Patent classifications
B63H2021/202
Modular drive apparatus
A modular drive apparatus includes a gear box (16) with a rotatable internal transmission gear (60). The gear box includes a plurality of body openings (44). The openings may be selectively closed by the installation of cover plates (52, 54). With a cover plate removed, a drive coupler (32, 34, 58, 148) may be extended in the respective opening and mounted in operative connection with the gear box. In the mounted position of the drive coupler, an idler gear (72, 172) engages the ring gear of the gear box. Rotatable power devices such as pumps, motors and generators may be operatively rotatably engaged with the drive coupler.
HYDRIDE GENERATION SYSTEM
The present disclosure is directed to a system and a method for hydride generation. In some embodiments, the system includes an assembly for introducing hydride generation reagents into a mixing path or mixing container, where the assembly includes first chamber configured to contain a first hydride generation reagent and a second chamber configured to contain a second hydride generation reagent. A first plunger is configured to translate within the first chamber and cause a displacement of the first hydride generation reagent, and a second plunger is configured to translate within the second chamber and cause a displacement of the second hydride generation reagent. The assembly further includes base coupling the first plunger and the second plunger together.
VARIABLE TORQUE MOTOR/GENERATOR/TRANSMISSION
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.
Variable torque motor/generator/transmission
A motor/generator/transmission system includes: an axle; a stator ring having a plurality of stator coils disposed around the periphery of the stator ring, wherein each phase of the plurality of stator coils includes a respective set of multiple parallel non-twisted wires separated at the center tap with electronic switches for connecting the parallel non-twisted wires of each phase of the stator coils all in series, all in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel; a rotor support structure coupled to the axle; a first rotor ring and a second rotor ring each having an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the axle, at least one of the first rotor ring or the second rotor ring being slidably coupled to the rotor support structure and configured to translate along the rotor support structure in a first axial direction or in a second axial direction.
SYSTEM AND METHOD OF HYBRID MARINE PROPULSION
A marine propulsion system, comprising a drive shaft secured to a propeller to rotationally drive the propeller; a motor selectively coupled to the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft; an electrical energy storage unit coupled to the motor to supply an on-board electrical power supply to the motor, the electrical energy storage unit configured to be recharged by an on-shore electrical power supply; an engine selectively coupled to the drive shaft to rotate the drive shall, the engine not coupled to the electrical energy storage unit for use as a generator to recharge the electrical energy storage unit; and a control system coupled to the motor and to the engine for selecting one of the motor and the engine to rotate the drive shaft. A hybrid marine propulsion method, comprising rotationally driving a drive shaft and propeller using an engine; shifting the engine into neutral; turning on an electric motor by manually activating a motor toggle; disengaging the engine from rotational driving engagement with the drive shaft and engaging the electric motor in rotational driving engagement with the drive shaft; and turning on a fluid sub-system to supply fluid to the drive shaft by manually activating a fluid sub-system toggle.
STAXcraft
A novel emissions control watercraft (STAXcraft) solving a long-felt but unsolved need regarding disadvantages associated with prior-art emissions servicing watercraft, the disadvantages selected from the group, but not limited to, the use of tugboats, securing or mooring servicing watercraft to a serviced vessel, additional expenses and time-delays and inefficiencies of land-based approaches, increased toxic emissions, increased greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, danger from falling cargo, tanker safety, alongside mooring in narrow channels preventing other OGV's to pass safely, and cargo tank emissions.
Modular hybrid propulsion unit for watercraft
A modular hybrid propulsion unit is disclosed that is mountable to a watercraft. According to an example, the modular hybrid propulsion unit includes a housing configured to fit within a complementary housing receiver on a topside of the watercraft, and a rotational output coupling configured to rotationally engage with a rotational input coupling for a propeller of the watercraft. The propulsion unit further includes an electric motor within the housing, the electric motor having a motor shaft connected to the rotational output coupling for providing an electrically powered rotational input to the rotational output coupling. The propulsion unit further includes a crank having one or more crank arms. The crank is connected to the rotational output coupling for providing a human powered rotational input to the rotational output coupling independent of the electrically powered rotational input by the electric motor.
SMALL PLANING WATERCRAFT AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SMALL PLANING WATERCRAFT
A small planing watercraft includes: a travel electrical component driven for travel of the small planing watercraft; an accessory electrical component provided separately from the travel electrical component; a battery supplying power to the travel electrical component and the accessory electrical component; a sensor detecting a physical quantity corresponding to a level of the battery; and processing circuitry determining, based on a result of detection of the sensor, whether the level of the battery is a predetermined power saving level, and controlling, when it is determined that the level of the battery is the power saving level, operation of the accessory electrical component so that power consumed by the accessory electrical component is less than that before determination.
MODULAR HYBRID PROPULSION UNIT FOR WATERCRAFT
A modular hybrid propulsion unit is disclosed that is mountable to a watercraft. According to an example, the modular hybrid propulsion unit includes a housing configured to fit within a complementary housing receiver on a topside of the watercraft, and a rotational output coupling configured to rotationally engage with a rotational input coupling for a propeller of the watercraft. The propulsion unit further includes an electric motor within the housing, the electric motor having a motor shaft connected to the rotational output coupling for providing an electrically powered rotational input to the rotational output coupling. The propulsion unit further includes a crank having one or more crank arms. The crank is connected to the rotational output coupling for providing a human powered rotational input to the rotational output coupling independent of the electrically powered rotational input by the electric motor.
INTEGRATED MARINE PROPULSION SYSTEM MODELING AND CONFIGURATION
A low-order vessel propulsion power prediction method may be performed to determine factors, including power demand parameters, used in configuring a propulsion system for a marine vessel. The low-order method may receive stability data and vessel operation profile data, in addition to computational fluid dynamics simulation results to determine predicted vessel power profiles. The predicted vessel power profiles may be used to configure a powertrain system model for the marine vessel.