Patent Application
20250145267
The current application claims priority to German Application No. 10 2023 130 678.2, filed Nov. 6, 2023, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a boat drive for driving a boat, for example a sports boat.
It is known to attach a fin to a motor pod of a boat drive of a boat, for example a boat drive in the form of an outboard motor, in order, for example, to improve the hydrodynamics of the motor pod or to protect the propeller arranged on the motor pod against slight ground contact or when parked on land, and against objects floating in water, such as, for example, wood or herbs.
The fin is typically cast directly onto the motor pod or is formed in one piece with the motor pod. This has the disadvantage that the entire motor pod has to be replaced if the fin is damaged.
It is also known to design the fin to be removable, wherein the fin is then screwed directly to the motor pod. However, this can lead to galvanic corrosion because of the direct contact with the screws and the replacement process of a damaged fin can be carried out only with a tool in a complex manner.
Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved boat drive for driving a boat and a corresponding attaching part.
The object is achieved by a boat drive for driving a boat having the features of claim 1. The object set out above is furthermore achieved by an attaching part for the boat drive having the features of claim 11. Advantageous developments of the boat drive and of the attaching part emerge from the dependent claims and from the present description and the figures.
Accordingly, a boat drive for driving a boat, comprising a motor nacelle, a housing and a connecting shaft, wherein the motor nacelle is connectable to the boat by means of the connecting shaft, is proposed, wherein, according to the invention, at least one attachment retainer for receiving an attaching part in a form-fitting manner is provided on the housing.
The boat drive may be, for example, an outboard motor which is typically attached to the transom of a boat. The boat drive may also be, for example, a pod drive which is arranged on a mounting plate below the waterline of the boat.
In this case, an electric motor which drives the propeller which then generates the thrust by means of water is usually received in the housing of the motor nacelle. In this case, the electric motor typically transmits its power to the propeller which is arranged on a propeller shaft, wherein a transmission can be arranged between the electric motor and the propeller shaft. However, the propeller may also be arranged directly on the output shaft of the electric motor.
The direction in which the water flows against the motor nacelle as the boat travels forward is referred to here as the flow direction. In the flow direction, the water thus flows along the motor nacelle.
The attachment retainer serves for receiving the attaching part in a form-fitting manner. As a result, the attaching part can initially be fastened to the motor nacelle solely by the form fit and without further fastening means, as a result of which both secure holding of the attaching part and simple replacement of the attaching part are made possible.
The housing of the motor nacelle may have one or more attachment retainers, with the result that either one or more attaching parts can be received on the motor nacelle. It is thus possible, in particular, to replace attaching parts with one another in order to prepare the boat drive for a specific use.
For example, a small fin can be replaced with a weed protection cage if the boat is intended to be brought from a clear lake into a weeded environment. Alternatively, a small fin can be replaced with a relatively large fin if the control effect of the fin is intended to be increased when converting the boat drive from a small boat to a relatively large boat. Alternatively, a fin can be replaced with a foil if the boat drive is intended to be prepared for use in a foiling boat.
The attachment retainer may be designed as a T-shaped profile in order accordingly to provide a secure form fit between the attaching part and the motor nacelle.
In this case, the T-shaped profile can taper counter to the flow direction, preferably taper in a wedge-shaped or conical manner. As a result, secure holding of the attaching part on the motor nacelle can be achieved by pushing on an attaching part which is designed with a retainer corresponding to the attachment retainer. As a result of the tapering shape, in particular the wedge shape or the conical shape, the attaching part can also be secured on the attachment retainer in a frictional or force-fitting manner. As a result, the attaching part can also be pushed on into a play-free position.
As a result of the taper counter to the flow direction, it is furthermore achieved that both the inflowing water and a slight basic contact press the attaching part onto the attachment retainer.
The attachment retainer can accordingly be designed as a conically tapering T-shaped profile. A T-shaped profile has a “T” shape in each cross section, wherein the “T” extends away from the housing. To a certain extent, the upper crossbar of the “T” can be arranged at a distance from the housing, with the result that a holding force can be exerted on the crossbar and the longitudinal bar of the “T” by a corresponding attaching part.
In this case, the “T”-shaped profile may comprise all profiles which have a narrower extent on the housing of the motor nacelle than on the side which is remote from the motor nacelle. For example, in this understanding, the “T”-shaped profile also comprises “Y”-shaped profiles or “V”-shaped profiles.
By means of the possible wedge-shaped or conical embodiment, a form-fitting connection between the attaching part and the attachment retainer can be generated, with the result that an optimum transmission of force from the attaching part to the motor nacelle and vice versa can be achieved.
A form-fitting connection is particularly advantageous in this case if the T-shaped groove of the attaching part and the T-shaped profile of the attachment retainer preferably touch one another over the full area.
