IP Library Granted Patent US 11,097,822
Granted Patent B2
US 11,097,822 · App. 16/485,394 · Granted Aug 24, 2021

Underwater propulsive device of watercraft

Inventors: Hideaki Aoki (Osaka, JP); Takeshi Ouchida (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
B63H11/08B63B34/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,097,822
App. No.
16/485,394
Granted
Aug 24, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An underwater propulsive device of a watercraft including a flotation unit on which a user rides. The propulsion device includes: a hollow body coupled to the flotation unit through a strut and extending in a propulsive direction of the watercraft, the inside of the hollow body being divided into a first compartment and a second compartment; a motor in the first compartment; a propeller in the second compartment; and a power transfer shaft extending in the propulsive direction and connecting the motor and the propeller to each other. The first compartment has a waterproof structure. The second compartment has a water inlet disposed closer to the bow than the propeller is and extending along a circumference of the power transfer shaft and a water jet outlet disposed at a stern-side end of the second compartment. The propeller is smaller than the first compartment in diameter.

Claims (36)

1. An underwater propulsive device configured to be driven underwater, the underwater propulsive device comprising:

a hollow body provided with a first compartment in which a motor is housed and provided with a second compartment including a water passage; and

a cooling water passage configured to cool the motor, at least a portion of the cooling water passage housed within the first compartment, the cooling water passage including a discharge port in fluid communication with the water passage of the second compartment.

2. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a motor driving circuit housed in the first compartment; and

wherein the cooling water passage is configured to cool the motor driving circuit.

3. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the second compartment is configured to house a propeller;

the cooling water passage of the second compartment has a water inlet and a water jet outlet; and

the discharge port of the cooling water passage is configured to communicate with the water inlet.

4. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 3 , wherein the water inlet is covered with a filter configured to prevent foreign matter from entering into the second compartment.

5. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 1 , wherein the first compartment has a waterproof structure.

6. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 1 , further comprising a motor driving circuit housed in the first compartment and interposed between the motor and a bow side of the hollow body.

7. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the second compartment is interposed between the first compartment and a stern side of the hollow body;

the second compartment includes a water inlet and a propeller; and

the cooling water passage includes a suction port in fluid communication with the discharge port.

8. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 2 , wherein the motor driving circuit corresponds to an inverter.

9. An underwater propulsive device of a watercraft including a flotation unit on which a user rides, the underwater propulsive device comprising:

a hollow body coupled to the flotation unit via a strut; and

a hydrofoil coupled to the hollow body, and

wherein the hydrofoil is configured to move based on a distance between the flotation unit and a water surface.

10. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 9 , wherein the hydrofoil is configured to maintain a predetermined distance between the flotation unit and the water surface.

11. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 9 , wherein the hydrofoil is configured to move upward and downward.

12. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 9 , wherein the hydrofoil is coupled to a bow side of the hollow body.

13. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 9 , wherein the hydrofoil is configured to reduce tilts of the watercraft in a bow direction and a stern direction during traveling of the watercraft.

14. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 9 , wherein the hydrofoil is detachably attached to the hollow body.

15. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 9 , wherein bow hydrofoil is attached to a bow side of the hollow body.

16. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 15 , wherein the hydrofoil is detachably attached to the hollow body.

17. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 15 , wherein the bow hydrofoil is configured to generate upward force by traveling of the watercraft.

18. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 17 , wherein the hydrofoil is detachably attached to the hollow body.

19. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 9 , wherein:

the underwater propulsive device is provided with a water surface sensor configured to measure a distance between the flotation unit and the water surface;

the water surface sensor includes a bar and a contact plate; and

a front end of the bar is attached to the strut so to be rotatable upward and downward, and the contact plate is attached to a rear end of the bar.

20. The underwater propulsive device according to claim 9 , further comprising a cooling water passage configured to cool a motor housed within a first compartment of the hollow body, at least a portion of the cooling water passage housed within the first compartment.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 28, 2020
From: YANMAR CO., LTD.
To: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053070/0591 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2019
From: AOKI, HIDEAKI; OUCHIDA, TAKESHI
To: YANMAR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 050031/0178 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2017-024096 · Feb 13, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190389551A1 · Dec 26, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,649,543 US 12,728,962