# US 12,759,689 B2 · Drive unit for joint propulsion and motion control of a marine vessel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,689 B2 - Document ID: US12759689B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/409,146 - Filed: 2024-01-10 - Published: 2024-07-25 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-01-20 - Assignees: AB Volvo Penta - Applicants: Volvo Penta Corporation - Inventors: Peter Tuuliainen; Anders Bergkvist - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759689B2 ## CPC - B63H 21/30: Mounting of propulsion plant or unit, e.g. for anti-vibration purposes (hull reinforcements therefor B63B3/70) - B63B 39/00: Equipment to decrease pitch, roll, or like unwanted vessel movements; Apparatus for indicating vessel attitude {(for amphibious vehicles B60F3/0038)} - B63H 21/17: by electric motor - B63H 21/213: {Levers or the like for controlling the engine or the transmission, e.g. single hand control levers} - B63H 23/12: allowing combined use of the propulsion power units - B63H 23/34: Propeller shafts; Paddle-wheel shafts; Attachment of propellers on shafts - B63H 25/02: Initiating means for steering {, for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring} - B63H 25/42: Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements (by jets B63H25/46); Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers - B63H 25/46: Steering or dynamic anchoring by jets {or by rudders carrying jets (steering or dynamic anchoring by deflecting or directing main propulsion jets B63H11/00)} - B63H 2025/026: {using multi-axis control levers, or the like, e.g. joysticks, wherein at least one degree of freedom is employed for steering, slowing down, or dynamic anchoring} - B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) ## Abstract A drive unit for propulsion and trim control of a marine vessel. The drive unit extends in use from the vessel along a vertical axis to a base plane normal to the vertical axis, and spanned by orthogonal longitudinal and lateral axes. The drive unit includes a first propulsion unit and a second propulsion unit arranged separated along the lateral axis and intersected by the base plane. The first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit are jointly rotatable about the vertical axis, where the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit are individually rotatable about the lateral axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive unit for propulsion and trim control of a vessel, the drive unit extending in use from the vessel along a vertical axis to a base plane normal to the vertical axis, and spanned by orthogonal longitudinal and lateral axes, the drive unit comprising a first propulsion unit and a second propulsion unit arranged separated along the lateral axis and intersected by the base plane, where the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit are jointly rotatable about the vertical axis, where the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit are individually rotatable about the lateral axis, and where the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit each comprise an electric or hydraulic elevation motor arranged to control a rotation of the first propulsion unit and a rotation of the second propulsion unit, respectively, about the lateral axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drive unit according to claim 1, comprising a hull mount interface intersected by the vertical axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drive unit according to claim 1, where the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit are jointly rotatable about the vertical axis over at least 360 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drive unit according to claim 1, where the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit are individually rotatable about the lateral axis over at least 270 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drive unit according to claim 1, where the first and the second propulsion unit comprise respective oblate foiling plane members, where the rotation of the first propulsion unit and/or the second propulsion unit about the lateral axis determines an angle between the oblate foiling plane member of the propulsion unit and the base plane of the drive unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drive unit according to claim 1, where the first and second propulsion units comprise respective single propeller propulsors, or dual propeller propulsors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drive unit according to claim 1, where each propulsion unit comprises an electric or hydraulic elevation motor connected to a rack and pinion arrangement arranged to control the rotation of the first propulsion unit and/or the second propulsion unit about the lateral axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drive unit according to claim 1, comprising a main exhaust channel extending from an input aperture formed in a hull interface to a branching point intersected by the base plane, where the first and the second exhaust channel branches extend from the branching point to output apertures formed in the first propulsion unit and in the second propulsion unit, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The drive unit according to claim 1, comprising a vertical drive shaft extending along the vertical axis down to a central bevel gear, a first lateral drive shaft and a second lateral drive shaft extending out from the central bevel gear along the lateral axis to the first and second propulsion units, respectively, and a first outer bevel gear arrangement connects the first lateral drive shaft to a propeller axle of the first propulsion unit, and a second outer bevel gear arrangement connects the second lateral drive shaft to a propeller axle of the second propulsion unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The drive unit according to claim 1, where the first and the second propulsion units comprise submerged electric propulsion machines arranged to power respective propulsors of the propulsion units. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The drive unit according to claim 10, where each electric propulsion machine is formed around a hollow stator, where a water channel is formed through the hollow stator in direction of the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The drive unit according to claim 10, where the first and the second propulsion unit each comprise two electric propulsion machines, separated along the longitudinal axis, where each electric propulsion machine is arranged to power a respective propeller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The drive unit according to claim 1, comprising a control unit arranged to obtain a current motion of the vessel and a desired motion of the vessel, where the control unit is arranged to adjust a rotation of the drive unit about the vertical axis and/or the rotation of the first propulsion unit and/or the second propulsion unit about the lateral axis to reduce a difference between the current motion of the vessel and the desired motion of the vessel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The drive unit according to claim 13, where the current and desired motion of the vessel are defined relative to ground, and the desired motion corresponds to stationarity by the vessel, where the control unit is arranged to adjust at least the rotation of the drive unit about the vertical axis to keep the vessel stationary relative to ground. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The drive unit according to claim 13, where the current and desired motion of the vessel comprise roll angle and/or roll motion of the vessel, where the control unit is arranged to adjust the rotation of the first propulsion unit and/or the second propulsion unit about the lateral axis to set a desired roll angle by the vessel and/or to reduce a roll motion by the vessel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The drive unit according to claim 13, where the current and desired motion of the vessel comprise pitch angle and/or pitch motion by the vessel, where the control unit is arranged to adjust the rotation of the first propulsion unit and/or the second propulsion unit about the lateral axis to set a desired pitch angle by the vessel and/or to reduce a pitch motion of the vessel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A marine vessel comprising the drive unit according to claim 1. ### Claim 18 A method for controlling propulsion and trim of a vessel, comprising configuring a drive unit to extend out from the vessel along a vertical axis to a base plane normal to the vertical axis, where the base plane is spanned by orthogonal longitudinal and lateral axes, configuring a first propulsion unit and a second propulsion unit arranged separated along the lateral axis and intersected by the base plane, where the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit are jointly rotatable about the vertical axis, where the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit are individually rotatable about the lateral axis, where the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit each comprises an electric or hydraulic elevation motor arranged to control a rotation of the propulsion unit about the lateral axis, and controlling propulsion and trim of the vessel by controlling joint rotation of the propulsion units about the vertical axis and separate rotations of the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit about the lateral axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The drive unit according to claim 1, where the first propulsion unit and the second propulsion unit are individually rotatable about the lateral axis by at least 360 degrees.