SE546749C2

SE546749C2 - An actuator assembly, a marine propulsion system and a marine vessel

Info

Publication number: SE546749C2
Application number: SE2251251A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Jonas Lundh
Original assignee: Volvo Penta Corp
Priority date: 2022-10-28
Filing date: 2022-10-28
Publication date: 2025-02-18
Also published as: SE2251251A1

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an actuator assembly (1) for a marine propulsion system (2). The actuator assembly (1) comprises a first actuator (12, 12’, 12”) and a second actuator (14, 14’, 14”) individually rotatable around a first axis (A). The actuator assembly (1) further comprises a drive member (16) for actuating a propeller drive arrangement (18) of the marine propulsion system (2), operatively connected to the first actuator (12, 12’, 12”) and to the second actuator (14, 14’, 14”). The drive member (16) is aligned with a second axis (B) orthogonal to the first axis (A) and rotatable around the first axis (A) and around the second axis (B). The actuator assembly (1) is arranged so that a rotation of the first actuator (12, 12’, 12”) and of the second actuator (14, 14’, 14”) at equal speeds in opposite directions around the first axis (A) rotates the drive member (16) solely around the second axis (B), and so that a rotation of the first actuator (12, 12’, 12”) and of the second actuator (14, 14’, 14”) at equal speeds in the same direction around the first axis (A) rotates the drive member (16) solely around the first axis (A).The disclosure also relates to marine propulsions system (2), a marine vessel (7), a method (4) and a control unit (3) for performing the method (4).

Claims

An actuator assembly (1 ) for a marine propulsion system (2), which actuator assembly (1) comprises: - a first actuator (12, 12', 12") and a second actuator (14, 14', 14") individually rotatable around a first axis (A), - a drive member (16) for actuating a propeller drive arrangement (18) of the marine propulsion system (2), operatively connected to the first actuator (12, 12', 12") and to the second actuator (14, 14', 14"), the drive member (16) being aligned with a second axis (B) orthogonal to the first axis (A) and rotatable around the first axis (A) and around the second axis (B), är the actuator assembly (1) is arranged so that a rotation of the first actuator (12, 12', 12") and of the second actuator (14, 14', 14") at equal speeds in opposite directions around the first axis (A) rotates the drive member (16) solely around the second axis (B), and so that a rotation of the first actuator (12, 12', 12") and of the second actuator (14, 14', 14") at equal speeds in the same direction around the first axis (A) rotates the drive member (16) solely around the first axis (A).
The actuator assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly (1) is further arranged so that a rotation of the first actuator (12, 12', 12") and of the second actuator (14, 14', 14") at different absolute speeds around the first axis (A) rotates the drive member (16) both around the first axis (A) and around the second axis (B).
The actuator assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first actuator (12, 12') comprises a first gear §§jjš¿;f§j¿and the second actuator (14, 14') comprises a second gear (flšgfšålgvggrotatably arranged on the first axis (A) and wherein the drive member (16) comprises a third gear (26) arranged on, and rotatable around, the second axis (B), the third gear _s§;Lf-§_=;f§_§__being rotationally fixed to the drive member (16), and wherein the first gear §jjš,;«“;_ﬁ=,_and the second gear ,§¿§¿§§É¿Éf»each engage with the third geargsiggšjšçiïg.
The actuator assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first gear of the first actuator (12) comprises a first geanNheel___§§jfš_f.-ÉI=, the second gear t: of the second actuator (14) comprises a second geanNheel íjífåvﬁggand the third gear (26) comprises a third gean/vheelglišiíçïgjï.
5. The actuator assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first gear of the first actuator (12') comprises a first sector gear__g;f_jš the second gear §f_jš_;~'§f}__of the second '\ actuator (14') comprises a second sector gear ____ _j_,=__and the third gear (26) comprises a third geanNheel___:§;í§_§;1_f=_ _ The actuator assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first actuator (12”) comprises a first gear mechanically connected to a first end of a first linkage member (36a), a second end of the first linkage member (36a) being mechanically connected to a first connection point (46a) on the drive member (16), and wherein the second actuator (14”) comprises a second gear mechanically connected to a first end of a second linkage member (36b), a second end of the second linkage member (36b) being mechanically connected to a second connection point (46b) on the drive member (16), and wherein the first connection point (46a) and the second connection point (46b) are provided on opposite sides of the drive member (16). _ The actuator assembly (1 ) according to claim 6, wherein the first gear ofthe first actuator (12”) comprises a first elongated member extending in a radial direction from a first rotational point provided on the first axis (A) to a first end thereof, the first elongated member being arranged to rotate about the first rotational point so that the first end thereof rotates in a circumferential direction around the first axis (A), the first end of the first elongated member being mechanically connected to the first end of the first linkage member (36a), and wherein the second gear of the second actuator (14”) comprises a second elongated member extending in a radial direction from a second rotational point provided on the first axis (A) to a first end thereof, the second elongated member being arranged to rotate about the second rotational point so that the first end thereof rotates in a circumferential direction around the first axis (A), the first end of the second elongated member being mechanically connected to the first end of the second linkage member (36b). _ The actuator assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first linkage member (36a) and the second linkage member (36b) are mechanically connected at their respective first and second ends by articulated joints. _ A marine propulsion system (2) comprising the actuator assembly (1) according to any one of the claims 1-8, the marine propulsion system (2) further comprising an engine (20), a propeller drive arrangement (18), a first drive unit (22) configured to actuate rotation of the first actuator (12, 12', 12”) around the first axis (A) and a second drive unit (24) configured to actuate rotation of the second actuator (14, 14', 14") around the first axis (A). 5 10. A control unit (3) communicatively connected to the first drive unit (22) and to the second drive unit (24) of the marine propulsion system (2) according to claim 9, drive member (16) around the first axis (A) and/or around the second axis (B) by controlling the first drive unit (22) and the second drive unit (24), respectively. A method (4) for controlling trim, tilt and/or steering of the marine propulsion system (2) according to any one of the claims 1-9, the method (4) - actuating (S1), by the control unit (3) according to claim 10, rotation of the first actuator (12, 12', 12”) around the first axis (A) and/or rotation of the second actuator (14, 14', 14") around the first axis (A) so that the drive member (16) is rotated around the first axis (A) and/or around the second axis (B). A computer program product (5) comprising program code for performing the method (4) of claim 11 when said program run on the control unit (3) of claim A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (6) comprising instructions, which when executed by the control unit (3) of claim 10, cause the control unit (3) to perform the method (4) of claim A marine vessel (7) comprising at least one marine propulsion system (2) according to claim 9.