BOAT DRIVE

Abstract

A boat drive is provided for driving a water vehicle. The boat drive includes a drive housing made from a first metallic material and a propeller shaft made from a second metallic material. Moreover, the propeller shaft is designed to receive a drive propeller and the propeller shaft is mounted in the drive housing. In addition, a propeller shaft isolator is provided to electrically isolate the propeller shaft from the drive housing.

Claims

1. A boat drive for driving a water vehicle, comprising: a drive housing comprising a first metallic material; a propeller shaft comprising from a second metallic material and being mounted in the drive housing; and a propeller shaft isolator configured to electrically isolate the propeller shaft from the drive housing.

2. The boat drive according to claim 1, wherein the first metallic material includes aluminum and the second metallic material includes steel.

3. The boat drive according to claim 1, wherein the propeller shaft isolator comprises at least one of plastic, rubber, glass, a ceramic material and paper.

4. The boat drive according to claim 1, wherein the propeller shaft is mounted in the drive housing by a first shaft bearing and a second shaft bearing.

5. The boat drive according to claim 4, wherein: at least one of the first shaft bearing and the second shaft bearing includes an internal ring and an external ring, and at least one of the internal ring and the external ring is designed as the propeller shaft isolator.

6. The boat drive according to claim 4, wherein at least one the first shaft bearing and the second shaft bearing comprises a rolling element set that is designed as the propeller shaft isolator.

7. The boat drive according to claim 4, wherein: the propeller shaft isolator includes a bearing sleeve with a bearing sleeve interior, and the bearing sleeve is configured to be installed in the drive housing for receiving at least one of the first shaft bearing and the second shaft bearing in the sleeve interior.

8. The boat drive according to claim 4, wherein: the propeller shaft isolator includes a first bearing sleeve with a first bearing sleeve interior and a second bearing sleeve with a second bearing sleeve interior, the first shaft bearing is received in the first bearing sleeve interior of the first bearing sleeve, and the second shaft bearing is received in the second bearing sleeve interior of the second bearing sleeve.

9. The boat drive according to claim 4, wherein the propeller shaft isolator includes a shaft sleeve that is configured to be rotationally rigidly arranged on the propeller shaft.

10. The boat drive according to claim 9, wherein the shaft sleeve includes a first shaft sleeve that is in contact with the first shaft bearing, and a second shaft sleeve that is in contact with the second shaft bearing.

11. The boat drive according to claim 1, wherein the propeller shaft isolator is formed as a propeller shaft coating produced by at least one of spraying, lacquering, vulcanization, adhesion, immersion belt lacquering and powder coating.

12. The boat drive according to claim 1, wherein the propeller shaft further comprises a foldable drive propeller that is secured directly to the propeller shaft).

13. The boat drive according to claim 12, wherein the drive shaft isolator is configured to electrically isolate the propeller shaft from the drive propeller.

14. The boat drive according to claim 1, further comprising a gearbox that is arranged in the drive housing and comprises a drive propeller as an electrically isolating component.

15. An outboard engine for a water vehicle, comprising an electric boat drive according to claim 1.

16. The outboard engine according to claim 13, further comprising a pylon configured to receive the boat drive and the drive housing partly or completely forms an outer contour of the pylon.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0053] Preferred further embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following description of the Figures. Shown are:

[0054] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive according to a first variant of a first embodiment;

[0055] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive according to a second variant of a first embodiment;

[0056] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive according to a third variant of a first embodiment;

[0057] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive according to a fourth variant of a first embodiment;

[0058] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive according to a second embodiment;

[0059] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive according to a third embodiment;

[0060] FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive according to a fourth embodiment;

[0061] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive according to a fifth embodiment;

[0062] FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive according to a sixth embodiment; and

[0063] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic cross-section drawing of an outboard engine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0064] Examples of preferred embodiments will be described in the following with reference to the Figures. Identical, similar or identically acting elements will be provided with identical reference numbers in the different Figures, and a repeated description of these elements will be partly omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

[0065] A schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive 10 according to a first variant of a first embodiment example is shown in FIG. 1.

[0066] The boat drive 10 for a water vehicle comprises a drive housing 12 made from a first metallic material M1 and a propeller shaft 14 made from a second metallic material M2. The two different metallic materials M1, M2 in FIG. 1 as well as in all further Figures are indicated with the aid of different shadings . The propeller shaft 14 is mounted in the drive housing 12 by means of a first shaft bearing 16 and a second shaft bearing 18.

[0067] The electric boat drive 10 further has a propeller shaft isolator 20, which is designed and configured to electrically isolate the propeller shaft 14 from the drive housing 12. The first metallic material M1 may include an aluminum alloy and the second metallic material M2 may include a steel alloy. A drive propeller 30 can be secured to an end of the propeller shaft 14 that protrudes from the drive housing 12.

