This application is related to propulsion systems for watercraft. In particular, this application is related to propulsion systems, such as thrusters, that can be positioned on the bow and/or stern of a watercraft for enhanced maneuverability.
Watercraft, such as boats, can include various systems for propulsion and steering. Typically, watercraft include a main drive located at or near the stern and oriented to provide thrust in forward and backward directions. The main drive can be used with a rudder, also typically located at or near the stern, to provide maneuverability.
Watercraft, such as boats, can be configured to include thrusters positioned on or near the bow or stern thereof to provide improved maneuverability, especially during docking or other low speed maneuvers. In some embodiments, the thrusters can be configured as removable cassettes that can be removably installed into corresponding recesses formed into the hull of a watercraft. The removable cassettes can include, for example, a water intake and a water exhaust. The removable cassettes can be configured to draw water in in through the water intake and to accelerate that water out through the water exhaust (for example, as a jet of water) in order to provide a propulsive force. In some embodiments, the removable cassettes can include a motor that is configured to drive an impeller that is positioned in a fluid path between the water intake and the water exhaust. In some embodiments, the cassettes need not be removable and can instead be permanently integrated into the hull of a watercraft.
The cassettes can be oriented on the watercraft at different positions and with different orientations to provide different thrust directions. For example, cassettes can be positioned on or near the bow and/or stern of the watercraft and oriented to provide lateral propulsion that may facilitate steering and/or low speed maneuverability to provide enhanced control and maneuverability during docking. In some instances, the cassettes can be positioned on the watercraft in a manner that provides thrust in forward and/or backward directions, and thus can be used as (or to supplement) the main drive of the watercraft.
For example, in some embodiments, a watercraft can include a hull configured to float in water and at least one recess formed on the hull and extending generally inward. The watercraft can also include at least one cassette disposed at least partially within the at least one recess, the cassette housing a drive system including at least one electric motor and at least one impeller coupled to the at least one electric motor, the cassette further comprising a water intake port and a water exhaust port, wherein the at least one cassette is disposed within the at least one recess such that the base surface of the cassette substantially matches an adjacent outer surface of the hull around the recess to form a smooth body outer surface having water intake and exhaust ports therein.
In some embodiments, the at least one recess comprises a first recess positioned on a port side of the hull proximal to a bow of the hull and a second recess positioned on a starboard side of the hull proximal to the bow of the hull, and the at least one cassette comprises a first cassette disposed within the first recess and a second cassette disposed within the second recess. In some embodiments, the first cassette is configured to generate a propulsive force that moves the bow of the watercraft in a starboard direction, and the second cassette is configured to generate a propulsive force that moves the bow of the watercraft in a port direction. In some embodiments, each of the first and second recess are generally oriented in a horizontal position. In some embodiments, each of the first and second recess are generally oriented in a vertical position.
In some embodiments, the at least one recess comprises a first recess positioned on a port side of the hull proximal to a stern of the hull and a second recess positioned on a starboard side of the hull proximal to the stern of the hull, and the at least one cassette comprises a first cassette disposed within the first recess and a second cassette disposed within the second recess. In some embodiments, the first cassette is configured to generate a propulsive force that moves the stern of the watercraft in a starboard direction, and the second cassette is configured to generate a propulsive force that moves the stern of the watercraft in a port direction. In some embodiments, each of the first and second recess are generally oriented in a horizontal position. In some embodiments, each of the first and second recess are generally oriented in a vertical position.
In some embodiments, the at least one recess comprises a first recess positioned on an underside side of the hull proximal to a stern of the hull and a second recess positioned on an underside side of the hull proximal to the stern of the hull, and the at least one cassette comprises a first cassette disposed within the first recess and a second cassette disposed within the second recess.
In some embodiments, the cassette comprises at least one motor controller. In some embodiments, the at least one motor controller is coupled to a power source.
In some embodiments, the watercraft further comprises an insert disposed in the at least one recess. In some embodiments, the insert comprises a protrusion and wherein at least a portion of the cassette comprises an indentation. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the protrusion is at least partially received within the indentation. In some embodiments, the cassette is removably coupled to the insert.
