GB2188299A - Modular propulsion unit - Google Patents

Abstract

An engine module for a boat comprises a housing 11 accommodating an engine propulsion means adapted to be driven by an engine 26, fuel reservoir 17 for the supply of fuel to said engine, steering means and further comprising means (44-46) Figure 9 for releasably securing said module to a boat, the arrangement being such that in the event of failure of the engine/propulsion means, the securing means can be released to remove the module from the boat and a serviceable indentical module can be substituted therefore. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Modular propulsion unit This invention relates two modular propuision units.

Modular propulsion units are generally well known and comprise a self-contained engine fuel electrical system which may best be exemplified by thefamiliar"outboard" motor used in many boats and vessels such as pleasure boats and the like.

Outboard motors or engines suffer generally from the disadvantagethatthey are clamped to the transom or stern of the boat to which they are associated and represent a relatively heavy item at the extreme end ofthe vessel. Fu rthermore, the considerable advantages of diesel engines are not so readily incorporated into an outboard engine in view of the necessary weight and mass of the engine block required for marine diesel engines.

Outboard engines, therefore, usually run on petrol and constitute a much greater fire hazard than an engine of the corresponding power running on diesel fuel. Furthermore, outboard engines are not, usually, so economical to run as their inboard counterparts.

Many proposals for the construction of an engine assembly in boats, yachts, work boats and the like have been proposed whereby an inboard diesel engine is caused to drive an outdrive assembly wherebythe propulsion unit is a propeller and drive assembly which is mounted at the stern of the boat, but the engine is mounted forwardly of the stern with a consequential improvement in the relative position of the weight within the vessel.

Furthermore, the fuel can be located inboard ofthe vessel with afurtherimprovementstillwiththe weight distribution therein.

These permanent inboard installations, however, sufferfrom the disadvantage that in the event of a failure in either the outdrive orthe engine, the boat itself is out of commission until the unit is repaired.

With an outboard engine the boat can still remain in commission by simply substituting one outboard for another.

According to the present invention, therefore, there is provided an engine module for a boat comprising a housing accommodating an engine, compulsion means adapted to be driven by said engine, a fuel reservoirforthe supply of fuel to said engine and steering means, said housing further comprising means for releasably securing said module to a boat, the arrangement being such that in the event of failure of the engine or propulsion means, the securing means may be released to remove the module from the boat and a similar serviceable module can be substituted therefor.

The present invention also includes a boat comprising a hull configured atortowards the aft end to receive a module containing an engine, propulsion means adapted to be driven by said engine, a fuel reservoirforsupplyoffueltosaid engine and steering means and securing means effective between said hull and said modulefor releasably securing the module with respect to the hull,the arrangement being such that in the event of failureoftheengine/propulsion/steering means, the securing means may be released to enable replacementofthe module with a similarserviceable unit.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention,the module may include at least one surface continuous with the hull ofthe boattowhich it is applied. The housing may comprise a forward bulk head, a transom portion, a pair of longitudinal side portions and a base. The transom portion and the base may be substantially continuous with the hull ofthe boat to which it is to be attached and/or in direct contact with the water within which the vessel floats. The housing may be closed by means of a removable decking portion including meansforthe ingress ofairtothe engine, said means including means for removing water from the air supply to the engine.

The propulsion means may be an outdrive mounted on a transom portion. The housing may also include a battery forthe supply of electrical powerforthe engine.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the boat hull may include a pairofrearwardlyextending sponsons adapted to mate and cooperate with the module. The module housing may include a pair of longitudinal flange rails adapted to overlap an adjacent portion of each juxtaposed sponson to supportthe modulethereon. Each rail may have a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings, each adapted to accommodate a correspondingly spaced lug on the adjacent portion of each sponson, the means for releasably securing the module to a boat maycomprisetogglemeans inciuding a releaseable latch portion and a cooperating member acting between said module and said hull so that on operation of the toggle means with the latch portion in operative engagement with said member, the module is drawn forwardly with respect to said hull.

