ELECTROMOTIVE DRIVE DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH AN ELECTROMOTIVE DRIVE DEVICE

Abstract

An electromotive drive device for a floatable device includes an electric motor operable by means of a separate power supply module with an energy accumulator, an electronic open-loop/closed-loop control unit and a remote control. The electric motor is within a housing connected to a drive propeller, which at least partially is surrounded by a protective device connected to the housing via connecting supports. The housing has an upper housing part and a lower housing part connected to each other by at least one releasable connection. The housing includes an elliptical bow, the end thereof transitioning into an essentially circular diameter with relative dimensions being a sum larger than an end of the housing with a projection opposite the bow. The housing in the lateral area behind the diameter is provided with intake openings for cooling water to flow inward. The cooling water can exit via outlet openings provided in the connecting supports. An operating method for the drive device includes an electronic open-loop/closed-loop control unit with an information processing unit. The drive ensures energetic use of the power supply module by reducing power while considering a travelled distance or travel time of the floatable device.

Claims

1. An electromotive drive device for a floatable device, preferably a float tube, with a drive, which includes an electric motor, which is operable by means of a separate power supply module with an energy accumulator, an electronic open-loop/closed-loop control unit and a remote control, wherein the electric motor is disposed within a housing and outside the housing is connected to a drive propeller, which at least partially is surrounded by a protective device, which is connected to the housing via connecting supports, wherein the housing consists of an upper housing part and a lower housing part, which are connected to each other by means of at least one releasable connection, wherein the housing includes a bow in an enveloping elliptical embodiment, the end thereof transitioning into an essentially circular diameter, the relative dimensions thereof as a sum being larger than an end of the housing with a projection opposite the bow, and in that the housing in the lateral area behind the diameter is provided with intake openings for cooling water to flow in when operating the drive, which cooling water, after sectioned contact with the exterior termination of the electric motor while assisting the driving, can exit again via outlet openings, which are provided in the connecting supports.

2. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the connection between the upper housing part and the lower housing part follows a curved separating line.

3. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the intake openings respectively at the entry are provided with roundings, which end in projections, which at the end side are oriented towards the electric motor and simultaneously within the upper housing part and the lower housing part transition into corresponding webs, such that between two neighboring webs respectively one section is created, wherein each one of the individual sections includes a connection to the two outlet openings.

4. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein there is a gap between the projection and a reception of the drive propeller, which gap after having mounted the drive propeller with the reception covers, at least in one area, an end of the reception such that a portion of vegetable growth located in the water surrounding the installed drive cannot result in blocking the drive propeller, when the drive propeller rotates.

5. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the end of the reception has a conical or straight course or the projection has straight or conical course.

6. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein, on the inside, the projection includes a surrounding sealing element or in that a sealing element essentially closes the gap.

7. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor includes an essentially round exterior termination, which is retained in the position thereof between the upper housing part and the lower housing part between the webs.

8. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein a mount is connected to the lower housing part, wherein the free end of the mount transitions into a mounting foot, which serves for the releasable connection to a mount disposed at the floatable device, which mount includes a reception, which contains a complementary embodiment of the mounting foot, wherein, for securing the drive inserted into the mount, the mounting foot or the mount includes a securing breakthrough, which corresponds to a depression in the mount.

9. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the housing with the mount and the protective device consist of plastic material.

10. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply module is accommodated in at least one water-tight receptacle, in which likewise are contained the open-loop/closed-loop control unit and the remote control and a sender/receiver unit for communication with the remote control, and a mount with a connector to the power supply, and in that the receptacle in addition to a drive connector and a charge connector also includes an emergency shut-off button, which is operable from outside the receptacle.

11. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the energy accumulator is embodied as an accumulator, preferably as a lithium-ion accumulator, and is optionally accommodated within a water-tight receptacle.

12. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply module with the open-loop/closed-loop control unit is operable for the operation of the electric motor via the remote control.

13. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control includes operating elements for modifying the rotational motor speed and the drive propeller rotary direction and display elements for displaying the current rotational motor speed or the motor performance, as well as the charge state of the energy accumulator.

14. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein, during a reduced charge state of the energy accumulator, the open-loop/closed-loop control unit is able to automatically switch to a modified energizing of the drive, which can result in a lower traveling speed.

