Outboard motor with speed regulator for DC permanent magnet motor

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an outboard motor comprising a shaft extending vertically under normal operating conditions and including a hollow interior, a lower housing fixedly connected to the shaft and including a hollow interior, an electric motor mounted in the housing hollow interior and including an output shaft, a propeller driven by the output shaft, a transistor electrically connected to the motor and located in spaced relation axially of the output shaft from the adjacent end of the electric motor, and a thermally conductive agent fixedly bonding the transistor to the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An outboard motor comprising a shaft extending vertically under normal operating conditions and adapted to be connected to a boat hull, said shaft including a hollow interior, a lower housing fixedly connected to said shaft and including a hollow interior communicating with said hollow interior of said shaft, an electric motor mounted in said housing hollow interior and including an output shaft including a first .[.and.]. .Iadd.end .Iaddend.extending exteriorly of said lower housing and a second end terminating within said hollow interior of said lower housing, a propeller mounted on said first end of said output shaft, a transistor electrically connected to said motor and located in said housing hollow interior in axially spaced relation from said output shaft, and a thermally conductive means fixedly bonding said transistor to said housing. 
     
     
       2. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said thermally conductive means comprises an epoxy cement and wherein said transistor is embedded in said cement with said transistor and said cement being in axially spaced relation from said second end of said output shaft so as thereby to provide an air space between said epoxy cement and said electric motor. 
     
     
       3. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hollow interior includes first and second chambers separated by a partition, wherein said electric motor is mounted in said first housing chamber, and said transistor is located in said second housing chamber. 
     
     
       4. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 3 wherein said lower housing includes an adapter housing member including said second chamber and a motor housing member connected to said adaptor housing member and including said first chamber. 
     
     
       5. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second chamber in said .[.adapter.]. housing is closed by said partition. 
     
     
       6. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 3 wherein said thermally conductive means comprises an epoxy cement and wherein said transistor is embedded in said cement with said transistor and said cement being in spaced relation from said partition so as thereby to provide an air space therebetween. 
     
     
       7. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said motor is a permanent magnet motor including an armature winding adapted to be electrically connected between the positive and negative terminals of a source of direct current, wherein said transistor includes a collector and an emitter electrically connected in series with said armature winding between the positive and negative terminals, said transistor also including a base, and further including a second transistor connected in parallel with said first mentioned transistor and having a collector and an emitter electrically connected in series with said armature winding between the positive and negative terminals, said second transistor including a base, and further including a potentiometer electrically connected to the negative terminal and directly electrically connected to said bases of said first and second transistors. 
     
     
       8. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 7 wherein said transistors are germanium transistors. 
     
     
       9. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 7 wherein said emitter-base current path is through said armature winding. 
     
     
       10. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 7 and further including a master switch and a control switch electrically connected in series between said positive terminal and said winding and an indicator electrically connected between said master and control swtiches and additionally electrically connected to said negative terminal. 
     
     
       11. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 7 and further including a master switch electrically connected to said positive terminal, a control switch electrically connected between said master switch and said winding, and an indicator electrically connected between said control switch and said winding and additionally electrically connected to said negative terminal. 
     
     
       12. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 7 and further including a resistor connected between said winding and said potentiometer. 
     
     
       13. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said motor is a permanent magnet motor including an armature winding adapted to be electrically connected to the positive terminal of a source of direct current, wherein said first mentioned transistor is a germanium transistor and further including a second germanium transistor arranged in parallel with said first mentioned transistor, said first and second transistors each having an emitter electrically connected to said armature winding, a collector adapted to be electrically connected to the negative terminal of the source of direct current, and a base, and further including a potentiometer directly electrically connected between said bases and the negative terminal, whereby said first and second transistors afford continuous current flow which is substantially uniform during steady load conditions and at any given potentiometer setting. 
     
     
       14. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 13 and further including a master switch and a control switch electrically connected in series between said positive terminal and said winding and an indicator electrically connected between said master and control switches and additionally electrically connected to said negative terminal. 
     
     
       15. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 13 and further including a master switch electrically connected to said positive terminal, a control switch electrically connected between said master switch and said winding, and an indicator electrically connected between said control switch and said winding and additionally electrically connected to said negative terminal. 
     
     
       16. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 13 and further including a resistor connected between said winding and said potentiometer. 
     
