Combination manually driven and motor driven watercraft

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a watercraft that is drivable by a manual force input member and by a motor. The watercraft is configured to prevent the motor from back-driving the manual force input member. In a particular embodiment, the watercraft includes a hull, a propelling member configured to propel the hull through water, a manual force input member that is movable manually, an output shaft that is operatively connected to the propelling member and that is drivable by the manual force input member, a motor that is operatively connectable to the output shaft, and a one-way clutch connected between the manual force input member and the output shaft. The one-way clutch is configured to permit the manual force input member to drive the output shaft in a first rotational direction, and to prevent the output shaft from driving the manual force input member in the first rotational direction.

1 . A watercraft, comprising:
 a hull;   a propelling member configured to propel the hull through water;   a manual force input member that is movable manually;   an output shaft that is operatively connected to the propelling member and that is drivable by the manual force input member;   a motor that is operatively connectable to the output shaft; and   a one-way clutch connected between the manual force input member and the output shaft, wherein the one-way clutch is configured to permit the manual force input member to drive the output shaft in a first rotational direction, and to prevent the output shaft from driving the manual force input member in the first rotational direction.   
     
     
         2 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one-way clutch is configured to prevent the manual force input member from driving the output shaft in a second rotational direction, and wherein the watercraft further comprises a clutch bypass mechanism that is selectively actuatable to operatively connect the manual force input member to the output shaft for rotation in both the first and second directions. 
     
     
         3 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the watercraft is operable in a first mode wherein the clutch bypass mechanism is in a bypass position wherein the manual force input member is operatively connected to the output shaft for rotation in both the first and second directions and the motor is disconnected from the propelling member, and in a second mode wherein the clutch bypass mechanism is in a non-bypass position wherein the manual force input member is operatively connected to the output shaft through the one-way clutch and the motor is operatively connected to the propelling member. 
     
     
         4 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a motor engagement clutch that is selectably positionable to control whether or not the motor is operative connected to the propelling member. 
     
     
         5 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a control lever that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein movement to the first position causes the motor engagement clutch to operatively disconnect the motor from the output shaft and causes the clutch bypass mechanism to move to the bypass position thereby operating the watercraft in the first mode, and movement to the second position causes the motor engagement clutch to operatively connect the motor to the output shaft and causes the clutch bypass mechanism to move to the non-bypass position thereby operating the watercraft in the second mode. 
     
     
         6 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the manual force input member is a first manual force input member and the one-way clutch is a first one-way clutch and wherein the watercraft further comprises a second manual force input member that is movable manually, wherein the output shaft is drivable by the manual force input member; and
 a second one-way clutch connected between the second manual force input member and the output shaft, wherein the second one-way clutch is configured to permit the second manual force input member to drive the output shaft in a first rotational direction, and to prevent the output shaft from driving the second manual force input member in the first rotational direction.   
     
     
         7 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a common shaft operatively connected to the output shaft,
 wherein a first end of the common shaft is drivable by the first manual force input member through the first one-way clutch and wherein a second end of the common shaft is drivable by the second manual force input member through the second one-way clutch.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a torque sensor configured to send first signals to a controller, the first signals relating to the amount of torque being transmitted from the manual force input member, wherein the controller is configured to control the motor based on the first signals sent to the controller by the torque sensor. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the manual force input member is a pedal-and-sprocket arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising a speed sensor for sensing the speed of the watercraft, and being configured for sending to the controller second signals relating to the sensed speed of the watercraft. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the motor is a unidirectional electric motor. 
     
     
         18 . A watercraft, comprising:
 a hull;   a propelling member configured to propel the hull through water;   a manual force input member that is movable manually;   an output shaft that is operatively connected to the propelling member and that is drivable by the manual force input member;   a motor that is operatively connectable to the output shaft;   a controller; and   a torque sensor configured to send first signals to the controller related to the amount of torque being transmitted from the manual force input member, wherein the controller is configured to control the motor based on the first signals sent to the controller by the torque sensor.   
     
     
         19 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the torque sensor includes:
 a first support member that is rotatably drivable by the manual force input member,   at least one first trip member mounted to the first support member,   a first sensor configured for sending first sensor signals to the controller when sensing the presence of the first trip member,   a second support member that is rotatable,   at least one first trip member mounted to the first support member,   a second sensor configured for sending second sensor signals to the controller when sensing the presence of the second trip member,   a spring operatively connecting the first support member to the second support member,   wherein the controller is configured to adjust the torque of the motor based on the time delay between the first sensor signals and the second sensor signals.   
     
     
         20 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 18 , comprising a speed sensor for sensing the speed of the watercraft, and being configured for sending to the controller second signals relating to the sensed speed of the watercraft. 
     
     
         21 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the controller is configured to control the motor based on the first signals sent to the controller by the torque sensor and the second signals sent to the controller by the speed sensor. 
     
     
         22 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the controller permits a user to select the ratio of motor torque provided per unit of torque sensed by the torque sensor. 
     
     
         23 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the spring is a torsion spring having a first end engaged with the first support member and a second end engaged with the second support member. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A watercraft, comprising:
 a hull;   a propelling member configured to propel the hull through water;   a manual force input member that is movable manually;   an output shaft that is operatively connected to the propelling member and that is drivable by the manual force input member;   a motor that is operatively connectable to the output shaft; and   a controller configured to selectably operate the watercraft in a plurality of modes including a first mode wherein the manual force input member operatively connected to the output shaft and the motor is operatively disconnected from the output shaft and a second mode wherein the motor is operatively connected to the output shaft.   
     
     
         26 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein in the second mode the controller is configurable to adjust the amount of assistance provided by the motor. 
     
     
         27 . A watercraft as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein in the second mode the controller is configurable between a first setting wherein the motor provides a selected fraction of the torque that is provided from the manual force input member, and another setting wherein the motor substantially unilaterally drives the output shaft.