In particular, a frictional and/or force-fitting connection can also be achieved as a result, with the result that the attaching part can be pushed onto the attachment retainer in a clamping manner.
To a certain extent, the groove of the attaching part is a negative impression of the outer contours of the attachment retainer.
For example, an attaching part with a T-shaped groove can be pushed counter to the conically tapering shape onto a T-shaped attachment retainer. As a result, the groove of the attaching part is pushed onto the profile of the attachment retainer and, if appropriate, clamped in a force-fitting manner.
As a result of the taper, in particular a tolerance compensation can also be ensured in order to achieve a stable connection between the attachment retainer and the attaching part despite certain manufacturing tolerances. To a certain extent, attaching parts with different tolerances can enter into a frictional connection further to the front or further to the rear on the tapering attachment retainer, depending on whether the groove thereof is narrower or wider.
As a result of the attaching part and the housing of the motor nacelle being fastened releasably to one another, that is to say in particular not being screwed to one another, a simplified casting construction of the housing of the motor nacelle can be achieved, since the attaching parts do not have to be taken into account in the casting mould, but merely the universally usable attachment retainer. At the same time, different materials can be used for the motor nacelle and the attaching parts.
As a result of the releasable fastening, damage to the motor nacelle can additionally be reduced if the attaching part experiences, for example, an impact as a result of ground contact or propellant material. In particular, the attaching part can be easily replaced as a result, as a result of which the serviceability of the boat drive is improved.
The attachment retainer may be designed to taper counter to the flow direction. As a result, it can be achieved that the attaching part is pushed onto the tapering profile of the attachment retainer in the flow direction. To a certain extent, self-locking fastening of the attaching part on the attachment retainer is achieved as a result.
The attachment retainer may have a securing groove for providing a form-fitting and/or frictional securing of the attaching part on the attachment retainer, in particular for receiving a clamping of the attaching part in the securing groove.
In this case, a securing groove may be, for example, a hole or a notch or a cutout in the profile of the attachment retainer. In this case, a clamping may be, for example, a bolt, preferably a securing bolt or a cotter pin. However, a clamping may also be a screw with a nut. The clamping preferably extends perpendicularly through the profile of the attachment retainer.
In other words, the clamping may take place through a passage opening and through the securing groove.
For example, the attaching part can be pushed onto the attachment retainer in a form-fitting manner, so that the passage opening of the attaching part is aligned with the securing groove of the attachment retainer. Subsequently, a bolt or a screw can be guided through the passage opening and the securing groove. Accordingly, a displacement of the attaching part along the attachment retainer can be prevented by the clamping, while a displacement of the attaching part away from the housing of the motor nacelle is prevented by the connection between the groove of the attaching part and the profile of the attachment retainer.
The securing groove may have a tolerance compensation, with the result that a clamping can be carried out even in the case of different end positions of the attaching part on the attachment retainer as a result of manufacturing tolerances. For example, this can be achieved in that the securing groove has a greater spatial shape than the passage opening.
The attaching part may additionally have a cutout for receiving the clamping on the passage opening. For example, such a cutout may consist in the screw head or the nut being able to be countersunk in the attaching part, with the result that the hydrodynamics of the attaching part are not impaired by the clamping. It may also be the case, for example, that the cotter pin of the securing bolt lies in the cutout.
At least two attachment retainers may be provided on the housing, preferably in an arrangement which is symmetrical with respect to the direction of travel. As a result, in addition to fins, other attaching parts can also be arranged on the motor pod and, if appropriate, can be replaced with one another in order to adapt the boat drive to a specific area of use.
An attaching part can preferably be received on the attachment retainer in a form-fitting manner, wherein the attaching part is preferably a fin, a wing, a weed protection cage, a Kort nozzle or a foil.
A fin is a typical wear part of a motor pod, with the result that it can be replaced particularly easily. A foil is a wing-shaped fin which generates an additional lift. A weed protection cage can be used, for example, in marshy waters against plants and wood driving around. A nozzle may be, for example, a Kort nozzle which improves the incident flow of the propeller.
Depending on the intended use of the sports boat, a suitable attaching part can thus be selected without the motor pod of the boat drive having to be changed.
Furthermore, an attaching part for the boat drive described above is also proposed, wherein, according to the invention, a groove is provided which is designed to be brought into engagement with the attachment retainer of the motor nacelle in a form-fitting manner.
The groove may be of tapering design and is preferably of T-shaped design and can taper in a wedge-shaped or conical manner.
A passage opening may be provided which is designed to receive a clamping, wherein, in the received state, the clamping runs through the securing groove of the attachment retainer.
The passage opening of the attaching part may have a cutout for receiving the clamping.
The attaching part is preferably a fin or a foil or a wing or a weed protection cage or a Kort nozzle.
