OUTBOARD MOTOR UNIT

• US 3,703,642 A
• Filed: 10/28/1971
• Issued: 11/21/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rodolfo Rodriguez Balaguer
• Original Assignee: Rodolfo Rodriguez Balaguer
• Inventors: Balaguer, Rodolfo Rodriguez
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, G. R.
• Application Number:
  US05/193,353
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 115/18A,18E 290/42,43,52,53,38,37,46
• US Class Current: 290/43
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/007 Trolling propulsion units trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/20 with provision for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2021/205 the second power unit being of the internal combustion engine type, or the like, e.g. a Diesel engine
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 3/00 Driving of auxiliaries transmission elements per se F16
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions

Abstract

An outboard motor unit for use on small boats and having a primary propulsion engine connected through a clutch to the propeller shaft and an electric motor aligned with and connected to the propeller shaft. The electric motor is connected to a battery through a switch operatively connected to the engine throttle to complete the power connection for the electric motor when the throttle is at a selected proportion of full throttle. The electric motor operates as a motor when the engine is stopped and as a generator when the engine is running.

Claims

1. An outboard motor unit, for use on small boats, comprising:

a. a primary propulsion engine having a throttle control for adjusting the speed of said engine;

b. a lower unit adapted to be immersed in water and having a propeller arranged to be rotated to propel a boat to which said outboard motor unit is attached;

c. a propeller shaft in said lower unit and on which said propeller is mounted;

d. means including a drive shaft and a gear mechanism operatively intercoupling said propeller shaft and said engine for rotating said propeller shaft and said propeller when said engine is operating;

e. clutch means for disengaging said engine from said propeller shaft to permit rotation of said propeller shaft and said propeller independently of operation of said engine;

f. an electric motor having a rotor shaft aligned with and operatively coupled to said propeller shaft and arranged to be rotated when said propeller shaft rotates and to rotate said propeller shaft when said rotor shaft is rotated;

g. an electrical power connection for said electric motor, said connection including an operable switch mechanism for opening and closing said power connection; and

h. means operatively interconnecting said throttle control and said switch mechanism and arranged to close said switch mechanism and thereby to close said power connection for throttle settings at and above a selected value and to open said switch mechanism and thereby to open said power connection for throttle settings below said selected value.

2. An outboard motor unit as set forth in claim 1 in which said electric motor is constructed to rotate said propeller shaft at a relatively low speed when said motor is powered through said electrical power connection and in which said selected value of throttle setting corresponds to an engine speed sufficient, when said clutch mechanism is engaged with said engine operating, to rotate said propeller shaft at a speed higher than said relatively low speed whereby said electric motor acts as a generator.

3. An outboard motor unit as set forth in claim 2 in which said lower unit is filled with lubricant oil, in which communication between said lower unit and the forward end of said rotor shaft exposes the latter to lubricant oil from said lower unit, and in which means is provided to exclude said oil from the interior of said electric motor.

4. An outboard motor unit as set forth in claim 2 in which said throttle control includes a rotatable throttle shaft and in which said means operatively intercoupling said throttle control and said switch mechanism includes a cam mounted on said throttle shaft and arranged to contact said switch mechanism.

5. An outboard motor unit as set forth in claim 2 in which said selected value of throttle setting is approximately 3/4 full throttle.