US 12,434,805 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 Jun. 17, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/745,549.
Application 18/745,549 is a continuation of application No. 18/407,119, filed on Jan. 8, 2024.
Application 18/407,119 is a continuation of application No. 17/320,219, filed on May 14, 2021, granted, now 12,006,015, issued on Jun. 11, 2024.
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 2024/0336344 A1, Oct. 10, 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 for providing improved maneuverability of a marine vessel when the marine vessel is operating at relatively low speeds including pre-programmed maneuvers, the thruster system comprising:
a plurality of thruster units, wherein each thruster unit is positioned at a location on a hull of the marine vessel apart from one or more other thruster units, wherein each thruster unit is positioned above a bottom portion of the marine vessel, each thruster unit comprising:
an electric motor; and
a thruster apparatus comprising a plurality of thruster blades attached to the electric motor and configured to provide thrust to the thruster unit;
an electrical control system for controlling the thruster units, the electrical control system comprising electrical circuit components configured to independently control the electric motor of each thruster unit to apply a desired directional thrust to the hull of the marine vessel, wherein the electrical control system comprises:
a plurality of battery packs, each electrically coupled to a respective electronic speed control unit of a respective electric motor of a respective thruster unit;
a charging system electrically coupled to a main battery of the marine vessel, wherein the main battery is electrically coupled to the plurality of battery packs to enable the main battery to provide power for charging the battery packs, and wherein the battery packs, not the main battery, directly provide electrical power to the electric motor of each thruster unit; and
a control mechanism electrically coupled to the electrical control system, the control mechanism comprising a program configured to provide pre-programmed commands to the electrical control system to control the electric motor of each thruster unit to provide directional thrust and perform a pre-programmed maneuver of the marine vessel.