15. A method for operating an electromotive drive device for a floatable device, in particular a float tube, wherein the drive device includes a drive, with an electric motor, which is disposed within a flow-optimized hydrodynamically designed housing and outside the housing includes a drive propeller, wherein the electric motor is operated by means of an open-loop/closed-loop control unit in conjunction with a remote control and a power supply module with an energy accumulator, wherein the electronic open-loop/closed-loop control unit includes an information processing unit, which, should the primary or final energy input drop, with sufficient safety for the drive ensures energetic use of the energy provided by the power supply module by reducing the power and while considering a travelled distance or travel time of the floatable device.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the information processing unit permanently verifies a rational use of the energy available for the drive and the remote control displays the updated result.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the information processing unit calculates an energy-efficient balance of the available energy based on the quantified and/or qualified losses and thereby open-loop and closed-loop controls the motor performance.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein a maximum travel time of the drive device is calculated based on the available energy balance and the maximum speed.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein, based on the available energy, the electronic open-loop/closed-loop control unit automatically performs a speed limitation for the drive.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the operating conditions of the drive, are displayed in the remote control and can be modified.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein different transmitting channels can be selected or are modifiable via the remote control.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the remote control can modify the speed and direction of rotation of the drive propeller.

Description

[0026] In the following, the invention will be illustrated in more detail based on different exemplary embodiments in the drawings.

[0027] FIG. 1: A perspective illustration of a first preferred embodiment of an electromotive drive device;

[0028] FIG. 2: the same as FIG. 1, however, in a rear-sided view;

[0029] FIG. 3: the same as FIG. 1, however, in a lateral view;

[0030] FIG. 4: a drive device according to FIG. 1 in a sectional illustration;

[0031] FIG. 5: a further preferred embodiment of an electromotive drive device in the perspective illustration;

[0032] FIG. 6: a front view of an upper housing part;

[0033] FIG. 7: a top view of a lower housing part;

[0034] FIG. 8: a partial illustration of the drive device according to FIG. 5;

[0035] FIG. 9: a section of the drive device according to FIG. 8,

[0036] FIG. 10: a detailed view according to FIG. 9;

[0037] FIG. 11: a cutout illustration with mounting possibilities of a drive propeller;

[0038] FIG. 12: a perspective illustration of the lower housing part;

[0039] FIG. 13: a perspective illustration of the upper housing part;

[0040] FIG. 14: a lateral view of the upper housing part;

[0041] FIG. 15: a lateral view of the lower housing part;

[0042] FIG. 16: the drive device in an underside view;

[0043] FIG. 17: a potential configuration of a mount;

[0044] FIG. 18: an application of a drive device underneath a float tube;

[0045] FIG. 19: an attachment of a drive device to a float tube;

[0046] FIG. 20: a receptacle for operating the drive device;

[0047] FIG. 21: a block diagram of an open-loop/closed-loop control unit.

[0048] FIG. 1 reveals a first preferred embodiment of a drive device with a drive 26. Starting at a mounting foot 2, a protruding mount 10 is provided, which is adjoined by a housing formation 3. In this case, the housing 3 consists of a lower housing part 33 and an upper housing part 12. A connecting piece 9, which transitions into a further connecting piece 8, which serves for stabilizing a protective device 5, is illustrated above at the upper housing part 12. In the same manner, in the lower area of the mount 8 as well, the connecting piece 9 with the connecting piece 8 is disposed at the protective device 5. In said embodiment, the protective device 5 is illustrated as a circular component, wherein the protective device 5 surrounds a drive propeller 7. The housing 3 is provided with intake openings 27 for cooling water to enter. A bow 28 is illustrated at the front side of the housing formation. Electric energy is supplied to the drive 26 via a power supply connector 4. Then, the mounting foot 2 includes a securing breakthrough 14, in order to be able to exchangeably mount the drive 26 to a floatable device, for example in the shape of a float tube or the like. This provision allows for using the drive 26 for various floatable devices, likewise transport is made easier.

[0049] In FIG. 2 represents the drive 26 in a perspective illustration from the rear. In this case, it becomes obvious that the mounting foot 2 can be embodied on the underside with a straight connecting surface 23 for attaching to a mount 61, which is revealed in FIG. 17. In this case, the mounting foot 2 is pushed into a laterally open reception 62 and is reliably secured in a simple manner via a depression 63 in conjunction with the securing breakthrough and a securing element.

[0050] The mount 10 has curved side lines 11, which in the flow-optimized embodiment thereof taper towards the drive propeller 7.

