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Personal watercraft having a hybrid power source

  • US 6,857,918 B1
  • Filed: 03/28/2003
  • Issued: 02/22/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A watercraft comprising:

  • a hull having port and starboard sides and a stern;

    a propulsion system supported by the hull including a drive shaft, wherein the propulsion system propels the watercraft when the drive shaft is driven;

    a power plant supported by the hull, wherein the power plant comprises;

    an electrical turning machine (ETM) having an output shaft operatively connected to the drive shaft, wherein the ETM is capable of operating in a generator mode and a motor mode; and

    an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft operatively connected to the drive shaft and the ETM;

    a battery operatively connected to the ETM;

    a controller connected to the power plant that controls driving of the drive shaft by the power plant; and

    an operator-controlled throttle lever, wherein the controller is operatively connected to the throttle lever to sense a position of the throttle lever wherein, when (a) the throttle lever position is in a predetermined throttle lever range and (b) the charge level of the batter is above a predetermined minimum charge level, the controller turns off the engine, and operates the ETM in motor mode at a power level corresponding to the throttle lever position.

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