is, the front portion of the substrate 162 is away from the bottom wall 126 (the bottom surface of the recess 127), and the rear portion of the substrate 162 is in contact with the bottom wall 126. The contact area M is the inner surface of the substrate 162 that faces radially inward of the duct 122 and is in contact with the bottom wall 126. The first non-contact area N1 is the inner surface of the substrate 162 that faces the recess 127 and is away from the bottom wall 126. The second non-contact area N2 is the entire outer surface of the substrate 162 that is opposite to the bottom wall 126. Neither the Hall element 164 nor the circuit pattern 165 are positioned in the contact area M, but are positioned in the non-contact areas N1 and N2.

[0057] Multiple Hall elements 164 are arranged in a first non-contact region N1 of the circuit board 160. The first non-contact region N1 is located in a position that overlaps with the rotor 136 when viewed radially from the duct 122 (vertical view in Figure 5). The contact region M is located in a position offset from the rotor 136 in the direction along the propeller rotation axis L (rearward direction) when viewed radially from the duct 122.

[0058] The front portion of the circuit board 162 overlaps the rotor 136 when viewed radially (vertically) from the duct 122. The circuit board 160 is positioned to overlap the stator 138 when viewed along the propeller rotation axis L. Specifically, the circuit board 160 is located behind the stator 138.

[0059] Of the bottom wall 126, the thickness D1 of the non-contact portion of the wall facing the non-contact region N1 of the circuit board 160 is thinner than the thickness D2 of the contact portion of the wall facing the contact region M (see Figure 5). Because the thickness D1 of the non-contact portion of the wall is relatively thin in this way, the distance between the Hall element 164 and the rotor 136 is reduced.

[0060] Figure 6 is a top view showing the configuration of the circuit board 160, and Figure 7 is a bottom view showing the configuration of the circuit board 160. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the area of ​​the contact region M on the bottom surface of the circuit board 160 is larger than the area of ​​the first non-contact region N1. The bottom surface of the circuit board 160 is an example of one side of the circuit board.

[0061] The circuit board 160 (substrate 162) is fixed to the bottom wall 126 via a plurality of fastening members B (bolts, etc.). The plurality of fastening members B penetrate the contact area M of the circuit board 160 and are screwed into the bottom wall 126, joining the circuit board 160 and the bottom wall 126. In this embodiment, at least one of the plurality of fastening members B is conductive. At least one fastening member B is made of metal. Of the circuit patterns 165 on the circuit board 160, the ground pattern 165G is electrically connected to the bottom wall 126 via the conductive fastening members B. The duct 122 functions as a ground line in the circuit board 160.

[0062] Multiple Hall elements 164 are located at the front end of the circuit board 160. Multiple fastening members B are located at the rear end of the circuit board 160. In other words, the Hall elements 164 and the fastening members B are located on opposite sides of the circuit board 160.

[0063] A connector 166 is provided on the upper surface of the circuit board 160. The connector 166 is located in the area opposite to the contact area M. The connector 166 electrically connects the circuit pattern 165 on the circuit board 160 to the cable 168. The cable 168 includes, for example, a power supply line for supplying power to the circuit board 160 and a signal line for outputting a detection signal from the detection sensor 155. The upper surface of the circuit board 160 is an example of the other surface of the circuit board.

[0064] As described above, the vessel 10 of this embodiment comprises a cylindrical duct 122, a propeller 132 rotatably supported within the duct 122, and an electric motor 134 that rotates the propeller 132 relative to the duct 122. The propeller 132 has a plurality of blades 131 arranged around a propeller axis L along the central axis of the duct 122, and a cylindrical rim 137 surrounding the plurality of blades 131. The electric motor 134 rotates the propeller 132 relative to the duct 122. The electric motor 134 has a stator 138 provided in the duct 122 and a rotor 136 provided in the rim 137.

