Drive system for a marine vessel
First Claim
1. A drive system for a marine vessel, the drive system comprising:
- a drive shaft rotatable about a drive axis;
a motor including a rotor that defines a motor axis, the drive shaft rotating in response to rotation of the rotor at a motor speed;
an engine including an output shaft, the drive shaft and rotor rotating in response to operation of the engine at an engine speed;
a clutch operable to inhibit the transfer of torque from the motor to the engine and to facilitate the transfer of torque from the engine to the motor and to the drive shaft without manipulating any mechanical connection between the motor, the engine, and the drive shaft; and
a tiller arm including a speed control, the speed control operable to control the engine speed and to control the motor speed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drive system for a marine vessel. The drive system includes a drive shaft that is rotatable about a drive axis and a motor interconnected with the drive shaft and including a rotor that defines a motor axis that is substantially coaxial with the drive axis. The motor is operable at a motor speed to rotate the drive shaft. An engine has an output shaft interconnected with the drive shaft and is operable at an engine speed to rotate the drive shaft. The output shaft defines an engine axis that is substantially coaxial with the motor axis. A clutch is operable to inhibit the transfer of torque from the motor to the engine when the engine speed is less than a predetermined engine speed without disconnecting the output shaft from the drive shaft. A tiller arm includes a speed control. The speed control is operable to control the engine speed and to control the motor speed.
49 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A drive system for a marine vessel, the drive system comprising:
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a drive shaft rotatable about a drive axis;
a motor including a rotor that defines a motor axis, the drive shaft rotating in response to rotation of the rotor at a motor speed;
an engine including an output shaft, the drive shaft and rotor rotating in response to operation of the engine at an engine speed;
a clutch operable to inhibit the transfer of torque from the motor to the engine and to facilitate the transfer of torque from the engine to the motor and to the drive shaft without manipulating any mechanical connection between the motor, the engine, and the drive shaft; and
a tiller arm including a speed control, the speed control operable to control the engine speed and to control the motor speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A drive system for a marine vessel, the drive system comprising:
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a drive shaft rotatable about a drive axis to propel the vessel;
a motor including a rotor coupled to the drive shaft, the motor operable at a motor speed to rotate the drive shaft;
an engine including an engine ignition, the engine coupled to the motor rotor and operable at an engine speed to rotate the rotor and the drive shaft;
an electrochemical energy source;
a controller operable to control the flow of electrical power between the electrochemical energy source and the motor;
a clutch disposed between the motor rotor and the engine, the clutch operable both to inhibit the transfer of torque from the motor to the engine and to facilitate the transfer of torque from the engine to the motor and to the drive shaft without decoupling the engine and the motor rotor; and
a switch having a first position in which the engine is operable, and having a second position in which the engine ignition is grounded but the motor is operable. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A drive system for a marine vessel, the drive system comprising:
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a drive shaft rotatable about a drive axis;
a motor including a stator and a rotor that defines a motor axis, the rotor offset from the stator a distance along the motor axis to define an axial air gap, the drive shaft rotating in response to rotation of the rotor at a motor speed;
an engine including an output shaft, the drive shaft and rotor rotating in response to operation of the engine at an engine speed; and
a clutch operable to inhibit the transfer of torque from the motor to the engine and to facilitate the transfer of torque from the engine to the motor and to the drive shaft without manipulating any mechanical connection between the motor, the engine, and the drive shaft. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification