Drive arrangement for a marine vessel

Abstract

A drive arrangement for a marine vessel. The drive arrangement includes an outboard drive unit provided with at least one propeller, wherein the outboard drive unit is configured to be arranged on an outside of a transom of the marine vessel and to be connected via an opening in the transom to further parts of the drive arrangement arranged inside the marine vessel; and a supporting carrier configured to be arranged at the opening in the transom for fastening and support of the outboard drive unit so as to take up thrust and steering forces from the outboard drive unit when the drive arrangement is installed and used for propelling the marine vessel. The drive arrangement includes a supporting frame structure configured to be fixed to a supporting hull structure arranged on an inside of the marine vessel forward of the transom. The supporting frame structure extends aft-wards from or along the supporting hull structure to the opening in the transom. The supporting carrier forms part of or is firmly fixed to the supporting frame structure.

1 . A drive arrangement for a marine vessel, the drive arrangement comprising:
 an outboard drive unit provided with at least one propeller, wherein the outboard drive unit is configured to be arranged on an outside of a transom of the marine vessel and to be connected via an opening in the transom to further parts of the drive arrangement arranged inside the marine vessel; and   a supporting carrier configured to be arranged at the opening in the transom for fastening and support of the outboard drive unit so as to take up thrust and steering forces from the outboard drive unit when the drive arrangement is installed and used for propelling the marine vessel, 
characterized in
 that the drive arrangement comprises a supporting frame structure configured to be fixed to a supporting hull structure arranged on an inside of the marine vessel forward of the transom, the supporting frame structure further being configured to extend aft-wards from or along the supporting hull structure to the opening in the transom, 
 wherein the supporting carrier forms part of or is firmly fixed to the supporting frame structure. 
 
     
     
         2 . The drive arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting frame structure comprises at least one supporting member configured to be fixed to a supporting hull structure comprising a longitudinal stringer arranged in a bottom of a hull of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The drive arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting frame structure is provided with a ring-shaped supporting carrier configured to fit into a circular opening in the transom. 
     
     
         4 . The drive arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive arrangement comprises a connection arrangement for connecting the outboard drive unit to the supporting carrier, wherein the connection arrangement is configured to allow fixation of the outboard drive unit to the supporting carrier when the supporting frame structure is installed inside the marine vessel and the outboard drive unit is located outside of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The drive arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein a further part of the drive arrangement is arranged onto a section of the supporting frame structure configured to be fixed to the supporting hull structure, wherein the further part of the drive arrangement is an internal combustion engine, an electric battery, an electric generator or a fuel cell system. 
     
     
         6 . The drive arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one propeller is arranged on a lower part of the outboard drive unit and wherein at least the lower part of the outboard drive unit is arranged to allow pivoting from side to side for steering of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The drive arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting carrier does not form part of nor is firmly fixed to the transom so that the thrust and steering forces from the outboard drive unit are transmitted via the supporting frame structure to the supporting hull structure instead of to the transom during operation of the marine vessel when the drive arrangement is installed and used for propelling the marine vessel. 
     
     
         8 . A marine vessel comprising a drive arrangement for propulsion of the marine vessel, the drive arrangement comprising:
 an outboard drive unit provided with at least one propeller, wherein the outboard drive unit is arranged on an outside of a transom of the marine vessel and is connected via an opening in the transom to one or more further parts of the drive arrangement arranged inside the marine vessel; and   a supporting carrier arranged at the opening in the transom, wherein the outboard drive unit is fastened to the supporting carrier and wherein the supporting carrier supports the outboard drive unit so as to take up thrust and steering forces from the outboard drive unit when operating the drive arrangement, 
 wherein
 that the drive arrangement comprises a supporting frame structure fixed to a supporting hull structure arranged on an inside of the marine vessel forward of the transom, wherein the supporting frame structure extends aft-wards from or along the supporting hull structure to the opening in the transom, 
 wherein the supporting carrier forms part of or is firmly fixed to the supporting frame structure. 
 
     
     
         9 . The marine vessel according to  claim 8 , wherein a hull of the marine vessel comprises at least one structural beam, wherein the supporting hull structure comprises the at least one structural beam, and wherein the supporting frame structure is fixed to the at least one structural beam. 
     
     
         10 . The marine vessel according to  claim 9 , wherein the hull of the marine vessel comprises at least two structural beams, each of which forming a stringer extending in a longitudinal direction along a bottom of the marine vessel, and wherein the supporting frame structure is fixed to the at least two structural beams. 
     
     
         11 . The marine vessel according to  claim 8 , wherein the supporting frame structure is provided with a ring-shaped member, wherein the opening in the transom has a circular shape, and wherein the ring-shaped member is configured to fit into the circular opening. 
     
     
         12 . The marine vessel according to  claim 8 , wherein the drive arrangement comprises a connection arrangement for connecting the outboard drive unit to the supporting carrier, wherein the connection arrangement is configured to allow fixation of the outboard drive unit to the supporting frame structure when the supporting frame structure is installed inside the marine vessel and the outboard drive unit is located outside of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The marine vessel according to  claim 8 , wherein a further part of the drive arrangement is arranged onto a section of the supporting frame structure fixed to the supporting hull structure, wherein the further part of the drive arrangement is an internal combustion engine, an electric battery, an electric generator or a fuel cell system. 
     
     
         14 . The marine vessel according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one propeller is arranged on a lower part of the outboard drive unit and wherein at least the lower part of the outboard drive unit is arranged to allow pivoting from side to side for steering of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         15 . The marine vessel according to  claim 8 , wherein the drive arrangement further comprises an electric motor configured to drive the propeller, wherein the electric motor is arranged in the outboard drive unit. 
     
     
         16 . The marine vessel according to  claim 15 , wherein the drive arrangement further comprises an electricity source for powering of the electric motor, wherein the electricity source comprises at least one of an electric battery, an electric generator or a fuel cell system, wherein the electricity source is arranged inside the marine vessel, preferably onto a section of the supporting frame structure arranged onto the supporting hull structure. 
     
     
         17 . The marine vessel according to  claim 8 , wherein the drive arrangement further comprises an internal combustion engine arranged inside the marine vessel, preferably onto a section of the supporting frame structure arranged onto the supporting hull structure. 
     
     
         18 . The marine vessel according to  claim 8 , wherein the supporting carrier does not form part of nor is firmly fixed to the transom so that the thrust and steering forces from the outboard drive unit are transmitted via the supporting frame structure to the supporting hull structure instead of to the transom during operation of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         19 . Method for installing a drive arrangement according to  claim 1  in a marine vessel, the method comprising:
 fixing the supporting frame structure to a supporting hull structure arranged on an inside of the marine vessel forward of the transom; 
 connecting the outboard drive unit to the supporting carrier from an outside of the marine vessel.