Propulsion device for water-surface movable body

Abstract

A propulsion device includes an upper case, a propulsion motor accommodated in the upper case, a lower case supported by the upper case so as to turn around a turning axis, a propulsor supported by the lower case and configured to rotate around a propulsion axis by a driving force of the propulsion motor, a deceleration mechanism provided on a driving force transmission path from the propulsion motor to the propulsor and configured to decelerate rotation of the propulsion motor, and a refrigerant supply mechanism configured to supply a refrigerant to the deceleration mechanism. The lower case includes a turning portion having a cylindrical shape centered on the turning axis, the deceleration mechanism and the refrigerant supply mechanism are arranged on an inner circumference of the turning portion, and a refrigerant suction port of the refrigerant supply mechanism is formed in the turning portion.

1 . A propulsion device for a water-surface movable body, comprising:
 an upper case supported by a hull of the water-surface movable body;   a propulsion motor accommodated in the upper case;   a lower case supported by the upper case so as to turn around a turning axis;   a propulsor supported by the lower case and configured to rotate around a propulsion axis by a driving force of the propulsion motor;   a deceleration mechanism provided on a driving force transmission path from the propulsion motor to the propulsor and configured to decelerate rotation of the propulsion motor; and   a refrigerant supply mechanism configured to supply a refrigerant to the deceleration mechanism,   wherein the lower case includes a turning portion having a cylindrical shape centered on the turning axis,   the deceleration mechanism and the refrigerant supply mechanism are arranged on an inner circumference of the turning portion, and   a refrigerant suction port of the refrigerant supply mechanism is formed in the turning portion.   
     
     
         2 . The propulsion device for the water-surface movable body according to  claim 1 , wherein the deceleration mechanism is arranged on an inner circumference of an upper portion of the turning portion, and
 the refrigerant suction port is arranged lower than the deceleration mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . The propulsion device for the water-surface movable body according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a driving shaft provided on the driving force transmission path and extending along the turning axis; and   a first bearing accommodated in the lower case and attached to the driving shaft,   wherein a first passage of the refrigerant is formed in the lower case, the first passage including a heat exchange portion to exchange heat with the refrigerant,   the refrigerant supply mechanism is configured to circulate the refrigerant in the first passage, and   the first bearing is arranged in the first passage.   
     
     
         4 . The propulsion device for the water-surface movable body according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second bearing arranged below the first bearing, accommodated in the lower case, and attached to the driving shaft; and   a bevel gear mechanism arranged below the second bearing, accommodated in the lower case, and connecting the driving shaft and the propulsor,   a second passage of the refrigerant is formed in the lower case, the second passage being partitioned from the first passage, and   the second bearing and the bevel gear mechanism are arranged in the second passage.   
     
     
         5 . The propulsion device for the water-surface movable body according to  claim 3 , further comprising a filter member arranged in the first passage and configured to filter the refrigerant,
 wherein the heat exchange portion includes:   a first heat exchange chamber; and   a second heat exchange chamber that communicates with the first heat exchange chamber and accommodates the filter member.   
     
     
         6 . The propulsion device for the water-surface movable body according to  claim 5 , further comprising a partition member that partitions the first heat exchange chamber from the second heat exchange chamber,
 wherein the filter member is supported by the partition member.   
     
     
         7 . The propulsion device for the water-surface movable body according to  claim 3 , wherein the lower case includes:
 a first discharge port for discharging the refrigerant from the first passage;   a first discharge passage through which the first passage communicates with the first discharge port;   a second passage of the refrigerant, the second passage being partitioned from the first passage;   a second discharge port for discharging the refrigerant from the second passage; and   a second discharge passage through which the second passage communicates with the second discharge port,   the first discharge port and the second discharge port are opened forward in a state where the propulsion axis extends in a front-and-rear direction, and   the first discharge passage and the second discharge passage are formed to extend in a vertical direction in a state where a tilt angle is at a maximum thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The propulsion device for the water-surface movable body according to  claim 7 , wherein a part of the first passage is arranged at a same height as the upper case,
 an entirety of the second passage is arranged lower than the upper case, and   the second discharge port is arranged lower than the first discharge port.   
     
     
         9 . The propulsion device for the water-surface movable body according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant suction port is arranged rearward of the turning axis in a state where the propulsion axis extends in a front-and-rear direction. 
     
     
         10 . The propulsion device for the water-surface movable body according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant suction port is arranged forward of the turning axis in a state where the propulsion axis extends in a front-and-rear direction.