For purposes of this summary, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize the disclosures herein may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one or more advantages taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
All of the embodiments described herein are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. These and other embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, having reference to the attached figures. The invention is not intended to be limited to any particular disclosed embodiment or embodiments.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the bow and stern thruster devices, systems, methods, and related watercraft will be described below with reference to drawings of certain embodiments, which are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, are for the purpose of illustrating concepts disclosed and may not be to scale.
This application relates to motorized cassettes which can be used as, for example, bow or stern thrusters for watercraft, such as boats. In some embodiments, the motorized cassettes are configured to be removably installed on or near the bow or stern thereof to provide improved maneuverability, especially during docking or other low speed maneuvers. For example, the hull of a watercraft can be configured with recesses that are configured to receive the motorized cassettes. In some embodiments, the motorized cassettes need not be removable and can instead be permanently integrated into the hull of a watercraft.
In some embodiments, the motorized cassettes can include a water intake and a water exhaust. The motorized cassettes can be configured to draw water in in through the water intake and to accelerate that water out through the water exhaust (for example, as a jet of water) in order to provide a propulsive force. In some embodiments, the motorized cassettes can include a motor that is configured to drive an impeller that is positioned in a fluid path between the water intake and the water exhaust.
The motorized cassettes can be oriented on the watercraft at different positions and with different orientations to provide different thrust directions. For example, cassettes can be positioned on or near the bow and/or stern of the watercraft and oriented to provide lateral propulsion that may facilitate steering and/or low speed maneuverability to provide enhanced control and maneuverability during docking. In some instances, the motorized cassettes can be positioned on the watercraft in a manner that provides thrust in forward and/or backward directions, and thus can be used as (or to supplement) the main drive of the watercraft.
Small boats are usually maneuvered by a propulsion system located in the rear of the boat. Generally a steerable outboard engine or rudder are pivoted to one direction or the other to maneuver the boat. Because the thrust and steering are provided at the rear of the boat, the motion causes a consequent movement of the bow to the opposite side. In small, cramped spaces (e.g., at a dock or marina), maneuvering the boat is difficult at best, even for many skilled operators, and many accidents such as ramming another watercraft or the dock occur. The problem of maneuverability exists because the bow of the boat responds only to the engine and rudder in the rear.
Conventional auxiliary maneuvering systems that enable the operator to steer the bow of the boat as well as the stern, making the boat more maneuverable, have had many limitations. Some auxiliary steering mechanisms include externally mounted bow and stern thrusters that have one or more propellers driven by a reversible electric motor that provides thrust in either direction. However, since these externally mounted systems include an unprotected unit protruding from the bow, they may catch and snag lines or other debris in the water, and the motor will be submerged constantly. Additionally, externally mounted bow and stern thrusters are simply bolted on to the bow or stern and may cause drag while traveling.
Another auxiliary maneuvering system requires the cutting of large holes through the bow of the boat to install a propeller in a tube that extends transverse to the bow of the watercraft. These systems can be disadvantageous in that the large transverse tunnel with the propeller enclosed therein can create a water trap, which in turn increases the drag on the boat's hull, making the watercraft more difficult to propel through the water. The speed of the boat, therefore, is lowered and fuel consumption increased.
These and other such problems are reduced with a motorized cassette placed in a recess of the hull such that the surface of the cassette is smooth and flush with the surface of the hull as described herein.
The general purpose of many embodiments described herein is to provide a bow or stern thruster which can be affixed to a recess in the hull of a boat or other watercraft to provide increased maneuverability. In some advantageous embodiments, a motorized drive system is provided as a separately housed cassette. These embodiment may allow the cassette to be retrofitted to existing watercrafts or may be compatible with new watercrafts with recesses in the hull. In some embodiments, the cassettes may be well suited for watercrafts between 20 and 50 feet, as many watercraft over 50 feet may come equipped with bow and stern thrusters (external or tunnel) and many watercraft under 20 feet may not require such increased maneuverability. The cassettes can, however, be used with larger or smaller watercrafts.
