Abstract: A gearcase for a marine propulsion system has an input shaft rotatable about a central axis of rotation and an output shaft coaxially arranged with the input shaft. A clutch assembly is operable between a first clutch position and a second clutch position, wherein, when the clutch assembly is in the first clutch position, the input shaft is coupled to the output shaft for rotating the output shaft in a first rotational direction. When the clutch assembly is in the second clutch position a gear assembly operably connects the input shaft to the output shaft for rotating the output shaft in an opposite second rotational direction. The gearcase can be part of a marine propulsion system, such as an outboard motor for a mud boat. A method of transferring power in a gearcase and a marine propulsion system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sailboat steering system (1) comprising a steerable saildrive (2), a control lever (3) for controlling a propeller speed of the steerable saildrive (2), a rudder angle sensor (4) to measure the ruder angle (?) of a rudder (5), and an electronic control unit (10). The electronic control unit (10) is enabled to control a steering angle (?) of the steerable saildrive (2), depending on the position of the control lever (3) and depending on a rudder angle (?) of the rudder (5). The invention also relates to a method of steering a sailboat.

Abstract: A maritime drift control system comprising a vessel movement detection unit, for detecting an actual vessel speed and direction, and a vessel movement control unit with a drift controller for controlling operation of at least one propulsion device of a vessel. The maritime drift control system comprises a drift error generator for generating drift error signals depending on a predetermined speed limit and the actual vessel speed. The drift error generator is connected to the drift controller to transmit the drift error signals to the drift controller. The drift controller uses the drift error signals to compute and transmit propulsion command signals to the at least one propulsion device in order to reduce speed and alter the direction of the vessel to target values. The invention comprises further a maritime vessel with a corresponding maritime drift control system.

Abstract: A sailboat steering system (1) comprising a steerable saildrive (2), a control lever (3) for controlling a propeller speed of the steerable saildrive (2), a rudder angle sensor (4) to measure the ruder angle (?) of a rudder (5), and an electronic control unit (10). The electronic control unit (10) is enabled to control a steering angle (?) of the steerable saildrive (2), depending on the position of the control lever (3) and depending on a rudder angle (?) of the rudder (5). The invention also relates to a method of steering a sailboat.

Abstract: A maritime drift control system comprising a vessel movement detection unit, for detecting an actual vessel speed and direction, and a vessel movement control unit with a drift controller for controlling operation of at least one propulsion device of a vessel. The maritime drift control system comprises a drift error generator for generating drift error signals depending on a predetermined speed limit and the actual vessel speed. The drift error generator is connected to the drift controller to transmit the drift error signals to the drift controller. The drift controller uses the drift error signals to compute and transmit propulsion command signals to the at least one propulsion device in order to reduce speed and alter the direction of the vessel to target values. The invention comprises further a maritime vessel with a corresponding maritime drift control system.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a ship, designed as a parallel hybrid drive system, and comprising an internal combustion engine (103), an electric machine (105), acting as a generator or motor, depending on switching an electric controller (107), a battery (106), at least one switching clutch (115, 116), and a drive device (109) for transferring the drive power to at least one propeller (108). The electric machine (105) together with a first (115) and a second switched clutch (116), form a drive unit (140), that can be modularly disposed between the internal combustion engine (103) and the drive device (109). The first switched clutch (115) is disposed between the electric machine (105) and the internal combustion engine (103) and the second switched clutch (116) is disposed between the electric machine (105) and the drive device (109).

Abstract: A method for operating a ship propulsion system, in particular a sailing ship propulsion system, comprising an internal combustion engine (303), at least one shifting clutch (319), and a drive device (309) for transmitting drive power to at least one propeller (308). The direction of thrust of the propeller (308) is changed via the drive device (309) which is designed as a ship propulsion system which can be pivoted about a substantially vertical control axis (320) by pivoting a thrust unit (321) associated with the drive device (309). For this purpose, the pivotable thrust unit (321) is pivoted approximately 180° in the opposite direction to reverse the direction of thrust of the propeller (108).

Abstract: A device for detecting an angular position of a steering shaft (8), in particular for a steering unit of a boat drive (4, 5), using an angular sensor (13). The steering shaft (8) and the angular sensor (13) are kinematically interconnected, via a play-reducing intermediate gear (11, 16), which engages with a master gear (10) of the steering shaft (8) and a slave gear (12) of the angular sensor (13) to facilitate precise detection of angular rotation of the steering shaft (8).

Abstract: A propeller drive assembly, for steering and driving a ship (1), comprises a drive motor (2) and a transmission housing (4) secured to a ship hull and a control housing (7) secured to an exterior surface of the hull. The control housing (7) comprises a propeller (8) supported on a driven shaft (6) and the control housing (7) is pivotably coupled, via a steering shaft (10), to the transmission housing (4) for steering the ship (1). A transmission output shaft (5) is connected with the driven shaft (6) and a lubricant circuit of the transmission housing (4) is separate from a lubricant circuit of the control housing (7). At least one sealing element is provided, in a region of a shaft passage of the transmission output shaft (5) and in a region of a shaft passage of the steering shaft (10), for mutually sealing the transmission housing lubricant circuit and the control housing lubricant circuit.

