Boat Drive

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a boat drive for driving a boat, comprising a drive unit comprising an electric motor and a mounting connected to the drive unit for connecting the boat drive to the boat, wherein the mounting is provided for distancing the drive unit from a hull of the boat, wherein a decoupling arrangement for decoupling of oscillations (S) generated in the drive unit is arranged between the drive unit and the mounting.

Claims

1. A boat drive for driving a boat, comprising: a drive unit comprising: an electric motor; a mounting connected to the drive unit for connecting the boat drive to the boat, wherein the mounting is provided for distancing the drive unit from a hull of the boat: and a decoupling arrangement for decoupling of oscillations (S) generated in the drive unit is arranged between the drive unit and the mounting.

2. The boat drive according to claim 1, wherein the decoupling arrangement comprises at least one oscillation decoupling damping element which is arranged between the drive unit and the mounting.

3. The boat drive according to claim 2, wherein the at least one oscillation decoupling damping element comprises a resilient material.

4. The boat drive according to claim 3, wherein the resilient material is an elastomeric material.

5. The boat drive according to claim 3, wherein the resilient material is rubber.

6. The boat drive according to claim 2, wherein the at least one oscillation decoupling damping element comprises at least two materials with differing resilience.

7. The boat drive according to claim 6, wherein the at least two materials are at least two resilient materials.

8. The boat drive according to claim 2, wherein the at least one oscillation decoupling damping element is configured as a substantially continuous intermediate layer.

9. The boat drive according to claim 1, wherein the mounting comprises a clamping device in which the drive unit is retained.

10. The boat drive according to claim 9, wherein at least one clamping arm of the clamping device clamps around the drive unit from an exterior.

11. The boat drive according to claim 9, wherein the clamping device is configured as a sleeve, clamp or clip.

12. The boat drive according to claim 1, wherein the mounting comprises a flange for connection to a fastening region of the drive unit, wherein the flange, the fastening region and the decoupling arrangement are arranged between the flange and the fastening region.

13. The boat drive according to claim 12, wherein the fastening region and the decoupling arrangement are arranged in the interior of a housing of the drive unit.

14. The boat drive according to claim 1, further comprising a position securing unit for securing the position of the drive unit relative to the mounting.

15. The boat drive according to claim 14, wherein the position securing unit is designed to counter at least one of rotation or displacement of the drive unit relative to the mounting.

16. The boat drive according to claim 1, further comprising a damping adjustment device for adjusting a damper hardness of the decoupling device.

17. The boat drive according to claim 16, wherein at least one oscillation sensor senses at least one of an oscillation of the drive unit or the mounting.

18. The boat drive according to claim 17, wherein the damping adjustment device adjusts the damper hardness on the basis of values obtained by the at least one oscillation sensor.

19. A boat drive comprising: a drive unit comprising: an electric motor; a mounting engaging the drive unit for engaging the boat drive to a boat, wherein the mounting distances the drive unit from a hull of the boat: and a decoupling arrangement arranged between the drive unit and the mounting, the decoupling arrangement having at least one oscillation decoupling damping element comprising a resilient material; wherein the decoupling arrangement decouples oscillations generated in the drive unit.

20. The boat drive according to claim 19, wherein the at least one oscillation decoupling damping element comprises at least two materials with different resiliencies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0043] Specific non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure are explained in more detail with reference to the description of the following Figures. These show schematically:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows schematically an operational principle of a boat drive according to the present disclosure;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows schematically a boat on which a boat drive according to the present disclosure is arranged;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective side view of a part-region of the boat drive according to FIG. 2;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the boat drive according to FIG. 3;

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a boat drive in a further embodiment;

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of a boat drive in a further embodiment;

[0050] FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view of the boat drive according to FIG. 6;

[0051] FIG. 8 shows a further schematic sectional view of the boat drive according to FIG. 6;

[0052] FIG. 9 shows schematically a boat drive in a further embodiment;

[0053] FIG. 10 shows schematically a further boat with a boat drive in a further embodiment; and

[0054] FIG. 11 shows a schematic sectional view of the boat drive according to FIG. 10.

