Marine Vessel Hybrid Propulsion System

• US 20100144219A1
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Balogh, Daniel J., Blohm, Christopher L., Poorman, Richard N., Anderson, Arden A.
• Application Number:
  US12/329,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20100144219A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/3
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2021/202 of hybrid electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/20 the vessels being powered by combinations of different types of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/50 Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to the propulsion system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A marine propulsion system is configured to allow many different combinations and interconnections between three internal combustion engines, three generators, two motors, two clutches, two marine propulsion devices, and an electrical storage device. By appropriately interconnecting these devices in advantageous combinations, energy consumption can be reduced, operational efficiency of the engine can be improved, and redundancy can be provided in the event that one or more components are disabled.

Claims

1. A marine vessel, comprising:

a first engine;

a first marine propulsion device, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;

a first motor, said first motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;

a first generator, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first generator;

a second engine;

a second marine propulsion device, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device;

a second motor, said second motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device; and

a second generator, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second generator.

2. The marine vessel of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical storage device, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second generators, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second motors.

3. The marine vessel of claim 2, wherein:

said electrical storage device comprises a battery.

4. The marine vessel of claim 2, wherein:

said electrical storage device is configured to receive electric current from said first generator;

said electrical storage device is configured to receive electric current from said second generator;

said electrical storage device is configured to provide electric current to said first motor; and

said electrical storage device is configured to provide electric current to said second motor.

5. The marine vessel of claim 4, wherein:

said electrical storage device is configured to provide electric current to a house load of said marine vessel.

6. The marine vessel of claim 2, further comprising:

a third engine; and

a third generator, said third engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said third generator, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said third generator.

7. The marine vessel of claim 1, wherein:

a first motor-generator device comprises said first generator and said first motor; and

a second motor-generator device comprises said second generator and said second motor.

8. The marine vessel of claim 1, further comprising:

a first clutch configured to selectively connect said first engine in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device; and

a second clutch configured to selectively connect said second engine in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.

9. The marine vessel of claim 1, wherein:

said first engine is connected in torque transmitting association with both said first marine propulsion device and with said first generator, said second motor being simultaneously connected in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.

10. The marine vessel of claim 9, wherein:

said second engine is disconnected from torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.

11. A marine vessel, comprising:

a first engine;

a first marine propulsion device, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;

a first motor, said first motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;

a first generator, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first generator;

a second engine;

a second marine propulsion device, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device;

a second motor, said second motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device;

a second generator, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second generator; and

an electrical storage device, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second generators, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second motors, said electrical storage device being configured to receive electric current from said first generator, said electrical storage device being configured to receive electric current from said second generator.

12. The marine vessel of claim 11, wherein:

said electrical storage device is configured to provide electric current to said first motor; and

said electrical storage device is configured to provide electric current to said second motor, said electrical storage device being configured to provide electric current to a house load of said marine vessel.

13. The marine vessel of claim 11, further comprising:

a third engine; and

a third generator, said third engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said third generator, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said third generator.

14. The marine vessel of claim 11, further comprising:

a first clutch configured to selectively connect said first engine in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device; and

a second clutch configured to selectively connect said second engine in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.

15. The marine vessel of claim 11, wherein:

said first engine is connected in torque transmitting association with both said first marine propulsion device and with said first generator, said second motor being simultaneously connected in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.

16. The marine vessel of claim 15, wherein:

said second engine is disconnected from torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.

17. The marine vessel of claim 16, wherein:

a first motor-generator device comprises said first generator and said first motor; and

a second motor-generator device comprises said second generator and said second motor.

18. A marine vessel, comprising:

a first engine;

a first marine propulsion device, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;

a first motor, said first motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;

a first generator, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first generator;

a second engine;

a second marine propulsion device, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device;

a second motor, said second motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device;

a second generator, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second generator;

an electrical storage device, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second generators, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second motors, said electrical storage device being configured to receive electric current from said first generator, said electrical storage device being configured to receive electric current from said second generator, said electrical storage device being configured to provide electric current to said first motor, said electrical storage device being configured to provide electric current to said second motor;

a third engine; and

a third generator, said third engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said third generator, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said third generator.

19. The marine vessel of claim 18, further comprising:

a first clutch configured to selectively connect said first engine in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device; and

a second clutch configured to selectively connect said second engine in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.

20. The marine vessel of claim 19, wherein:

said first engine is connected in torque transmitting association with both said first marine propulsion device and with said first generator, said second motor being simultaneously connected in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device when said second engine is disconnected from torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.