Abstract: A method and device for maneuvering a yacht via a control device which is designed as a joystick (7). The joystick (7) is tilted in the direction of a longitudinal axis (y) and a transversal axis (x) of the yacht, to initiate forward or backward movement and transverse movement, and the joystick (7) is rotated to initiate yaw movement of the yacht around its longitudinal axis (zj). The yacht (1) has a single drive which is designed as a pivotable drive (6) which has a pivotable thrust vector around a vertical axis. The steering movements of the joystick (7) are transferred to the pivotable drive (6) in a matched manner.

Abstract: The invention concerns a marine vessel propulsion system that can be set into an opening of a boat's hull and which comprises a propulsion and steering unit (9) that can be rotated or swivelled about a vertical axis (z) and which is fixed to the hull by a securing mechanism (12) having a predetermined fracture point or level. It is proposed that a protective plate (13) is arranged on the boat's hull in the aft direction (opposite to the direction of travel F) and behind the propulsion and steering unit (9).

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a ship, designed as a parallel hybrid drive system, and comprising an internal combustion engine (103), an electric machine (105), acting as a generator or motor, depending on switching an electric controller (107), a battery (106), at least one switching clutch (115, 116), and a drive device (109) for transferring the drive power to at least one propeller (108). The electric machine (105) together with a first (115) and a second switched clutch (116), form a drive unit (140), that can be modularly disposed between the internal combustion engine (103) and the drive device (109). The first switched clutch (115) is disposed between the electric machine (105) and the internal combustion engine (103) and the second switched clutch (116) is disposed between the electric machine (105) and the drive device (109).

Abstract: A method for operating a ship propulsion system, in particular a sailing ship propulsion system, comprising an internal combustion engine (303), at least one shifting clutch (319), and a drive device (309) for transmitting drive power to at least one propeller (308). The direction of thrust of the propeller (308) is changed via the drive device (309) which is designed as a ship propulsion system which can be pivoted about a substantially vertical control axis (320) by pivoting a thrust unit (321) associated with the drive device (309). For this purpose, the pivotable thrust unit (321) is pivoted approximately 180° in the opposite direction to reverse the direction of thrust of the propeller (108).

Abstract: A ship propulsion (3) with at least a fixedly positioned transmission unit (4, 204) secured to the hull (6) of the ship and a propulsion unit (5, 205) located on the exterior of the hull. The ship propulsion (3) facilitates pivoting of the propulsion unit (5, 205) around a control axis (10, 110, 210, 310), via a control device (200, 300). The control device has a control motor (120, 220, 320) and at least one control transmission (130, 230, 330). The control transmission is designed as a reduced planetary transmission, which comprises two central gears (131, 132, 231, 232, 331, 332) and a planetary gear carrier (233, 333, 433) with at least two planetary gears (238, 338), and coaxial positioned with reference to the control axis.

Abstract: A device for detecting an angular position of a steering shaft (8), in particular for a steering unit of a boat drive (4, 5), using an angular sensor (13). The steering shaft (8) and the angular sensor (13) are kinematically interconnected, via a play-reducing intermediate gear (11, 16), which engages with a master gear (10) of the steering shaft (8) and a slave gear (12) of the angular sensor (13) to facilitate precise detection of angular rotation of the steering shaft (8).

Abstract: A propeller drive assembly, for steering and driving a ship (1), comprises a drive motor (2) and a transmission housing (4) secured to a ship hull and a control housing (7) secured to an exterior surface of the hull. The control housing (7) comprises a propeller (8) supported on a driven shaft (6) and the control housing (7) is pivotably coupled, via a steering shaft (10), to the transmission housing (4) for steering the ship (1). A transmission output shaft (5) is connected with the driven shaft (6) and a lubricant circuit of the transmission housing (4) is separate from a lubricant circuit of the control housing (7). At least one sealing element is provided, in a region of a shaft passage of the transmission output shaft (5) and in a region of a shaft passage of the steering shaft (10), for mutually sealing the transmission housing lubricant circuit and the control housing lubricant circuit.

Abstract: The invention concerns a marine vessel propulsion system that can be set into an opening of a boat's hull and which comprises a propulsion and steering unit (9) that can be rotated or swivelled about a vertical axis (z) and which is fixed to the hull by a securing mechanism (12) having a predetermined fracture point or level. It is proposed that a protective plate (13) is arranged on the boat's hull in the aft direction (opposite to the direction of travel F) and behind the propulsion and steering unit (9).