Marine outboard electrical generator and assembly method

• US 6,309,268 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westerbeke Corporation (Westerbeke Acquisition Corp)
• Original Assignee: Westerbeke Corporation (Westerbeke Acquisition Corp)
• Inventors: Mabru, Alain A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotelo, Jesus D.
• Application Number:
  US09/570,216
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 440/1, 440/88, 440/89, 440/900, 440/113, 123/599, 290/1.R
• US Class Current: 440/113
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 3/02 from propulsion power plant
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/045 for marine engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/16 Engines characterised by number of cylinders, e.g. single-cylinder engines F02B75/26 takes precedence

Abstract

A outboard marine electrical generator unit capable of installation on the transom of a marine vessel which provides an electrical generating unit for small and medium sized marine vessels. The invention thus provides an A/C and D/C electrical power source capable of providing electrical power for appliances, air conditioning units and other electrical loads, even while the primary propulsion system is off and the vessel is docked or at anchor. The electrical generator includes: (1) a housing, including upper and lower portions, generally having the external appearance of an outboard motor; (2) an internal combustion engine; (3) a permanent magnet electrical alternator, including a rotor and stator, and a cooling fan, mechanically connected to the engine crankshaft; (4) a carburetor assembly, including feedback control responsive to electrical load; (5) an inverter module, including pulse-width-modulation (“PWM”) voltage regulation system and D/C-A/C inverter frequency regulation system; (6) an exhaust system terminating at the lower housing portion in a typically submerged location; (7) a fuel storage and delivery system, including either an internal and/or external fuel tank and a fuel pump; and (8) a transom mounting mechanism, preferably including a tilt feature.

Claims

1. An electrical generator for installation on a marine vessel, said electrical generator comprising:

an internal combustion engine having a projecting crankshaft, an air intake for providing combustion air to said engine, and an exhaust system including an exhaust outlet for discharging engine exhaust;

said internal combustion engine constructed to be securely mounted to the marine vessel such that said air intake is in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere and said exhaust outlet is disposed below the vessel'"'"'s waterline;

a permanent magnet alternator mechanically connected to said crankshaft for producing electrical current, said permanent magnet alternator including

a stator mechanically connected to said internal combustion engine, and

a permanent magnet rotor connected to said crankshaft for rotation with respect to said stator to generate electrical current while counterbalancing, with synchronized magnetic forces, periodic vibrational forces generated by piston movement; and

electrical output means for supplying an electrical current from said electrical generator to external power consuming devices.

2. An electrical generator according to claim 1, further including an inverter electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator, said inverter capable of producing alternating current at a desired voltage and frequency.

3. An electrical generator according to claim 1, wherein said internal combustion engine is air-cooled.

4. An electrical generator according to claim 1, wherein said internal combustion engine is liquid cooled.

5. An electrical generator according to claim 1, further including means for regulating fuel flow to said internal combustion engine in response to electrical demand.

6. An electrical generator according to claim 5, wherein said means for regulating fuel flow includes feedback carburetor control for adjusting engine speed in response to electrical load.

7. An electrical generator according to claim 6, wherein said feedback carburetor control includes an electric throttle control motor connected to a carburetor and feedback control means for sensing the electrical load placed on the electrical generator, said feedback control means controlling said electric throttle control motor throttle fuel flow.

8. An electrical generator according to claim 1, wherein said internal combustion engine further includes means for generating a properly timed electrical pulse electrically connected to a spark plug connected to said internal combustion engine.

9. An electrical generator according to claim 8, wherein said means for generating a properly timed electrical pulse comprises an ignition pulse generator.

10. An electrical generator according to claim 9, wherein said ignition pulse generator is mounted in close proximity to the periphery of said permanent magnet alternator.

11. The electrical generator according to claim 1, wherein the engine comprises means for mounting said internal combustion engine outboard of the marine vessel.

12. The electrical generator according to claim 11, wherein the mounting means is configured to securely attach the engine to a transom of the marine vessel.

