DE102021202191A1 - Wakeboard or surfboard - Google Patents

Abstract

Wakeboard or surfboard with an electric drive together with a control device and an internal energy supply in the form of a rechargeable energy storage element (battery), with the drive and the battery being integrated into the board and with at least the battery being removable from the board, is characterized in that At least one emergency battery is permanently assigned to the board to provide an energy reserve, which can be switched on manually or automatically to supply power to the drive.

Description

The invention relates to a wakeboard or surfboard with an electric drive together with a control device and an internal energy supply in the form of a rechargeable energy storage element (battery), the drive and the battery being integrated into the board and at least the battery being removable from the board.

A wakeboard is a piece of water sports equipment in the form of a board, with which the water sports enthusiast can glide on the water. Usually the wakeboard is pulled by a boat or a lift. A surfboard is also water sports equipment in the form of a board, either for surfing or in connection with a sail for windsurfing.

Wakeboards and surfboards with an integrated drive are already known from practice. With regard to surfboards with combustion engines, see for example U.S. 3,262,413 A referred.

Electrically powered wakeboards or surfboards did not initially catch on due to their low battery capacities. Due to improved battery technology, there are more and more wakeboards and surfboards with an electric drive. This is an example WO 2019/122087 A1 referred. Specifically, there is a jet drive in the rear area, the electric motor of which is supplied with electrical energy via a rechargeable battery that can be replaced from the top of the board. Propeller drives are also known from practice. If the battery is empty, it can be exchanged for a charged battery, so that almost continuous operation is possible.

The well-known wakeboard or surfboard is problematic in practice, since it cannot be ruled out, especially when covering long distances, that the operating battery will be discharged completely or to a predeterminable lower voltage limit. The driver has no possibility of switching on or using an energy reserve. If the rider is on the water at the time of full discharge or voltage floor crossing, a serious emergency situation may arise. The driver then only has the option of calling for help via mobile phone, if this is available.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of designing and developing a wakeboard or surfboard in such a way that the emergency situation mentioned above cannot occur, but is at least manageable.

The above object is achieved by the features of claim 1. According to this, the generic wakeboard or surfboard is characterized in that at least one emergency battery is permanently assigned to the board to provide an energy reserve, which can be switched on manually or automatically to supply power to the drive.

According to the invention, it has been recognized that the wakeboards or surfboards known from practice entail a safety risk for the driver, namely with regard to the battery being inadvertently run empty, at least up to a lower voltage limit of the actual operating battery. The risk of "getting stuck" on the water can be eliminated by providing at least one emergency battery to provide an energy reserve. This emergency battery is permanently assigned to the board. It is possible to switch on or switch over the energy reserve manually or automatically to power the drive. The emergency battery is to be designed in such a way that the energy reserve is sufficient for the return journey for distances and areas that are usually driven, in particular to the shore, beach, country, etc., so that there is no danger to the driver. This is all the more true as most wakeboards or surfboards of the type in question, together with the rider, are only able to float to a limited extent, namely due to the rather heavy aggregates of the drive and battery.

In any case, the provision of an emergency battery creates security and should enable the driver to return safely to the starting point with the board. The energy reserve can be switched on manually or automatically to supply power to the drive or, as such, the main battery can be replaced, depending on the equipment and provision of a battery management system.

Advantageously, a manual connection is based on an acoustic and/or visual warning or a warning signal in relation to the falling below a defined or definable lower voltage limit of the battery. This lower limit is advantageously set in such a way that deep discharge of the usual operating battery is excluded and the battery is thus protected.

An automatic switchover to the emergency battery can be based on the determination of a defined or definable lower voltage limit of the battery. This also avoids deep discharge of the actual battery. At the same time, the driver should be given a signal that he is driving to energy reserve after the switchover has taken place, so that he can start the return journey immediately.

Unintentional switching to the emergency battery should be avoided. To this end, it is advantageous if a switchover safety device is provided, which prevents unintentional switchover to emergency operation. This can be a mechanical and/or electrical or electronic fuse.