[0068] A potential difference of approximately 1 volt may for example be present between the steel alloy and the aluminum alloy. As the propeller shaft isolator 20 electrically isolates the propeller shaft 14 from the drive housing 12, no electrochemical gradient can be formed even if the propeller shaft 14 as well as the drive housing 12 are submersed in an electrolyte, and galvanic corrosion can therefore not take place. As a result the metallic material M1 with the lower electric potential, in this case the aluminum alloy, is not exposed to galvanic corrosion.

[0069] According to the first embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the first shaft bearing 16 and/or the second shaft bearing 18 may include an internal ring 162, 182 and an external ring 164, 184. The internal ring 162, 182 and/or the external ring 164, 184 of the first shaft bearing 16 and/or the second shaft bearing 18 may be designed as propeller shaft isolators 20. The material contact between the drive housing 12 and the propeller shaft 14 may be realized exclusively via the first shaft bearing 16 and the second shaft bearing 18.

[0070] According to the first variant of the first embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 can each be designed as a slide bearing. The first shaft bearing 16 designed as a slide bearing may include an internal ring 162 as well as an external ring 164. The second shaft bearing 18 designed as a slide bearing may include an internal ring 182 as well as an external ring 184. According to the first variant of the first embodiment example of the electric boat drive 10 the external ring 164 of the first shaft bearing 16 and the external ring 184 of the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a propeller shaft isolator 20. The propeller shaft 14 may correspondingly be electrically isolated from the drive housing 12 via the external rings 164, 184 of the first and second shaft bearings 16, 18, which are designed as propeller shaft isolators. The external rings 164, 184 designed as propeller shaft isolators 20 may for example comprise plastic, rubber, glass and/or a ceramic material.

[0071] A schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive 10 according to a second variant of the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 2. According to the second variant of the first embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a slide bearing. The first shaft bearing 16 designed as a slide bearing may include an internal ring 162 as well as an external ring 164. The second shaft bearing 18 designed as a slide bearing may include an internal ring 182 as well as an external ring 174. According to the second variant of the first embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the internal ring 162 of the first shaft bearing 16 and the internal ring 182 of the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a propeller shaft isolator 20. The propeller shaft 14 may consequently be electrically isolated from the drive housing 16, 18 via the internal rings 162, 182 of the first and second shaft bearings 16, 18, which are designed as propeller shaft isolators. The internal rings 162, 182 designed as propeller shaft isolators 20 may for example comprise plastic, rubber, glass and/or ceramic material.

[0072] A schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive 10 according to a third variant of the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. According to the third variant of the first embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a roller bearing. The first shaft bearing 16 designed as a roller bearing may include an internal ring 162 as well as an external ring 164. The second shaft bearing 18 designed as a roller bearing may include an internal ring 182 as well as an external ring 184. According to the first variant of the first embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the external ring 164 of the first shaft bearing 16 and the external ring 184 of the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a propeller shaft isolator 20. The propeller shafts 14 may correspondingly each be electrically isolated from the drive housing 12 via the external rings 164, 184 of the first and second shaft bearings 16, 18, which are designed as a propeller shaft isolator. The external rings 164, 184 designed as propeller shaft isolators 20 may for example comprise plastic, rubber, glass and/or a ceramic material.

[0073] A schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive 10 according to a fourth variant of the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. According to the fourth variant of the first embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a roller bearing. The first shaft bearing 16 designed as a roller bearing may include an internal ring 162 as well as an external ring 164. The second shaft bearing 18 designed as a roller bearing may include an internal ring 182 as well as an external ring 184. According to the second variant of the first embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the internal ring 162 of the first shaft bearing 16 and the internal ring 182 of the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a propeller shaft isolator 20. The propeller shafts 14 may correspondingly be electrically isolated from the drive housing 12 via the external rings 162, 182 of the first and second shaft bearings 16, 18, which are designed as a propeller shaft isolator 20. The external rings 162, 182 designed as propeller shaft isolators 20 may for example comprise plastic, rubber, glass and/or a ceramic material.

[0074] A schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive 10 according to a second embodiment is shown in FIG. 5. According to the second embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a roller bearing. The first shaft bearing 16 designed as a roller bearing may include an internal ring 162 as well as an external ring 164. The second shaft bearing 18 designed as a roller bearing may include an internal ring 182 as well as an external ring 184. The first shaft bearing 16may further include a first rolling element set 166 and/or the second shaft bearing 18 may include a second rolling element set 186. The first rolling element set 166 and/or the second rolling element set 186 may be designed as a propeller shaft isolator 20.

