Marine Drive Vibration Isolating Joint Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marine propulsion systems with electric motors generate tonal and prominent noise due to harmonic content, and vibrations travel through structures with minimal resistance, leading to poor sound quality and annoyance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of vibration isolating joints with elastomeric members and compression limiters to clamp these members between the extension leg and the supporting frame, limiting the transfer of vibrations and preventing over-clamping during assembly, thereby reducing noise and vibration transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If vibration isolating joints with elastomeric members are introduced, then noise and vibration transmission are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vibration isolating joints with elastomeric members as intermediary elements between the drive unit and the mounting structure. These elastomeric members act as mediators that absorb and dampen vibrations, preventing direct transmission of noise and vibrations to the marine vessel structure, thereby resolving the contradiction by adding a specialized component specifically for harm reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction in the vibration isolating joints, combining elastomeric materials with metal components (mounting brackets, fasteners). This composite approach allows the system to achieve both vibration isolation properties and structural strength, managing the complexity through integrated material design rather than separate components
2Reliability
If compression limiters are added to prevent over-clamping, then reliability of the vibration isolating joint improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression limiter is designed as a preventive feature that is built into the vibration isolating joint assembly before operation. It provides beforehand cushioning by mechanically preventing excessive compression of the elastomeric member during assembly or operation, thereby protecting the joint from failure and ensuring long-term reliability without requiring complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The compression limiter is implemented as a simple, inexpensive mechanical feature (such as a限位 groove or adjustable fastener system) rather than an expensive complex control mechanism. This approach prioritizes cost-effective reliability by using straightforward mechanical means to prevent over-clamping, accepting that the limiter itself is a simple, replaceable component
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
The solution effectively reduces noise and vibration transmission, enhancing the noise quality of marine drives by isolating vibrations from the electric motor, thus providing a more refined and less disturbing propulsion experience.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric member which is clamped between the extension leg and the supporting frame and configured to limit transfer of vibrations from the extension leg to the supporting frame
Data Source
AI summary
A marine drive is for propelling a marine vessel in a body of water. The marine drive has a supporting frame configured to support the marine drive with respect to the marine vessel, an extension leg depending on the supporting frame, a motor housing depending on the extension leg, the motor housing for containing an electric motor, and a vibration isolating joint which couples the extension leg to the supporting frame. The vibration isolating joint having an isolating connector assembly including an elastomeric member which is clamped between the extension leg and the supporting frame and configured to limit transfer of vibrations from the extension leg to the supporting frame, and a compression limiter which prevents over clamping of the elastomeric member during assembly of the extension leg and the motor housing.