[0065] A housing space 121 is formed in the duct 122. The inner wall constituting the housing space 121 includes a conductive wall (bottom wall 126) which has electrical conductivity. The circuit board 160 includes a contact area M that is in contact with the bottom wall 126 and non-contact areas N1 and N2 that are away from the conductive wall. The circuit board 160 includes a detection sensor 155 and a circuit pattern 165. The detection sensor 155 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotor 136. The circuit pattern 165 is formed in the non-contact areas N1 and N2 so as to avoid the contact area M. Since the circuit pattern 165 on the circuit board 160 is away from the conductive wall, electrical short circuits between the circuit pattern 165 and the conductive wall of the duct 122 are suppressed.

[0066] In this embodiment, the circuit board 160 is located on the steering device 152 side of the duct 122. According to this embodiment, for example, compared to a configuration where the circuit board 160 is located on the opposite side of the duct 122 from the steering device 152, the circuit board 160 is less likely to be submerged in water. The circuit board 160 is located on the bottom wall 126 on the rotor 136 side of the inner wall that constitutes the housing space 121 (see Figure 5). Because the Hall element 164 located on the circuit board 160 and the rotor 136 are located close together, the position detection accuracy by the Hall element 164 is improved.

[0067] In this embodiment, the circuit board 160 is positioned outside the rotor 136 in the radial direction of the duct 122. According to this embodiment, for example, compared to a configuration in which the circuit board 160 is positioned at the same location as the rotor 136 in the radial direction of the duct 122, the enlargement of the duct 122 in the front-rear direction is suppressed. The front portion of the board 162 overlaps the rotor 136 in a radial view of the duct 122 (up-down view in Figure 5). According to this embodiment, for example, compared to a configuration in which the circuit board 160 does not overlap the rotor 136 in a radial view of the duct 122, the enlargement of the duct 122 in the front-rear direction is suppressed. The circuit board 160 is positioned to overlap the stator 138 in a front-rear view. According to this embodiment, for example, compared to a configuration in which the circuit board 160 is positioned offset from the stator 138 in a front-rear view, the enlargement of the duct 122 in the radial direction is suppressed.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the multiple Hall elements 164 are arranged in a first non-contact region N1 on the inner surface of the circuit board 160. According to this embodiment, the accuracy of detecting the rotation angle of the rotor 136 by the Hall elements 164 is improved compared to, for example, a configuration in which the Hall elements 164 are arranged on the outer surface of the circuit board 160.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the first non-contact region N1 where the Hall element 164 is located is positioned to overlap with the rotor 136 in a radial view of the duct 122 (vertical view in Figure 5). The contact region M that contacts the bottom wall 126 is positioned to be shifted backward relative to the rotor 136 in a radial view of the duct 122. According to this embodiment, for example, compared to a configuration where the non-contact region where the Hall element 164 is located is positioned to be shifted in the front-rear direction relative to the rotor 136 in a radial view of the duct 122, the distance between the Hall element 164 and the rotor 136 is reduced, thus improving the accuracy of detecting the rotation angle of the rotor 136 by the Hall element 164.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the thickness of the non-contact portion of the bottom wall 126 facing the non-contact region N1 of the circuit board 160 is thinner than the thickness of the contact portion of the bottom wall 126 facing the contact region M. According to this embodiment, for example, compared to a configuration in which the thickness of the non-contact portion of the wall is greater than or equal to the thickness of the contact portion of the wall, the reduction in the accuracy of detecting the rotation angle of the rotor 136 by the Hall element 164 due to the wall interposed between the Hall element 164 and the rotor 136 is suppressed.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the area of ​​the contact region M on the lower surface of the circuit board 160 is larger than the area of ​​the first non-contact region N1. According to this embodiment, for example, the circuit board 160 is more stably positioned relative to the duct 122 compared to a configuration in which the area of ​​the first non-contact region N1 is less than or equal to the area of ​​the contact region M.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the multiple fastening members B penetrate the contact area M of the circuit board 160 and are screwed into the bottom wall 126, joining the circuit board 160 and the bottom wall 126. According to this embodiment, for example, the contact area M in which no circuit pattern is formed is effectively utilized to fix the circuit board 160 to the duct 122. In the above embodiment, the multiple Hall elements 164 are arranged at the front end of the circuit board 160. The multiple fastening members B are arranged at the rear of the circuit board 160. According to this embodiment, the decrease in the accuracy of detecting the rotation angle of the rotor 136 by the Hall elements 164 due to the electrical influence of the fastening members B is suppressed.