The cassettes may house motors, control electronics, impellers, and associated drive hardware. They may connect to the watercraft battery or other power source so that there are no battery limitations. It may be made removable and/or exchangeable. The cassette can be made to fit flush with the hull of the boat so that there are no protruding parts or tunnels which may create drag and reduced speeds. Such designs may have hydrodynamic benefits as well as aesthetic benefits. Such cassettes can improve safety over mechanisms that use blade propellers. The cassettes may employ waterjet technology that offers decreased sound over tunnel or externally mounted bow thrusters. Waterjet suction may provide increased stabilization in rough water conditions. Such a cassette may also be used in a variety of watercraft, not just in boats.
These and other features of the bow and stern thruster devices, systems, methods, and related watercraft described herein will become more fully apparent from the following description of specific embodiments illustrated in the figures. These embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of this disclosure, and this disclosure should not be limited to merely the illustrated examples. The features of illustrated embodiments can be modified, combined, removed, and/or substituted as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the principles of this disclosure.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the housing 101 of the cassette 100 may comprise dimensions of approximately six inches wide, five inches deep, and thirty inches long. These dimensions are provided only by way of example, and the housing 101 of the cassette 100 can be configured with other dimensions as well. For example, in some embodiments, the cassette 100 comprises a width of about 3 inches, about 4 inches, about 5 inches, about 6 inches, about 6 inches, about 7 inches, about 8 inches, about 9 inches, about 10 inches, or longer. In some embodiments, the cassette 100 comprises a width of at most 3 inches, at most 4 inches, at most 5 inches, at most 6 inches, at most 6 inches, at most 7 inches, at most 8 inches, at most 9 inches, or at most 10 inches. In some embodiments, the cassette 100 comprises a depth of about 3 inches, about 4 inches, about 5 inches, about 6 inches, about 6 inches, about 7 inches, about 8 inches, about 9 inches, about 10 inches, or longer. In some embodiments, the cassette 100 comprises a depth of at most 3 inches, at most 4 inches, at most 5 inches, at most 6 inches, at most 6 inches, at most 7 inches, at most 8 inches, at most 9 inches, or at most 10 inches. In some embodiments, the cassette 100 comprises a length of about 10 inches, about 12.5 inches, about 15 inches, about 17.5 inches, about 20 inches, about 22.5 inches, about 25 inches, about 27.5 inches, about 30 inches, about 32.5 inches, about 35 inches, about 37.5 inches, about 40 inches, about 42.5 inches, about 45 inches, about 47.5 inches, about 50 inches or longer. In some embodiments, the cassette 100 comprises a length of at most 10 inches, at most 12.5 inches, at most 15 inches, at most 17.5 inches, at most 20 inches, at most 22.5 inches, at most 25 inches, at most 27.5 inches, at most 30 inches, at most 32.5 inches, at most 35 inches, at most 37.5 inches, at most 40 inches, at most 42.5 inches, at most 45 inches, at most 47.5 inches, or at most 50 inches. Where the housing 101 of the cassette 100 is configured to be removably or permanently installed into a recess (see
In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 101 of the cassette 100 includes rounded corners. Rounded corners may provide more uniform strength than square or rectangular cassettes with sharp corners. Additionally, the rounded corners are more amenable to removable and/or exchangeable cassettes than sharp corners. In some embodiments, however, the housing 101 of the cassette 100 can be rectangular or square.
With continued reference to
Examples of these internal components will be described in more detail below with respect to
As shown in
In some embodiments, multiple cassettes 100 may be located on either side of the hull near the bow to provide extra propulsion. As discussed above, the bow cassettes 100 may provide increased maneuverability in docking areas.
One of the cassettes 100 is horizontally situated on the port or left of the stem hull with the intake port 102 located toward the center of the watercraft 200 and to the right of the exhaust port 102. In such a configuration, a motor of the cassette 100 can drive an impeller to draw water through the intake port 102 and a pump housing and out the exhaust port 104 to propel the watercraft 200 to the right.
Another cassette 100 is horizontally situated on the starboard or right of the stem hull with the intake port 102 located toward the center of the watercraft 200 and to the right of the exhaust port 104. In such a configuration, a motor of the cassette 100 can drive an impeller to draw water through the intake port 102 and a pump housing and out the exhaust port 104 to propel the watercraft 200 to the left.