In contrast to the actual energy storage element, i.e. in contrast to the battery that manages normal operation, the emergency battery is permanently installed in the board. Thus, the emergency battery is encapsulated.

The board advantageously has a mini-computer, microcontroller and/or a battery management system such that the actual battery is disconnected shortly before, during or after switching to the emergency battery. This is preferably done via a relay or a relay circuit. This rules out interference between the actual battery and the emergency battery.

After using the emergency battery, it is possible to charge the main battery, preferably via the relay or the relay circuit to switch back to normal operation. This is preferably done by remote control or by remote control or software app.

It is also an advantage if the board and/or the battery has a communication module (LTE/GPRS) and possibly a GPS module. The mini-computer, battery management system and GPS module are thus able to send a message to a predefined or definable address, for example via the LTE unit, namely relating to the operating status of the board. This applies in particular to the switchover to the power supply using an emergency battery. An SMS with the GPS position is preferably transmitted, which again ensures safety for the driver.

The message can be sent to a contact address specified by the manufacturer of the board or to the manufacturer of the board, after which measures that may or may not be specified are initiated. It is conceivable that these measures are specified by the owner of the board or the driver or agreed with the manufacturer.

By using the emergency battery, it will be discharged according to the distance driven. The emergency battery can preferably be recharged using the battery management system, with this being possible when the operating battery is removed via its electrical connections in the board or inductively through the outer skin of the board. It is also conceivable that separate charging connections are provided for charging the emergency battery.

In any case, it is essential that charging by the user/driver is possible. It is also conceivable to visually indicate the one-time switchover to emergency operation, for example via a display assigned to the board. A warning could also be given to charge the backup battery.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that the emergency battery is charged, preferably using the battery management system, via the charged battery used. This would ensure automatic charging of the emergency battery, with the charge status also being shown on the display.

A DC/DC converter, which converts a battery voltage of 50 V to 5 V, for example, is provided for charging the emergency battery, but in particular also for supplying power to all electrical/electronic components of the board. This can also be used to operate a mini computer and the communication module along with GPS. The conversion ensures a constant power supply to the respective consumers, whereby their operating voltage should be designed uniformly.

• 1 in einer schematischen Ansicht erfindungsgemäßes Wakeboard ohne Akku,
• 2 in einer schematischen Draufsicht ein erfindungsgemäßen Wakeboard mit eingesetztem Akku,
• 3 in einer schematischen Ansicht von unten das erfindungsgemäße Wakeboard aus 2,
• 4 in einer schematischen Seitenansicht, das erfindungsgemäße Wakeboard aus den 2 und 3 mit eingesetztem Akku, und
• 5 in einer schematischen Seitenansicht, geschnitten, das erfindungsgemäße Wakeboard mit integriertem Not-Akku.

There are now various possibilities for embodying and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. For this purpose, on the one hand, reference is made to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and, on the other hand, to the following explanation of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing. In connection with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention using the drawing, generally preferred refinements and developments of the teaching are also explained. Show in the drawing

• 1 a schematic view of a wakeboard according to the invention without a battery,
• 2 in a schematic top view, a wakeboard according to the invention with an inserted battery,
• 3 the wakeboard according to the invention in a schematic view from below 2 ,
• 4 in a schematic side view, the wakeboard according to the invention from the 2 and 3 with the battery inserted, and
• 5 in a schematic side view, cut, the wakeboard according to the invention with integrated emergency battery.

1 shows a schematic view of a wakeboard, which is equipped with an electric jet drive, not shown in the figure, together with a control device. Only the components essential to the invention are shown here.

The wakeboard is equipped with a battery compartment 1 that is accessible from the surface. The side walls 2 of the battery compartment 1 run conically, so that the cross section of the battery compartment 1 is reduced toward the bottom 3 .

In the bottom 3 of the battery compartment 1 widely spaced pins 4 are integrated, which are rubber-mounted. The pins 4 are arranged as far apart as possible and are used for electrical contact with the battery 7.

In addition, magnets 5 are arranged in the bottom 3, which interact with ferromagnetic material or with magnets in the bottom group of the battery 7. The magnets 5 are designed as permanent magnets and cause the battery 7 to be held securely in the battery compartment 1, with their magnetic effect being able to be canceled briefly by applying an electrical charge.

