Ship propulsion machine

Abstract

A ship propulsion machine includes a motor, an inverter, a propeller, a power transmission mechanism, and a cooling mechanism. The cooling mechanism includes: a motor water jacket configured to cool the motor by allowing cooling water to flow therein; an inverter water jacket configured to cool the inverter by allowing the cooling water to flow therein; a first cooling water passage configured to allow the cooling water to flow toward the motor water jacket and the inverter water jacket; and a branch passage connecting the motor water jacket and the inverter water jacket to the first cooling water passage such that the motor water jacket and the inverter water jacket are connected in parallel with each other. The branch passage is configured to distribute and supply the cooling water flowing in the first cooling water passage to the motor water jacket and the inverter water jacket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ship propulsion machine comprising:
 a motor;   an inverter configured to generate a drive current for controlling drive of the motor;   a propeller;   a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit power of the motor to the propeller; and   a cooling mechanism configured to cool the motor and the inverter,   wherein the cooling mechanism comprises:
 a motor water jacket provided in the motor and configured to cool the motor by allowing cooling water to flow therein; 
 an inverter water jacket provided in the inverter and configured to cool the inverter by allowing the cooling water to flow therein; 
 a first cooling water passage configured to allow the cooling water to flow toward the motor water jacket and the inverter water jacket; and 
 a branch passage connecting the motor water jacket and the inverter water jacket to the first cooling water passage such that the motor water jacket and the inverter water jacket are connected in parallel with each other, the branch passage being configured to distribute and supply the cooling water flowing in the first cooling water passage to the motor water jacket and the inverter water jacket. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ship propulsion machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein when an extension direction of a rotation axis of the motor is defined as an X direction and a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the rotation axis of the motor is defined as a Y direction, the motor and the inverter are arranged side by side in the Y direction,   wherein the motor water jacket comprises a first inlet configured to allow the cooling water supplied through the branch passage to flow into the motor water jacket, and a first outlet configured to allow the cooling water flowing in the motor water jacket to flow out to an outside of the motor water jacket,   wherein the inverter water jacket comprises a second inlet configured to allow the cooling water supplied through the branch passage to flow into the inverter water jacket, and a second outlet configured to allow the cooling water flowing in the inverter water jacket to flow out to an outside of the inverter water jacket,   wherein the first inlet of the motor water jacket and the second inlet of the inverter water jacket are arranged on one side in the X direction of the motor and the inverter, and   wherein the first outlet of the motor water jacket and the second outlet of the inverter water jacket are arranged on another side in the X direction of the motor and the inverter.   
     
     
         3 . The ship propulsion machine according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the motor water jacket is provided to surround the motor on an outer periphery side of the motor, and   wherein when the motor and the motor water jacket are viewed from one side in the X direction, the first outlet of the motor water jacket is arranged on a substantially opposite side to the first inlet of the motor water jacket across a rotation center of the motor.   
     
     
         4 . The ship propulsion machine according to  claim 2 , wherein when a direction perpendicular to the X-direction and the Y-direction is defined as the Z-direction, the second inlet of the inverter water jacket is arranged on one side in the Z-direction of the inverter, and the second outlet of the inverter water jacket is arranged on another side in the Z-direction of the inverter. 
     
     
         5 . The ship propulsion machine according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the cooling mechanism comprises:
 a second cooling water passage configured to allow the cooling water, which has flowed out from an inside of the motor water jacket and an inside of the inverter water jacket, to flow therein; and 
 a joint passage connected to the first outlet of the motor water jacket, the second outlet of the inverter water jacket, and the second cooling water passage, the joint passage configured to join the cooling water flowing out from the first outlet of the motor water jacket with the cooling water flowing out from the second outlet of the inverter water jacket and to allow the joined cooling water to flow into the second cooling water passage, and 
   wherein when a direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction is defined as a Z direction, the first outlet of the motor water jacket and the second outlet of the inverter water jacket are arranged at a same position in the Z direction.   
     
     
         6 . The ship propulsion machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the cooling mechanism comprises a valve configured to control a flow rate of the cooling water after joining in the joint passage.