13. The electrical generator according to claim 1, wherein the crankshaft is vertically disposed.

14. The electrical generator according to claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet alternator is connected to a top portion of the engine.

15. An electrical generator for generating electrical power output for use by electrical devices on a marine vessel, said electrical generator comprising:

a housing, said housing having an upper portion and an elongate lower portion depending downward from said upper portion, said housing further including means for removably mounting said housing to a marine vessel;

an internal combustion engine contained within said housing, said internal combustion engine including a projecting crankshaft, a carburetor fluidly connected to a fuel pump, said fuel pump fluidly connected to a fuel tank, said internal combustion engine further including an air intake and an exhaust port;

means for generating electrical power connected to said internal combustion engine, said means for generating electrical power including a permanent magnet alternator, said permanent magnet alternator including a rotor and a stator, said rotor fixedly connected to said crankshaft for rotation relative to said stator, said permanent magnet alternator further synchronized to the engine so as to counterbalance periodic vibrational forces generated by piston movement with magnetic forces developed between said rotor and said stator;

an inverter electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator, said inverter capable of converting direct electrical current to alternating electrical current;

power outlet means electrically connected to said inverter for providing means for transmitting electrical power generated by said means for generating electrical power to electrical power consuming devices onboard the marine vessel.

16. An electrical generator according to claim 15, further including means for regulating fuel flow to said internal combustion engine in response to electrical demand.

17. An electrical generator according to claim 16, wherein said means for regulating fuel flow includes feedback carburetor control for adjusting engine speed in response to electrical load.

18. An electrical generator according to claim 17, wherein said feedback carburetor control includes an electric throttle control motor connected to a carburetor and feedback control means for sensing the electrical load placed on the electrical generator, said feedback control means controlling said electric throttle control motor throttle fuel flow.

19. An electrical generator according to claim 15, wherein said housing has an appearance similar to the appearance of an outboard motor housing.

20. An electrical generator according to claim 15, wherein said means for mounting said housing to a marine vessel includes a pivotal connection whereby said housing may be pivotally moved from a first position wherein said housing lower portion terminates below the surface of the water to a second position wherein said housing lower portion terminates above the surface of the water.

21. An electrical generator according to claim 20, wherein said housing lower portion includes an exhaust conduit having a first end in fluid communication with said outlet port and a second end terminating below the surface of the water when said housing is in said first position.

22. An outboard electrical generator for generating electrical power for use by electrical power consuming devices on a marine vessel, said marine vessel having a hull with a transom, said hull having a waterline disposed along the surface of the body of water supporting the marine vessel when the vessel is loaded as designed, said electrical generator comprising:

a housing, said housing having an upper portion and an elongate lower portion depending downward from said upper portion, said housing further including bracket means for removably mounting said housing to the transom of a marine vessel;

an internal combustion engine contained within said housing, said internal combustion engine including a projecting crankshaft and a carburetor fluidly connected to a fuel pump, said fuel pump fluidly connected to a fuel tank, said internal combustion engine further including an air intake and an exhaust port;

a permanent magnet alternator connected to said internal combustion engine, said permanent magnet alternator including a rotor and a stator, said rotor fixedly connected to said crankshaft for rotation relative to said stator, said permanent magnet alternator further synchronized to the engine so as to counterbalance periodic vibrational forces generated by piston movement with magnetic forces developed between said rotor and said stator;

an inverter electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator, said inverter capable of converting direct electrical current to alternating electrical current;

a control panel mounted to said housing upper portion and electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator and said inverter, said control panel including power outlet means for transmitting electrical power generated by said permanent magnet alternator to electrical power consuming devices onboard the marine vessel;

feedback control circuitry means for sensing the electrical load on said generator, said feedback control circuitry electrically connected to a throttle control motor, said throttle control motor connected to said carburetor for increasing and decreasing air and fuel flow to said internal combustion engine in response to electrical load placed on said generator.

23. An outboard electrical generator according to claim 22, wherein said internal combustion engine further includes a recoil starter.

24. An outboard electrical generator according to claim 22, wherein said internal combustion engine further includes an ignition pulse generator electrically connected to a spark plug.