2 shows an embodiment of a wakeboard according to the invention in plan view. The wakeboard has a battery 7 inserted into the battery compartment 1. In addition, a housing 8 is provided in the front area of the board, which is permanently assigned to the board. A display 9 is integrated into the housing 8 . Furthermore, a camera 10 is assigned to the housing 8, by means of which a recording/video of the driver is possible.

3 shows the wakeboard off 2 from underneath. Fin-like structures 11 in the sense of a guiding device can be seen. Inlet openings 12 for sucking in water by jet stream are provided in the rear area. The provision of an emergency battery 6 is indicated, which is permanently integrated into the board. It is watertight built into the board through the outer skin of the board.

4 shows the wakeboard according to the invention in a side view. The provision of the emergency battery 6 is also indicated here, although this is firmly and invisibly integrated into the board.

5 shows the wakeboard according to the invention in a longitudinal section. The position of the emergency battery 6 is indicated. The area 13 encompassing the jet drive is indicated as an empty field.

With regard to further advantageous configurations of the claimed wakeboard or surfboard, reference is made to the general description in order to avoid repetition.

Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the exemplary embodiment of the wakeboard or surfboard according to the invention described above only serves to explain the claimed teaching, but does not restrict it to the exemplary embodiment.

Reference List

1

battery compartment

2

side wall of the battery compartment

3

bottom in the battery compartment

4

pin in the bottom of the battery compartment

5

Magnet integrated into the bottom of the battery compartment

6

Emergency battery permanently installed in the board

7

battery pack

8th

Housing

9

screen

10

camera

11

Structures (on the bottom of the board)

12

Intake vents (on the bottom of the board)

13

area for the drive

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US3262413A [0003]
• WO 2019/122087 A1 [0004]

Claims (12)

Wakeboard or surfboard with an electric drive together with a control device and an internal energy supply in the form of a rechargeable energy storage element (accumulator), the drive and the accumulator (7) being integrated into the board and at least the accumulator (7) being removable from the board , characterized in that the board is permanently assigned at least one emergency battery (6) to provide an energy reserve, which can be switched on manually or automatically to power the drive. wakeboard or surfboard claim 1 , characterized in that the manual activation of an acoustic and / or visual warning or a warning signal in relation to falling below a defined or definable lower voltage limit of the battery (7) is based. wakeboard or surfboard claim 1 , characterized in that the automatic connection of the emergency battery (6) is based on the determination of a defined or definable lower voltage limit of the battery (7). Wakeboard or surfboard according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that a switching safety device is provided which prevents unintentional switching to emergency operation. Wakeboard or surfboard according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the emergency battery (6) is permanently installed in the board. Wakeboard or surfboard according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the board has a battery management system such that shortly before, during or after switching to the emergency battery (6), the battery (7) is disconnected, preferably via a relay or a relay circuit . wakeboard or surfboard claim 6 , characterized in that after use of the emergency battery (6) can be switched to normal operation via the relay or the relay circuit, preferably by remote control. wakeboard or surfboard claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the board has a communication module (LTE/GPRS) and a GPS module such that the mini-computer and the battery management system send a message via the LTE unit, preferably an SMS with GPS Position sent to a predetermined or specifiable address. wakeboard or surfboard claim 8 , characterized in that the message is transmitted to a contact address specified by the manufacturer of the board or to the manufacturer of the board, after which any specified or specifiable measures are initiated. Wakeboard or surfboard according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the emergency battery (6) can be charged preferably using the battery management system, preferably when the battery (7) is removed via its electrical connections in the board or inductively through the outer skin of the board. Wakeboard or surfboard according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the emergency battery (6) can be charged, preferably using the battery management system via the charged battery used. Wakeboard or surfboard according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 , characterized in that a DC / DC converter is provided, the electrical or electronic components, in particular a mini-computer and the communication module together with GPS, with a voltage of preferably 5 V from the battery (7) or the emergency battery (6) supplied.

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