Integrated thruster apparatus for a marine vessel

Abstract

A thruster system for a marine vessel includes an electric motor having an output shaft. The thruster system also includes a housing having a first housing opening and a second housing opening, the first housing opening defining a water intake, the second housing opening defining a water discharge. The thruster system further includes a rotatable member operatively coupled to, and driven by, the output shaft of the electric motor, wherein rotation of the rotatable member results in water brought into the housing through the first housing opening and expelled through the second housing opening to generate a thrust force in a direction that is greater than 45 degrees relative to a propeller direction of the marine vessel.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pontoon boat comprising:
 a first pontoon;   a second pontoon;   a first thruster system mounted to the first pontoon, the first thruster comprising a first electrically driven pump having an intake on a bottom portion thereof and a discharge opening on a side of the pump housing, wherein operation of the electrically driven pump results in water brought into the pump housing through the intake and expelled through the discharge opening to cause a thrust force in a first thrust direction; and   a second thruster system mounted to the second pontoon, the second thruster comprising a second electrically driven pump having an intake on a bottom portion thereof and a discharge opening on a side of the pump housing, wherein operation of the electrically driven pump results in water brought into the pump housing through the intake and expelled through the discharge opening to case a thrust force in a second thrust direction that is opposite to the first thrust direction, wherein the first thrust direction and the second thrust direction are each perpendicular to a propeller direction of the pontoon boat.   
     
     
         2 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third thruster system mounted to the first pontoon, the third thruster comprising a third electrically driven pump having an intake on a bottom portion thereof and a discharge opening on a side of the pump housing, wherein operation of the electrically driven pump results in water brought into the pump housing through the intake and expelled through the discharge opening to case a thrust force in a third thrust direction that is parallel to the first thrust direction; and   a fourth thruster system mounted to the second pontoon, the fourth thruster comprising a fourth electrically driven pump having an intake on a bottom portion thereof and a discharge opening on a side of the pump housing, wherein operation of the electrically driven pump results in water brought into the pump housing through the intake and expelled through the discharge opening to case a thrust force in a fourth thrust direction that is parallel to the second thrust direction, wherein the third thrust direction and the fourth thrust direction are each perpendicular to the propeller direction of the pontoon boat.   
     
     
         3 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrically driven pump and the second electrically driven pump are each unidirectional pumps. 
     
     
         4 . The pontoon boat of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a third pontoon; and   a bidirectional electrically driven pump mounted to the third pontoon.   
     
     
         5 . A thruster system for a marine vessel, comprising:
 an electric motor proximate a pontoon and having an output shaft with a belt pulley, wherein the output shaft is configured to at least rotate in a clockwise direction or counter-clockwise direction;   a belt disposed along an outside periphery of the pontoon and coupled to the belt pulley, wherein the belt is configured to at least move in a clockwise direction or counter-clockwise direction as the output shaft at least rotates in the clockwise direction or counter clockwise direction; and   a plurality of paddles coupled to the belt, wherein the plurality of paddles extend generally outward from the outside periphery of the pontoon, and wherein the plurality of paddles are configured to actively contact water as the belt moves in at least the clockwise direction or counter-clockwise direction.   
     
     
         6 . The thruster system of  claim 5 , wherein a portion of the thruster system is at least partially below a water-line of the water. 
     
     
         7 . The thruster system of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of paddles are configured to generate a force as the plurality of paddles actively contact the water, and wherein the boat is configured to move in a opposite direction of the generated force.