Electric propulsion device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10202181-B2
Application number	US-201514746167-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2015
Priority date	Sep 26, 2014
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

An electric propulsion device includes a duct having a cylindrical shape and that includes a stator. A rim includes a rotor rotatable relative to the duct, and a plurality of fins. A bracket supports the duct so as to allow the duct to turn about a turning axis that intersects with the rotation axis of the rim, and a turning actuator that integrally turns the duct and the rim. The turning actuator is fixed to the bracket, and the duct is turnable relative to the bracket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric propulsion device comprising:
a duct having a cylindrical shape and that includes a stator;
a rim including
a rotor rotatable relative to the duct, and
a plurality of fins;

a bracket that supports the duct so as to allow the duct to turn about a turning axis that intersects with a rotation axis of the rim; and
a turning actuator that simultaneously turns the duct and the rim, the turning actuator being fixed to the bracket and being in an actuator housing that, in a plan view, occupies a same space as a space occupied by the duct, and
wherein the duct is turnable relative to the bracket, and
the actuator housing is arranged adjacent to the duct outside a boat body.

2. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a driven gear mounted on the duct; and
a drive gear that drives the driven gear, wherein
the turning actuator drives the drive gear so as to simultaneously turn the duct and the rim.

3. The electric propulsion device according to claim 2 , wherein the driven gear is arranged above the duct in a vicinity of the duct.

4. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein the turning axis of the duct and a rotation axis of the turning actuator are arranged substantially coaxially with each other.

5. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein the turning actuator is arranged immediately above the duct.

6. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket supports the duct at two or more different positions of the duct that are on at least two opposite sides from each other.

7. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation axis of the rim is orthogonal to the turning axis of the duct.

8. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , further wherein the duct includes a turning shaft that rotates about the turning axis and is arranged at a substantially central position of the duct in a front-back direction of the electric propulsion device.

9. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein the turning actuator is arranged at a substantially central position of the duct in a right-left direction of the electric propulsion device.

10. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein the turning actuator includes an electric motor.

11. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein the duct includes a coil, and
the electric propulsion device further comprises a wire to carry electrical current to the coil.

12. The electric propulsion device according to claim 11 , wherein
the duct includes a connector to carry electrical current, and
the wire is arranged between the connector and the coil so as to electrically connect the connector and the coil.

13. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein
the duct is asymmetric about a plane that is both
perpendicular to an extensional direction of the rotation axis of the rim, and
passes through a center position of the duct.

14. The electric propulsion device according to claim 13 , wherein the duct turns within an angular range of 180 degrees or more about the turning axis in the plan view.

15. The electric propulsion device according to claim 13 , wherein the duct turns within an angular range of 360 degrees or more about the turning axis in the plan view.

16. The electric propulsion device according to claim 15 , wherein
the duct includes a coil, and
the bracket includes a connector to carry electrical current,
the electric propulsion device further comprises:
a first wire arranged between the connector and the coil to carry the electrical current to the coil; and
a second wire connected to the connector and arranged above the connector, the second wire providing the electrical current to the connector, wherein
the angular range that the duct turns within is 720 degrees or less about the turning axis in the plan view.

17. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein the duct and the rim are stored in a boat body in a state where the duct and the rim are mounted on the bracket.

18. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein the duct and the rim are mounted on an outboard motor through the bracket.

19. The electric propulsion device according to claim 18 , wherein the duct and the rim are arranged above a cavitation plate of the outboard motor.

20. The electric propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein the duct and the rim are mounted in a through hole of an integrally formed spacer case of an outboard motor.

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Suzuki Takayoshi
• Hiraoka Noriyoshi
• Onoue Akihiro
• Kumita Atsushi
• Tasaka Yoshiaki

Classifications

• B63H23/24 Primary

  electric {(dynamo-electric machines H02K)} · CPC title

• B63H21/17 Primary

  by electric motor · CPC title

• B63H5/14

  characterised by being mounted in non-rotating ducts or rings, e.g. adjustable for steering purpose (shrouding ring attached to blades B63H1/16; jet propulsion B63H11/00) · CPC title

• B63H20/00

  Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels · CPC title

• B63H2023/005

  using a drive acting on the periphery of a rotating propulsive element, e.g. on a dented circumferential ring on a propeller, or a propeller acting as rotor of an electric motor · CPC title