DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A MARINE VESSEL

Abstract

A drive arrangement for a marine vessel. The drive arrangement includes an outboard drive unit provided with at least one propeller, wherein the outboard drive unit is configured to be arranged on an outside of a transom of the marine vessel and to be connected via an opening in the transom to further parts of the drive arrangement arranged inside the marine vessel; and a supporting carrier configured to be arranged at the opening in the transom for fastening and support of the outboard drive unit so as to take up thrust and steering forces from the outboard drive unit when the drive arrangement is installed and used for propelling the marine vessel. The drive arrangement includes a supporting frame structure configured to be fixed to a supporting hull structure arranged on an inside of the marine vessel forward of the transom. The supporting frame structure extends aft-wards from or along the supporting hull structure to the opening in the transom. The supporting carrier forms part of or is firmly fixed to the supporting frame structure.

Claims

1. A drive arrangement for a marine vessel, the drive arrangement comprising: an outboard drive unit provided with at least one propeller, wherein the outboard drive unit is configured to be arranged on an outside of a transom of the marine vessel and to be connected via an opening in the transom to further parts of the drive arrangement arranged inside the marine vessel; and a supporting carrier configured to be arranged at the opening in the transom for fastening and support of the outboard drive unit so as to take up thrust and steering forces from the outboard drive unit when the drive arrangement is installed and used for propelling the marine vessel, characterized in that the drive arrangement comprises a supporting frame structure configured to be fixed to a supporting hull structure arranged on an inside of the marine vessel forward of the transom, the supporting frame structure further being configured to extend aft-wards from or along the supporting hull structure to the opening in the transom, wherein the supporting carrier forms part of or is firmly fixed to the supporting frame structure.

2. The drive arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the supporting frame structure comprises at least one supporting member configured to be fixed to a supporting hull structure comprising a longitudinal stringer arranged in a bottom of a hull of the marine vessel.

3. The drive arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the supporting frame structure is provided with a ring-shaped supporting carrier configured to fit into a circular opening in the transom.

4. The drive arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the drive arrangement comprises a connection arrangement for connecting the outboard drive unit to the supporting carrier, wherein the connection arrangement is configured to allow fixation of the outboard drive unit to the supporting carrier when the supporting frame structure is installed inside the marine vessel and the outboard drive unit is located outside of the marine vessel.

5. The drive arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a further part of the drive arrangement is arranged onto a section of the supporting frame structure configured to be fixed to the supporting hull structure, wherein the further part of the drive arrangement is an internal combustion engine, an electric battery, an electric generator or a fuel cell system.

6. The drive arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one propeller is arranged on a lower part of the outboard drive unit and wherein at least the lower part of the outboard drive unit is arranged to allow pivoting from side to side for steering of the marine vessel.

7. The drive arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the supporting carrier does not form part of nor is firmly fixed to the transom so that the thrust and steering forces from the outboard drive unit are transmitted via the supporting frame structure to the supporting hull structure instead of to the transom during operation of the marine vessel when the drive arrangement is installed and used for propelling the marine vessel.

8. A marine vessel comprising a drive arrangement for propulsion of the marine vessel, the drive arrangement comprising: an outboard drive unit provided with at least one propeller, wherein the outboard drive unit is arranged on an outside of a transom of the marine vessel and is connected via an opening in the transom to one or more further parts of the drive arrangement arranged inside the marine vessel; and a supporting carrier arranged at the opening in the transom, wherein the outboard drive unit is fastened to the supporting carrier and wherein the supporting carrier supports the outboard drive unit so as to take up thrust and steering forces from the outboard drive unit when operating the drive arrangement, wherein that the drive arrangement comprises a supporting frame structure fixed to a supporting hull structure arranged on an inside of the marine vessel forward of the transom, wherein the supporting frame structure extends aft-wards from or along the supporting hull structure to the opening in the transom, wherein the supporting carrier forms part of or is firmly fixed to the supporting frame structure.

9. The marine vessel according to claim 8, wherein a hull of the marine vessel comprises at least one structural beam, wherein the supporting hull structure comprises the at least one structural beam, and wherein the supporting frame structure is fixed to the at least one structural beam.

