Connection and features for interchangeable nosecone for a trolling motor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10864976-B2
Application number	US-201916268951-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2019
Priority date	Mar 28, 2017
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

Various implementations described herein are directed to a trolling motor including an electric motor having a propeller coupled thereto, a shaft configured for coupling the electric motor to a watercraft. The shaft is configured to rotate relative to the watercraft and the shaft defines an internal passage. The trolling motor also includes a housing that encapsulates the motor, a removable nosecone operably coupled to the housing opposite the propeller and configured to encapsulate at least one marine device. One or more mechanical connection features are provided to enable removable connection of the nosecone to the remainder of the trolling motor housing. One or more electrical connection features are provided to enable electrical connection of the at least one marine device through the trolling motor housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A trolling motor assembly comprising:
an electric motor with a propeller coupled thereto;
a shaft configured to couple the electric motor to a watercraft, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate relative to the watercraft, wherein the shaft defines an internal passage;
a motor housing that encapsulates the electric motor, wherein the housing defines a first end and a second end, wherein the propeller is positioned proximate the second end, wherein the motor housing comprises at least one motor housing electrical connection feature proximate the first end and at least one motor housing mechanical connection feature proximate the first end;
a removable nosecone removably coupled to the motor housing, wherein the removable nosecone defines a nosecone housing that comprises at least one nosecone electrical connection feature and at least one nosecone mechanical connection feature, wherein the nosecone housing is configured to encapsulate at least one marine device and includes at least one nosecone electrical cable, wherein the at least one nosecone electrical cable electrically connects the at least one marine device to the at least one nosecone electrical connection feature, wherein the at least one nosecone mechanical connection feature is configured to removably attach to the at least one motor housing mechanical connection feature to enable removable coupling between the nosecone housing and the first end of the motor housing, wherein the at least one nosecone electrical connection feature is configured to electrically connect with the at least one motor housing electrical connection feature in an instance in which the at least one nosecone mechanical connection feature is attached to the at least one motor housing mechanical connection feature; and
at least one motor housing electrical cable that leads from the at least one electrical connection feature of the motor housing through the internal passage of the shaft to enable electrical signals to be transmitted between the at least one marine device within the nosecone housing and a computing device in an instance in which the at least one nosecone electrical connection feature is electrically connected to the at least one motor housing electrical connection feature, wherein the at least one motor housing electrical cable is contained within the internal passage of the shaft so as to protect the at least one motor housing electrical cable while still enabling rotation of the shaft and motor housing,
wherein the motor housing mechanical connection feature comprises a bolt receiver, and the nosecone mechanical connection feature comprises a retention bolt including a bolt head or retention nut, wherein the retention bolt is configured to engage the bolt receiver and apply retention force to the removable nosecone in response to tightening of the retention bolt, and
wherein the removable nosecone comprises a through aperture configured to receive the retention bolt therethrough, and wherein the trolling motor further comprises a bolt cap configured to close the through aperture in the removable nosecone, wherein the through aperture extends along a centrally-located longitudinal axis of the removable nosecone.

2. The trolling motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the removable nosecone is interference fit about a periphery of the first end of the motor housing.

3. The trolling motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the motor housing comprises a watertight bulkhead, and wherein the removable nosecone is removably coupled to the watertight bulkhead.

4. The trolling motor assembly of claim 3 , wherein the watertight bulkhead comprises an electrical cable aperture allowing the electrical cable to pass therethrough, wherein the aperture includes a sealing element disposed in the electrical cable aperture to provide a watertight barrier between the motor housing and the removable nosecone.

5. The trolling motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one marine device is encapsulated in a waterproof material.

6. The trolling motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the motor housing mechanical connection feature further comprises threads disposed about an outer periphery of the first end of the motor housing and the nosecone mechanical connection feature comprises complementary threads disposed on an inner periphery of the nosecone.

7. The trolling motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nosecone mechanical connection feature further comprises a plurality of retention screws disposed through a sidewall of the removable nosecone and at least partially through the motor housing.

8. The trolling motor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising;
a circular connector configured to retain the removable nosecone in engagement with the motor housing.

9. The trolling motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when connected to the removable nosecone, the bolt cap conforms to the contour of the removable nosecone.

10. A trolling motor assembly comprising:
an electric motor with a propeller coupled thereto;
a shaft configured to couple the electric motor to a watercraft, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate relative to the watercraft, wherein the shaft defines an internal passage;
a motor housing that encapsulates the electric motor, wherein the housing defines a first end and a second end, wherein the propeller is positioned proximate the second end, wherein the motor housing comprises at least one motor housing electrical connection feature and at least one motor housing mechanical connection feature proximate the first end; and
a removable nosecone removably coupled to the motor housing, wherein the removable nosecone defines a nosecone housing that comprises at least one nosecone electrical connection feature and at least one nosecone mechanical connection feature, wherein the nosecone housing is configured to encapsulate at least one marine device, wherein the at least one nosecone mechanical connection feature is configured to removably attach to the at least one motor housing mechanical connection feature to enable removable coupling between the nosecone housing and the first end of the motor housing, wherein the at least one nosecone electrical connection feature is configured to establish wireless data communication with the at least one motor housing electrical connection feature or a computing device,
wherein the motor housing mechanical connection feature comprises a bolt receiver, and the nosecone mechanical connection feature comprises a retention bolt including a bolt head or retention nut, wherein the retention bolt is configured to engage the bolt receiver and apply retention force to the removable nosecone in response to tightening of the retention bolt, and
wherein the removable nosecone comprises a through aperture configured to receive the retention bolt therethrough, and wherein the trolling motor further comprises a bolt cap configured to close the through aperture in the removable nosecone via a threaded connection, wherein, when connected to the removable nosecone, the bolt cap conforms to the contour of the removable nosecone.

11. The trolling motor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one nosecone electrical connection feature is configured to establish wireless data communication with the at least one motor housing electrical connection feature in an instance in which the at least one nosecone mechanical connection feature is attached to the at least one motor housing mechanical connection feature, and wherein the trolling motor assembly comprises at least one motor housing electrical cable that leads from the at least one electrical connection feature of the motor housing through the internal passage of the sha

Assignees

• Navico Holding As

Inventors

• Burton Aaron J
• Laster Matthew
• Clark Jeremiah
• Crawford Christopher Dean
• Bailey Paul Robert

Classifications

• B63H20/32 Primary

  Housings {(air intakes for outboard engines F02M35/167)} · CPC title

• B63B49/00

  Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids (nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) · CPC title

• G01S15/96

  for locating fish · CPC title

• B63H20/12

  Means enabling steering · CPC title

• G10K11/006

  Transducer mounting in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys · CPC title