Each lug may be undercut at its rear so that with the toggle secured, the rear edge of each opening is drawn underthe undercut portion of each lug to preventvertical movement of the module with respect to the hull.

The removable decking may include a raised portion having one or more inlets therein, a plurality of transverse baffles extending across the decking and a raised cover extending thereover and closed with said decking forward of said inlet and extending aft of said transverse baffles to be open at ortowards said aft end whereby air entering said aft end ofthe cover passes over baffles which remove airbourne water to drain outboard from runnel holes in the side of the housing. In an alternative embodiment, the means for removing surplus waterfrom the air supplyto the engine may include one or more Dorade-type vents.

Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying informal drawings of methods of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings: Figure lisa longitudinal section of a module in accordance with the present invention.

Figure2 is a top view ofthe module of Figure 1 with the deck cover removed.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure4 is a detail of one embodiment of a toggle assembly.

Figure 5is a side view ofthe toggle assembly of Figure4.

Figures 6A, 6B and 6C represent an alternative embodiment of side rail for securing to the module.

Figure 7is a detail of the engaging member of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an end view of a detail of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a module being entered into juxtaposition with a sponson of the hull of the boat in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternative toggle arrangement; and Figure l l is an operating detail of Figure 10.

The module 10 is formed from a housing indicated generally at 11 comprising a forward bulkhead 12, a base 13 and a transom 14 and a pair of longitudinal side portions 15 and 16 respectively. Theforward bulkhead 12 carries fixedly secured thereto a stainless steel fuel tank 17 and the base is provided with a pair of transverse engine bearers 18.

Thetransom 14 has a reverse rake as shown in Figure 1 and accommodates an outdrive 19 of a type well known in the art. The outdrive 19 incorporates a steering arm 20 and the necessary linkage 21, bell crank 22 and control arm 23 extending forwardly of the module for connection to a hand operated steering wheel ortiller (not shown).

The outdrive 19 includes a gear box and in the example shown in Figure 1 contra-rotating propellers 24, 24' to providetorqueless drivetothe unit.

The longitudinal side portions 15 and 16 are tapered downwardlytowards the base thereof and terminate in downward projection 24to constitute a skeg orframe upon which the module may be supported. The engine bearers 18supportvia rubber mounting bushes 25, a diesel engine 26 connected with outdrive 19 by means of a propshaft27.The module is provided with a removable decking portion 30 comprising a substantially planar deck3l having a raised portion 32 towa rds the forward end thereof. The raised portion 32 is provided with a pair of holes and a corresponding pair of holes are provided in the planardeck 31 to allow the passage ofairtherethrough for aspiration ofthe engine.

A plurality of baffles 33 in this case five, are provided transverse to the fore-aft axis and are fixed to the planar deck 31. A cover34 is provided overthe planar deckto enclose the raised portion and the baffles. The sides 35 are provided with runnel holes 36 whereby water entrained by the baffles 33 may be caused or allowed to run out of the covered area and to drain overboard.

In operation, therefore, with the cover 30 in place upon moduleto close the open top of module 10 and secured thereto, air entering the open rearward end of cover 34 passes progressively overthe transverse baffles 33 whereby airbourne waterwill tend to be deposited and entrained between pairs of baffles so thatsubstantiallywater-free air enters the inlets in the raised portion 32 and passes through the corresponding holes of the decking portion 30 of aspiration ofthe engine 26.

Each longitudinal side portion 15 and 16 is provided with a side flange 40 which in plan view of Figure 2 is shown as a number of discontinued portions 41 or in the embodiment shown with respectto Figures 6 to 10, is a continuous side rail which projects outboard of the module and is adapted to be received on a cooperating portion 42 ofthe boat hull indicated generally at 50.