[0051] Said above-described embodiments according to the FIGS. 1 and 2 are again revealed in a lateral view of FIG. 3.

[0052] FIG. 4 represents a sectional illustration according to FIG. 3 through the entire drive 26. In said exemplary embodiment, an electric motor 17 with a gear, which is not identified in detail, is placed within the upper housing part 12 and the lower housing part 33. A rotation protection 15 is disposed at the gear, so that the installed electric motor 17 remains in the position thereof. A drive shaft 31, at which a drive connector 29 is placed, is located at the exit of the gear, which is not identified in detail. The non-illustrated blades of the drive propeller 7 are formed at the drive connector 29. The rotation protection 15 for the combination of electric motor 17 and gear engages within a connecting support 6. Within the mount 10 in continuation of the power supply connector 4 into a channel 13, an electrical connector is installed, which at the end side, includes a plug-in device 16 for the connection to the electric motor 17.

[0053] FIG. 5 reveals a further preferred embodiment of a drive 1 in a perspective illustration. Starting at the mounting foot 2 with the straight connecting surface 23 thereof, herein again, the mount 10 is formed. The power supply connector 4, which is connected to a cable connector 18, transitions into the mount 10. At a front side 21 of the mount 10, a rounding is formed, which ends in a rear side 22. The housing 3 with the upper housing part 12 and the lower housing part 33, to which the mount 10 is conformed, are retained in the position thereof by connections 35. The intake openings 27 for the entering cooling water for the electric motor 17 are illustrated laterally both in the upper housing part 12 and in the lower housing part 33. In this case, the intake openings 27 are illustrated as flow-optimized and following a rounding 52. The connecting supports 25, which on the underside lead into a rounded protective device 24, are conformed on both sides of the upper housing part 12. Oriented towards the drive propeller 7, the connecting supports 25 are provided with outlet openings 30 for the exiting cooling water.

[0054] According to the view of drawing 6, the upper housing part 12 is illustrated in a frontal view. Said illustration particularly clearly reveals that the outlet openings 30, provided in the connecting supports 25, are connected in a flow-optimized manner to an interior space 55 of the housing 3. Stabilizing sections 32, which lend the embodiment of the drive 1 a steady placement in the water, are conformed at the lower end of the connecting supports 25, laterally to the protective device 5.

[0055] In an individual illustration according to FIG. 7, the lower housing part 33 is illustrated in a view onto the connecting surface 23. Said illustration particularly clearly reveals that the bow 28 has an essentially elliptical bulge-like shape, which is configured all-around and which in the terminal area thereof has an essentially round diameter 57 towards the housing 3. The diameter 57 in the absolute dimensions thereof is greater than for example a protrusion 36, which is located in the area of the connection for the drive propeller 7. The intake openings 27 for the cooling water for the electric motor 17 are illustrated in an exterior wall 56 laterally in the lower housing part 33. As can be seen in the illustrations of the intake openings 27, starting at the exterior wall 56, a rounding 52 is illustrated, which ensures that the cooling water entering into the intake openings 27 does not create an turbulences and so that thereby no energy losses occur. Furthermore, bores 49 are provided in the lower housing part 33, which serve for stabilizing the housing parts 12 and 33 once they are assembled. Moreover, with the intention to allow for separating the upper housing part and the lower housing part, for example the lower housing part 33 is provided with lateral projections 59.

[0056] FIG. 8 represents once more an overall view of the housing 3 of the drive 1. In this case, the upper housing part 12 is exchangeably connected to the lower housing part 33, on the one hand via the connections 35 and, on the other hand, in the area of the bow 28 via mounts 34. FIG. 8 likewise reveals that the drive propeller 7 with the reception 43 thereof is located closely at, respectively in the housing 3. The entire housing 3 is illustrated once more in a sectional illustration according to FIG. 9. The electric motor 17 is embedded in a clamping manner within the upper housing part 12 and the lower housing part 33 without any additional attachments. The connection to the electric motor 17 is ensured via the cable connector 18.

[0057] With the intention to clarify the housing structure, which prevents blocking the drive propeller 7 the housing 3 by means of vegetable matter, it is referred to the detail A of FIG. 10. The reception 43 of the drive propeller 7 enters between the projection 36, which is located in the lower housing part 33 and the upper housing part 12. Especially, said configuration of the projection 36 in conjunction with the reception 43 creates only a very narrow gap 38 between the stationary projection 36 and the reception 43 rotating on account of the drive shaft 31. As one end 44 of the reception 43 is located behind the end of the projection 36, the quasi conical formation of the gap 38 becomes so small that vegetable matter or the like in said area cannot cause any arrest of the drive propeller 7.