[0055] While the above-identified drawings set forth presently disclosed embodiments, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. This disclosure presents illustrative embodiments by way of representation and not limitation. Numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of the presently disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] Exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. In this case elements which are similar or equivalent are provided with identical reference signs in the different figures, and in some instances a repeated description of these elements is dispensed with in order to avoid redundancy.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows schematically an operational principle of a boat drive 1 according to the present disclosure. This boat drive comprises a drive unit 2, in the interior of which is arranged an electric motor 22 which in this embodiment is connected by means of a transmission 24 to a propeller 26 for generating propulsion. In alternative embodiments the transmission can also be dispensed with and the propeller 26 is connected directly to the electric motor 22.

[0058] The boat drive 1 further comprises a mounting 3, by means of which the drive unit 2 can be attached to a boat having the boat drive 1. As a rule, the boat drive 1 is attached to a boat in such a way that the axis of the propeller 26 is arranged substantially horizontally. Furthermore, the drive unit 2 is generally rotatable or pivotable about at least one axis.

[0059] A decoupling device 4, by means of which the drive unit 2 is decoupled from the mounting 3, is provided between the drive unit 2 and the mounting 3. In this way it is possible for oscillations, which are indicated here by the reference sign S, and vibrations, respectively, which are generated during operation of the boat drive 1 in the electric motor 22 and in particular are generated in the transmission 24, to be damped in the fastening region of the mounting 3 and the drive unit 2. Consequently, the oscillations S are either transmitted with (greatly) reduced amplitude to the mounting 3 or are even completely prevented from transferring to the mounting 3. Due to damping of the oscillations the mounting 3 produces less noise, depending on the degree of damping, so that a quiet and low-vibration ride is possible with a boat having the boat drive 1.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows schematically a boat 100 on which a boat drive 1 according to the present disclosure is arranged. In this case the boat drive 1 is designed as an outboard drive and is fastened by means of the mounting 3 on the transom (not shown) of the boat 1. The mounting serves for pivotable connection of the drive unit 2 to the boat 100, wherein the mounting 3 extends partially below the surface of the water, so that the drive unit 2 is located underwater.

[0061] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective side view of a part-region of the boat drive 1 according to FIG. 2. This shows clearly that the mounting 3 comprises a clamping device 30 in which the drive unit 2 is retained. For this purpose, the clamping device 30 comprises a first clamping arm 32 on the side of the mounting 3 and an opposing second clamping arm 33. The drive unit 2 designed in the form of a pylon is arranged between the two clamping arms.

[0062] Furthermore, the clamping device 30 comprises fastening elements 36, in the present case configured as screws, by which the spacing between the first and second clamping arms 32, 33 can be varied and thus a clamping force can be exerted on the drive unit 2 located in the clamping device 30. For this purpose, the drive unit 2 comprises, in the region of the clamping device 30, a rigid fastening region 20, so that a sufficiently high clamping force action can be generated and thus the drive unit 2 can be securely retained by the mounting 3.

[0063] Alternatively, other types of fasteners can be used individually or in combination, for example rivets, clasps, pin connections and/or locking bolts, and also cohesive bonding such as gluing, soldering or welding.

[0064] In some alternative embodiments, the clamping device 30 can be configured in the form of a sleeve, clamp or clip.

[0065] A decoupling arrangement 4, which decouples the mounting 3 from the drive unit 2 with respect to oscillations, is provided between the mounting 3 and the drive unit 2. Therefore, oscillations and vibrations, respectively, generated by the drive unit 2 are damped by the decoupling arrangement 4, so that they are transmitted, greatly reduced, to the mounting 3. In this case the damping effect of the decoupling device 4 is chosen so that when the boat drive is in cruising mode, in which the electric motor of the drive unit 2 is operated for example at approximately 80% of its rated power, the oscillations are greatly reduced in such a way that, in terms of their frequency, the noise emissions generated by the mounting oscillating with the damped oscillation amplitude lie substantially below a sound pressure level which is still perceptible to the human ear.