25. An outboard electrical generator according to claim 22, wherein said power outlet means includes at least one AC electrical outlet.

26. An outboard electrical generator according to claim 22, further including means for electrically connecting said power outlet means to the electrical power supply system of a marine vessel.

27. An electrical generator for installation on a marine vessel, said electrical generator comprising:

an internal combustion engine having a projecting crankshaft, an air intake for providing combustion air to said engine, and an exhaust system including an exhaust outlet for discharging engine exhaust;

means for mounting said internal combustion engine to the transom of a marine vessel such that said air intake is in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere and said exhaust outlet is disposed below the vessel'"'"'s waterline;

a permanent magnet alternator mechanically connected to said crankshaft for producing electrical current; and

electrical output means for supplying an electrical current from said electrical generator to external power consuming devices;

wherein the internal combustion engine further comprises means for generating a properly timed electrical pulse electrically connected to a spark plug connected to the internal combustion engine.

28. The electrical generator according to claim 27, wherein said means for generating a properly timed electrical pulse comprises an electrical pulse generator.

29. The electrical generator according to claim 28, wherein said electrical pulse generator is mounted in close proximity to the periphery of said permanent magnet alternator.

30. An electrical generator for generating electrical power output for use by electrical devices on a marine vessel, said electrical generator comprising:

a housing, said housing having an upper portion and an elongate lower portion depending downward from said upper portion, said housing further including means for removably mounting said housing to a marine vessel;

an internal combustion engine contained within said housing, said internal combustion engine including a projecting crankshaft, a carburetor fluidly connected to a fuel pump, said fuel pump fluidly connected to a fuel tank, said internal combustion engine further including an air intake and an exhaust port;

means for generating electrical power connected to said internal combustion engine, said means for generating electrical power including a permanent magnet alternator, said permanent magnet alternator including a rotor and a stator, said rotor fixedly connected to said crankshaft for rotation relative to said stator;

an inverter electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator, said inverter capable of converting direct electrical current to alternating electrical current;

power outlet means electrically connected to said inverter for providing means for transmitting electrical power generated by said means for generating electrical power to electrical power consuming devices onboard the marine vessel; and

means for regulating fuel flow to said internal combustion engine in response to electrical demand, the means for regulating fuel flow including feedback carburetor control for adjusting engine speed in response to electrical load, the feedback carburetor control including

an electrical throttle control motor connected to a carburetor, and

feedback control means for sensing the electrical load placed on the electrical generator, said feedback control means controlling said electrical throttle control motor to regulate throttle fuel flow.

31. An outboard electrical generator for generating electrical power for use by electrical power consuming devices on a marine vessel, said marine vessel having a hull with a transom, said hull having a waterline disposed along the surface of the body of water supporting the marine vessel when the vessel is loaded as designed, said electrical generator comprising:

a housing, said housing having an upper portion and an elongate lower portion depending downward from said upper portion, said housing further including bracket means for removably mounting said housing to the transom of a marine vessel;

an internal combustion engine contained within said housing, said internal combustion engine including a projecting crankshaft and a carburetor fluidly connected to a fuel pump, said fuel pump fluidly connected to a fuel tank, said internal combustion engine further including an air intake and an exhaust port, and an ignition spark pulse generator electrically connected to a spark plug;

a permanent magnet alternator connected to said internal combustion engine, said permanent magnet alternator including a rotor and a stator, said rotor fixedly connected to said crankshaft for rotation relative to said stator;

an inverter electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator, said inverter capable of converting direct electrical current to alternating electrical current;

a control panel mounted to said housing upper portion and electrically connected to said permanent magnet alternator and said inverter, said control panel including power outlet means for providing means for transmitting electrical power generated by said permanent magnet alternator to electrical power consuming devices onboard the marine vessel;

feedback control circuitry means for sensing the electrical load on said generator, said feedback control circuitry electrically connected to a throttle control motor, said throttle control motor connected to said carburetor for increasing and decreasing air and fuel flow to said internal combustion engine in response to electrical load placed on said generator.