Control handle for a marine electric drive system

Abstract

A control handle for controlling an electric drive system of a sailboat is provided. The control handle comprises a handle and a handle shaft, where the control handle is provided with a plurality of engagement positions. A first engagement position is adapted to engage a forward drive mode of the electric drive system, a second engagement position is adapted to engage a reverse drive mode of the electric drive system, a third engagement position is adapted to engage an idle drive mode of the electric drive system, and a fourth engagement position is adapted to engage a hydro energy generation mode of the electric drive system.

1 . A control handle for controlling an electric drive system of a sailboat, where the control handle comprises a handle and a handle shaft, where the control handle is provided with a plurality of engagement positions, where a first engagement position is adapted to engage a forward drive mode of the electric drive system, a second engagement position is adapted to engage a reverse drive mode of the electric drive system, a third engagement position is adapted to engage an idle drive mode of the electric drive system, wherein the first engagement position is reached by rotating the handle in a first direction from the third engagement position, and the second engagement position is reached by rotating the handle in a second direction from the third engagement positionwherein a fourth engagement position is adapted to engage a hydro energy generation mode of the electric drive system, where the fourth engagement position is reached by moving the handle in a first longitudinal direction on the handle shaft, and in that the control handle further comprises a locking position in which none of the engagement positions can be changed, where the locking position is reached by moving the handle in a second longitudinal direction on the handle shaft. 
     
     
         2 . Control handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a clockwise direction and the second direction is a counter-clockwise direction. 
     
     
         3 . Control handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal direction is a direction towards a mounting plate of the handle. 
     
     
         4 . Control handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the control handle is provided with a friction brake adapted to hold the handle in the actual rotational position of the handle. 
     
     
         5 . Electric drive system for a sailboat comprising a control handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric drive system further comprises an electric machine, a propeller, a battery and an electronic control unit. 
     
     
         6 . Electric drive system according to  claim 5 , wherein the electric drive system is adapted to rotate the propeller with a rotational speed that corresponds to the speed of the sailboat, such that the propeller does not induce any drag, when the idle drive mode is engaged. 
     
     
         7 . Electric drive system according to  claim 5 , wherein the electric machine is disconnected from the propeller by a clutch when the idle drive mode is engaged. 
     
     
         8 . Electric drive system according to  claim 5 , wherein the electric drive system in the hydro energy generation mode controls the rotation of the propeller to a rotational speed that corresponds to a speed that is lower than the actual speed of the sailboat, such that the electric machine generates electricity to the battery. 
     
     
         9 . Electric drive system according to  claim 8 , wherein the controlled rotation of the propeller reduces the speed of the sailboat with a speed between 0.3 to 1 knot. 
     
     
         10 . Method for engaging an electric drive system of a sailboat in different drive modes, a generation mode, or a locking position in which none of the engagement positions can be changed, where the modes and locking position are set by the use of a control handle comprising a handle and a handle shaft, comprising:
 engaging the electric drive system in an idle drive mode when the handle is in a third engagement position,   engaging the electric drive system in a forward drive mode by rotating the handle in a first direction from the third engagement position,   engaging the electric drive system in a reverse drive mode by rotating the handle in a second direction from the third engagement position,   engaging the electric drive system in a hydro energy generation mode by moving the handle in a first longitudinal direction on the handle shaft, and   engaging a locking position by moving the handle in a second longitudinal direction on the handle shaft.   
     
     
         11 . Sailboat, comprising a control handle according to  claim 1 .