The hull is provided with a pair of rearwardly extending sponsons 51 extending aft of a transverse bulk head 52 against which the forward bulk head 12 of module 10 is adapted to abut in service. Each sponson 51 has a side hull portion 53 contiguous with the hull of the boat and terminates at its rearward end in a transom part 54 which is adapted to be substantially continuous with the transom 14 of the module 10 when in its operating position.

The underside 55 of sponson 51 extends downwardly and smoothly towards longitudinal inboard portion 56 to define towards the lower portion thereof an enclosed bilge the longitudinal portion 56 being contoured on its surface juxtaposed module 10 to be a snug fit therewith to receive the module in the manner shown in Figure 3.

The cooperating hull portion 42 of the longitudinal inboard portion 56 of sponson 51 carries on its upper surface a bearing rail 43 having a plurality of longitudinally spaced upwardly projecting lugs 44 each of which is undercut in juxtaposition to the bearing rail to provide a marwardly projecting portion 45, the underside of which is disposed in substantially spaced parallel relationship with the upper surface ofthe bearing rail 43.

The side flange 40 is provided with a plurality of correspondingly spaced holes 46, each adapted to receive a corresponding lug 44, the dimensions of the hole 46 being sufficientto be capable of being entered over lug 44 as the module 10 is lowered such thatthesideflange 40 bears on and is carried by bearer rail 43.

The rail 46 is cutaway attheforward end 47 and is provided towards said cut away portion with an upstanding flange 48 and a horizontal pin 49 extending between the flange and the corresponding securing portion 60 to provide an engaging member for use in conjunction with atoggle assembly as hereinafter described.

Theforward part57Of bearing rail 53 isalso provided with a pair of laterally spaced upstanding flanges 58 having a substantially horizontally disposed pin 59 which is adapted to carry a slightly cranked arm 70 which extends rea rwa rd ly therefrom in the manner shown generally in Figure 10. The arm 70 carries at its rearward end 70 a pivotal latch member 72 having a lever receiving portion 73 and a latch claw74formed buy a recessed U-shaped portion 75 which is adapted to engage with and receive horizontal pin 49 extending between flange 48 and securing portion 60. The insertion.of a lever 76 over lever receiving portion 73 and rotation of the lever76 downwardly causes the assembly of the cranked arm 70 and the latch member 72 to act as a toggle which serves to draw the module 10 forwardly with respect to the hull 50 ofthe boat until the forward bulk head 12 is in butting relationship with the transverse bulkhead 52 ofthe hull while at the sametimethe rearward portion of each of holes 46 is drawn beneath the rearwardly projecting lug part 45 to secure the module 10 against upward movement while the drive from the propulsion unit 19 is distributed between the lugs44andtheforward bulkhead 52 to distribute to the hull the motive force provided by the engine module.

An alternative toggle arrangement is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the device described above provides a complete power and steering modulefora boat. Releaseofthetoggle assembly 70, 72 and disengagement of the latch member from pin 49 enables the module lotto be moved slightly aft with respect to the hull until the forward portion of each hole 46 abuts the forward part of each lug 44 thereby enabling the module 10to be lifted with the corresponding disengagement of lugs 44 from holes 46.A replacement module may then be inserted into position and lowered so that the lugs44enterthe hole 46 and the engagementof the toggle assembly70/72 serves to draw the module 10 forwardly into its operating position and the complete unit containing fuel tank, batteries, engine and outdrive and associated assembly is in place ready for reuse.

Devices of this type find ready use in vessels such, for example, as factory ships having a large number of small boats which require to be constantly in use.

The boats can be designed to stack one above the otherand the engine modules can be separately stacked either below as required or adjacent to the boats. Preparatory to launch of the boat, the engine module is inserted either before or after launch and the complete power plant is readyto use. In the event of a failed unit, instead of the whole boat being rendered unserviceable, the engine module is simply changed over in suitable circumstances in the water and the unserviceable module can be removed below to a workshop for necessary attention.

