In a marine hybrid system which includes an engine, an electric motor, a thrust generation device, and a clutch mechanism configured to be able to switch connection states therebetween, if it is determined that the engine is in an overload condition, the clutch mechanism is controlled such that a load of the engine is reduced.

The present invention concerns an outboard propulsion device for a navigational seacraft comprising a propulsion means (4), at least one engine (1) supplying torque to a drive shaft (20) extending out of the engine and driving a transmission shaft (3) intended to supply torque to the propulsion means, the drive shaft and the propulsion shaft being in a fixed relative orientation, and a transmission means (2) connected at the input to the drive shaft (20) in order to receive the engine torque and transmit it, in the form of modified torque, to the transmission shaft (3) to which it is connected at the output, and the transmission shaft (3) is a double universal joint shaft (30, 31) that extends in an inclined manner between the transmission means (2) and the propulsion means (4).

The present disclosure is directed to an electric generator and motor transmission system that is capable of operating with high energy, wide operating range and extremely variable torque and RPM conditions. In accordance with various embodiments, the disclosed system is operable to: dynamically change the output “size” of the motor/generator by modularly engaging and disengaging rotor/stator sets as power demands increase or decrease; activate one stator or another within the rotor/stator sets as torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements change; and/or change from parallel to series winding configurations or the reverse through sets of 2, 4, 6 or more parallel, three-phase, non-twisted coil windings with switchable separated center tap to efficiently meet torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements.

A method of operating a marine vessel hybrid propulsion system having a propulsion shaft and a propeller, an internal combustion piston engine in force transmission connection with the propulsion shaft, and an electric motor-generator in force transmission connection with the propulsion shaft and/or with the piston engine. The internal combustion piston engine can be started by applying electric power from an on-board power source to the electric motor-generator and rotating the internal combustion piston engine by the electric motor-generator and rotational speed of the internal combustion piston engine is accelerated to a predetermined limit rotational speed without attempting to start the internal combustion piston engine, and only after the rotational speed of the internal combustion piston engine reaches the predetermined limit rotational speed, the internal combustion piston engine is started.

The invention relates to a method to control at least a first and a second parallel hybrid driveline (101, 102; 310, 320, 330) arranged to drive a marine vessel (100). Each driveline comprises a first propulsion unit (111, 112; 311, 321, 331) in the form of an internal combustion engine operatively connected with a second propulsion unit (121, 122; 312, 322, 332) in the form of an electric motor to drive a propeller shaft (107, 108; 313, 323, 333) and produce a thrust force, and where at least one control unit (316, 326, 336; 317, 327, 337; 340) is arranged to control each first and second propulsion unit in all the parallel hybrid drivelines. The method involves individual adjustment of the rotational speed (n.sub.1, n.sub.2) of the first propulsion unit (111, 112; 311, 321, 331) in each driveline to improve the efficiency of this first propulsion unit while maintaining the requested vessel speed, and a simultaneous adjustment of the load from the corresponding second propulsion unit (121, 122; 312, 322, 332) in each driveline to improve the efficiency of each driveline and the complete driveline installation.

A ship propulsion system provides a first power transmission device that transmits power from an internal combustion engine to a propeller, a second power transmission device that transmits power from an electric motor to a propeller and that is mounted to the hull so as to be able to turn up and down independently from the first power transmission device, an actuator for causing the second power transmission device to turn up and down, and a control device. The control device is configured so as to be able to select a first drive mode in which the internal combustion engine is driven and the electric motor is not driven, and a second drive mode in which the internal combustion engine is not driven and the electric motor is driven. When the first drive mode is selected, the actuator is operated so that the second power transmission device turns up.

A control system for a marine propulsion device includes a propeller driven by either an engine or a motor. The control system includes a first memory to store first information to identify whether the control system has shut down normally or abnormally even during a reset period of the control system, a second memory to store second information indicating control states of the engine and the motor even during the reset period of the control system, and a controller configured or programmed to start controlling the engine and the motor, based on the second information stored in the second memory, when the first information stored in the first memory indicates an abnormal shutdown of the control system at a startup of the control system.

A vessel operation system includes an outboard motor or other propulsion apparatus on a hull, an electrically-driven trolling motor mounted externally to the hull, and a controller configured or programmed to control the outboard motor and the trolling motor. The outboard motor generates a thrust and electric power with an engine. The trolling motor generates a thrust by being driven by electric power from a battery that is charged by the electric power generated by the outboard motor. In a state in which the trolling motor is generating the thrust, the controller is configured or programmed to control the outboard motor so as to generate an assist thrust that hastens a behavior of the hull by the thrust generated by the trolling motor.

A transmission system for a hybrid power plant, such as a hybrid propulsion system of a marine vessel, is described. The transmission is configured to selectively couple a primary mover and/or a secondary mover to an output of the transmission for providing a power output, and optionally selectively couple the primary mover to the secondary mover, decoupling the output, for electrical energy generation in a compact and light-weight design.

A vessel power supply system for a vessel including a propulsion device that includes an engine and a generator driven by the engine to generate electricity, includes a first battery that supplies power to the propulsion device, a second battery that supplies power to accessories of the vessel, a first open circuit voltage sensor that detects an open circuit voltage of the first battery, a second open circuit voltage sensor that detects an open circuit voltage of the second battery, and a switch that is turned on/off to open and close a current path between the first battery and the second battery.