[0073] The technologies disclosed herein are not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified in various forms without departing from their essence, for example, the following modifications are possible.

[0074] The configurations of the ship 10, ship control system 10S, and electric propulsion system 100 in the above embodiment are merely examples and can be modified in various ways. For example, in the above embodiment, an outboard motor electric propulsion system 100 is given as an example of an electric ship propulsion system, but the electric ship propulsion system may be an inboard motor, an inboard / outboard motor, a jet propulsion system, etc. The electric motor may be a multi-phase motor other than a three-phase motor, or a DC motor.

[0075] In the above embodiment, an example of a housing space for housing a circuit board was a recess located in the upper part of the duct 122 and opening radially outward from the duct 122, but it is not limited to this. The housing space may be located in a part other than the upper part of the duct 122 (for example, a part closer to the center in the vertical direction of the duct 122). The housing space is not limited to the rear of the stator 138 (stator housing chamber 123), but may also be located in front of the stator 138 or radially outward from the stator 138. The housing space may be a recess opening radially inward from the duct 122, or a recess opening forward or backward. The housing space is not limited to a recess, but may be a closed space entirely surrounded by an inner wall.

[0076] The duct is not limited to the duct 122, which is entirely made of a conductive material; for example, a duct may be partially made of a non-conductive material. In short, the duct only needs to have a conductive wall on which at least a portion of the inner wall surface constituting the housing space for housing the circuit board is conductive.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the circuit board 160 was placed on the bottom wall 126, but it may be placed on a part of the inner wall constituting the housing space 121 other than the bottom wall 126. The circuit board 160 may be placed at the same position as the rotor 136 in the radial direction of the duct 122, or it may be placed inside the rotor 136. An example of a circuit board was a circuit board 160 including a detection sensor 155, but it is not limited to this, and a circuit board that does not include the detection sensor 155 (a circuit board that includes part of the MCU 139 or SCU 154) may also be used. In the above embodiment, a part of the board 162 other than the front part may overlap with the rotor 136 in a radial view (vertical view) of the duct 122, or it may not overlap with the rotor 136. In the above embodiment, the circuit board 160 may be placed at a position offset from the stator 138 in a front-to-back view. The circuit board 160 does not have to have a connector 166.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the Hall element 164 may be arranged on the outer surface (second non-contact area N2) of the circuit board 160 (substrate 162). There may be one Hall element 164 or more than three Hall elements arranged on the circuit board 160. An example of a detection sensor is not limited to a magnetic sensor such as the Hall element 164, but may also be a sensor that outputs a detection signal according to the rotation angle of the rotor 136 using another method (optical, etc.). An example of a detection sensor is not limited to the rotation angle of the rotor 136, but may also be a sensor that detects other objects (for example, the steering angle of the duct 122).

[0079] In the above embodiment, the non-contact region N1 where the Hall element 164 is located may be positioned offset in the front-rear direction from the rotor 136 when viewed radially (up and down) of the duct 122. In the above embodiment, the thickness of the wall of the non-contact portion of the circuit board 160 facing the non-contact region N1 may be greater than or equal to the thickness of the wall of the contact portion facing the contact region M.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the area of ​​the first non-contact region N1 on the circuit board 160 may be greater than or equal to the area of ​​the contact region M. In the above embodiment, the multiple fastening members B may penetrate the first non-contact region N1 without penetrating the contact region M of the circuit board 160, be screwed into the bottom wall 126, and join the circuit board 160 and the bottom wall 126. There may be one fastening member B or three or more fastening members B that fix the circuit board 160. The multiple Hall elements 164 and the multiple fastening members B may be arranged on the same side of the circuit board 160 in the front-to-back direction. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0081] 10: Ship 10S: Ship control system 100: Electric propulsion system 122: Duct 123: Stator housing 126: Bottom wall 127: Recess 130: Drive unit 131: Blades 132: Propeller 134: Electric motor 136: Rotor 137: Rim 138: Stator 152: Steering device 155: Detection sensor 160: Circuit board 162: Board 164: Hall element 165: Circuit pattern 165G: Ground pattern 166: Connector 200: Hull B: Fastening member L: Propeller rotation shaft M: Non-contact area N1,N2: Non-contact area

