Marine propulsion apparatus

A marine propulsion apparatus that transmits power of an internal combustion engine mounted on a ship to a propeller via a forward reverse switching mechanism, the marine propulsion apparatus comprising:

• a generator motor;
• and
• a connection switching mechanism capable of selectively connecting the generator motor to a power input side and a power output side of the forward reverse switching mechanism,
• wherein the connection switching mechanism is interposed between the generator motor and the forward reverse switching mechanism,
• wherein the connection switching mechanism includes a first gear train and a second gear train, respective input gears thereof being configured to be alternatively engaged with and disengaged from the generator motor,
• wherein the forward reverse switching mechanism includes an input shaft coupled to the internal combustion engine, a forward clutch on the input shaft, a forward rotation output gear that transmits the power of the internal combustion engine to a reduction output gear on a propeller side by an engagement of the forward clutch, a reverse rotation shaft parallel to the input shaft, a transmission gear pair that couples the reverse rotation shaft and the input shaft, a reverse clutch on the reverse rotation shaft, and a reverse output gear that transmits the power of the internal combustion engine to the reduction output gear by an engagement of the reverse clutch,
• wherein the input side is the transmission gear pair, and the output side is the forward rotation output gear and the reverse rotation output gear,
• wherein an output gear of the first gear train is meshed with the forward rotation output gear or the reverse rotation output gear, and
• wherein an output gear of a second gear train is set to have a specification of meshing with one of the transmission gear pair and a specification of meshing with an other of the transmission gear pair.

A marine propulsion apparatus that transmits power of an internal combustion engine mounted on a ship to a propeller via a forward reverse switching mechanism, the marine propulsion apparatus comprising:

• a generator motor;
• and
• a connection switching mechanism capable of selectively connecting the generator motor to a power input side and a power output side of the forward reverse switching mechanism,
• wherein the connection switching mechanism is interposed between the generator motor and the forward reverse switching mechanism,
• wherein a housing that houses the forward reverse switching mechanism and the connection switching mechanism is formed by connecting a first cover body in which the internal combustion engine is installed, an intermediate case body, and a second cover body in which the generator motor is installed, an inside of the housing being formed with a first chamber surrounded by the first cover body and the intermediate case body, and a second chamber surrounded by the intermediate case body and the second cover body, and
• wherein the first chamber houses the forward reverse switching mechanism and the connection switching mechanism, while the second chamber houses a transmission mechanism that couples the generator motor and the connection switching mechanism in such a manner that power is transmitted.