Marine propulsion system

Abstract

A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel has a drive unit comprising an upper part and a lower part, the upper part being pivotable in relation to the marine vessel and the lower part is rotatably connected with the upper part, the lower part comprises one or more propellers. An input unit receives an activation message indicative of an operation mode for the drive unit. A control unit is connected with the drive unit and the input unit. The control unit controls the drive unit on basis of the activation message received from the input unit. The control unit, in response to receiving a beach mode activation message from the input unit, rotates the lower part to a position with the one or more propellers facing aft in relation to the marine vessel, and/or wherein the control unit, in response to receiving a swim mode activation message from the input unit, rotates the lower part to a position with the one or more propellers at least facing forward in a position of minimum 90 degrees compared to an aft facing position of the one or more propellers.

1 . A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel, comprising
 a drive unit comprising an upper part and a lower part, the upper part being pivotable in relation to the marine vessel and the lower part is rotatably connected with the upper part, the lower part comprises one or more propellers,   an input unit configured to receive an activation message indicative of an operation mode for the drive unit,   a control unit being operatively connected with the drive unit and the input unit, the control unit is configured to control the drive unit on basis of the activation message received from the input unit,   wherein the control unit, in response to receiving a beach mode activation message from the input unit, is configured to rotate the lower part to a position with the one or more propellers facing aft in relation to the marine vessel, and/or   wherein the control unit, in response to receiving a swim mode activation message from the input unit, is configured to rotate the lower part to a position with the one or more propellers at least facing forward in a position of minimum 90 degrees compared to an aft facing position of the one or more propellers.   
     
     
         2 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit, in response to receiving a beach mode activation message from the input unit, is configured to bring the drive unit to a reduced draught mode of operation, and/or wherein the control unit, in response to receiving a swim mode activation message from the input unit, is configured to bring the drive unit to a maximum draught position. 
     
     
         3 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is moved upwards to the reduced draught position when the control unit receives the beach mode activation message. 
     
     
         4 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is moved downwards to the maximum draught position when the control unit receives the swim mode activation message. 
     
     
         5 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the activation message is activated by an operator or captain and/or is an automatically generated activation message. 
     
     
         6 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 5 , wherein the automatically generated activation message is sensor data obtained from one or more sensor(s). 
     
     
         7 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 5 , wherein the operator or captain activates the beach mode activating message at the input unit, and/or the operator or captain activates the swim mode activating message at the input unit. 
     
     
         8 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more sensor(s) is/are configured to detect a draught around the marine vessel and based on the detected draught activates the beach mode activating message, and/or wherein the one or more sensor(s) is/are configured to detect an obstacle and/or humans or animals around the marine vessel and based on the detection activates the swim mode activating message. 
     
     
         9 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is locked in the swim mode until swim mode activation message is deactivated by the operator or captain. 
     
     
         10 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a LiDAR sensor, a Sonar sensor, a speed log, a torque sensor, a depth sensor, or a basic on/off switch sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is configured to be started with a special acknowledgement operation when in swim mode. 
     
     
         12 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more propellers is/are locked when in the swim mode so that they are unable to rotate. 
     
     
         13 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein, when the swim mode activation message is deactivated, the lower part is rotated to its intended position before it the one or more propellers is/are allowed to rotate. 
     
     
         14 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to issue a notification that it is safe to swim around the drive unit when the lower part of the drive unit has been rotated the position with the one or more propellers at least facing forward in the position of minimum 90 degrees compared to the aft facing position of the one or more propellers, and the one or more propellers are locked. 
     
     
         15 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit comprises one or more unit sensors configured to detect a position of the lower part of the drive unit and/or the position of the one or more propellers. 
     
     
         16 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is connected with a transom of the marine vessel via a transom bracket. 
     
     
         17 . The marine propulsion system of  claim 16 , wherein the drive unit is arranged to be moved in relation to the transom bracket for moving the drive unit in the water and out of the water,
 the drive unit is connected with the transom bracket via a connecting arm having a first pivot joint connected with the transom bracket and a second pivot joint connected with the drive unit,   wherein the drive unit is configured to be moved in the water and out of the water by the connecting arm pivots around the first pivot joint or the drive unit pivots around the second pivot joint or the connecting arm and the drive unit pivot around both pivot joints.   
     
     
         18 . A marine vessel comprising a marine propulsion system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating a marine propulsion system of  claim 1 , comprising
 providing the marine propulsion system on a marine vessel,   receiving an activation message indicative of an operation mode for the drive unit,   controlling the drive unit on basis of the activation message,   receiving a beach mode activation message,   rotating, in response to receiving the beach mode activation message, the lower part to a position with the one or more propellers facing aft in relation to the marine vessel, and/or   receiving a swim mode activation message,   rotating, in response to receiving the swim mode activation message, the lower part to a position with the one or more propellers at least facing forward in a position of minimum 90 degrees compared to an aft facing position of the one or more propellers.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising
 bringing, in response to receiving a beach mode activation message, the drive unit to a reduced draught mode of operation, and/or   bringing, in response to receiving a swim mode activation message, the drive unit to a maximum draught position.