Watercraft with adjustable center of gravity

Abstract

A watercraft comprising a hull, an electric drive, a battery electrically coupled to the electric drive, and an actuation assembly coupled to the battery. The battery is movable with respect to the hull by the actuation assembly between a first position and a second position.

1 . A watercraft comprising:
 a hull;   an electric drive;   a battery electrically coupled to the electric drive;   an actuation assembly coupled to the battery; wherein the battery is movable with respect to the hull by the actuation assembly between a first position and a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein moving the battery between the first position and the second position adjusts a center of gravity of the watercraft. 
     
     
         3 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is movable with respect to the electric drive. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is movable with respect to the hull by the actuation assembly to a plurality of intermediate positions between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the battery moves between the first position and the second position along a translation axis. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 5 , wherein the translation axis is parallel to a center bow-stern axis of the watercraft. 
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 5 , wherein the translation axis is transverse to a center bow-stern axis of the watercraft. 
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly includes a carriage coupled to the battery, a pinion driven by an actuator, and a rack with a plurality of teeth configured to engage the pinion, wherein the carriage is configured to slide along the rack. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock assembly configured to lock the position of the battery with respect to the hull. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical cable extending between the battery and the electric drive, and wherein the electrical cable has a length that is sufficient to permit travel of the battery between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising a coolant line extending between the battery and the electric drive, and wherein the coolant line has a length that is sufficient to permit travel of the battery between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is a first battery, and the watercraft further includes a second battery electrically coupled to the electric drive. 
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 12 , wherein the second battery is movable with respect to the hull by the actuation assembly between a third position and a fourth position. 
     
     
         14 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the first battery moves between the first position and the second position along a first translation axis, and the second battery moves between the third position and the fourth position along a second translation axis. 
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the first translation axis is orthogonal to the second translation axis. 
     
     
         16 . The watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the first translation axis is parallel to the second translation axis. 
     
     
         17 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the electric drive includes an electric motor and an inverter, and wherein the battery includes a housing and a plurality of battery cells positioned within the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that detects the position of the battery. 
     
     
         19 . The watercraft of  claim 18 , further comprising a controller configured to energize the actuation assembly in response to a detected position of the battery by the sensor and a position of the watercraft in water. 
     
     
         20 . The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly is configured to move the battery at a first speed and at a second speed, wherein the second speed is larger than the first speed.