The module as described above is sufficiently waterproofto enable the modules to be stacked in the open. The arrangement and volume of the modules can be such that the modules themselves can float and the modules are designed so that in the event of an immediate shutdown, the resulting stern wave coming inboard from a high speed boat, will pass over the module without injurious effect on the engine. The engine "breaths" through the cover assembly as described and the engine exhaust in standard systems is usually exhausted through the outdrive assembly itself. One advantage ofthe invention is that the modules can be started up and run up either in the boats, or on deck and separate from the boat with which the module is subsequently to be used. The modules then, on tick-over, can be lowered into position on their corresponding boats, the securing toggle may be operated and the boat is then readyforuse.

In further embodiments, instruments may be recessed into the front ofthe module monitoring the engine performance.

This device is eminently suited for use with inflatible and partly inflatible boats and has the advantage that the weight of the engine is located furtherforward it would be if a corresponding outboard were employed.

Claims (16)

1. An engine module for a boat comprising a housing accommodating an engine propulsion means adapted to be driven by said engine, fuel reservoirforthe supply of fuel to said engine, steering means and further comprising means for releasably securing said module to a boat, the arrangement being such that in the event offailure ofthe engine/propulsion means, the securing means can be released to remove the module from the boat and a serviceable identical module can be sustituted therefor.

2. A boat comprising a hull configured at or towards the aft end to receive a module containing an engine, propulsion means adapted to be driven by said engine, fuel reservoirforthe supply of fuel to said engine, steering means, and securing means effective between said hull and said moduleforreleasablysecuringthemoduleto the hull,the arrangement being such that in the event of failure of the engine/propulsion/steering means, the securing means can be released to enable replacement of the module with a serviceable similar module.

3. A boat/module as claimed in either of the preceding claims wherein the module includes a forward bulk head and a pairoflongitudinalside support rails, adapted to mate with corresponding portions of the juxtaposed hull, the arrangement being such thatthrustfrom the engine within the module is distributed over the hull over a wide numberof positions.

4. A module/boat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing comprises aforward bulkhead, transom portion, a pair of longitudinal side portions and a base.

5. A boat/module as claimed in claim 4wherein the housing is closed by a removable decking portion including means for the ingress of air to the engine, said means including meansfor removing waterfrom said air supply.

6. A boat/module as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the propulsion means is an outdrive mounted on the transom portion.

7. A module/boat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the module also includes a battery for the supply of electrical power to said engine.

8. Aboat/module as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hull portion adaptedfor juxtaposition to the module includes a pair of rearwardly extending sponsons adapted to mate and cooperate with said module.

9. A boat/module as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the module housing includes a pair of longitudinal flange rails adapted to overlap an adjacent portion ofthejuxtaposed hull to supportthe module therein.

10. Aboat/module as claimed in claim 9wherein each rail has a plurality of longitudinal spaced openings each adapted to accommodate a correspondingly spaced lug on the adjacent portion of each sponson.

11. A boat/module as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the securing means comprises a toggle including a releasable latch portion and a cooperating latch engaging member acting between said module and said hull so that on operation ofthe toggle with the latch portion in operative engagementwith said memberthe module is drawn forwardlywith respect to said hull.

12. A boat/module as claimed in claim 10 and 11 wherein each lug is undercut at its rear so that with the toggle secured, the rear edge of each opening is drawn underthe undercut poriton of each lug to prevent lifting ofthe module with respectto the hull.

13. Amodule/boatasclaimed in anyone of claims Sto i 2 wherein the removable decking includes a raised forward portion having one or more air inlets, a plurality of transverse baffles extending across said decking and a raised cover extending thereover and closed with said decking forward of the inlet and extending aft of said transverse baffles and open at said aft end whereby air entering said aft end ofthe cover passes oversaid baffles which remove air borne waterto drain outboard from rummel holes in the side of the housing.

14. A boat/module as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the module decking includes one or more Dorade type vents.

15. A removable module substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A boat as claimed in any preceding claim and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.