Patents by Inventor Paolo STASOLLA

Paolo STASOLLA has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8727820
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Paolo Stasolla, Andrea Pellegrinetti, Adriano Zanfei, Michele Zottele
  • Patent number: 8690616
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Davide Grassi, Paolo Stasolla, Andrea Pellegrinetti, Adriano Zanfei, Michele Zottele
  • Patent number: 8584609
    Abstract: A tunnel thruster system for a vessel. The tunnel thruster system includes a thruster propulsion mechanism including a drive unit driving a transmission and propeller assembly located within a thruster tunnel. The thruster tunnel comprising a propeller section, first and second tapered tunnel sections interconnected with one another by the propeller section, the propeller section and the first and the second tapered tunnel sections oriented substantially transversely to a keel of the vessel and accommodating the transmission and propeller assembly. Each tapered tunnel section extends from the propeller section to a tunnel opening through a hull of the vessel. Diameters of the first and the second tapered tunnel sections corresponding to a diameter of the propeller section at the propeller section and taper outward toward a larger diameter at each of the corresponding tunnel openings through the hull of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Paolo Stasolla, Eric Davis, Rick Davis
  • Publication number: 20120028514
    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).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Davide Grassi, Paolo Stasolla, Andrea Pellegrinetti, Adriano Zanfei, Michele Zottele
  • Publication number: 20120028515
    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).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Paolo Stasolla, Andrea Pellegrinetti, Adriano Zanfei, Michele Zottele
  • Publication number: 20110195621
    Abstract: A propeller drive configuration, for the control and drive of a ship (1), having at least an engine (3), supported by the ship hull (2), with at least a transmission enclosure (5) and with at least a control enclosure (7) with at least a propeller (8) on an output shaft (6), whereby The transmission enclosure (5) and the control enclosure (7) are both located outside of the ship hull (2) and the control enclosure (7) is pivotable positioned at the transmission enclosure (5) via a control shaft to control the ship (1). The transmission enclosure (5) is positioned mainly underneath the stern platform (10) of the ship (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Paolo Stasolla
  • Publication number: 20110073029
    Abstract: A tunnel thruster system for a vessel. The tunnel thruster system includes a thruster propulsion mechanism including a drive unit driving a transmission and propeller assembly located within a thruster tunnel. The thruster tunnel comprising a propeller section, first and second tapered tunnel sections interconnected with one another by the propeller section, the propeller section and the first and the second tapered tunnel sections oriented substantially transversely to a keel of the vessel and accommodating the transmission and propeller assembly. Each tapered tunnel section extends from the propeller section to a tunnel opening through a hull of the vessel. Diameters of the first and the second tapered tunnel sections corresponding to a diameter of the propeller section at the propeller section and taper outward toward a larger diameter at each of the corresponding tunnel openings through the hull of the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Paolo STASOLLA, Rick DAVIS, Eric DAVIS