Modular marine drive with modular and flexible drive elements

Abstract

Marine watercraft can be operated using different drive units including an inboard drive, outboard drive (L-Drive), a foiling drive, and a inboard / outboard drive commonly known as sterndrive (Z-drive). Drive unit moulds are complicated and costly as they need to accommodate the shape of the lower part as well as the cavitation plate. A modular marine drive unit that can be configured to different drive unit types by changing one or more parts is disclosed herein. The modular marine drive unit uses a few small moulds instead of one big mould to reduce the mould' s complexity and price and to allow for different drive unit configurations.

Description

[0001] MODULAR MARINE DRIVE WITH MODULAR AND FLEXIBLE DRIVE ELEMENTS

[0002] PRIORITY

[0003] The present application is related to, and claims the priority benefit of, U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 63 / 542,914, filed October 6, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein directly and by reference in their entirety.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Marine watercraft can be operated using different drive units, including an inboard drive, an outboard drive (L-Drive), a foiling drive, and an inboard / outboard drive commonly known as a sterndrive (Z-drive). Each model is carefully designed to suit the intended application. For example, the sterndrive drive unit has the motor installed inside the watercraft and the drive unit outside the watercraft is different than the outboard drive unit that is a self-contained unit that includes a motor, gearbox, and a propeller or jet drive. Mainly, each drive unit uses one mould for the drive unit, or at least the lower part with a cavitation plate, that can differ even when the number of propellers change.

[0006] Drive unit moulds are complicated and costly as they need to accommodate the shape of the lower part as well as the cavitation plate. If the manufacturer needs to have different drive unit variations, it needs to design a mould for each one of them along with the cost accompanied with it.

[0007] Having a modular drive unit with smaller and simpler pieces that can be configured to make different drive units would significantly reduce the mould cost and allow the manufacturers to have a different drive configuration to suit different types of applications. In view of the same, devices, systems, and methods for facilitating the prolonged use of modular drive units would be well received in the marketplace. BRIEF SUMMARY

[0008] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit that can be configured to different drive unit types by changing one or more parts. The modular marine drive unit uses a few small moulds instead of one big mould to reduce the mould’s complexity, price, and allow for different drive unit configuration.

[0009] The present disclosure includes disclosure of modular marine drive units with different parts that can be exchanged to create various drive type configurations such as sterndrive, L-drive, Z-drive, and foiling drive.

[0010] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit, comprising an upper part having an electric motor and a motor mounting that connects the drive unit to a boat, a middle part with a cavitation plate connecting the upper part to a lower part, and one or more propellers to propel the boat, wherein the lower part connects the drive unit to the one or more propellers, and wherein any of the upper part, middle part, or the lower part can be exchanged to create a different drive unit type such as sterndrive, L-drive, Z-drive, or foiling drive to increase design flexibility and reduce development cost and moulding cost.

[0011] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit, wherein the upper part, middle part, or the lower part is / are configured to represent an outboard motor (L- drive).

[0012] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit, wherein the drive unit comprises a sterndrive (Z-drive) and uses a case of the upper part but without the electric motor, and instead gears that connect the drive unit to the electric motor positioned inside the boat, the same lower part with its one or more propellers, and a same or different middle part configured to suit the sterndrive.

[0013] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit, wherein the drive unit comprises a foiling drive unit having the lower part and a second lower part, and wherein the middle part comprises a foiling wing connected to the lower part and the second lower part and to the upper part and a second upper part.

[0014] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit, wherein the drive unit can use a fixed upper part where the drive unit is fixed to the boat hull or a retractable upper part where the foiling drive unit can be retracted or extended using a mechanism on the upper part.

[0015] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit, wherein the foiling drive unit can have a front foiling part configured as a fixed foiling part or a retractable foiling part where the foiling drive unit and the front foiling part works together to lift the boat partially of fully from the water.

[0016] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit, wherein the drive unit can use the lower part, the middle part, and the upper part with a rotation mechanism that can provide a 360° rotation to steer the boat in all directions.