Claims

1. A cylindrical duct, A propeller rotatably supported within the duct, comprising a plurality of blades arranged around a propeller axis along the central axis of the duct, and a cylindrical rim surrounding the plurality of blades, An electric motor for rotating the propeller relative to the duct, the electric motor having a stator provided in the duct and a rotor provided in the rim, An electric ship propulsion system equipped with, The duct has a containment space, and the inner wall constituting the containment space includes a conductive wall having electrical conductivity. An electric ship propulsion system further comprising a circuit board including a contact area in contact with the conductive wall and a non-contact area away from the conductive wall, the circuit board having a detection sensor that outputs a detection signal corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotor, and a circuit pattern formed in the contact area so as to avoid the non-contact area.

2. An electric ship propulsion system according to claim 1, Furthermore, the system includes a steering device positioned radially outward from the duct, having a steering shaft, and rotating the duct around the steering shaft. The circuit board is located on the steering device side of the duct, and is part of an electric ship propulsion system.

3. An electric ship propulsion system according to claim 1 or claim 2, The circuit board is located outside the rotor in the radial direction of the duct in an electric ship propulsion system.

4. An electric ship propulsion system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An electric ship propulsion system wherein at least a portion of the circuit board overlaps the rotor in a radial view of the duct.

5. An electric ship propulsion system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The circuit board is positioned to overlap the stator when viewed along the central axis, in an electric ship propulsion system.

6. An electric ship propulsion system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The aforementioned detection sensor has a Hall element, The circuit board has an inner surface facing radially inward of the duct, The inner surface includes the contact area and the non-contact area. The detection sensor is located in the non-contact area of ​​the electric ship propulsion system.

7. An electric ship propulsion system according to claim 6, An electric ship propulsion system in which the non-contact area on which the detection sensor is located is positioned to overlap with the rotor in a radial view of the duct, and the contact area is positioned to be offset from the rotor in a direction along the central axis in a radial view of the duct.

8. An electric ship propulsion system according to claim 6 or claim 7, An electric ship propulsion system in which the thickness of the non-contact portion of the inner wall facing the non-contact region where the detection sensor is located is thinner than the thickness of the contact portion of the inner wall facing the contact region.

9. An electric ship propulsion system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, One side of the circuit board includes the contact area and the non-contact area. An electric ship propulsion system in which the area of ​​the contact region on one of the aforementioned surfaces is larger than the area of ​​the non-contact region.

10. An electric ship propulsion system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, Furthermore, the electric ship propulsion system includes a fastening member that penetrates the contact area of ​​the circuit board and joins the contact area with the conductive wall.

11. An electric ship propulsion system according to claim 10, The fastening member has conductivity, An electric ship propulsion system in which, among the circuit patterns, the ground pattern is electrically connected to the conductive wall via the fastening member.

12. An electric ship propulsion system according to claim 11, The aforementioned detection sensor has a Hall element, An electric ship propulsion system, wherein the Hall element is located at one end of the circuit board, and the fastening member is located at the other end of the circuit board.

13. An electric ship propulsion system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, One side of the circuit board includes the contact area and the non-contact area. Furthermore, the electric ship propulsion system includes a connector located on the other side of the circuit board, in the area opposite to the contact area.

14. The hull and, A ship comprising an electric ship propulsion system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which is disposed on the hull of the ship.

15. A cylindrical duct, A propeller rotatably supported within the duct, comprising a plurality of blades arranged around a propeller axis along the central axis of the duct, and a cylindrical rim surrounding the plurality of blades, An electric motor for rotating the propeller relative to the duct, the electric motor having a stator provided in the duct and a rotor provided in the rim, An electric ship propulsion system equipped with, The duct has a containment space, and the inner wall constituting the containment space includes a conductive wall having electrical conductivity. An electric ship propulsion system further comprising a circuit board having a contact region in contact with a conductive wall and a non-contact region away from the conductive wall, wherein the circuit board has a circuit pattern formed in the contact region so as to avoid the non-contact region.

Images