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US 8,795,008 B2Granted
Two-into-two or one hybrid power device for a marine vehicle
AssigneeTwin Disc, Incorporated
InventorPhilip Rolla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid power device for a marine vehicle is provided that has two hybrid prime movers, an electric motor and a combustion engine, that distribute power, for example torque, to a single or dual propulsor, such as surface drives with propellers. The prime movers can apply power singly or in unison, but maintain substantially optimum propulsive efficiency in all cases. The power outputs of the prime movers are in communication with a power transmitting device such as a gear box that may combine the power outputs to drive a single propulsor, or may have a power-splitting embodiment driving dual propulsors. In addition, multiple hybrid power devices may be deployed in other embodiments.
Claims18
A propulsion system for a marine vehicle comprising:
- an electric motor having a first power transmitting element in communication with a power transmitting device whereby a first torque is transmitted to a first input of the power transmitting device;
- a combustion engine having a second power transmitting element in communication with the power transmitting device whereby a second torque is transmitted to a second input of the power transmitting device, wherein a transmission is arranged between the combustion engine and the power transmitting device;
- at least one propulsor having a power input element wherein a torque applied to the power input element generates a propulsive force to move the marine craft;
- the power transmitting device further comprising at least one output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element, and a power transmitting assembly configured such that:
- 1) when the first torque or the second torque is applied at any given time, there is a substantially corresponding torque of the output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element;
- and
- 2) when the first torque applied to the first input and the second torque applied to the second input is at substantially the same revolutions per minute, a substantially corresponding revolutions per minute of the output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element occurs.
4 more elements
A propulsion system for a marine vehicle comprising:
- an electric motor having a first power transmitting element in communication with a power transmitting device whereby a first torque is transmitted to a first input of the power transmitting device;
- a combustion engine having a second power transmitting element in communication with the power transmitting device whereby a second torque is transmitted to a second input of the power transmitting device;
- at least one propulsor having a power input element wherein a torque to the power input element generates a propulsive force to move the marine craft;
- the power transmitting device further comprising at least one output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element, and a power transmitting assembly configured such that:
- 1) when the first torque or the second torque is applied at any given time, there is a substantially corresponding toque of the output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element;
- and
- 2) when the first torque applied to the first input and the second torque applied to the second input is at substantially the same revolutions per minute, a substantially corresponding revolutions per minute of the output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element occurs,
- wherein the at least one propulsor includes two propulsors and the at least one power transmitting device has two outputs.
5 more elements
A propulsion system for a marine vehicle comprising:
- an electric motor having a first power transmitting element in communication with a power transmitting device whereby a first torque is transmitted to a first input of the power transmitting device;
- a combustion engine having a second power transmitting element in communication with transmitting device whereby a second torque is transmitted to a second input of the power transmitting device;
- least one propulsor having a power input element wherein a torque applied to the power input element generates a propulsive force to move the marine craft;
- the power transmitting device further comprising at least one output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element, and a power transmitting assembly configured such that:
- 1) when the first torque or the second torque is applied at any given time there is a substantially corresponding torque of the output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element;
- and
- 2) when the first torque applied to the first input and the second torque applied to the second input is at substantially the same revolutions per minute a substantially corresponding revolutions per minute of the output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element occurs, and
- further comprising an automatic mode selection element configured to control the application of power from the electric motor and the combustion engine such that either power source can be used independently or in combination.
5 more elements
A method of propelling a marine vessel comprising:
- providing an electric motor having a first power transmitting element in communication with a power transmitting device;
- transmitting a first torque to a first input of the power transmitting device;
- providing a combustion engine having a second power transmitting element in communication with the power transmitting device, wherein a transmission is arranged between the combustion engine and the power transmitting device;
- transmitting a second torque is to a second input of the power transmitting device;
- providing at least one propulsor having a power input element responsive to torque applied thereto to move the marine craft, wherein the power transmitting device further includes at least one output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element, and wherein when the first torque or the second torque is applied at any given time, there is a substantially corresponding torque of the output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element;
- and
- causing a substantially corresponding revolutions per minute of the output in communication with the at least one propulsor's power input element when the first torque applied to the first input and the second torque applied to the second input is at substantially the same revolutions per minute.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.