Watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft includes a hull; a deck supported by the hull; a propulsion system supported by the hull and configured to propel the watercraft; an electric motor operatively connected to the propulsion system to drive the propulsion system; a battery electrically connected to the electric motor for powering the electric motor; and a heat exchanger supported by the hull, the heat exchanger having defined therein at least: a first cooling channel, and a second cooling channel, a first cooling circuit being defined in part through the first cooling channel, the first cooling circuit being in thermal communication with at least one of the battery and the electric motor, a second cooling circuit being defined in part through the second cooling channel, the second cooling circuit being in thermal communication with at least an other one of the battery and the electric motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft comprising:
 a hull;   a deck supported by the hull;   a propulsion system supported by the hull and configured to propel the watercraft;   an electric motor operatively connected to the propulsion system to drive the propulsion system;   a battery electrically connected to the electric motor for powering the electric motor; and   a heat exchanger supported by the hull, the heat exchanger having defined therein at least:
 a first cooling channel, and 
 a second cooling channel, 
   a first cooling circuit being defined in part through the first cooling channel, the first cooling circuit being in thermal communication with at least one of the battery and the electric motor,   a second cooling circuit being defined in part through the second cooling channel, the second cooling circuit being in thermal communication with at least an other one of the battery and the electric motor.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first cooling circuit is in thermal communication with the electric motor; and   the second cooling circuit is in thermal communication the battery.   
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a charger electrically connected to the battery; and   an inverter electrically connected to the battery.   
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first cooling circuit is in thermal communication with the electric motor and at least one of the charger and the inverter; and   the second cooling circuit is in thermal communication the battery.   
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first cooling circuit is arranged to transfer, when in operation, heat from the electric motor and the at least one of the charger and the inverter to the heat exchanger; and   the second cooling circuit is arranged to transfer, when in operation, heat from the battery to the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first cooling channel extends in a first direction and a second direction through the heat exchanger;   a thickness of the first cooling channel being defined along a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction;   the second cooling channel extends in the first direction and the second direction through the heat exchanger;   a thickness of the second cooling channel being defined along the third direction; and   the second cooling channel is offset from the first cooling channel in the third direction.   
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel are at least partially aligned along the third direction. 
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the second cooling channel is substantially in a same plane as the first cooling channel; and   the second cooling channel being offset from the first cooling channel in at least one of the first direction and the second direction.   
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pump forming a portion of the first cooling circuit, the first pump being arranged to cause a first heat exchange fluid to circulate through the first cooling circuit; and   a second pump forming a portion of the second cooling circuit, the second pump being arranged to cause a second heat exchange fluid to circulate through the second cooling circuit.   
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the heat exchanger extends at least partially out of the hull; and   during operation of the watercraft on a body of water, at least a portion of the heat exchanger is in contact with the body of water.   
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises:
 a first layer formed of heat conducting material, the first cooling channel being defined in the first layer; and   a second layer connected to the first layer, the second layer being formed of heat conducting material, the second cooling channel being defined in the second layer.   
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a heat conducting layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the heat exchanger further has a third cooling channel defined therein; and   the third cooling channel defines a portion of a third cooling circuit.   
     
     
         14 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein, during operation of the watercraft on a body of water, the third cooling circuit is arranged to be in fluid communication with the body of water, using surrounding water as heat exchange fluid in the third cooling circuit. 
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 14 , further comprising a third pump forming a portion of the third cooling circuit, the third pump being arranged to cause water from the body of water to circulate through the third cooling circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The watercraft of  claim 15 , wherein the third pump forms a portion of the propulsion system. 
     
     
         17 . The watercraft of  claim 11 , wherein the third cooling channel is disposed between the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel in the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         18 . The watercraft of  claim 17 , wherein the third cooling circuit is arranged to transfer, when in operation, heat from the first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit to the body of water via the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises:
 a first layer formed of heat conducting material,
 the first cooling channel being defined in a first surface of the first layer, 
 the third cooling channel being defined in a second surface of the first layer, the second surface being disposed opposite the first surface; and 
   a second layer connected to the first layer, the second layer being formed of heat conducting material, the second cooling channel being defined in the second layer.   
     
     
         20 . The watercraft of  claim 19 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a heat conducting layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         21 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising a straddle seat supported by the deck; and
 wherein the watercraft is a personal watercraft.   
     
     
         22 . The watercraft of  claim 21 , wherein the heat exchanger is a ride plate connected to the hull.