Cooling systems and methods for hybrid marine propulsion systems
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorCharles H. Eichinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Cooling systems and methods for hybrid marine propulsion systems are disclosed. A first cooling circuit is arranged to convey raw cooling water through an internal combustion engine and to at least one drive component of a drive unit for the marine propulsion system. A second control circuit is arranged to convey raw cooling water through an electric motor. The system is arranged such that raw cooling water in the second cooling circuit is conveyed to the first cooling circuit to cool the drive component without cooling the component of the internal combustion engine.
Claims18
A cooling system for cooling a hybrid marine propulsion system having an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and a drive unit that transfers power from the internal combustion engine and the electric motor for propelling a marine vessel, the cooling system comprising:
- a first pump that pumps raw cooling water through a first cooling circuit for cooling the internal combustion engine and the drive unit, the first cooling circuit extending from a first upstream inlet to a downstream outlet;
- wherein the first cooling circuit conveys the raw cooling water that is pumped by the first pump through the internal combustion engine so as to cool a component of the internal combustion engine and then through the drive unit so as to cool a component of the drive unit;
- a bypass cooling circuit connected to the first cooling circuit at a location along the first cooling circuit that is between the component of the internal combustion engine and the component of the drive unit;
- and
- a second pump that pumps raw cooling water through a second cooling circuit for cooling the electric motor, the second cooling circuit being separate from the first cooling circuit and extending from a second upstream inlet to the bypass cooling circuit;
- wherein the second cooling circuit conveys the raw cooling water that is pumped by the second pump through the electric motor so as to cool a component of the electric motor and then to the bypass cooling circuit;
- wherein cooling water that is pumped by the second pump is received by the first cooling circuit via the bypass cooling circuit and is conveyed by the first cooling circuit through the drive unit so as to cool the component of the drive unit.
A hybrid marine propulsion system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- an electric motor;
- a drive unit that transfers power from the internal combustion engine and the electric motor for propelling a marine vessel;
- a first pump that pumps raw cooling water through a first cooling circuit for cooling the internal combustion engine and the drive unit, the first cooling circuit extending from a first upstream inlet to a downstream outlet;
- wherein the first cooling circuit conveys the raw cooling water that is pumped by the first pump through the internal combustion engine so as to cool a component of the internal combustion engine and then through the drive unit so as to cool a component of the drive unit;
- a bypass cooling circuit connected to the first cooling circuit at a location along the first cooling circuit that is between the component of the internal combustion engine and the component of the drive unit;
- and
- a second pump that pumps raw cooling water through a second cooling circuit for cooling the electric motor, the second cooling circuit being separate from the first cooling circuit and extending from a second upstream inlet to the bypass cooling circuit;
- wherein the second cooling circuit conveys the raw cooling water that is pumped by the second pump through the electric motor so as to cool a component of the electric motor and then to the bypass cooling circuit;
- wherein cooling water that is pumped by the second pump is received by the first cooling circuit via the bypass cooling circuit and is conveyed by the first cooling circuit through the drive unit so as to cool the component of the drive unit.
A method of cooling a hybrid marine propulsion system having an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and a drive unit that transfers power from the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, the method comprising:
- operating a first pump to pump raw cooling water through the internal combustion engine and then through the drive unit such that the raw cooling water flows from upstream to downstream and so that heat is transferred between the raw cooling water and a component of the internal combustion engine to thereby cool the component of the internal combustion engine, and such that that heat is transferred between the raw cooling water and the component of the drive unit to thereby cool the component of the internal combustion engine;
- and
- operating a second pump to pump a raw cooling water through the electric motor and then through the drive unit, the raw cooling water flowing from upstream to downstream so that heat is transferred between the raw cooling water and a component of the electric motor to thereby cool the component of the electric motor, and so that heat is transferred between the raw cooling water and the component of the drive unit to thereby cool the component of the drive unit;
- wherein cooling water that is pumped through the electric motor does not transfer heat with the component of the internal combustion engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.