Boat Drive Pod Mounting With Sealed Inner Outer Tubes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boat drives with underwater pods are difficult to remove and maintain due to complex sealing requirements, making inspections and repairs costly and labor-intensive, especially when boat hulls have varying curvilinear designs.
Innovation Solution
A boat drive design featuring an inner tube connected to the underwater pod with electrical supply lines routed through it, and a mounting body with an outer tube that can be securely attached to the boat hull using a waterproof connection, allowing for easy detachment and reconnection without damaging the seal, utilizing annular sealing elements like O-rings to prevent water ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the underwater pod is permanently fixed to the boat hull with screwed connections and sealing agent, then the sealing is reliable and waterproof, but the pod cannot be easily removed for inspection or repair
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a permanent mounting body that remains attached to the boat hull, and a removable pod assembly that can be detached. The mounting body includes an outer tube permanently fixed to the hull, while the pod assembly includes an inner tube that fits within the outer tube. This segmentation allows the sealing interface to be separated from the pod, enabling pod removal without compromising the permanent mounting seal.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the electrical supply lines are routed through the bottom of the boat hull with an aperture, then the motor can be powered, but the aperture requires sealing that complicates pod removal
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical supply line routing is merged with the pod support structure. The inner tube serves dual functions: it supports the pod assembly and simultaneously provides a sealed pathway for the electrical supply lines. This integration eliminates the need for separate aperture sealing in the boat hull bottom, as the inner tube itself provides the sealed passage when inserted into the outer tube.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mounting structure is designed for secure permanent attachment to the boat hull, then the connection is stable and reliable, but the structure cannot accommodate different boat hull shapes and curvatures
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting body is designed as a universal base structure that can be adapted to various boat hull shapes and curvatures. It includes multiple attachment points and can be configured to work with different hull configurations. The outer tube serves multiple functions: providing structural support, guiding the inner tube, and maintaining the sealed passage for electrical lines, making the system versatile across different boat designs.
4Reliability
If the inner tube is fixed rigidly within the outer tube, then the electrical connection is stable, but the tubes cannot accommodate misalignment during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The inner tube is designed to be displaceable within the outer tube rather than rigidly fixed. This dynamic arrangement allows the inner tube to move axially and laterally to accommodate misalignment during assembly. The displaceability provides assembly tolerance while maintaining electrical connection stability through the flexible cable routing within the inner tube.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates quick and easy removal and maintenance of the underwater pod without compromising the seal, enabling efficient repairs and minimizing downtime, while accommodating different boat hull shapes and configurations.
Implementation Method 1
an annular sealing element is provided, which seals the inner tube and the outer tube in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the inner tube
Implementation Method 2
The mounting body is attached in a waterproof manner to the bottom of the boat hull
Data Source
AI summary
A boat drive for a boat having a boat hull with a bottom. The boat drive includes an underwater pod; an electric motor disposed in the underwater pod, the electric motor driving, via a drive shaft, a propeller attached to the underwater pod; and an electrical supply line for supplying energy to the electric motor. The boat drive further includes an inner tube connected to the underwater pod and displaceably disposed in an outer tube, wherein the electrical supply line is routed through the inner tube. The boat drive further includes a mounting body attachable to the bottom of the boat hull, wherein the outer tube is passed through the mounting body. At least one annular sealing element is disposed between the inner and outer tubes, wherein the at least one annular sealing element seals the inner tube and the outer tube in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the inner tube.