The connecting shaft may be connected to the housing, preferably to the central part of the housing.
The attachment retainer may be arranged opposite the position or at an angle to the position at which the connecting shaft is connected to the motor nacelle.
The above object is furthermore achieved by a sports boat having a boat drive according to the invention.
Accordingly, a boat is proposed, comprising a boat drive described above.
In this case, the boat may be, in particular, an electric boat, or the motor in the motor nacelle may be an electric motor.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. In the figures:
Exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or identically acting elements are provided with identical reference symbols in the different figures, and a repeated description of these elements is dispensed with in part in order to avoid redundancies.
In
In a preferred exemplary embodiment, an electric motor for driving the propeller shaft 120 is arranged in the motor nacelle 1. In addition, a transmission for stepping down or stepping up the torque which is provided by the electric motor at its output shaft may also be provided in the motor nacelle 1, wherein the transmission is then typically arranged between the output shaft of the electric motor and the propeller shaft 120 of the motor nacelle 1. However, if no transmission is present, the output shaft of the electric motor may also be identical to the propeller shaft 120. Furthermore, electronic components and cabling for operating the electric motor may also be arranged in the motor nacelle 1.
The motor nacelle 1 of the boat drive 100 is connected to the boat and, if appropriate, to further components of the boat drive 100 via a connecting shaft 110 which is indicated in the figure. The connecting shaft 110 provides a mechanical connection and may receive further mechanical and/or electrical components.
For example, the connecting shaft 110 may be hollow and receive lines for supplying the electric motor which is received in the motor nacelle 1 with electrical energy and/or lines for transmitting control commands and/or lines for transmitting sensor data.
The boat drive 100 may be, for example, an outboard motor for driving a boat, wherein, in the case of the outboard motor, the connecting shaft 110 then serves for connecting the motor nacelle 1 to components of the outboard motor which lie above the water surface, such as, for example, a transom mount, a pinned roof and/or a drive battery. The connecting shaft 110 is shown in a tubular manner in the figure, but may also have a hydrodynamically more advantageous configuration or be surrounded by a hydrodynamically advantageous profile.
The boat drive 100 may alternatively be, for example, a pod drive for a boat, in which the motor nacelle 1 is connected via the connecting shaft 110 to a mounting plate (not shown here) which is arranged in the underwater region of the boat.
The motor nacelle 1 of the boat drive 100 has a housing 150 which is designed to receive, mount and/or mount at least the abovementioned components of the boat drive 100. In the embodiment shown in
In the exemplary embodiment of the boat drive 100 shown in
The central part 152 of the housing 150 may be provided, for example, as a die-cast part, for example an aluminum die-cast part. The front cap 154 and the rear cap 156 may also be produced from aluminum. However, it is also possible to produce the housing parts from plastic or other metals. Seals may be inserted between the housing parts in order to seal the interior with respect to the surroundings.
An attachment retainer 10 is arranged on the underside of the housing 150. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the attachment retainer 10 is arranged on the central part 152 of the housing 150 and is positioned substantially opposite the connection of the connecting shaft 110 to the central part 152 of the housing 150.
However, the positioning of the attachment retainer 10 on the housing 150 can be selected depending on the attaching part to be received. Two or more attachment retainers 10 may also be provided in order to receive corresponding attaching parts on the housing 150.
The attachment retainer 10 may be formed, for example, in one piece with the housing 150 of the motor nacelle 1 and in particular with the central part 152 of the housing 150. For this purpose, the attachment retainer 10 may be cast onto the central part 152 of the housing 150, for example.
Alternatively, the attachment retainer 10 may also be provided as an initially separate part and then be screwed, adhesively bonded or welded to the housing 150 of the motor nacelle 1, for example to the central part 152 of the housing 150.
The attachment retainer 10 is designed here as a T-shaped profile in each cross section. The T-shaped profile has a longitudinal bar 14 which extends radially away from the housing of the motor nacelle 1, and a crossbar 16 which is arranged on the longitudinal bar 12. The longitudinal bar 14 and the crossbar 16 together accordingly form an attachment retainer 10 which provides an undercut and on which an attaching part can be held securely in a form-fitting manner.
The T-shaped profile is thinner in the flow direction S at its front end 160 than at the rear end 162, so that an attaching part can be pushed onto the attachment retainer 10 and can then reach a securely form-fitting receiving position.
In the embodiment shown, it is the crossbar 16 which becomes thicker over the length from the front end 160 to the rear end 162 and in this case forms a wedge-shaped structure. At the front end 160, the crossbar 16 has a first thickness DQ 1 and, at the rear end 162, a second, greater thickness DQ 2.
In other words, the T-shaped profile is designed to taper in a wedge-shaped manner counter to the flow direction S in the embodiment shown.
