Marine Vessel Hybrid Propulsion System

Abstract

A marine propulsion system is configured to allow many different combinations and interconnections between three internal combustion engines, three generators, two motors, two clutches, two marine propulsion devices, and an electrical storage device. By appropriately interconnecting these devices in advantageous combinations, energy consumption can be reduced, operational efficiency of the engine can be improved, and redundancy can be provided in the event that one or more components are disabled.

1 . A marine vessel, comprising:
 a first engine;   a first marine propulsion device, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;   a first motor, said first motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;   a first generator, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first generator;   a second engine;   a second marine propulsion device, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device;   a second motor, said second motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device; and   a second generator, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second generator.   
   
   
       2 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electrical storage device, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second generators, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second motors.   
   
   
       3 . The marine vessel of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said electrical storage device comprises a battery.   
   
   
       4 . The marine vessel of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said electrical storage device is configured to receive electric current from said first generator;   said electrical storage device is configured to receive electric current from said second generator;   said electrical storage device is configured to provide electric current to said first motor; and   said electrical storage device is configured to provide electric current to said second motor.   
   
   
       5 . The marine vessel of  claim 4 , wherein:
 said electrical storage device is configured to provide electric current to a house load of said marine vessel.   
   
   
       6 . The marine vessel of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a third engine; and   a third generator, said third engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said third generator, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said third generator.   
   
   
       7 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a first motor-generator device comprises said first generator and said first motor; and   a second motor-generator device comprises said second generator and said second motor.   
   
   
       8 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first clutch configured to selectively connect said first engine in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device; and   a second clutch configured to selectively connect said second engine in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.   
   
   
       9 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first engine is connected in torque transmitting association with both said first marine propulsion device and with said first generator, said second motor being simultaneously connected in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.   
   
   
       10 . The marine vessel of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said second engine is disconnected from torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.   
   
   
       11 . A marine vessel, comprising:
 a first engine;   a first marine propulsion device, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;   a first motor, said first motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;   a first generator, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first generator;   a second engine;   a second marine propulsion device, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device;   a second motor, said second motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device;   a second generator, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second generator; and   an electrical storage device, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second generators, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second motors, said electrical storage device being configured to receive electric current from said first generator, said electrical storage device being configured to receive electric current from said second generator.   
   
   
       12 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said electrical storage device is configured to provide electric current to said first motor; and   said electrical storage device is configured to provide electric current to said second motor, said electrical storage device being configured to provide electric current to a house load of said marine vessel.   
   
   
       13 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a third engine; and   a third generator, said third engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said third generator, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said third generator.   
   
   
       14 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first clutch configured to selectively connect said first engine in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device; and   a second clutch configured to selectively connect said second engine in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.   
   
   
       15 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said first engine is connected in torque transmitting association with both said first marine propulsion device and with said first generator, said second motor being simultaneously connected in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.   
   
   
       16 . The marine vessel of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said second engine is disconnected from torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.   
   
   
       17 . The marine vessel of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a first motor-generator device comprises said first generator and said first motor; and   a second motor-generator device comprises said second generator and said second motor.   
   
   
       18 . A marine vessel, comprising:
 a first engine;   a first marine propulsion device, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;   a first motor, said first motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device;   a first generator, said first engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said first generator;   a second engine;   a second marine propulsion device, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device;   a second motor, said second motor being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device;   a second generator, said second engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said second generator;   an electrical storage device, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second generators, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said first and second motors, said electrical storage device being configured to receive electric current from said first generator, said electrical storage device being configured to receive electric current from said second generator, said electrical storage device being configured to provide electric current to said first motor, said electrical storage device being configured to provide electric current to said second motor;   a third engine; and   a third generator, said third engine being connectable in torque transmitting association with said third generator, said electrical storage device being connectable in electrical communication with said third generator.   
   
   
       19 . The marine vessel of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first clutch configured to selectively connect said first engine in torque transmitting association with said first marine propulsion device; and   a second clutch configured to selectively connect said second engine in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.   
   
   
       20 . The marine vessel of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said first engine is connected in torque transmitting association with both said first marine propulsion device and with said first generator, said second motor being simultaneously connected in torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device when said second engine is disconnected from torque transmitting association with said second marine propulsion device.