IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,344,363
Granted Patent B2
US 12,344,363 · App. 17/939,498 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Hybrid ship propulsion machine

Inventor: Masatoshi Kimpara (Hamamatsu, JP)
Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
B63H21/20B63H11/08B63H20/32B63H2021/205
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,344,363
App. No.
17/939,498
Granted
Jul 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hybrid ship propulsion machine includes an internal-combustion-drive propulsion part and an electric propulsion part. The electric propulsion part is attached to a first housing part of the internal-combustion-drive propulsion part, and is disposed at a position higher than an anti-cavitation plate of the internal-combustion-drive propulsion part such that a suction port of the electric propulsion part sinks below a water surface during low-speed movement, which is not a planing state of a ship, and the suction port comes out of the water surface during planing of the ship.

Claims (32)

1. A hybrid ship propulsion machine comprising:

an internal-combustion-drive propulsion part configured to generate a propulsive force of a ship by an internal combustion engine; and

an electric propulsion part configured to generate a propulsive force of the ship by an electric motor, wherein

the internal-combustion-drive propulsion part includes

the internal combustion engine;

a propeller shaft configured to be rotated by power output from the internal combustion engine;

a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit the power output from the internal combustion engine to the propeller shaft;

a first housing part housing the power transmission mechanism and the propeller shaft;

a propeller attached to the propeller shaft; and

an anti-cavitation plate provided in the first housing part and is disposed above the propeller,

the electric propulsion part includes

a duct in which a suction port through which water is sucked is provided on one end side and a discharge port through which water sucked from the suction port is discharged is provided on the other end side;

the electric motor;

a second housing part attached to the duct and houses the electric motor;

an impeller provided in the duct and is configured to generate a jet; and

an impeller shaft configured to transmit power output from the electric motor to the impeller to rotate the impeller, and

the electric propulsion part is attached to the first housing part, and is disposed at a position higher than the anti-cavitation plate such that the suction port sinks below a water surface during low-speed movement, which is not a planing state of the ship, and the suction port comes out of the water surface during planing of the ship.

2. The hybrid ship propulsion machine according to claim 1 , wherein

the suction port is disposed above the anti-cavitation plate.

3. The hybrid ship propulsion machine according to claim 1 , wherein

a plate member is provided above the discharge port, and

the plate member is configured to guide water into the discharge port when the impeller is reversely rotated to generate a jet in a reverse direction.

4. The hybrid ship propulsion machine according to claim 1 , wherein

the discharge port includes a plurality of discharge ports

the plurality of discharge ports are provided on the other end side of the duct so as to be arranged in an upper-lower direction.

5. The hybrid ship propulsion machine according to claim 1 , wherein

the electric propulsion part includes an attachment part attaching the electric propulsion part to the first housing part, and

the electric propulsion part is detachably attached to the first housing part via the attachment part.

6. The hybrid ship propulsion machine according to claim 5 , wherein

the first housing part or the attachment part has an attachment position changing structure configured to be capable of changing an attachment position of the electric propulsion part with respect to the internal-combustion-drive propulsion part in the upper-lower direction.

7. The hybrid ship propulsion machine according to any one of claim 1 , wherein

an inverter configured to control driving of the electric motor is provided in the second housing part.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2022
From: KIMPARA, MASATOSHI
To: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061015/0926 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-152542 · Sep 17, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230087983A1 · Mar 23, 2023
References Cited (6)
US 3139853A · McCarthy · 1964 [cited by examiner]
US 20230086934A1 · Kimpara · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230090635A1 · Kimpara · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230112935A1 · Rollinger · 2023 [cited by examiner]
JP 20078329A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2014150752A2 · 2014 [cited by examiner]