[0066] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, which shows a schematic sectional view of the boat drive according to FIG. 3, the decoupling arrangement 4 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises an oscillation decoupling damping element in the form of a continuous intermediate layer 40 of a salt water resistant, resilient polyurethane compound. Alternatively, the intermediate layer 40 can also be produced from another resilient material, such as an elastomer, particularly rubber, for example natural rubber. The intermediate layer 40 comprises substantially the shape of a tube section or hose section, which is adapted to the external contour of the drive unit 2 and is slipped onto this drive unit.

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a boat drive 1 in a further embodiment. The boat drive 1 illustrated there corresponds substantially to the drive according to FIG. 3, wherein in the boat drive 1 illustrated in FIG. 5 a position securing unit 46 is provided for securing the position of the drive unit 2 relative to the mounting 3. In this case, viewed in the circumferential direction of the intermediate layer 40, rod segments 48 are arranged regularly spaced apart in the intermediate layer 40 and extend in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the drive unit 2. In the present case the rod segments 48 are received in the intermediate layer 40 and are radially completely surrounded thereby. In order to receive the rod segments 48, corresponding grooves 28, 38 are provided in the mounting 3 and also in the drive unit 2.

[0068] The rod segments 48 can be made of a stable material, for example a plastic with increased strength by comparison with the material of the intermediate layer 40, or of metal. In a further development the rod segments likewise have a resilient material different from the resilient material of the intermediate layer 40.

[0069] Since the rod segments 48 are completely surrounded by the material of the intermediate layer 40, oscillation damping also occurs in the region of the rod segments 48.

[0070] In this case the position securing unit 46 is designed to prevent a rotation of the drive unit 2 about the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the mounting 3. Securing against displacement of the drive unit 2 along its longitudinal axis can also be achieved by the provision of a further position securing element (not shown) extending in the circumferential direction of the intermediate layer 40.

[0071] Alternatively, securing of the position can also be provided by at least one formation in the mounting 3 and/or the drive unit 2 which engages in at least one correspondingly complementary recess or depression on the drive unit 2 or mounting 3. In this case at least one oscillation decoupling damping element is arranged between the at least one formation and the at least one depression, in order to provide damping also in this region.

[0072] If in the assembled state of the boat drive 1, the formation and the depression are spaced apart from one another, it is also possible to dispense with an intermediate layer there. The position securing unit then acts only in the event of a change of the drive unit 2 relative to the mounting 3. Thus the at least one formation only comes into contact with the at least one depression in the event of a change of position, so that generated in the drive unit 2 are transmitted unhindered to the mounting 3. The oscillations then transmitted in turn generate noise emissions which signal to a person operating the boat drive 1 that the drive unit 2 has experienced a change of position.

[0073] Furthermore, a position sensor can be provided which senses the position of the drive unit 2 relative to the mounting 3 and, if the position of the drive unit 2 changes by a predetermined threshold value, a signal unit can be provided which then signals the change of position of the drive unit 2 relative to the mounting 3 or signals that the threshold value has been exceeded.

[0074] FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of a boat drive 1 in a further embodiment. In contrast to the boat drive 1 according to FIG. 3, the drive unit 2 here comprises an offset fastening region 20. As a result, the external contour of the clamping arms 32, 33 of the clamping device 30 substantially corresponds here to that of the drive unit 2. Thus, the external diameter of the drive unit 2 and that of the clamping device 30 are approximately the same, so that a substantially streamlined configuration of the drive unit 2 is also provided in the fastening region 20. Consequently, the flow resistance of the boat drive 1 according to FIG. 6 is lower relative to the boat drive 1 shown in FIG. 3.

