Marine drive unit with gyrostabiliser

Abstract

The invention provides a marine drive unit (1), such as an outboard motor, for a marine vessel, comprising: an engine or power plant (E), such as an internal combustion; a drive transmission for transmitting or transferring mechanical power generated by the engine or power plant (E) to a propeller shaft for generating propulsion for the vessel; a casing (3) that houses or at least partially encloses the engine (E) and/or the drive transmission; a mounting assembly (2) configured to mount the marine drive unit (1) to a hull, preferably to a transom, of the marine vessel; and a gyrostabiliser (4) arranged in or on the mounting assembly (2) or the casing (3). As an alternative to an outboard motor, the marine drive unit (1) may be provided as a stern drive unit or a pod drive unit. The invention also provides a marine vessel incorporating such a drive unit (1).

1 . A marine drive unit, comprising:
 a mounting assembly for mounting the drive unit to a hull of a marine vessel, especially to a transom at a stern of the marine vessel, the mounting assembly configured for substantially rigid attachment to the hull, and especially to the transom;   a drive casing enclosing at least part of a drive transmission of the drive unit, the drive casing configured to be arranged outboard of the marine vessel and to be connected to the hull, especially the transom, of the vessel via the mounting assembly; and   a gyrostabiliser incorporated in one of the mounting assembly and the drive casing.   
     
     
         2 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting assembly has a substantially rigid frame for substantially rigid attachment to the hull, especially the transom, and wherein the gyrostabiliser is incorporated in the mounting assembly such that a shaft of a flywheel of the gyrostabiliser is rotationally mounted with respect to and supported by the frame of the mounting assembly. 
     
     
         3 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the substantially rigid frame of the mounting assembly includes a housing that encloses the gyrostabiliser. 
     
     
         4 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive casing is pivotally connected to the mounting assembly for pivoting movement relative to the hull, especially the transom, about at least one of a substantially horizontal axis for raising and lowering the drive casing, and a substantially vertical axis for steering the marine vessel, wherein the drive casing is pivotally movable relative to the gyrostabiliser. 
     
     
         5 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the drive casing is substantially rigid for mounting and supporting said at least part of the drive transmission thereon, and wherein the gyrostabiliser is incorporated in the drive casing such that a shaft of a flywheel of the gyrostabiliser is rotationally mounted with respect to and supported by the substantially rigid part of the drive casing. 
     
     
         6 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 5 , wherein the drive casing substantially encloses the gyrostabiliser, and wherein a rotational axis of the flywheel is in use substantially vertical. 
     
     
         7 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 5 , wherein the drive casing is pivotally connected to the mounting assembly for pivoting movement relative to the hull, especially the transom, about at least one of a substantially horizontal axis to raise and lower the drive casing, and a substantially vertical axis to steer the marine vessel, wherein the gyrostabiliser is pivotally movable with the drive casing relative to the mounting assembly. 
     
     
         8 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive casing encloses substantially an entire drive transmission of the drive unit and preferably also an engine or motor providing power to the drive transmission. 
     
     
         9 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the marine drive unit is in the form of an outboard motor. 
     
     
         10 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the marine drive unit is in the form of a sterndrive unit. 
     
     
         11 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the marine drive unit is in the form of a pod drive unit. 
     
     
         12 . An outboard motor for a marine vessel, the outboard motor comprising:
 an engine or power plant, preferably an internal combustion engine;   a drive transmission for transmitting or transferring mechanical power generated by the engine or power plant to a propeller shaft;   a casing which houses or at least partially encloses the engine and/or the drive transmission;   a mounting assembly configured to mount the outboard motor to a hull, especially to a transom, of the marine vessel; and   a gyrostabiliser arranged in or on the mounting assembly or the casing.   
     
     
         13 . An outboard motor according to  claim 12 , wherein the mounting assembly comprises a substantially rigid mounting bracket configured to be secured to the transom of the vessel, and the gyrostabiliser is arranged in or on the mounting assembly such that a shaft of a flywheel of the gyrostabiliser is rotationally mounted and/or supported on the rigid mounting bracket. 
     
     
         14 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the mounting assembly has a housing that encloses the gyrostabiliser. 
     
     
         15 . A marine drive unit according to  claim 12 , wherein at least part of the casing is substantially rigid for mounting and supporting the drive transmission therein, wherein the gyrostabiliser is arranged in the casing such that a shaft of a flywheel of the gyrostabiliser is rotationally mounted and supported in or on the substantially rigid part of the casing, and wherein a rotational axis of the flywheel is in use substantially vertical. 
     
     
         16 . A marine vessel, especially a boat, comprising a marine drive unit, said marine drive unit comprising:
 a mounting assembly for mounting the drive unit to a hull of the marine vessel, especially to a transom at a stern of the marine vessel, the mounting assembly configured for substantially rigid attachment to the hull, and especially to the transom;   a drive casing enclosing at least part of a drive transmission of the drive unit, the drive casing configured to be arranged outboard of the marine vessel and to be connected to the hull, especially the transom, of the vessel via the mounting assembly; and   a gyrostabiliser incorporated in one of the mounting assembly and the drive casing, wherein the gyrostabiliser in use operates to oppose a rolling motion of the vessel.   
     
     
         17 . A marine vessel according to  claim 16 , wherein the mounting assembly has a substantially rigid frame for substantially rigid attachment to the hull, especially the transom, and wherein the gyrostabiliser is incorporated in the mounting assembly such that a shaft of a flywheel of the gyrostabiliser is rotationally mounted with respect to and supported by the frame of the mounting assembly. 
     
     
         18 . A marine vessel according to  claim 16 , wherein the drive casing is pivotally connected to the mounting assembly for pivoting movement relative to the hull, especially the transom, about at least one of a substantially horizontal axis for raising and lowering the drive casing, and a substantially vertical axis for steering the marine vessel, wherein the drive casing is pivotally movable relative to the gyrostabiliser. 
     
     
         19 . A marine vessel according to  claim 16 , wherein at least part of the drive casing is substantially rigid for mounting and supporting said at least part of the drive transmission thereon, wherein the gyrostabiliser is incorporated in the drive casing such that a shaft of a flywheel of the gyrostabiliser is rotationally mounted with respect to and supported by the substantially rigid part of the drive casing, and wherein a rotational axis of the flywheel is in use substantially vertical. 
     
     
         20 . A marine vessel according to  claim 16 , wherein the drive casing encloses substantially an entire drive transmission of the drive unit and preferably also an engine or motor providing power to the drive transmission.