     
       17. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said motor is a direct current motor including an armature winding adapted to be electrically connected between the positive and negative terminals of a source of direct current and wherein said transistor includes a collector and an emitter electrically connected in series with said armature winding between the positive and negative terminals, and wherein said transistor also includes a base, and further including a resistor connected between said emitter and said base, and a potentiometer electrically connected between said base and the negative terminal. 
     
     
       18. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 17 wherein said potentiometer is directly connected to said base and said transistor affords continuous current flow which is substantially uniform during steady load conditions and at any given potentiometer setting. 
     
     
       19. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 17 wherein said transistor is a germanium transistor. 
     
     
       20. An outboard motor comprising a shaft extending vertically under normal operating conditions and adapted to be connected to a boat hull, said shaft including a hollow interior, a lower housing fixedly connected to said shaft and including an adapter member and a housing member connected to said adapter member and defining an interior cavity including a partition dividing said cavity into a first chamber located in said adapter member and communicating with said hollow interior of said shaft, and a second chamber located in said housing member, an electric motor mounted in said second chamber and including an output shaft including a first end extending exteriorly of said housing member and a second end terminating in said second chamber to one side of said partition, a propeller mounted on said first end of said output shaft, a motor control circuit including a transistor electrically connected to said motor and located in said first chamber on the other side of said partition, and a thermally conductive means fixedly bonding said transistor to said housing. 
     
     
       21. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 20 wherein said thermally conductive means comprises an epoxy cement and wherein said transistor is embedded in said cement with said transistor and said cement being in spaced relation from said partition so as thereby a provide an air space between said epoxy cement and said partition. 
     
     
       22. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 20 wherein said first chamber in said adapter housing is closed by said partition. .Iadd. 23. An outboard motor comprising a shaft extending vertically under normal operating conditions and adapted to be connected to a boat hull, said shaft including a hollow interior, a lower housing fixedly connected to said shaft and including a hollow interior communicating with said hollow interior of said shaft, an electric motor mounted in said housing hollow interior and including an output shaft including a first end extending exteriorly of said lower housing and a second end terminating within said hollow interior of said lower housing, a propeller mounted on said first end of said output shaft, a control circuit for said motor including a heat generating electrical component electrically connected to said motor and located in said housing hollow interior in axially spaced relation from said output shaft, and a thermally conductive means fixedly bonding said heat generating electrical component to said housing..Iaddend. .Iadd. 24. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 23 wherein said thermally conductive means comprises an epoxy cement and wherein said heat generating electrical component is embedded in said cement with said heat generating electrical component and said cement being in spaced relation from said second end of said output shaft so as thereby to provide an air space between said epoxy cement and said electric motor..Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.     An outboard motor in accordance with claim 23 wherein said hollow interior includes first and second chambers separated by a partition, wherein said electric motor is mounted in said first housing chamber, and wherein said heat generating electrical component is located in said second housing chamber. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 25 wherein said lower housing includes an adaptor housing member including said second chamber and a motor housing member connected to said adaptor housing member and including said first chamber. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.27.  An outboard motor in accordance with claim 26 wherein said first chamber in said housing is closed by said partition. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 25 wherein said second chamber in said housing is closed by said partition. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.29.  An outboard motor comprising a shaft extending vertically under normal operating conditions and adapted to be connected to a boat hull, said shaft including a hollow interior, a lower housing fixedly connected to said shaft and including an adapter member and a housing member connected to said adapter member and defining an interior cavity including a partition dividing said cavity into a first chamber located in said adapter member and communicating with said hollow interior of said shaft, and a second chamber located in said housing member, an electric motor mounted in said second chamber and including an output shaft including a first end extending exteriorly of said housing member and a second end terminating in said second chamber to one side of said partition, a propeller mounted on said first end of said output shaft, a motor control circuit including a heat generating electrical component electrically connected to said motor and located in said first chamber on the other side of said partition, and a thermally conductive means fixedly bonding said heat generating electrical component to said housing. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.0.  An outboard motor in accordance with claim 29 wherein said thermally conductive means comprises an epoxy cement and wherein said heat generating electrical component is embedded in said cement with said heat generating electrical component and said cement being in spaced relation from said partition so as thereby to provide an air space between said epoxy cement and said partition. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. An outboard motor in accordance with claim 29 wherein said first chamber in said housing is closed by said partition..Iaddend.