Monolithic Outboard Drive Frame And Cowling For Service Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outboard marine drives face challenges in efficiently supporting and protecting electrical components while providing easy access for maintenance and service, particularly in marine environments.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic supporting frame with a honeycomb structure and integrated cowling design that encloses electrical components, featuring a removable service tray and movable lid for access, along with a passage for electrical connectors, enhances protection and maintenance accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional supporting frame with separate mounting components is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity increases and protection reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the supporting frame and cowling into a single monolithic structure formed from one hollow profile. This merging of previously separate components (supporting frame, mounting brackets, and cowling) into one unified piece reduces device complexity while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through extrusion processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The single hollow profile serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, acts as the supporting frame, integrates mounting surfaces for the propulsor housing and transom bracket assembly, and forms the cowling enclosure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mounting components while simplifying the overall device structure.
2Reliability
If a monolithic supporting frame with integrated cowling is used, then protection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting frame and cowling are merged into a single monolithic structure that provides both structural support and protective enclosure simultaneously. This integration ensures that the electrical components are protected while eliminating gaps or interfaces between separate components that could compromise protection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The monolithic structure incorporates internal segmentation through the honeycomb structure, which provides structural reinforcement while maintaining a unified external form. This internal segmentation strengthens the protective enclosure without requiring additional external components or complex assembly.
3Reliability
If the cowling is fixed and enclosed, then protection reliability is improved, but ease of operation for maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cowling is designed with a movable lid that can be opened and closed, transforming the enclosure from a completely fixed structure to a dynamic one. This allows the electrical components to be protected when the lid is closed while enabling easy access for maintenance when the lid is opened, without compromising the overall protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The cowling is segmented into a main body and a removable lid portion. This segmentation allows the protective enclosure to be divided into accessible sections, enabling maintenance personnel to access electrical components through the openable lid while the rest of the structure remains intact and protective.
4Strength
If a solid supporting frame is used, then strength is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting frame incorporates a honeycomb structure, which is a porous configuration that provides high strength-to-weight ratio. The honeycomb pattern creates internal voids that reduce material usage and weight while maintaining structural integrity and load-bearing capacity through the geometric efficiency of the hexagonal cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow profile structure acts as a composite form, combining solid and void spaces to create an optimized structural system. The hollow sections reduce weight while the overall monolithic construction and integrated reinforcement features maintain necessary strength and stiffness for supporting the propulsor and withstanding operational loads.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An outboard marine drive (50) includes a propulsor (72) configured to generate a thrust force in water, and a monolithic supporting frame (52) which supports the outboard marine drive (50) relative to the marine vessel. The monolithic supporting frame (52) includes a body (82), a support leg (78) extending downwardly from the body (82) and configured to support a propulsor housing (54) for the propulsor (72), and a steering arm (80) extending forwardly from the body (82) for steering of the outboard marine drive (50). A power entry module (170) is coupled to the monolithic supporting frame (52), the power entry module (170) being configured to regulate/control current and voltage for powering the propulsor (72). A service tray (310) is removably coupled to the top (92) of the monolithic supporting frame (52), the service tray (310) supporting at least one serviceable component of the outboard marine drive (50).