[0058] A pin 40, which engages into a recess 48 of the reception 43, passes through the drive shaft 31. On account of said embodiment, the reception 43 with the drive propeller 7 is torque-proof attached on the drive shaft 31. A thread 41 is located at the end of the drive shaft 31, onto which thread a nut 42 is screwed for securing the reception 43. For example, the electric motor 17 is secured with screw connections 39 to a gear, which is not designated in detail. FIG. 11 reveals once more that simple mounting of the drive propeller 7 is possible.

[0059] While the preceding drawings essentially described the exterior area of the housing, FIGS. 12 and 13 refer to the area, in which the electric motor 17 is reliably retained between the upper part 12 and the lower housing part 33 solely by the connecting forces via the mount 34 and the bores 49 with the connections 35. For positioning the electric motor 17, webs 46 in the housing 3, and thus both in the lower housing part 33 and in the upper housing part 12, retain the essentially round housing. The webs 46 have another task, and namely channeling the cooling water flowing in through the intake openings 27 by means of the sections 58, which are located between neighboring webs 46. On account of the sections 58, the cooling water is directly guided into the exterior areas of the electric motor 17. After entering via the intake openings 27, the cooling water is guided further in such a manner that it cannot remain laterally within the housing 3, because in conjunction with the sections 58, the present cooling water is directly guided to the outside of the housing 3 via the outlet openings 30 next to the drive propeller 7.

[0060] With the intention to prevent turbulences of the entering cooling water, projections 51 with a rounding 52 are provided in the area of the intake openings 27. The projection 51 is conformed to the webs 46. With said formation, the entering cooling water is guided into the housing 3 in such a manner that the electric motor 17 experiences a very efficient cooling. An open free space 50 is provided in the rear area of the lower housing part 33. Furthermore, discharge bores 54 are located in the interior space of the housing 3 for the available cooling water to drain.

[0061] FIG. 14 illustrates the upper housing part 12 in a lateral view, wherein said illustration particularly represents the course of a separating line 60 between the upper housing part 12 and the lower housing part 33, which is shown in FIG. 15. The course of the separating line 60 is not straight, but has a curved course, which at the upper housing part 12 has its lowest point in the area of the bow 28. Said measure also prevents turbulences of the flowing surrounding water laterally at the housing 3, when riding the float tube 64. When following the course of the separating line 60 in the interior area, i.e. towards the interior space 55, a surrounding projection 19 is provided, in the area of the separating line 60 at the lower housing part 33, a corresponding recess is provided, respectively pins 20 or pins, which ensure a precise positioning between the lower housing part 33 and the upper housing part 12. However, when operating the drive device, even the slightest turbulence draws additional energy from the power supply module 67.

[0062] FIG. 16 reveals the flow-efficient embodiment of the exterior shape of the housing 3 with the bow 28 and the point of the dimension expansion at the diameter 57 of the housing 3 in the longitudinal extension thereof. Said shape design, when riding the float tube, ensures that waves or wave movements will not have any lateral contact with the housing 3 or only very little contact. Thereby, ensuring efficient energy use.

[0063] FIG. 18 shows an exemplary application of the drive 1 at a carrier surface 66 of a float tube 64. In this case, the carrier surface 66 is located between lateral bulges 65. In this case, the mount 61 with the reception 62 thereof is placed on the carrier surface 66 such that subsequently the drive 1 is pushed into the reception 62 and then can be secured at that location. FIG. 19 shows said placement within the mount 61. Once the mounting foot 2 is inserted into the reception 62, subsequently a non-illustrated securing element is inserted via the securing breakthrough 14, such that the drive 1 is firmly seated.

[0064] The cable connector 18 supplies the drive with electric energy from the power supply module 67, which can be seen in FIG. 20 in a preferred embodiment. The power supply module 67 is located in a receptacle 83 for this purpose, which is transportable and is closable in a watertight manner. When using the power supply module 67, a drive connector 73 by means of the cable connector 18 can supply the drive 1, 26 with electric energy. An energy accumulator 68 is provided for this purpose within the receptacle 83 and can be optionally guided to the drive connector 73 or else to a charge connector 71 via an electrical connector 69. The charge connector 71 allows for recharging the energy accumulator 68.