[0017] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit, wherein the lower part can have a single or dual propeller shaft design, while each design can use a different middle part to accommodate a length of the cavitation plate suitable for each propeller design.

[0018] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit, wherein a height of the cavitation plate in the middle part can vary.

[0019] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit, wherein a design of the lower part can vary by having a forward-facing propeller or a back facing propeller.

[0020] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit, wherein the lower part can comprise a propeller cage to protect the one or more propellers from external objects or to protect a user from the one or more propellers. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a drive unit, as shown and / or described herein.

[0021] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The disclosed embodiments and other features, advantages, and disclosures contained herein, and the matter of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0023] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a modular drive unit configured as an outboard drive (L-drive), according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Fig. 2 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a modular drive unit configured as a stern drive (Z-drive), according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Fig. 3 illustrates a rear view of an embodiment of a modular drive unit configured as a fixed and retractable foil drive connected to a boat, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Fig. 4 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a modular drive unit configured as to have a 360° rotation, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Fig. 5 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a modular drive unit having the cavitation plate in different heights, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Fig. 6 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a modular drive unit configured to have a forward-facing propeller, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] As such, an overview of the features, functions and / or configurations of the components depicted in the figures will now be presented. It should be appreciated that not all of the features of the components of the figures are necessarily described and some of these non-discussed features (as well as discussed features) are inherent from the figures themselves. Other non-discussed features may be inherent in component geometry and / or configuration. Furthermore, wherever feasible and convenient, like reference numerals are used in the figures and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The figures are in a simplified form and not to precise scale.

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] For the purposes of promoting an understanding the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

[0032] Marine drive units have different variations, such as L-drive, Z-drive and foiling drive. Each of the configurations require a complex mould to accommodate the drive’s shape and characteristics. Therefore, the manufacturers need to make a mould for each design, which comes with a high starting cost. The present disclosure introduces a modular drive approach to divide the drive unit into a few smaller moulds to reduce the complexity and cost. Moreover, the modular approach allows for reusing the moulds of one type in other drive units design.

[0033] The present disclosure includes disclosure of a modular marine drive unit 100 consisting of an upper unit 101 that can have an electric motor 106 inside and a drive mounting 105 that connects the drive unit 100 to the boat, a middle unit 102 with a cavitation plate 102, and a lower part 103 that connects the drive 100 to one or more propellers 104, such as shown in Fig. 1 wherein any of the upper unit 101, the middle unit 102, or the lower unit 103 can be exchanged to create a different drive type. Using one or more parts for different drive types reduces the design and development cost as well as adding flexibility in the design process. The manufacturer can use the same lower part 103 with different middle parts 102, 202, 302 to create various drive unit configurations. In addition, the drive unit 100 can be extended by using a different middle part 102, 202, 302 to suit different boats’ heights as the middle unit 102 is exchanged with a longer middle part 107 to accommodate higher boats, such as shown in Fig. 5. Moreover, the middle unit 102, 202, 302 can have a cavitation plate in different heights as the middle part 107a (a low cavitation plate), 107b (a mediumheight cavitation plate) and 107c (a high cavitation plate).

[0034] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drive unit 200 which is used as a sterndrive includes the same upper part case 101 but without the electric motor 106. Instead, there will be only the gears that connects the drive unit 200 to the electric motor 106 inside the boat, the same lower unit 103 with its propeller 104, and a different middle unit 202 that is configured to suit the sterndrive 200, such as shown in Fig. 2. By that, the development cost will be significantly reduced by reusing the same moulding for the upper part 101 and lower part 103 parts while the manufacturer only needs to incur the mould development cost of the middle unit 202.

