Electric marine propulsion systems with drive trains, and associated systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electric marine propulsion system, comprisingan outboard motor lower unit having an aperture;
- a stator fixedly positioned within the aperture and having a rotor opening;
a rotor cartridge removably attached to the outboard motor lower unit, the rotor cartridge including;
a rotor carried by a drive shaft and positioned within the rotor opening of the stator;
an output shaft; and
a transmission coupled between the drive shaft and the output shaft, the transmission including;
a transmission housing;
a sun gear carried by the drive shaft;
a ring gear carried by the output shaft;
a planetary gear carrier fixedly attached to the transmission housing;
a carrier bearing positioned between the planetary gear carrier and the output shaft to position the planetary gear carrier and the output shaft concentrically; and
a plurality of planetary gears carried by the planetary gear carrier on corresponding planetary gear shafts;
wherein individual planetary gear shafts are supported relative to the transmission housing on opposing sides of the corresponding planetary gears.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present technology is directed generally to electric marine propulsion systems with drive trains, and associated systems and methods. In representative embodiments, the disclosed technology includes pre-assembled transmission cartridges, gear reduction planetary gears, and/or component support arrangements that can increase the life of the system and/or reduce manufacturing costs.
42 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. An electric marine propulsion system, comprising
an outboard motor lower unit having an aperture; -
a stator fixedly positioned within the aperture and having a rotor opening; a rotor cartridge removably attached to the outboard motor lower unit, the rotor cartridge including; a rotor carried by a drive shaft and positioned within the rotor opening of the stator; an output shaft; and a transmission coupled between the drive shaft and the output shaft, the transmission including; a transmission housing; a sun gear carried by the drive shaft; a ring gear carried by the output shaft; a planetary gear carrier fixedly attached to the transmission housing; a carrier bearing positioned between the planetary gear carrier and the output shaft to position the planetary gear carrier and the output shaft concentrically; and a plurality of planetary gears carried by the planetary gear carrier on corresponding planetary gear shafts; wherein individual planetary gear shafts are supported relative to the transmission housing on opposing sides of the corresponding planetary gears. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 36)
-
-
14. An electric marine propulsion system, comprising
a rotor cartridge, including: -
a rotor carried by a drive shaft; an output shaft; a transmission coupled between the drive shaft and the output shaft, the transmission including; a transmission housing; a sun gear carried by the drive shaft; a ring gear carried by the output shaft; a planetary gear carrier fixedly attached to the transmission housing; a plurality of planetary gears carried by the planetary gear carrier on corresponding planetary gear shafts; wherein individual planetary gear shafts are supported on opposing sides of the corresponding planetary gears; and wherein the carrier is supported by the output shaft; and at least one mechanical fastener to releasably attach the rotor cartridge, as a unit, to an outboard motor lower unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method for manufacturing an electric marine propulsion system, comprising:
-
causing or increasing a temperature difference between an outboard motor lower unit and a stator; placing the stator in an aperture of the outboard motor lower unit; causing the temperature difference between the outboard motor lower unit and the stator to decrease, to secure the stator in the aperture; placing a rotor assembly in the aperture and in a rotor opening of the stator, wherein the rotor assembly includes a transmission, a rotor carried by a drive shaft, and an output shaft coupled to the drive shaft via the transmission; and connecting the rotor assembly, including the rotor, the drive shaft, the transmission, and the output shaft, as a unit, to the outboard motor lower unit. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A method for manufacturing at least a portion of an electric marine propulsion system, comprising:
-
assembling a rotor cartridge by coupling a transmission between a rotor shaft and an output shaft; inserting a rotor carried by the rotor shaft into a stator carried by an outboard motor lower unit, while the rotor shaft, the output shaft and the transmission are assembled to form, at least in part, the rotor cartridge; and releasably connecting the assembled rotor cartridge to the outboard motor lower unit. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification