JP4193682B2 - Electric outboard motor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric outboard motor.

  Generally, an outboard motor uses an internal combustion engine that uses gasoline or the like as a power source, a so-called gasoline engine or the like. A gasoline engine has a complicated structure, a large number of parts, and many parts that cause various problems, such as a fuel system, intake / exhaust system, electrical system, lubrication system, and drive system.

  Furthermore, in recent years, environmental problems have been highlighted, and there are many problems with outboard motors equipped with gasoline engines, such as leakage of gasoline and lubricating oil and exhaust of exhaust gas into water.

  In view of these problems, an outboard motor having an electric motor as a power source has been devised. In such an outboard motor, an electric motor is disposed coaxially with this propeller in front of the underwater propeller, and power is supplied from a battery disposed in the ship via a cable (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Conventional electric outboard motors have been used for ship position control and the like of small vessels as an auxiliary machine for outboard motors mainly using an internal combustion engine (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-148693 (page 3 and FIG. 3) Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-196798 (FIGS. 2, 4, and 5)

  However, the electric outboard motor simply consumes the battery, and charging is performed by the power generation of the outboard motor using the internal combustion engine as a power source. However, when the electric outboard motor is used alone, Battery consumption is intense, and the battery must be frequently disconnected and charged using a charger or the like. In addition, if the battery runs out at sea, it will be impossible to navigate, so the use of an electric outboard motor alone is discouraged.

  In addition, since the electric power consumption of the electric motor is large, a large voltage drop occurs due to the internal resistance of the long battery cable connecting the electric motor and the battery, leading to a reduction in the output of the electric motor.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electric outboard motor that can replace a high-power internal combustion engine and can be used alone.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an electric outboard motor according to the present invention includes a support portion for supporting the outboard motor to the transom of the hull , and a motor above the support portion. An electric outboard motor comprising: a motor room covered with a cover; and an electric motor and a battery for supplying electric power to the electric motor arranged in the motor room. The electric motor in the motor room A battery holder is disposed on the front side of the battery, and a battery to be inserted into the battery holder is configured to be detachable from the battery holder at a position in front of the transom rear end of the hull .

Furthermore, in order to solve the above-described problem, as described in claim 2 , the battery and a control unit for controlling the electric motor are integrated.

In order to solve the above-described problem, as described in claim 3 , the control unit is provided with a charge amount measuring function and an operating time measuring function.

In order to solve the above-described problem, as described in claim 4 , the battery holder is integrally provided with the charger and disposed in the motor room, and the battery holder is detachable. It is what.

  According to the electric outboard motor according to the present invention, the electric motor can be enlarged and a high-power gasoline engine can be substituted. In addition, the entire outboard motor can be compacted.

Hereinafter, embodiments of an electric outboard motor will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a left side view showing an example of an outboard motor according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the electric outboard motor . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outboard motor 1 has a box-shaped motor cover 2 at the uppermost portion thereof, and a motor room 3 formed inside the outboard motor 1 serves as a power source for the outboard motor 1. The electric motor 4 is accommodated. The motor cover 2 is formed, for example, so that it can be divided into upper and lower parts, and comprises, for example, a lower motor cover 5 fixed to the outboard motor 1 side, and an upper motor cover 6 that covers the lower motor cover 5 so as to be detachable from above. The A steering handle 7 extends from the front lower part (left side in the figure) of the lower motor cover 5 toward the front (left side in the figure), and a throttle grip 8 for adjusting the output of the electric motor 4 is provided at the tip. A shift switch 9 for switching between forward and reverse rotation of the electric motor 4 is provided on the upper surface of the steering handle 7 near the throttle grip 8. The shift switch 9 may be provided on the side surface of the steering handle 7.

  An extension case 10 extends downward at the lower part of the lower motor cover 5, and a lower case 11 is provided at the lower part of the extension case 10. A propeller shaft 12 is pivotally supported in the lower case 11 and a propeller 13 is provided at the rear end thereof.

  In the motor room 3, the electric motor 4 is provided vertically on the motor mount 14 integrally or integrally formed on the upper part of the extension case 10 so that the output shaft 15 thereof faces substantially in the vertical direction. 16 is fixed.

  In the extension case 10, a drive shaft 18 connected to the lower end of the output shaft 15 of the electric motor 4 via a coupling 17 extends downward, and the lower end of the drive shaft 18 is connected to the propeller shaft 12 via a bevel gear 19. Is done. The output of the electric motor 4, that is, the rotation of the output shaft 15 is transmitted to the propeller shaft 12 through the drive shaft 18 and the bevel gear 19 to rotate the propeller 13.

  The upper portion of the extension case 10 is supported by a swivel portion 22 of a bracket device 21 that is a support portion for supporting the outboard motor 1 to the hull 20, while being horizontally rotatable, and a clamp portion 23 of the bracket device 21 is supported by the hull 20. The swivel portion 22 is pivotally supported by the clamp portion 23 via a tilt shaft 24 so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction. That is, the outboard motor 1 is provided so as to be able to rotate about 360 ° with respect to the hull 20, and the hull 20 is steered by changing the direction of the outboard motor 1 by swinging the steering handle 7 in the horizontal direction. It is configured to be able to.

  In the motor room 3, in addition to the electric motor 4, a rechargeable battery 25 </ b> A such as a lithium ion battery for supplying electric power to the electric motor 4 and a control unit 26 </ b> A for controlling the rotation speed of the electric motor 4 are provided. In the first embodiment, a battery 25A is disposed behind the electric motor 4, and a control unit 26A is disposed in front of the electric motor 4.

  In addition, a display panel 27 indicating a charge amount (remaining amount) of the battery 25A and the like is provided on the front surface of the upper motor cover 6, and a main power switch 28 is also provided on the display panel 27. The control unit 26A is disposed close to the rear of the display panel 27 in the motor room 3. Further, the battery 25A is configured to be detachable so that it can be charged at a place other than the outboard motor 1 (for example, a marina or a home), and is attached to a battery holder 29A disposed behind the motor mount 14.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a device used for charging work at a place other than the outboard motor 1. The battery holder 29 </ b> B having the same insertion portion as the battery holder 29 </ b> A mounted on the outboard motor 1 and the battery The charger 30 connected to the holder 29B is shown.

  By arranging the electric motor 4 and the battery 25A in the motor room 3 where a conventional internal combustion engine (not shown) such as a gasoline engine has been arranged, the electric motor 4 can be enlarged, and the battery 25A and the electric motor 25 can be electrically operated. Since the motor 4 is disposed close to the motor 4, a long battery cable (not shown) that has been conventionally used can be eliminated.

  As a result, the voltage drop of the current flowing from the battery 25A to the electric motor 4 is significantly reduced, and the capacity of the electric motor 4 can be maximized. In addition, the number of parts can be reduced and productivity is improved, leading to cost reduction.

  Further, in the conventional method of connecting with a battery cable, a terminal fixing nut (not shown) needs to be attached / detached. However, since the battery 25A is normally exchanged on water, the attaching / detaching work is troublesome. The battery 25A can be inserted into the battery holder 29A, so that the replacement work with a spare battery is extremely easy.

  Furthermore, by attaching a battery holder 29B having an insertion part similar to the battery holder 29A mounted on the outboard motor 1 and a charger 30 connected to the battery holder 29B, an AC power source for home use is attached. Charging can be done anywhere in a place.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an electric outboard motor according to another embodiment . The same components as those of the outboard motor 1 shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the outboard motor 1 includes a charger 31 in the motor room 3. The charger 31 is provided integrally or integrally with a battery holder 29C that is detachably provided on the lower motor cover 5, for example. Further, a power cable 32 for connecting an AC power source extends from the charger 31.

  With this structure, for example, if a portable generator (not shown) is mounted on the ship and there is an AC power source nearby, it is possible to charge the battery 25A without removing it even in the water (on the sea) in an emergency. If so, the battery 25A and the charger 31 can be removed together with the battery holder 29C, and the charging operation can be performed at a place other than the outboard motor 1.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a battery 25B used in the electric outboard motor according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the battery 25 </ b> B is provided with a control unit 26 </ b> B having a charge amount measurement function, an operation time measurement function, and the like in the casing 33. A connector cable 34 extends from the control unit 26B.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the electric outboard motor of the present invention, in which a battery 25B in which the above-described control unit 26B is housed is arranged in front of the electric motor 4. FIG. The control unit 26B, the display panel 27, the throttle grip 8, and the shift switch 9 are connected by a connector cable 34. In the space behind the electric motor 4, for example, auxiliary parts 35 such as tools and spare fuses (not shown) can be arranged.

  By integrating the control unit 26B in the battery 25B and integrating it, the control unit 26A provided separately can be eliminated, and the outboard motor 1 can be made compact, in particular, the overall length thereof can be shortened. Further, the remaining amount of the battery 25B, the amount of charge, the amount of consumption of the battery 25B, and the like are displayed on the display panel 27, so that the battery runs out on the water. Further, since the center of gravity of the outboard motor 1 approaches the hull side by arranging the battery 25B, which is a heavy object, in the forward direction, the steering stability is improved and the tilt-up operation can be easily performed.

The left view which shows one Embodiment of the electric outboard motor which concerns on this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows embodiment of an electric outboard motor . The perspective view of the apparatus used for the charge operation in places other than an outboard motor. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the electric outboard motor which is other embodiment . The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the battery which equipped the control unit internally. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an electric outboard motor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outboard motor 2 Motor cover 3 Motor room 4 Electric motor 21 Bracket apparatus (support part)
25A, 25B Battery 26A, 26B Control unit 29A, 29B, 29C Battery holder 31, 32 Charger

Claims (4)

Provided with a support part that supports the outboard motor to the transom of the hull and a motor room formed by covering the support part with a motor cover, and supplying electric power to the electric motor and the electric motor in the motor room In the electric outboard motor in which the battery is disposed, the battery holder is disposed on the front side of the electric motor in the motor room, and the battery to be inserted into the battery holder is disposed in front of the transom rear end of the hull. The electric outboard motor is configured to be detachable from the battery holder at the position . The electric outboard motor according to claim 1, wherein the battery and a control unit for controlling the electric motor are integrated. The electric outboard motor according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is provided with a charge amount measuring function and an operating time measuring function. The electric outboard motor according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a charger is provided integrally with the battery holder and disposed in the motor room, and the battery holder is detachable.

Images