Marine vessel ventilation system

Abstract

Systems and methods of marine vessel ventilation are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a marine vessel includes a hardtop structure disposed about a helm area that includes a support structure coupled to a center console structure and a windshield structure. Further, the windshield structure is disposed between the helm area and a bow area with a portion of the hardtop structure being disposed in the bow area. The hardtop structure includes a ventilation system having an airflow cavity disposed in the hardtop structure with inlet and outlet apertures associated with the respective bow and helm areas. The airflow cavity is configured to enable airflow from the inlet aperture to the outlet aperture. In addition, the ventilation system further includes an inlet or outlet vent structure configured to control the airflow entering or exiting the inlet or outlet aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 by a ventilation system of a marine vessel, the marine vessel having a hardtop structure disposed about a helm area and including a support structure coupled to both a console structure and a seamless windshield structure, the seamless windshield structure being disposed between the helm area and a bow area and the hardtop structure extending from the helm area to the bow area, the ventilation system including an airflow cavity disposed in the hardtop structure with an inlet aperture configured to receive airflow from the bow area and an outlet aperture configured to direct airflow into the helm area, the airflow cavity fluidly coupling the inlet aperture to the outlet aperture, and further including a vent structure associated with at least one of the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture, the vent structure including a motor device mechanically coupled to a vent cover,   sending, by a controller device operationally coupled to the motor device, a signal that repositions the vent cover among a plurality of positions relative to the corresponding one of the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture to regulate airflow through the airflow cavity from the inlet aperture toward the outlet aperture and into the helm area.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vent structure is associated with the inlet aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vent structure is associated with the outlet aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of positions includes a closed position that blocks the associated aperture, a partially open position, and a fully open position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 actuating, by the controller device, a fan assembly disposed in the airflow cavity to move airflow from the inlet aperture toward the outlet aperture.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of sending the signal changes a rotational speed of a fan of the fan assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the controller device, an airflow measurement from an airflow sensor disposed in the airflow cavity; and   sending, by the controller device, a signal to change at least one of a position of the vent-cover or a rotational speed of the fan based on the airflow measurement.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation system further includes an inlet vent structure having a first motor device mechanically coupled to an inlet vent cover and an outlet vent structure having a second motor device mechanically coupled to an outlet vent cover, the first and second motor devices being operationally coupled to respective first and second controller devices that operate independently of one another. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet aperture faces forward toward the bow area. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet aperture is located above the console structure and directs airflow toward an operator position in the helm area. 
     
     
         11 . A marine vessel, comprising:
 a hardtop structure disposed about a helm area and including a support structure coupled to both a console structure and a seamless windshield structure, the seamless windshield structure being disposed between the helm area and a bow area, the hardtop structure extending from the helm area to the bow area; and   a ventilation system including:
 an airflow cavity disposed in the hardtop structure with an inlet aperture configured to receive airflow from the bow area and an outlet aperture configured to direct airflow into the helm area, the airflow cavity fluidly coupling the inlet aperture to the outlet aperture; and 
 a vent structure associated with at least one of the inlet aperture or the outlet aperture, the vent structure including a motor device mechanically coupled to a vent cover and operable to reposition the vent cover among a plurality of positions relative to the associated aperture to regulate airflow through the airflow cavity from the inlet aperture toward the outlet aperture and into the helm area; and 
 a controller device operationally coupled to the motor device and configured to send, to the motor device, a signal that repositions the vent cover among a plurality of positions relative to the associated aperture to regulate airflow through the airflow cavity from the inlet aperture toward the outlet aperture and into the helm area. 
   
     
     
         12 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the vent structure is associated with the inlet aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the vent structure is associated with the outlet aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a fan assembly disposed in the airflow cavity and operable to move airflow from the inlet aperture toward the outlet aperture.   
     
     
         15 . The marine vessel of  claim 14 , wherein the controller device is further configured to change a rotational speed of a fan of the fan assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an airflow sensor disposed in the airflow cavity and operable to generate an airflow measurement, and wherein the controller device is configured to change at least one of a position of the vent-cover or a rotational speed of the fan based on the airflow measurement.   
     
     
         17 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of positions includes a closed position that blocks the associated aperture, a partially open position, and a fully open position. 
     
     
         18 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an inlet vent structure having a first motor device mechanically coupled to an inlet vent cover and an outlet vent structure having a second motor device mechanically coupled to an outlet vent cover.   
     
     
         19 . The marine vessel of  claim 18 , wherein the controller device includes a first controller device operationally coupled to the first motor device and a second controller device operationally coupled to the second motor device, the first controller device and the second controller device being configured to operate independently of one another to control the first motor device and the second motor device to reposition the respective inlet and the outlet vent covers. 
     
     
         20 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the inlet aperture is forward-facing toward the bow area and the outlet aperture is positioned above the console structure to direct airflow toward an operator position in the helm area.