Other orientations and configurations for the cassettes 100 are also possible. For example, the cassettes 100 may be situated vertically and in such a configuration, the cassettes 100 will propel the watercraft 200 up or down and may help stabilize the watercraft 200 in rough water conditions. In some aspects, multiple cassettes 100 may be located on either side of the hull near the stern to provide extra propulsion.
As shown, the cassettes 100 are situated toward the stem of the watercraft 200 such that the intake ports 102 are located closer to the bow than the exhaust ports 104. In such a configuration, the water drawn from the intake ports 12 and out the exhaust ports 104 will produce forward propulsion for the watercraft 200. Other orientations and configurations for the cassette 100 are also possible. For example, the locations of the intake ports 102 and exhaust ports 104 on the cassette 100 may be reversed, which will produce reverse or aft propulsion of the watercraft 200. Multiple cassettes 100 may be located on either side the bottom of the hull 202 to provide extra propulsion. As discussed above, the bottom cassettes 100 may provide quiet, gas saving, forward or aft propulsion.
In some embodiments, each motor 150 can be coupled to a motor shaft by a shaft coupler, shaft bearing, bearing holder, and spacer, which can be seen, for example, in
In the illustrated embodiment, a drive shaft 160, impeller 162, and flow straighter 164 are illustrated. The drive shaft 160 may be connected to the motor 150 (see
In some embodiments, the motor 150 may be sealed within a watertight portion of the cassette 100. A shaft cover can form a watertight seal so as to prevent water from entering inside the watertight compartment. The drive shaft 160 may be configured to through the shaft cover. The drive shaft 160 connects to the motor 150. In some embodiments, the drive shaft 160 connects to the motor 150 by being installed in a direct drive arrangement with the motor 150. In other embodiments, the drive shaft 160 connects to the motor 150 through a gear box or belt system. In some embodiments, the drive shaft 160 can contain one or more O-ring or other sealant placed on the outer half of the drive shaft. The O-ring or sealant can prevent water from entering inside the watertight compartment. Connected to the end of the drive shaft 160 is an impeller 162. The impeller 162 can be installed on the end of the drive shaft 162 through several mechanical means, including, for example, threading onto the drive shaft, bonding, welding, snap fit, or friction fit. The flow straightener 164 is installed on one end of the impeller 162. In some embodiments, the flow straightener 164 does not contact the impeller 162 when installed. In some of these embodiments, the flow straightener 164 is positioned within the within the pump housing between the intake 102 and the exhaust 104.
The insert 1614 may comprise a solid or substantially ring-shaped sheet structure configured to cover at least a portion of the recess. The insert 1614 may be coupled to the recess using various coupling means, for example, adhesives, bonding agents, and/or fasteners. In some embodiments, by virtue of the complimentary shapes of the insert 1614 and the recess, the insert 1614 may be form fitted within the recess such that the engagement there between inhibits longitudinal, lateral, and/or transverse motion of the insert 1614 relative to the recess. When disposed within the recess, the insert 1614 can define a receiving space 1616 for receiving the pump system 1620.
In some embodiments, the insert 1614 may include one or more protrusions 1651 configured to be inserted into one or more indentations 1659 (shown in
The insert 1614 may also include a latch element 1653 that is cantilevered from a latch plate 1655. The latch element 1653 may catch one or more surfaces within a receptacle 1661 on the cassette 1620 when the cassette 1620 is received within the insert 1614 to secure the cassette 1620 in the longitudinal direction relative to the insert 1614. In this way, the cassette 1620 may be slid forward into the insert 1614 until the latch 1653 releasably engages a notch or other feature on the insert 1614 such that the cassette 1620 is aligned and secured relative to the insert 1614. To remove the cassette 1620 from the insert 1614, the latch element 1653 may be depressed by applying a force to the cantilevered end of the latch element 1653 to disengage the latch element from the notch or other feature. Disengaging the latch element 1653 then will allow a user to slide the cassette 1620 backward longitudinally relative to the insert 1614 to release the protrusions 1651 from the indentations 1659.
