Marine propulsion device with a switched reluctance starter motor and generator system

• US 6,699,081 B1
• Filed: 01/16/2003
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Neumann, David L., Divljakovic, Vojislav V., Sleder, Richard L. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): AVILA, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US10/345,678
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 123/406.57, 440/1, 440/84, 440/85, 440/87
• US Class Current: 440/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/045 for marine engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/067 the starter comprising an electro-magnetically actuated lever
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/05 Rectifiers associated with casings, enclosures or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 19/103 Motors having windings on the stator and a variable reluctance soft-iron rotor without windings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 19/24 with variable-reluctance soft-iron rotors without winding
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1815 structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines general aspects of generating sets, e.g. housing, F02B63/04

Abstract

A switch reluctance device is used as a starter/generator for an outboard motor. The rotor of the switch reluctance device is attached to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and serves as a flywheel for the engine. The switch reluctance device is operated in a motoring mode when it is used as a starter motor for the internal combustion engine. The switch reluctance device is operated in an electrical power generating mode when the internal combustion engine is operating above a predetermined operating speed.

Claims

1. A marine propulsion device, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a crankshaft supported within said internal combustion engine for rotation about a generally vertical axis;

a switched reluctance device comprising a rotor and a stator, said rotor being attached in torque transmitting relation with said crankshaft, said rotor being rotatable relative to said stator;

a stator winding structure associated with said stator;

a source of electrical power which is alternatively connectable in electrical communication with said stator winding in accordance with a motoring mode of operation and an electrical power generating mode of operation;

a switching circuit connected in signal communication with said stator winding and said source of electrical power for connecting and disconnecting said stator winding and said source of electrical power in coordination with rotation of said crankshaft about said generally vertical axis; and

a controller connected in signal communication with said switching circuit and configured to select said motoring mode of operation when said internal combustion engine is being started and to select said electrical power generating mode of operation when said internal combustion engine is operating above a preselected operating speed.

2. The marine propulsion device of claim 1, further comprising:

a position sensor, connected in signal communication with said controller, for determining the rotational position of said rotor.

3. The marine propulsion device of claim 1, wherein:

said rotor is attached directly to said crankshaft.

4. The marine propulsion device of claim 1, wherein:

said rotor is rotatable about said vertical axis.

5. The marine propulsion device of claim 1, wherein:

said rotor is disposed radially inward from said stator.

6. The marine propulsion device of claim 1, wherein:

said source of electrical power is a thirty-six volt battery system.

7. The marine propulsion device of claim 1, wherein:

said stator has eighteen poles and said rotor has twelve poles.

8. The marine propulsion device of claim 1, wherein:

said rotor is a flywheel of said internal combustion engine.

9. The marine propulsion device of claim 1, wherein:

said switching circuit comprises a plurality of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors.

10. A marine propulsion device, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a crankshaft supported within said internal combustion engine for rotation about a generally vertical axis;

a switched reluctance device comprising a rotor and a stator, said rotor being attached to said crankshaft, said rotor being rotatable relative to said stator;

a stator winding structure associated with said stator;

a source of electrical power which is alternatively connectable in electrical communication with said stator winding in accordance with a motoring mode of operation and an electrical power generating mode of operation;

a switching circuit connected in signal communication with said stator winding and said source of electrical power for connecting and disconnecting said stator winding and said source of electrical power in coordination with rotation of said crankshaft about said generally vertical axis;

a controller connected in signal communication with said switching circuit and configured to select said motoring mode of operation when said internal combustion engine is being started and to select said electrical power generating mode of operation when said internal combustion engine is operating above a preselected operating speed; and

a position sensor, connected in signal communication with said switching circuit, for determining the rotational position of said rotor.

11. The marine propulsion device of claim 10, wherein:

said rotor is rotatable about said vertical axis.

12. The marine propulsion device of claim 11, wherein:

said source of electrical power comprises a battery system for providing thirty-six volt DC power.

13. The marine propulsion device of claim 11, wherein:

said rotor is disposed radially outward from said stator.

14. The marine propulsion device of claim 12, wherein:

said stator has eighteen poles and said rotor has twelve poles.

15. The marine propulsion device of claim 11, wherein:

said rotor is a flywheel of said internal combustion engine.

16. The marine propulsion device of claim 11, wherein:

said switching circuit comprises a plurality of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors.

17. A method for operating a marine propulsion device, comprising the steps of:

providing an internal combustion engine;

supporting a crankshaft within said internal combustion engine for rotation about a generally vertical axis;

attaching a switched reluctance device in torque transmitting relation with said crankshaft, said switched reluctance device comprising a rotor and a stator, said rotor being rotatable relative to said stator;

providing a stator winding structure associated with said stator;

providing a source of electrical power which is alternatively connectable in electrical communication with said stator winding in accordance with a motoring mode of operation and an electrical power generating mode of operation;

connecting a switching circuit in signal communication with said stator winding and said source of electrical power;

sequentially connecting and disconnecting said stator winding and said source of electrical power in coordination with rotation of said crankshaft about said generally vertical axis; and

providing a controller connected in signal communication with said switching circuit, said controller being configured to select said motoring mode of operation when said internal combustion engine is being started and to select said electrical power generating mode of operation when said internal combustion engine is operating above a preselected operating speed.

18. The marine propulsion device of claim 17, further comprising:

selecting said motoring mode of operation when said internal combustion engine is operating above said preselected operating speed to combine the torque output of said internal combustion engine with the torque output of said switched reluctance device.

19. The marine propulsion device of claim 18, wherein:

said motoring mode of operation is selected between a first engine operating speed and a second engine operating speed.

20. The marine propulsion device of claim 19, wherein:

said first engine operating speed is approximately 1,500 RPM and said second engine operating speed is approximately 3,000 RPM.