10. The marine vessel according to claim 9, wherein the hull of the marine vessel comprises at least two structural beams, each of which forming a stringer extending in a longitudinal direction along a bottom of the marine vessel, and wherein the supporting frame structure is fixed to the at least two structural beams.

11. The marine vessel according to claim 8, wherein the supporting frame structure is provided with a ring-shaped member, wherein the opening in the transom has a circular shape, and wherein the ring-shaped member is configured to fit into the circular opening.

12. The marine vessel according to claim 8, wherein the drive arrangement comprises a connection arrangement for connecting the outboard drive unit to the supporting carrier, wherein the connection arrangement is configured to allow fixation of the outboard drive unit to the supporting frame structure when the supporting frame structure is installed inside the marine vessel and the outboard drive unit is located outside of the marine vessel.

13. The marine vessel according to claim 8, wherein a further part of the drive arrangement is arranged onto a section of the supporting frame structure fixed to the supporting hull structure, wherein the further part of the drive arrangement is an internal combustion engine, an electric battery, an electric generator or a fuel cell system.

14. The marine vessel according to claim 8, wherein the at least one propeller is arranged on a lower part of the outboard drive unit and wherein at least the lower part of the outboard drive unit is arranged to allow pivoting from side to side for steering of the marine vessel.

15. The marine vessel according to claim 8, wherein the drive arrangement further comprises an electric motor configured to drive the propeller, wherein the electric motor is arranged in the outboard drive unit.

16. The marine vessel according to claim 15, wherein the drive arrangement further comprises an electricity source for powering of the electric motor, wherein the electricity source comprises at least one of an electric battery, an electric generator or a fuel cell system, wherein the electricity source is arranged inside the marine vessel, preferably onto a section of the supporting frame structure arranged onto the supporting hull structure.

17. The marine vessel according to claim 8, wherein the drive arrangement further comprises an internal combustion engine arranged inside the marine vessel, preferably onto a section of the supporting frame structure arranged onto the supporting hull structure.

18. The marine vessel according to claim 8, wherein the supporting carrier does not form part of nor is firmly fixed to the transom so that the thrust and steering forces from the outboard drive unit are transmitted via the supporting frame structure to the supporting hull structure instead of to the transom during operation of the marine vessel.

19. Method for installing a drive arrangement according to claim 1 in a marine vessel, the method comprising: fixing the supporting frame structure to a supporting hull structure arranged on an inside of the marine vessel forward of the transom; connecting the outboard drive unit to the supporting carrier from an outside of the marine vessel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples.

[0039] In the drawings:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows, in a partly exploded and partly schematic view, a first embodiment of a drive arrangement according to this disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the drive arrangement of FIG. 1 in an assembled state.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the drive arrangement of FIG. 1 when arranged at a transom of a marine vessel.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the drive arrangement according to FIG. 3.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows the same view as FIG. 4 but with parts of the marine vessel made transparent.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows, in a partly exploded and partly schematic view, a second embodiment of a drive arrangement according to this disclosure.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows the same view as FIG. 6 but with parts of a marine vessel indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0047] A first embodiment of a drive arrangement 1 is shown in FIGS. 1-5. A second embodiment of the drive arrangement 100 is shown in FIGS. 6-7.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the first embodiment of the drive arrangement 1 comprises an outboard drive unit 2 provided with, in this case, one propeller 3. The outboard drive unit 2 is configured to be arranged on an outside of a transom 11 of a marine vessel 10 with the propeller 3 directed away from the marine vessel 10 when installed (see e.g. FIG. 4). The outboard drive unit 2 is further configured to be connected via an opening 12 in the transom 11 to further parts of the drive arrangement, such as an internal combustion engine 4 or an electric battery 40, arranged inside the marine vessel 10, i.e. on the opposite side of the transom 11 in relation to the outboard drive unit 2.

[0049] The propeller 3 is arranged on a lower (underwater) part 2b of the outboard drive unit 2 (see FIG. 1). The lower part 2b of the outboard drive unit 2 is arranged to allow pivoting from side to side for steering of the marine vessel 10. An upper part 2a of the outboard drive unit 2 is fixed to a supporting carrier 5 and thus a supporting frame structure 6 as further described below.