The base surface 1622 of the pump system 1620 may be configured to substantially match the adjacent base of a watercraft to achieve a desired hydrodynamic profile. The base surface 1622 may also include a charging port 1631 and/or activation switch 1633. Thus, the cassette 1620 may be charged when the system is coupled to the watercraft or when it is separate from the watercraft. In embodiments when these are provided, the charger port 1631 can be disposed on an opposite side of the cassette 1620 and the activation switch 1633 can be disposed elsewhere as well if desired.
As shown in
In some embodiments, each shaft 1690 can be disposed within a shaft housing 1694 that is configured to limit the exposure of the shaft 1690 to objects that are separate from the pump system 1620. Thus, the shaft housing 1694 can protect a user from inadvertently contacting the shaft 1690 during use and/or can protect the shaft 1690 from contacting other objects, for example, sea grass. Additionally, the shaft housing 1694 can improve performance of the pump system 1620 by isolating each shaft 1690 from the water that passes through the pump housing 1695. In some embodiments, each shaft 1690 can be protected from exposure to the water by one or more shaft seals 1692.
The cassette 1620 can also include one or more grates 1693 disposed over intake ports of the pump housing 1695. In some embodiments, a grate 1693 is installed over the intake ports of the pump housing 1695. The grates 1693 can limit access to the impeller 1699 and shaft 1690 to protect these components and/or to prevent a user from inadvertently contacting these components during use. In some embodiments, each pump housing 1695 and/or grate 1693 can be coupled to one or more magnetic switches (not shown) that can deactivate the motors 1675 when the pump housing 1695 and/or grate 1693 are separated from the pump base 1671. Therefore, the one or more magnetic switches may prevent the cassette from operating without the optional grate 1693 and/or pump housing in place.
With continued reference to
Any of the features of the cassettes illustrated in
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.
Indeed, although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while several variations of the embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with, or substituted for, one another in order to form varying modes of the embodiments of the disclosed invention. Any methods disclosed herein need not be performed in the order recited. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above.
It will be appreciated that the systems and methods of the disclosure each have several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible or required for the desirable attributes disclosed herein. The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and sub-combinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure.
Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments also may be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment also may be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination may in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. No single feature or group of features is necessary or indispensable to each and every embodiment.
It will also be appreciated that conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. In addition, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. In addition, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” as used in this application and the appended claims are to be construed to mean “one or more” or “at least one” unless specified otherwise. Similarly, while operations may be depicted in the drawings in a particular order, it is to be recognized that such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Further, the drawings may schematically depict one more example processes in the form of a flowchart. However, other operations that are not depicted may be incorporated in the example methods and processes that are schematically illustrated. For example, one or more additional operations may be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the illustrated operations. Additionally, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other embodiments. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Additionally, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims may be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results.
Further, while the methods and devices described herein may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but, to the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the various implementations described and the appended claims. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature, aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element, or the like in connection with an implementation or embodiment can be used in all other implementations or embodiments set forth herein. Any methods disclosed herein need not be performed in the order recited. The methods disclosed herein may include certain actions taken by a practitioner; however, the methods can also include any third-party instruction of those actions, either expressly or by implication. The ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all overlap, sub-ranges, and combinations thereof. Language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” “between,” and the like includes the number recited. Numbers preceded by a term such as “about” or “approximately” include the recited numbers and should be interpreted based on the circumstances (e.g., as accurate as reasonably possible under the circumstances, for example ±5%, ±10%, ±15%, etc.). For example, “about 3.5 mm” includes “3.5 mm.” Phrases preceded by a term such as “substantially” include the recited phrase and should be interpreted based on the circumstances (e.g., as much as reasonably possible under the circumstances). For example, “substantially constant” includes “constant.” Unless stated otherwise, all measurements are at standard conditions including temperature and pressure.
As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: A, B, or C” is intended to cover: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; and A, B, and C. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be at least one of X, Y or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present. The headings provided herein, if any, are for convenience only and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the devices and methods disclosed herein.
Accordingly, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles and the novel features disclosed herein.
This application claims priority to International Application No. PCT/US2022/032795, filed Jun. 9, 2022, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/209,103, filed Jun. 10, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63209103 | Jun 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/US2022/032795 | Jun 2022 | WO |
Child | 18529685 | US |