Inflatable watercraft with battery powered motorized cassette
An inflatable watercraft comprises a motorized cassette and at least one inflatable chamber. The at least one inflatable chamber is foldable relative to the motorized cassette at least when the inflatable watercraft is in a deflated configuration. The motorized cassette includes a motor, an impeller, at least one battery, and a pump configured to inflate the at least one inflatable chamber. The pump can include a reversible pump configured to deflate the at least one inflatable chamber.
1. An inflatable watercraft having at least an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the watercraft comprising:
a motorized cassette comprising a watercraft drive system contained in a housing, the watercraft drive system comprising:
at least one battery,
a pump,
a motor operatively coupled to the battery, and
an impeller operatively coupled to the motor, wherein no components of the watercraft drive system protrude from the housing; and
at least one inflatable chamber fluidly coupled to the pump.
2. The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the watercraft comprises a plurality of inflatable chambers.
3. The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the motorized cassette at least partially forms a base portion of the watercraft.
4. The watercraft of claim 3 , wherein the motorized cassette at least partially forms a keel of the watercraft.
5. The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a reversible pump.
6. The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the pump is operatively coupled to the motor.
7. The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a pump motor.
8. The watercraft of claim 7 , wherein the pump motor is operatively coupled to the at least one battery.
9. The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a pump housing, the impeller positioned within the pump housing.
10. The watercraft of claim 9 , wherein the at least one inflatable chamber is fluidly coupled to the pump and the impeller through an exhaust port of the pump housing.
11. The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflatable chamber is configured to fold onto or around the motorized cassette to form a portable unit comprising the watercraft and the motorized cassette at least when the watercraft is in the deflated configuration.
12. The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the motorized cassette comprises a controller configured to regulate a power distribution from the at least one battery.
13. A deflatable watercraft having at least an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the watercraft comprising:
a motorized cassette comprising a watercraft drive system comprising an impeller, a motor, and a battery enclosed within a housing, wherein no components of the watercraft drive system protrude from the housing; and
a deflatable watercraft body attached to the motorized cassette and configured to fold onto or around the motorized cassette to form a portable unit comprising the watercraft and the motorized cassette.
14. The watercraft of claim 13 , wherein the motorized cassette comprises a pump, and wherein the watercraft body comprises at least one inflatable chamber fluidly coupled to the pump.
15. The watercraft of claim 14 , wherein the motorized drive system forms the pump.
16. The watercraft of claim 13 , further comprising a container configured to contain the motorized cassette and watercraft body when the watercraft body is folded onto the motorized cassette.
17. The watercraft of claim 16 , wherein the container comprises a handle.
18. The watercraft of claim 13 , wherein the housing forms at least part of a base portion of the watercraft body.
19. The watercraft of claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises water inlet openings and water exhaust openings.
20. A method of operating an inflatable watercraft, comprising:
inflating at least one inflatable chamber of a watercraft body with a pump, wherein the pump is contained within a motorized cassette attached to the watercraft body;
propelling the watercraft with a watercraft drive system within the motorized cassette; and
deflating the at least one inflatable chamber with the pump.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising folding the watercraft body onto the motorized cassette.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein propelling comprises propelling the watercraft with an impeller positioned within the motorized cassette.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein inflating comprises operating the pump with a first motor, and propelling comprises propelling the watercraft with an impeller operatively connected to a second motor.
24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the inflating, propelling, and deflating are performed with at least some of the same components provided in the motorized cassette.
25. A motorized cassette for a watercraft, comprising:
a housing comprising a base attached to a cover along a perimeter to form an inner volume, wherein a vibratory weld seals the base to the cover along the perimeter;
a watercraft drive system, comprising:
at least one battery,
a motor operatively coupled to the battery, and
an impeller operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the battery and the motor are sealed within the inner volume; and
at least one leak detector enclosed within the inner volume.