Integrated Propulsion and Steering System

Abstract

An electrically driven propulsion system for a watercraft comprises an electric motor, a pulse inverter, a thrust bearing, and a transmission is presented. The pulse inverter can be electrically coupled to the electric motor and adapted to provide an electrical supply power of at least 50 kW to the electric motor. The electrically driven propulsion system further comprises a common waterproof housing. An external section of the transmission can be arranged outside of the common waterproof housing. The transmission can be adapted to rotationally couple the external section of the transmission to the electric motor. The thrust bearing can be mechanically coupled to the rotary shaft of said transmission and to the common waterproof housing. The thrust bearing can be adapted to transfer a force applied to the transmission along an axial direction of said rotary shaft of the transmission to the common waterproof housing.

What is claims is: 
     
         1 . An electrically driven propulsion system for a watercraft, the electrically driven propulsion system comprising:
 an electric motor adapted to provide a mechanical power of at least 50 kW;   a transmission comprising a rotary shaft;   a pulse inverter electrically coupled to the electric motor and adapted to provide an electrical supply power of at least 50 kW to the electric motor;   a thrust bearing; and   a common waterproof housing;   wherein the electric motor, the pulse inverter and an enclosed section of the transmission are arranged inside the common waterproof housing;   wherein an external section of the transmission is arranged outside of the common waterproof housing;   wherein the transmission is adapted to rotationally couple the external section of the transmission to the electric motor; and   wherein the thrust bearing is mechanically coupled to the rotary shaft of said transmission and to the common waterproof housing and adapted to transfer a force applied to the transmission along an axial direction of said rotary shaft to the common waterproof housing.   
     
     
         2 . The electrically driven propulsion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the external section of the transmission comprises a propeller coupling adapted for mounting a propeller thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The electrically driven propulsion system according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the watercraft comprises a hull with an opening; and   wherein the electrically driven propulsion system is adapted to be connected as a whole to the hull with the opening, such that at least a section of the electric motor is arranged on a first side of the opening and the propeller coupling and at least a portion of the common waterproof housing are arranged on a second side of the opening opposite to the first side, and such that a waterproof connection forms between the common waterproof housing and the hull.   
     
     
         4 . The electrically driven propulsion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is an axial flux motor. 
     
     
         5 . The electrically driven propulsion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the common waterproof housing is adapted to provide a motor upgrade space for a motor power upgrade component, and wherein the pulse inverter is adapted to provide an electrical output power of at least two times the mechanical power that the electric motor is adapted to provide. 
     
     
         6 . The electrically driven propulsion system according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a sensor disposed within the common waterproof housing and adapted to detect a change in a sound or vibrational level of the electrically driven propulsion system. 
     
     
         7 . The electrically driven propulsion system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the common waterproof housing comprises a motor section in which the electric motor is arranged; and   wherein a width of the portion of the common waterproof housing adapted to be arranged on the second side of the opening exceeds a width of the motor section.   
     
     
         8 . The electrically driven propulsion system according to  claim 3 , wherein the common waterproof housing comprises a ring-shaped seal face adapted to encircle the opening of the hull to provide the waterproof connection. 
     
     
         9 . The electrically driven propulsion system according to  claim 2 , wherein the transmission comprises a shaft comprising the propeller coupling and an axis, and wherein an orientation of the axis of the shaft is static. 
     
     
         10 . The electrically driven propulsion system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a heat exchanger disposed within the common waterproof housing, wherein a primary side of the heat exchanger comprises at least one primary coolant opening adapted to be arranged on the second side of the opening, and wherein a secondary side of the heat exchanger comprises at least one secondary coolant opening adapted to be disposed proximate the first side of the opening. 
     
     
         11 . The electrically driven propulsion system according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a rudder actuator, wherein at least a section of the rudder actuator is disposed within the common waterproof housing. 
     
     
         12 . A connecting frame for connecting a propulsion system to a hull with an opening, wherein the connecting frame comprises:
 a first ring-shaped element comprising a first opening, first connecting elements, and through holes;   a second ring-shaped element comprising a second opening; second connecting elements, wherein the first connecting elements and the second connecting elements comprise a first common arrangement; and detachable connection elements adapted to couple to fixing means of the propulsion system;   a first sealing face arranged on the first ring-shaped element and encircling the first opening; and   a second sealing face arranged on the first ring-shaped element opposite to the first sealing face and encircling the first opening;   wherein the first ring-shaped element and second ring-shaped element are adapted to be connected using the first connecting elements and the second connecting elements and with a relative orientation defined by the first common arrangement; and wherein, according to the relative orientation:
 the first opening overlaps with the second opening to form an opening of the connecting frame; 
 the through holes coincide with the detachable connection elements; and 
 the first sealing face is arranged between the connected first ring-shaped element and second ring-shaped element and adapted to provide a waterproof connection between the connecting frame and the hull with the opening. 
   
     
     
         13 . A connecting system, comprising:
 a connecting frame configured to couple a propulsion system to a hull with an opening, wherein the connecting frame comprises:
 a first ring-shaped element comprising a first opening, first connecting elements, and through holes; 
 a second ring-shaped element comprising a second opening; second connecting elements, wherein the first connecting elements and the second connecting elements comprise a first common arrangement; and detachable connection elements adapted to couple to fixing means of the propulsion system; 
 a first sealing face arranged on the first ring-shaped element and encircling the first opening; and 
 a second sealing face arranged on the first ring-shaped element opposite to the first sealing face and encircling the first opening;
 wherein the first ring-shaped element and second ring-shaped element are adapted to be connected using the first connecting elements and the second connecting elements and with a relative orientation defined by the first common arrangement; and 
 
   a support element adapted to mechanically support the propulsion system via a support arm.   
     
     
         14 . The connecting system according to  claim 13 , wherein the support element is adapted to be coupled to the connecting frame such that the support arm extends away from the connecting frame. 
     
     
         15 . The connecting system according to  claim 13 , wherein, according to the relative orientation:
 the first opening overlaps with the second opening to form an opening of the connecting frame;   the through holes coincide with the detachable connection elements; and   the first sealing face is arranged between the connected first ring-shaped element and second ring-shaped element and adapted to provide a waterproof connection between the connecting frame and the hull with the opening.   
     
     
         16 . A method for connecting an electrically driven propulsion system as a whole to a hull with an opening, wherein the electrically driven propulsion system comprises:
 an electric motor adapted to provide a mechanical power;   a transmission functionally coupled to the electric motor, the transmission comprising a propeller coupling adapted for mounting a propeller; and   a common waterproof housing, wherein the electric motor and an enclosed section of the transmission are arranged inside the common waterproof housing, wherein the propeller coupling is arranged outside the common waterproof housing, wherein the transmission is adapted to rotationally couple the propeller coupling to the electric motor, and wherein the common waterproof housing comprises a motor section in which the electric motor is arranged;   the method comprising:   providing the electrically driven propulsion system as a whole on a second side of the opening of the hull;   moving at least a section of the motor section through the opening to a first side of the opening opposite to the second side, such that at least a portion of the common waterproof housing remains on the second side; and   fixing the electrically driven propulsion system to the hull with the opening; and   forming a waterproof connection between the hull with the opening and the common waterproof housing.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the fixing the electrically driven propulsion system to the hull with the opening comprises fixing the electrically driven propulsion system as a surface drive to the hull with the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the electric motor provides a mechanical power of at least 50 kW. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least a section of the motor section is moved through the opening while keeping the electrically driven propulsion system assembled as a whole and while keeping the propeller coupling on the second side. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least a section of the motor section is moved through the opening while keeping the propeller coupling on the second side.