[0075] According to the second embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the first rolling element set 166 of the first shaft bearing 16 and the second rolling element set 186 of the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a propeller shaft isolator 20. The propeller shafts 14 may correspondingly each be electrically isolated from the drive housing 12 via the rolling element sets 166, 168 of the first and second shaft bearings 16, 18, which are designed as a propeller shaft isolator 20. The external rings 162, 182 designed as propeller shaft isolators 20 may for example comprise plastic, rubber, glass and/or a ceramic material.

[0076] A schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive 10 according to a third embodiment is shown in FIG. 6. According to the third embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a roller bearing. Despite this, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a slide bearing. According to the illustration shown in FIG. 6, the first shaft bearing 16 designed as a roller bearing may include an internal ring 162 as well as an external ring 164. The second shaft bearing 18 designed as roller bearing may include an internal ring 182 as well as an external ring 184. The first shaft bearing 16 may also include a first rolling element set 166 and the second shaft bearing 18 may include a second rolling element set 186.

[0077] According to the third embodiment of the electric boat drive, the propeller shaft isolator 20 may include a bearing sleeve 22 with a bearing sleeve interior 24. The bearing sleeve 22 may be designed and configured to be installed in the drive housing 12 and be designed and configured to receive at least one of the first shaft bearing 16 and the second shaft bearing 18 in the sleeve interior 24. The bearing sleeve 22 may for example include a bearing sleeve interior 24 with a variable cross-section. In addition, the bearing sleeve 22 may have an opening on both sides. The bearing sleeve 22 can further be designed along the housing interior of the drive housing 12 and substantially comprise all components of the electric boat drive 10 that are located in the interior of the drive housing 12. The fact that the propeller shaft isolator 20 includes a bearing sleeve 22, or is designed as a bearing sleeve 22, means that the propeller shaft 14 can be electrically isolated at its contact points with the drive housing 12. The propeller shaft 14 can correspondingly be electrically isolated from the drive housing 12 in the area of the first shaft bearing 16 and the second shaft bearing 18. The bearing sleeve 22 formed as a propeller shaft isolator 20 may for example comprise plastic, rubber, glass and/or a ceramic material.

[0078] The bearing sleeve 22 may also be designed by an isolating coating of the interior walls of the drive housing 12.

[0079] A schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive 10 according to a fourth embodiment is shown in FIG. 7. According to the fourth embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a roller bearing. Despite this, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a slide bearing. According to the illustration shown in FIG. 7, the first shaft bearing 16 designed as a roller bearing may include an internal ring 162 as well as an external ring 164. The second shaft bearing 18 designed as roller bearing may include an internal ring 182 as well as an external ring 184. The first shaft bearing 16 may also include a first rolling element set 166 and the second shaft bearing 18 may include a second rolling element set 186.

[0080] According to the fourth embodiment of the electric boat drive, the propeller shaft isolator 20 may include a first bearing sleeve 22 with a first bearing sleeve interior 24 and a second bearing sleeve 26 with a second bearing sleeve interior 28. The first bearing sleeve 22 and the second bearing sleeve 26 may be designed and configured to be installed in the drive housing 12. The first shaft bearing 16 may be received in the first bearing sleeve interior 24 of the first bearing sleeve 22 and the second shaft bearing 18may be received in the second bearing sleeve interior 28 of the second bearing sleeve.

[0081] The fact that the propeller shaft isolator 20 includes a first bearing sleeve 22 and a second bearing sleeve 26, or is designed as a first bearing sleeve 22 and a second bearing sleeve 26, means that the propeller shaft 14 can be electrically isolated at its contract points with the drive housing 12. The propeller shaft 14 can correspondingly be electrically isolated from the drive housing 12 in the area of the first shaft bearing 16 and the second shaft bearing 18. The bearing sleeve 22 formed as a propeller shaft isolator 20 may for example comprise plastic, rubber, glass and/or a ceramic material.

[0082] A schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive 10 according to a fifth embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. According to the fifth embodiment of the electric boat drive 10, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a roller bearing. Despite this, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a slide bearing. According to the illustration shown in FIG. 8, the first shaft bearing 16 designed as a roller bearing may include an internal ring 162 as well as an external ring 164. The second shaft bearing 18 designed as roller bearing may include an internal ring 182 as well as an external ring 184. The first shaft bearing 16 may also include a first rolling element set 166 and the second shaft bearing 18 may include a second rolling element set 186.

[0083] According to the fifth embodiment of an electric boat drive 10, the propeller shaft isolator 20 may include a shaft sleeve 32, which is designed and configured to be rotationally rigidly arranged on the propeller shaft 14. The shaft sleeve 32 may include a first shaft sleeve 320, which is in contact with the first shaft bearing 16, and a second shaft sleeve 322, which is in contact with the second shaft bearing 18.

