Movable Battery Center of Gravity Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ballast systems in recreational sport boats are slow, cumbersome, and reduce performance efficiency due to the addition of water weight, which affects drag and requires frequent maintenance when interacting with contaminated water.
Innovation Solution
A watercraft design featuring movable batteries within an actuation assembly that adjusts the center of gravity by translating along specific axes, allowing for efficient weight distribution without adding dead weight, thereby enabling quick adjustment of wake shape and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If water ballast is loaded onto the boat to pitch and roll the boat, then the wake shape is improved, but the performance efficiency deteriorates due to additional dead weight increasing drag
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ballast function from water (which adds dead weight) and relocates it to movable batteries. The batteries are moved between positions using an actuation assembly to create the desired pitch and roll, eliminating the need for water ballast while maintaining wake shaping capability and improving performance efficiency.
2Shape
If water is used as ballast, then the wake can be shaped, but the system becomes slow and cumbersome with frequent maintenance needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical water ballast system (pumps, filters, valves) with an electrical system. Movable batteries are positioned using an actuation assembly driven by a motor, enabling rapid adjustment of center of gravity without the slow, cumbersome water handling process while eliminating maintenance of water-related mechanical components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If water ballast tanks and pumps are used, then the boat can be ballasted, but the system complexity increases and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the batteries serve multiple functions: they provide electrical power for the electric drive and simultaneously function as movable ballast. The actuation assembly positions the batteries to adjust the center of gravity for wake shaping, eliminating the need for separate water ballast tanks, pumps, and filters, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
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 allows for rapid adjustment of the watercraft's center of gravity to create desired wakes while maintaining performance efficiency and reducing maintenance needs by utilizing existing battery weight for both propulsion and ballast functions.
Implementation Method 1
moving the battery between the first position and the second position adjusts a center of gravity of the watercraft
Data Source
AI summary
A watercraft comprising a hull, an electric drive, a battery electrically coupled to the electric drive, and an actuation assembly coupled to the battery. The battery is movable with respect to the hull by the actuation assembly between a first position and a second position.