US 12,319,397 B2
Thrust system for steering marine vessels
Robert D. Christensen, Salt Lake City, UT (US); Martin Johnson, Draper, UT (US); Eric Nofsinger, North Salt Lake, UT (US); and K. Ryan Christensen, North Salt Lake, UT (US)
Assigned to LIQUID PROPULSION, LLC, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed by LIQUID PROPULSION, LLC, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Filed on Jan. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/407,119.
Application 18/407,119 is a continuation of application No. 17/320,219, filed on May 14, 2021, granted, now 12,006,015.
Application 17/320,219 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2021/032355, filed on May 13, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/024,175, filed on May 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0270368 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B63H 25/00 (2006.01); B60L 15/20 (2006.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); B60L 53/20 (2019.01); B63H 1/14 (2006.01); B63H 21/17 (2006.01); B63H 25/02 (2006.01); B63H 25/46 (2006.01)
CPC B63H 25/46 (2013.01) [B60L 15/20 (2013.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.02); B60L 53/20 (2019.02); B63H 1/14 (2013.01); B63H 21/17 (2013.01); B63H 25/02 (2013.01); B60L 2200/32 (2013.01); B60L 2210/10 (2013.01); B63H 2025/465 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thruster system independently operable from a main propulsion system of a marine vessel for providing improved maneuverability of the marine vessel, comprising:
one or more thruster units mountable at a location on a hull of the marine vessel, each thruster unit comprising:
at least one mounting bracket adapted for direct or indirect attachment to the hull;
an electric motor attached to the at least one mounting bracket; and
a propeller attached to and driven by the electric motor;
an electrical control system adapted to independently control each of the one or more thruster units, the electrical control system comprising electrical circuit components configured to independently control the electric motor of each of the one or more thruster units to apply a desired directional thrust to the hull of the marine vessel by each of the one or more thruster units, wherein the electrical control system comprises:
one or more battery packs, each electrically coupled to a respective electronic speed control unit electrically coupled to a respective electric motor of the one or more thruster units,
wherein each of the one or more battery packs is smaller than a main battery of the marine vessel, and wherein each battery pack outputs a higher discharge current relative to the battery pack's input charging current; and
a control mechanism electrically coupled to the electrical control system, the control mechanism providing operational commands used by the electrical control system to control the electric motor of each of the one or more thruster units.