[0084] The fact that the propeller shaft isolator 20 includes a shaft sleeve 32, which is designed and configured to be rotationally rigidly arranged on the propeller shaft 14, means that the propeller shaft 14 may be electrically isolated at its contact points with the drive housing 12. The fact that the shaft sleeve 32 includes a first shaft sleeve 320 that is in contact with the first shaft bearing 16, and a second shaft sleeve 322 that is in contact with the second shaft bearing 18, means that the propeller shaft 14 can be electrically isolated at its contact points with the drive housing 12. The propeller shafts 14 can correspondingly be electrically isolated from the drive housing 12 via the in the area of the first shaft bearing 16 and the second shaft bearing 18. The shaft sleeve 32 designed as propeller shaft isolator 20 or the first shaft sleeve 320 designed as a propeller shaft isolator 20 and the second shaft sleeve 322 may for example be made of plastic, rubber, glass and/or a ceramic material.

[0085] A schematic cross-section drawing of an electric boat drive 10 according to a sixth embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. According to the sixth embodiment example of the electric boat drive 10, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a roller bearing. Despite this, the first shaft bearing 16 as well as the second shaft bearing 18 may each be designed as a slide bearing. According to the illustration shown in FIG. 9, the first shaft bearing 16 designed as a roller bearing may include an internal ring 162 as well as an external ring 164. The second shaft bearing 18 designed as roller bearing may include an internal ring 182 as well as an external ring 184. The first shaft bearing 16 may also include a first rolling element set 166 and the second shaft bearing 18 may include a second rolling element set 186.

[0086] According to the sixth embodiment of an electric boat drive 10, the propeller shaft isolator 20 may be designed as a propeller shaft coating, wherein the propeller shaft coating may be produced by means of spraying, lacquering, vulcanization, adhesion, immersion belt lacquering and/or powder coating. The propeller shaft 14 may further comprise a drive propeller 30, wherein the drive propeller 30 may be directly fitted on the propeller shaft 14. The propeller shaft isolator 20 may be designed and equipped in such a way that the propeller shaft 14 is electrically isolated from the drive propeller 30.

[0087] The fact that the propeller shaft isolator 20 is designed as a propeller shaft coating means that the propeller shaft 14 may be electrically isolated at its contact points with the drive housing 12. The fact that the propeller shaft isolator 20, as a propeller shaft coating, is in contact with the first shaft bearing 16 and the second shaft bearing 18 in the area of the propeller shaft 14, means that the propeller shaft 14 may be electrically isolated at its contact points with the drive housing 12. The propeller shaft 14 may correspondingly be electrically isolated from the drive housing 12 in the area of the first shaft bearing 16 and the second shaft bearing 18. The propeller shaft coating designed as a propeller shaft isolator may for example be made of plastic, rubber, glass and/or a ceramic material.

[0088] A schematic cross-section drawing of an outboard engine 100 is shown in FIG. 10. The embodiment of the electric boat drive 10 shown in the outboard engine 100 equals that of the sixth embodiment.

[0089] The housing of the outboard engine 100 may partly or completely equal the drive housing 12 made from the first metallic material M1 described above. In other words, the drive housing 12 may equal the pylon of the outboard engine 100 in its outer contour.

[0090] A gearbox, the output of which forms the propeller shaft 14 or is connected with the same, may also be provided in all of embodiment examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 10. Individual components of the gearbox and/or the gearbox housing and/or a gearbox cage and/or a gear wheel and/or a worm gear and/or a bevel gear of the gearbox may accordingly be formed to isolate the propeller shaft 14 from the drive housing 12 and to provide propeller shaft isolation in this way. In this regard, the exemplary combinations provided are also described in the illustration of the invention and may also be used in combination with the embodiment examples described herewith.

[0091] Where applicable all individual features illustrated in the embodiment examples can be combined with and/or exchanged for each other without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0092] M1 first metallic material

[0093] M2 second metallic material

[0094] 10 boat drive

[0095] 12 drive housing

[0096] 14 propeller shaft

[0097] 16 first shaft bearing

[0098] 18 second shaft bearing

[0099] 20 propeller shaft isolator

[0100] 22 first bearing sleeve

[0101] 24 first bearing sleeve interior

[0102] 26 second bearing sleeve

[0103] 28 second bearing sleeve interior

[0104] 30 drive propeller

[0105] 32 shaft sleeve

[0106] 34 propeller shaft coating

[0107] 100 outboard engine

[0108] 162 internal ring of first shaft bearing

[0109] 164 external ring of first shaft bearing

[0110] 166 rolling element set of second shaft bearing

[0111] 182 internal ring of second shaft bearing

[0112] 184 external ring of second shaft bearing

[0113] 186 rolling element set of second shaft bearing

[0114] 320 first shaft bearing sleeve

[0115] 322 second shaft bearing sleeve