Outer drive protection arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12110083-B2
Application number	US-201817290868-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2018
Priority date	Nov 8, 2018
Publication date	Oct 8, 2024
Grant date	Oct 8, 2024

Abstract

An outer drive protection arrangement is attachable to a marine vessel while not immersed in water. The arrangement comprises a rim portion arranged in contact with at least a transom surface and surrounding at least one outer drive and a protective cover attached to the rim portion and enclosing a volume encompassing the at least one outer drive, in order to provide a protective gaseous environment inside the cover. The environment contained within the cover is circulated and maintained at a predetermined atmospheric condition by means of a source of conditioned gas.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A marine vessel, comprising an outer drive protection including a rim portion arranged in contact with at least a transom surface and surrounding at least one outer drive and a protective cover attached to the rim portion and enclosing a volume encompassing the at least one outer drive, in order to isolate the at least one outer drive from ambient air surrounding the outer drives; wherein the arrangement provides a protective gaseous environment inside the cover; wherein the gaseous environment contained within the cover is circulated and maintained at a predetermined atmospheric condition by means of a source of conditioned gas, and wherein the source of conditioned gas is an atmospheric conditioning device comprising at least a dehumidifier arranged adjacent or inside the cover to condition the gas inside the cover.

2. The marine vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the source of conditioned gas is arranged to supply gas at a predetermined humidity to the volume enclosed by the cover in order to condition the gas inside the cover.

3. The marine vessel according to claim 1 , characterized in that the source of conditioned gas is arranged to supply gas at a predetermined temperature to the volume enclosed by the cover in order to condition the gas inside the cover.

4. The marine vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the source of conditioned gas is connected to the volume enclosed by the cover via a supply hose.

5. The marine vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the source of conditioned gas is an atmospheric conditioning device comprising a heater arranged inside the cover to condition the gas inside the cover.

6. The marine vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises at least one opening and/or a gas release valve connected to the ambient atmosphere in order to provide a throughflow of conditioned gas.

7. The marine vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the source of conditioned gas is connected to the volume enclosed by the cover via a return hose.

8. The marine vessel according to claim 7 , wherein the conditioned gas is an inert gas.

9. The marine vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a heat insulating layer.

10. The marine vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the arrangement comprises a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the cover.

11. A marine vessel, comprising an outer drive protection including a rim portion arranged in contact with at least a transom surface and surrounding at least one outer drive and a protective cover attached to the rim portion and enclosing a volume encompassing the at least one outer drive, in order to isolate the at least one outer drive from ambient air surrounding the outer drives; wherein the arrangement provides a protective gaseous environment inside the cover; wherein the gaseous environment contained within the cover is circulated and maintained at a predetermined atmospheric condition by means of a source of conditioned gas, the cover comprises at least one opening and/or a gas release valve connected to the ambient atmosphere in order to provide a throughflow of the conditioned gas, wherein the conditioned gas is air.

12. A marine vessel, comprising an outer drive protection including a rim portion arranged in contact with at least a transom surface and surrounding at least one outer drive and a protective cover attached to the rim portion and enclosing a volume encompassing the at least one outer drive, in order to isolate the at least one outer drive from ambient air surrounding the outer drives; a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the gas inside the cover; wherein the arrangement provides a protective gaseous environment inside the cover; wherein the gaseous environment contained within the cover is circulated and maintained at a predetermined atmospheric condition by means of a source of conditioned gas.

13. A marine vessel, comprising an outer drive protection including a rim portion arranged in contact with at least a transom surface and surrounding at least one outer drive and a protective cover attached to the rim portion and enclosing a volume encompassing the at least one outer drive, in order to isolate the at least one outer drive from ambient air surrounding the outer drives; a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure inside the cover; wherein the arrangement provides a protective gaseous environment inside the cover; wherein the gaseous environment contained within the cover is circulated and maintained at a predetermined atmospheric condition by means of a source of conditioned gas.

Assignees

• Volvo Penta Corp

Inventors

• Sjöblom Lars

Classifications

• B63H21/36

  Covers or casing arranged to protect plant or unit from marine environment · CPC title

• B63J2/02

  Ventilation; Air-conditioning · CPC title

• B63H20/36 Primary

  Transporting or testing stands {(hand carts for transporting outboard units B62B; measuring torque G01L3/00, measuring thrust of propellers G01L5/133, testing in general G01M); Use of outboard propulsion units as pumps}; Protection of power legs {, e.g. when not in use} · CPC title

• B63B59/045 Primary

  by wrapping the submerged hull or part of the hull with an impermeable sheet (stopping temporarily leaks in hulls with impermeable sheets B63B43/16) · CPC title