[0065] Moreover, a remote control 70 in the standby position thereof is inserted into the receptacle 83 by means of a plug-in connection. Said plug-in connection is simultaneously designed as a power supply 79 for the remote control in the standby position thereof. When in use, i.e. when employing the power supply module 67, the remote control 70 is removed from the holder thereof, and, based on the sender and receiver device 80 contained therein, it can communicate with a non-illustrated sender and receiver device within the receptacle 83. In this case, it is possible for the remote control 70 in particular to gradually adapt the speed, as well as the direction of movement of the drive 1, 26 can be changed. A change of direction, i.e. a sternway is given when currents have made the float tube 64 drift into an area, from which it has difficulties to manoeuvre its way out. Furthermore, the remote control 70 allows for reading the charge state of the energy accumulator 68. Simultaneously, the charge state is an indicator or characteristic for having travelled a certain distance and/or a certain period of time. Said parameters are permanently calculated via an open-loop/closed-loop control unit 77. Said permanent calculation ensures that the available energy of the energy accumulator is always measured in such a manner that the angler can safely return to a shore or a coast with the energy still available in the energy accumulator 68.

[0066] The open-loop/closed-loop control unit 77 is illustrated in a block diagram 74 according to FIG. 21. A power supply 76 supplies electric energy to the open-loop/closed-loop control unit 77 via an energy supply connector 75. The same supply is established to a processor 78 and to the power supply connector 79 for the remote control 70. The processor 78 mutually communicates with the open-loop/closed-loop control unit 77 and, based on the parameters, which the provided data processing unit receives from outside, calculates the behavior of the open-loop/closed-loop control unit 77 such as to correspondingly energize the electric motor 17 via a motor connector 81. The processor 78 likewise communicates with a sender and receiver unit 80, which also has a connection 82 to the remote control 70 within the receptacle 83.

[0067] As shown in the exemplary embodiment of a preferred embodiment of both the drive 1 and the open-loop/closed-loop control unit 77 in conjunction with the power supply module 67, energy-saving use in terms of optimizing the available energy is possible with the particularly designed housing 3 in conjunction with an efficient cooling.

REFERENCES

[0068] 1 drive [0069] 2 mounting foot [0070] 3 housing [0071] 4 power supply connector [0072] 5 protective device [0073] 6 connecting support [0074] 7 drive propeller [0075] 8 connecting piece [0076] 9 connecting piece [0077] 10 mount [0078] 11 side line [0079] 12 upper housing part [0080] 13 channel [0081] 14 securing breakthrough [0082] 15 rotation protection [0083] 16 plug-in device [0084] 17 electric motor [0085] 18 cable connector [0086] 19 projection [0087] 20 pins [0088] 21 frontal side [0089] 22 rear side [0090] 23 connecting surface [0091] 24 protective device [0092] 25 connecting supports [0093] 26 drive [0094] 27 intake opening [0095] 28 bow [0096] 29 drive connector [0097] 30 outlet opening [0098] 31 drive shaft [0099] 32 stabilizing section [0100] 33 lower housing part [0101] 34 mount [0102] 35 connection [0103] 36 projection [0104] 37 recess [0105] 38 gap [0106] 39 screw connection [0107] 40 pin [0108] 41 thread [0109] 42 nut [0110] 43 reception [0111] 44 end [0112] 46 web [0113] 47 free-cut [0114] 48 recess [0115] 49 bore [0116] 50 free space [0117] 51 projection [0118] 52 rounding [0119] 53 break-through [0120] 54 discharge bore [0121] 55 interior space [0122] 56 outside wall [0123] 57 diameter [0124] 58 section [0125] 59 projection [0126] 60 separating line [0127] 61 mount [0128] 62 reception [0129] 63 depression [0130] 64 float tube [0131] 65 bulge [0132] 66 carrier surface [0133] 67 power supply module [0134] 68 energy accumulator [0135] 69 connector [0136] 70 remote control [0137] 71 charge connector [0138] 72 emergency-off button [0139] 73 drive connector [0140] 74 block diagram [0141] 75 energy supply connector [0142] 76 power supply [0143] 77 open-loop/closed-loop control unit [0144] 78 processor [0145] 79 power supply [0146] 80 sender/receiver unit [0147] 81 motor connector [0148] 82 connection [0149] 83 receptacle