[0035] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the lower unit 103 can be used to produce a foiling drive unit by having two lower parts 103 with a middle unit 302 having a foiling wing connected to the two lower parts 103. At the top, the drive can use the same upper unit 106 or a different upper unit design 301, the drive unit 300 can use a fixed upper part 301a where the drive unit 300 is fixed to the boat hull or a retractable upper part 301b where the foiling drive unit 300 can be retracted or extended using a mechanism on the upper part 301b, such as shown in Fig 3. In addition, for the foiling part to work, another foiling part needs to be added at the front side of the boat. This part can be fixed or retractable. In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drive unit 400 can use the lower part 103 and middle part 102 with an upper part 401 that can provide a drive unit 400 with 360° rotation to steer the boat in all directions. The upper part 401 can have a steering mechanism 402 that can rotate the drive unit 400 in a full cycle of rotation, such as shown in Fig. 4.

[0036] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the lower part 103 can have a single propeller or dual propeller shaft design, while each design can use different middle unit to accommodate the length of the cavitation plate suitable for each propeller design. Also, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, for any drive unit mentioned herein, the lower unit design can vary by having a forward-facing propeller or back facing propeller. The drive unit 500 can use the upper unit 101 with any middle unit (for example 202) and a forward-facing type of lower unit 501, such as shown in Fig 6.

[0037] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure the lower unit 103 can have a propeller cage to protect the propeller from the external objects or protecting the user from the propeller.

[0038] While various embodiments of devices and systems and methods for using the same have been described in considerable detail herein, the embodiments are merely offered as non-limiting examples of the disclosure described herein. It will therefore be understood that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the content thereof.

[0039] Further, in describing representative embodiments, the present disclosure may have presented a method and / or a process as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth therein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described, as other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. In addition, disclosure directed to a method and / or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences may be varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A modular marine drive unit, comprising: an upper part having an electric motor and a motor mounting that connects the drive unit to a boat; a middle part with a cavitation plate connecting the upper part to a lower part; and one or more propellers to propel the boat; wherein the lower part connects the drive unit to the one or more propellers; and wherein any of the upper part, middle part, or the lower part can be exchanged to create a different drive unit type such as sterndrive, L-drive, Z-drive, or foiling drive to increase design flexibility and reduce development cost and moulding cost.

2. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein: the upper part, middle part, or the lower part is / are configured to represent an outboard motor (L-drive).

3. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein: the drive unit comprises a sterndrive (Z-drive) and uses a case of the upper part but without the electric motor, and instead gears that connect the drive unit to the electric motor positioned inside the boat, the same lower part with its one or more propellers, and a same or different middle part configured to suit the sterndrive.

4. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein: the drive unit comprises a foiling drive unit having the lower part and a second lower part, and wherein the middle part comprises a foiling wing connected to the lower part and the second lower part and to the upper part and a second upper part.

5. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein: the drive unit can use a fixed upper part where the drive unit is fixed to the boat hull or a retractable upper part where the foiling drive unit can be retracted or extended using a mechanism on the upper part.

6. The drive unit of claim 4, wherein: the drive unit can use a fixed upper part where the drive unit is fixed to the boat hull or a retractable upper part where the foiling drive unit can be retracted or extended using a mechanism on the upper part.

7. The drive unit claim 1, wherein: the foiling drive unit can have a front foiling part configured as a fixed foiling part or a retractable foiling part where the foiling drive unit and the front foiling part works together to lift the boat partially of fully from the water.

8. The drive unit of claim 4, wherein: the foiling drive unit can have a front foiling part configured as a fixed foiling part or a retractable foiling part where the foiling drive unit and the front foiling part works together to lift the boat partially of fully from the water.

9. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein: the drive unit can use the lower part, the middle part, and the upper part with a rotation mechanism that can provide a 360° rotation to steer the boat in all directions.

10. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein: the lower part can have a single or dual propeller shaft design, while each design can use a different middle part to accommodate a length of the cavitation plate suitable for each propeller design.

11. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein: a height of the cavitation plate in the middle part can vary.

12. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein: a design of the lower part can vary by having a forward-facing propeller or a back facing propeller.

13. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein: the lower part can comprise a propeller cage to protect the one or more propellers from external objects or to protect a user from the one or more propellers.

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