Marine vessel with hull-integrated electrical energy storage for vessel propulsion
AssigneeOckerman Automation Consulting, Inc.
InventorsRichard Thompson, Jennifer Michaeli, John Ockerman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for packaging and distributing a marine energy storage system. Battery packs including one or more battery cells and a compliant layer enclosed in a sealed housing are disclosed. Vessel hulls with battery packs structurally integrated are disclosed. Vessel hulls with battery packs mounted to an inner surface of an outer hull are disclosed. Vessel hulls including compartments for inserting battery packs are disclosed. Vessel hulls including battery packs mounted in a ballast of the hull are disclosed.
Claims28
A watercraft comprising:
- a hull providing an internal volume sized to accommodate at least one person therein, wherein the hull comprises an outer hull defining a hull cavity and a plurality of internal braces attached to the outer hull and extending inward therefrom into the hull cavity;
- a propulsion system configured to propel the watercraft in electric mode, hybrid-electric mode, or selectively in either electric mode or hybrid-electric mode;
- and
- an energy storage system for providing electrical energy to the propulsion system, the energy storage system comprising a plurality of battery packs integrated into the hull such that they are positioned in the hull cavity between the internal braces without using the internal volume of the vessel, wherein each battery pack of the plurality comprises one or more battery cells, a sealed housing enclosing the one or more battery cells, and at least one compliant layer between the housing and the one or more battery cells, wherein the compliant layer is configured to reduce transmission of vibrations from the hull to the one or more battery cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.