[0075] A schematic sectional view of the boat drive according to FIG. 6 can be seen from FIG. 7. Between the mounting 3 and the drive unit 2, a decoupling device 4 in the form of an annular or hollow cylindrical or tubular segment shaped intermediate layer 40 made of a rubber is vulcanized onto the fastening region 20.

[0076] Furthermore, a position securing unit 46 against a displacement of the drive unit 2 along its longitudinal axis in relation to the mounting 3 is provided by the offset fastening region 20. The clamping device 30 engages positively in the fastening region 20. In the event of a movement of the drive unit 2 along its longitudinal axis out of the position shown in FIG. 7 there would be a contact between the clamping arms 32, 33 and a side wall 21 of the fastening region 20. Due to this positive engagement a further movement of the drive unit 2 is prevented. As a result, the drive unit 2 can be prevented from slipping out of the clamping device 30 in the event of a damaged intermediate layer 40. Alternatively, the region between the clamping device 30 and the side walls 21 can also be filled with a resilient material.

[0077] As can be clearly seen from FIG. 8, which shows a schematic sectional view of the boat drive 1 according to FIG. 6 perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the drive unit 2, the fastening region 20 comprises a non-round contour externally and correspondingly the intermediate layer 40 as well as inner sides of the clamping arms 32, 33 have a non-round contour. The non-round shape ensures a position securing unit against a rotation of the drive unit 2 about its longitudinal axis. Furthermore, in this way the torques from the drive unit 2 can be transmitted particularly uniformly to the mounting 3.

[0078] FIG. 9 shows schematically a boat drive 1 in a further embodiment. The structure of the boat drive 1 corresponds substantially to that according to FIG. 7. Instead of the continuous hollow cylindrical intermediate layer as decoupling arrangement 4, two O-rings 42 are provided which engage in corresponding grooves 28, 38 in the housing 23 of the drive unit 2 and in the mounting 3. The O-rings 42 decouple the drive unit 2 in this case both in the radial and also the axial direction in relation to the longitudinal axis of the drive unit 2.

[0079] FIG. 10 shows schematically a further boat 100 with a boat drive 1 in the form of a pod drive. The boat in FIG. 10 is a sailing yacht, wherein the pod drive is arranged in the lower region of the hull 110 of the yacht.

[0080] FIG. 11 shows a schematic sectional view of the boat drive 1 according to FIG. 10. The mounting 3 of the boat drive comprises a shaft 34 which is fastened rotatably to the hull and is surrounded by a streamlined profiled cover 35 rigidly connected to the hull 110. The shaft 34 extends into the interior of a streamlined housing 23 of the drive unit 2.

[0081] At the lower end of the shaft 34 this shaft comprises a flange 37 by means of which the drive unit 2 is connected to the mounting 3 at a fastening region 20. For decoupling of the mounting 3 and the drive unit 2, an oscillation decoupling damping element 44, the damper hardness of which can be set, is arranged between the flange 37 and the fastening region 20.

[0082] In addition to the intermediate layer 40, at least one spring element (not shown) can be provided in order to facilitate an improved shock-absorbing action of the decoupling arrangement 4.

[0083] Alternatively, the decoupling device 4 can also be configured in the form of a rag joint.

[0084] The boat drive 1 according to FIG. 11 also comprises a damping adjustment device 5. For this purpose, an oscillation sensor 52, which transmits signals to a damper hardness adjustment unit 50, is arranged on the mounting 3. The oscillation sensor 52 senses the oscillations on the shaft 34. By this means the damper hardness adjustment unit 50 determines an optimal damper hardness and adjusts the current damper hardness of the oscillation decoupling damping element 44 to the determined optimal value. In this way it is ensured that the damping of the oscillations by the decoupling arrangement 4 always takes place in the best possible manner and is adapted to changing operating conditions of the boat drive 1 during operation thereof.

[0085] If applicable, all individual features which are set out in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with and/or exchanged for one another without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.