The T-shaped profile can also be designed to taper conically overall if, for example, the width of the crossbar 16 is also of wedge-shaped design over the length. Furthermore, in the case of the conically tapering T-shaped profile, both the longitudinal bar 14 and the crossbar 16 can taper conically.
The flow direction S is understood here to mean the direction of the inflowing water during operation of the boat drive 100 during forward travel.
The thickness DL of the longitudinal bar 14 and the thicknesses DQ 1, DQ 2 of the crossbar 16 can each be of different design. However, it can also be the case that the thickness of longitudinal bar 14 and crossbar 16 along the T-shaped profile are in each case the same and a conical taper is achieved in this way.
The T-shaped profile can have rounded corners, as a result of which the mounting of an attaching part (not shown in this figure) is simplified.
In addition, the attachment retainer 10 has a securing groove 12. This securing groove 12 is illustrated in
In an alternative embodiment, however, the securing groove 12 may also be a hole in the longitudinal bar 14 of the attachment retainer 10. In particular, the hole may be a round hole or an elongated hole. The hole may also have a rectangular cross section.
In the embodiment shown, the attaching part 2 is a fin which can be connected to the motor nacelle 1 via the attachment retainer 10. Accordingly, the attaching part 2 has a T-shaped groove 20 which is suitable for receiving the T-shaped profile of the attachment retainer 10 in order in this way to provide a form-fitting connection with the attaching part 2 to the housing 150 of the motor nacelle 1.
The T-shaped groove 20 can be designed to taper in a wedge-shaped or conical manner corresponding to the shape of the attachment retainer 10, with the result that the attaching part 2 can be pushed onto the attachment retainer 10 in the flow direction S and finally received in a form-fitting manner in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the attachment retainer 10.
Locking of the attaching part 2 received on the attachment retainer 10 in a form-fitting manner can be achieved in a form-fitting and/or frictional and/or force-fitting manner.
In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the T-shaped profile of the attachment retainer 10 contacts the T-shaped groove 20 of the attaching part 2 over the full area in the completely pushed-on position in order to ensure an optimum transmission of force and to provide a play-free form fit.
As described above, the T-shaped groove 20 can taper in a wedge-shaped or conical manner in particular counter to the flow direction S, with the result that the attaching part 2 is pressed onto the T-shaped profile and held there not only by the initial pushing-on but also by the incident flow of the water. To a certain extent, self-locking fastening of the attaching part 2 can thus be achieved which also withstands a possible slight ground contact.
Located in the attaching part 2 is a passage hole 22 which runs through the T-shaped groove 20. The passage hole 22 can be used to guide a screw or a bolt through the attaching part 2 in order to achieve securing and/or clamping of the attaching part 2 on the attachment retainer 10 of the motor nacelle 1.
As shown in
Such clamping 24 may be, for example, a bolt, preferably a bolt with securing cotter pin, or a screw with a nut. The figures illustrate the screwed clamping 24, wherein the screw is guided through the passage hole 22 and the securing groove 12. The fastening of the attaching part 2 takes place finally by tightening the nut and the screw.
By guiding the bolt or the screw through the securing groove 12, at the same time a form-fitting securing of the attaching part 2 against being pushed out of the form-fitting connection to the attachment retainer 10 is also achieved. It can thus be ensured that the attaching part 2 is held securely on the attachment retainer 10.
The attaching part 2 may have, in particular, cutouts 220 on the passage hole 22 (see, for example, in
By providing a cutout 220, in particular the hydrodynamics of the attaching part 2 are improved.
However, in this embodiment, by way of example, the position of a further or alternative attachment retainer 10′ is shown which is arranged not opposite the connection of the connecting shaft 110 but in a position of approximately 90° with respect to the circumferential angle of the central part 152 of the housing 150.
In other words, this attachment retainer 10′ is arranged at a different position on the central part 152. Depending on the application, attachment retainers 10, 10′ may be arranged at suitable points on the housing 150 of the motor nacelle 1 in order to hold the required attaching parts.
All attachment retainers 10, 10′ have in common that they are provided for receiving attaching parts.
In the figures, only one fin is shown as an attaching part. However, it is also possible, in addition or as an alternative to the fin, to arrange a weed guard, a Kort nozzle, further fins, wings and/or foils on the attachment retainers 10, 10′ and to hold them reliably.
In a further alternative, two or more motor nacelles 1 of a boat drive 100 may also be connected to one another via corresponding attachment retainers 10, 10′ in order thus to provide a two-motor or multi-motor drive with a plurality of motor nacelles which are then held via a common connecting shaft 110.
Where applicable, all individual features which are illustrated in the exemplary embodiments may be combined with one another and/or replaced without departing from the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102023130678.2 | Nov 2023 | DE | national |
