Watercraft with electric propulsion system
AssigneeStromm Industries Inc.
InventorKurt Matthew Schatz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric marine propulsion system including steering and vertical position control is provided. The electric drive assembly includes a main drive motor transmitting torque through a shaft to a propeller. The electric drive assembly integrates a dual rudder system positioned ahead of the main drive propeller. The rudder assemblies integrate electric stern thrusters for low-speed maneuvering. The steering and vertical position adjustments for the drive assembly are electrically operated. The electric drive assembly is installed entirely outside the hull of the watercraft.
Claims23
A propulsion system for a watercraft comprising a hull extending between a stern and a bow along a longitudinal axis, and having port side and a starboard side, wherein the propulsion system comprises:
- a main drive assembly comprising a main drive propeller attached to a shaft running along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the shaft is not moveable towards a port side and a starboard side of the hull, wherein the main drive assembly is movably attached to the watercraft to allow for adjustment of a vertical orientation of the main drive assembly relative to the watercraft;
- and
- a pair of rudder assemblies, wherein each of the rudder assemblies comprises:
- a rudder configured for movement relative to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- an auxiliary propulsion system attached to the rudder to move in unison with the rudder relative to the longitudinal axis, and comprising an auxiliary propeller,
- wherein the rudders of the rudder assemblies are spaced apart from each other in a direction from the port side to the starboard side of the watercraft, and
- wherein the rudder assemblies are mounted to the main drive assembly so that a vertical orientation of the rudder assemblies relative to the watercraft changes as the vertical orientation of the main drive assembly relative to the watercraft is adjusted.
A method of operating a watercraft comprising a hull extending between a stern and a bow along a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- a. controlling a main drive assembly comprising a main drive motor in driving connection with a main drive propeller for providing forward thrust to the watercraft, wherein the main drive assembly is movably attached to the watercraft to allow for adjustment of a vertical orientation of the main drive assembly relative to the watercraft;
- and
- b. controlling, independently of the main drive assembly, a pair of rudder assemblies for controlling the direction of forward movement of the watercraft, wherein each of the rudder assemblies comprises:
- a rudder configured for movement relative to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- an auxiliary propulsion system attached to the rudder to move in unison with the rudder relative to the longitudinal axis, and comprising an auxiliary propeller,
- wherein the rudders of the rudder assemblies are spaced apart from each other in a direction from the port side to the starboard side of the watercraft, and
- wherein the rudder assemblies are mounted to the main drive assembly so that a vertical orientation of the rudder assemblies relative to the watercraft changes as the vertical orientation of the main drive assembly relative to the watercraft is adjusted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.