[0050] The upper part 2a of the outboard drive unit 2 may contain a mechanical transmission for transmitting driving power to the propellers 3 from a drive shaft 15 extending through the opening 12 and being connected to an internal combustion engine or electric motor located inside the marine vessel 10. As an alternative or complement to such mechanical transmission, the upper part 2a of the outboard drive unit 2 may contain an electric motor arranged for driving of the propellers 3. In such a case, an electric cable for supplying the electric motor with electric power is arranged through the opening 12 and connected to an electric power source, such as an electric battery, arranged inside the marine vessel 10.

[0051] The schematically indicated components 4, 40 can be seen as any suitable power source or energy converter used for powering driving of the propeller 3, for instance an internal combustion engine, an electric battery, a fuel cell or an electricity generator (driven by e.g. an internal combustion engine). There can be more than one component 4, 40 arranged in the marine vessel 10.

[0052] The drive arrangement 1 further comprises the supporting carrier 5 configured to be arranged at the opening 12 in the transom 11 for fastening and support of the outboard drive unit 2 so as to take up thrust and steering forces from the outboard drive unit 2 when the drive arrangement 1 is installed and used for propelling the marine vessel 10.

[0053] The drive arrangement 1 further comprises the supporting frame structure 6, in this case including first and second spaced-apart longitudinal supporting members 6a, 6b, configured to be fixed to a supporting hull structure 7 (see e.g. FIG. 4) arranged on the inside of the marine vessel 10 forward of the transom 11. In the examples shown, the supporting hull structure 7 comprise two spaced-apart longitudinal stringers arranged at a bottom 8 of a hull of the marine vessel 10. As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the supporting frame structure 6 is further being configured to extend aft-wards from or along the supporting hull structure 7 to the opening 12 in the transom 11.

[0054] The supporting frame structure 6 is provided with a ring-shaped member that in this case forms the supporting carrier 5. The opening 12 in the transom is circular and the ring-shaped supporting carrier 5 is configured to fit into the circular opening 12.

[0055] The drive arrangement 3 further comprises a connection arrangement 9a-9e for connecting the outboard drive unit 2 to the supporting carrier 5. The connection arrangement is configured to allow fixation of (the upper part 2a of) the outboard drive unit 2 to the supporting carrier 5 when the supporting frame structure 6 is installed inside the marine vessel 10 and the outboard drive unit 10 is located outside of the marine vessel 10.

[0056] In the example shown in FIGS. 1-5, the connection arrangement comprises a bolt/threaded pin 9a, sealing 9b, connection ring 9c, nuts 9d and a flange 9e arranged on the upper part 2a of the outboard drive unit 2. The ring 9c may be dividable so that it can be positioned on the outer side of the flange 9e and hold the outboard drive unit 2 in place when nuts 9d are tightened onto the bolts 9a. The sealing 9b seals around the opening 12. The connection arrangement may be designed in different ways.

[0057] FIGS. 1-7 show that each of the power source components 4 and 40, which each forms a further part of the drive arrangement 1, is arranged onto a section of the supporting frame structure 6 configured to be fixed to the supporting hull structure 7. One or more power source components 4, 40, as well as other components such as control units, various cables, hydraulic components, etc., may be arranged onto the supporting frame structure 6 during installation of the frame structure 6 inside the marine vessel 10. Then the outboard drive unit 2 can be connected to the supporting carrier 5 and to the power source 4, 40 from the outside.

[0058] FIGS. 6-7 show a second embodiment of the drive arrangement 100. Compared to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the second embodiment differs mainly in the design of the supporting carrier 50 and the corresponding coupling 51 of the outboard drive unit 2, i.e. the difference lies mainly in how the outboard drive unit 2 is connected to the supporting carrier 50 and thus to the supporting frame structure 60. In this case the supporting carrier 50 is located close to the transom 11 at an inside thereof and has two cylindrical openings 52 adapted to receive two coupling pipe members 51 provided on the outboard drive unit 2. The pipe members 51 can be fixed when arranged in the cylindrical openings 52. Two circular openings 120 are arranged in the transom 11 to allow insertion of the pipe members 51 (see FIG. 7).

[0059] Component 40 is in FIGS. 6-7 intended to represent an electric battery. A control unit 41 is also indicated. An electric motor for driving of the propellers may be arranged in the upper part 2a of the outboard drive unit 2. Electric power cables for connecting the battery 40 and the electric motor, as well as other components, can be arranged inside the coupling pipe members 51.

[0060] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.