Patent Description:
Man powered small vessels are often completed with additional drive units by which is possible to use several different designs of their construction. In case of kayaks and canoes these are, for example various way designed suspended engines with propellers which are fixed to the side of vessels as it is described for example in the file <CIT>. This design requires, before each float, difficult assembly of drive unit equipment of the hull with next structural elements which are fixed to it. Also there are known designs when additional engine with propeller is placed under the bottom of vessel as is it described for example in the file <CIT>. This type of design deepens draught of the vessel, which is solved with tilting of the body of drive unit into a cutout in the hull of the vessel, nevertheless, despite this is the use of this submersible engine limited only for places with sufficient depth. <CIT> discloses a motor assembly for propulsion of a floating vessel, wherein the motor assembly comprises a motor device and mounting means for attaching the motor device to the vessel, while <CIT>discloses a boat and a thrusting device for a boat. In the file <CIT> is described a small vessel with kayak appearance but with a combustible engine which is only source of frontward movement thus it is not vessel which is primarily man powered. The combustion engine seems to be, for use in light vessels which are often carried in hands, completely unsuitable not only due to its weight but also its noisiness and likewise pollution of environment. Similar designs offer also the files <CIT> and <CIT>, but there are the vessels powered by a turbine thus it is not kayak but a small motor boat. A kayak with engine which is also equipped with a paddle is described in the file <CIT> but also in this case it is powered by a combustible four-stroke engine and whole drive system is quite complicated so even here are clear complications namely noisiness and weight and also there is difficult manipulation. Another possible design is fixation of an auxiliary electro-engine as a part of helm of the kayak as it is described for example in the file <CIT>. Yet here the performance of the engine is significantly limited by the helm design itself on which is the auxiliary engine fixed and where can come to emergency situation when comes to failure of the helm control with the engine in full performance mode. Control of engine performance seems to be also problematic and furthermore there is not a paddle at disposal which can lead in case of engine failure to occurrence of dangerous situation. In the file <CIT> is described a kayak in whose inner space, which is accessible through a sealable waterproof lid, is placed a drive module which consists of an electric engine, a battery cage with batteries and a regulator. This module is placed on the bottom of the kayak, under seat of the pilot, approximately in the gravity center of the kayak or possibly battery cages are together with batteries placed along the sides of the seat. The electric engine is coupled by the help of a shaft with a pump in the rear part of the kayak which serves as a drive. The shaft can be connected to the electric engine either directly or through a chain gear. The alternative is to equip the kayak with screw- propeller. The battery cages can be equipped with a sliding device which enables their lengthwise movement for better front-back load of weight. Position of the drive module under the seat is disadvantageous from the point of view of the gravity center height after occupying of the seat with a kayaker hence the higher seat also means higher position of the torso of the kayaker, whose weight is for the height of the gravity center essential, whereas the higher gravity center means lower stability and higher risk of keel over. Placement of the batteries alongside of the seat then means wider width of the kayak which has negative impact on its sped and energy consumption. Likewise position of the electric engine in the gravity center of the vessel not only requires too long shaft, which negatively influences the weight and also energy consumption, but also with higher speed there comes to excessive lift of the bow and the kayak can become less stable and controllable. The kayaks are the most damage vulnerable just in the lace of the bottom under the kayaker which results from the structure itself thus even from this point of view placement of the drive unit in this area is not beneficial. General lay out therefore is not very suitable for use in common lake and sea kayaks where is important low weight and sufficient speed and controllability.

The invention is defined according to the appended independent claim, while additional aspects of the invention are defined according to the dependent claims.

The aim of presented invention is to introduce a kayak with integrated auxiliary drive which would not excessively increase the draught of the vessel, would not increase weight and thus worsen controllability and which would have evenly distributed weight of the driving apparatus and at the same time this apparatus would be positioned in safe zones of the vessel.

This goal is reached with an invention which is a kayak with additional drive which is formed by a hull whose part is a bottom in which is formed a crew chamber equipped with a seat and which is equipped not only with an electric engine, which is coupled with a propeller, but also with a battery which is electrically connected with the electric engine. The essence of the invention is that the electric engine is fixed on a supporting frame which is designed as a vertically flat element which is placed perpendicularly to the lengthwise axis of the kayak and which is fixed in the end part of the kayak, where the electric engine is on the supporting frame fixed by the help of a flat engine frame which is fixed on the supporting frame and it is with its plane parallel and also is by the help of a driving element, which is by its back end part waterproof way pivoted in the stern of the kayak in an axial direction, which is coupled with a screw- propeller, whereas the battery is placed in a battery box which is placed in front part of the kayak.

In smart design is the electric engine by the help of a transmission element coupled with a gear box which is fixed on the supporting frame whereas the entry shaft of the gear box is situated into the space between the supporting frame and the engine frame and is parallel with the engine shaft of the electric engine and on the output of the gear box is placed a drive element.

Likewise is advantageous when the drive element is connected directly to the engine shaft of the electric engine.

In another preferred design is the battery box designed waterproof.

Also is advantageous when the supporting frame is fixed in a waterproof chamber which is formed in the back end part of the kayak.

Also is advantageous when the battery box is placed in a waterproof bow chamber which is formed in the front end part of the kayak which is from the crew chamber separated with a waterproof front screen and which is accessible through a bow opening which is formed in the deck, whereas the bow opening is water proof way sealable with a bow cover.

Finally it is advantageous that in front of the engine chamber is in the hull of the kayak formed a storage chamber which is from the engine chamber separated with a waterproof back screen.

With this presented invention is reached new and higher efficiency as this design provides possibility of easier taking longer distances, makes easier counter flow sailing, whereas it does not significantly increase demand of deep water under the vessel and this all at keeping low weight of the vessel. Also another advantage is possibility to control the additional drive without necessity to unhand the paddle.

The particular examples of invention designs are schematically illustrated in enclosed drawings where:.

The drawings which illustrate presented invention and subsequently described examples of particular design do not in any case anyhow limit the extent of the protection stated in the definition yet merely clarify the essence of the invention.

The kayak with additional drive is according to illustration in <FIG> formed by a hull <NUM> whose part is a bottom <NUM> and a deck <NUM>. In the hull <NUM> are formed a crew chamber <NUM> which is accessible from above through a boarding opening <NUM> which is made in the deck <NUM> and it is equipped with a seat <NUM>, a waterproof back storage chamber <NUM> and behind it, in the back end part of the hull <NUM> of the kayak, is placed an engine chamber <NUM>. The back storage chamber <NUM> is from the engine chamber <NUM> separated with a waterproof back screen <NUM>. In the engine chamber <NUM> is placed a supporting frame <NUM> which is designed as a vertical flat board which is situated perpendicularly to the lengthwise axis of the kayak. To the supporting frame <NUM> of the kayak are fixed two lengthwise placed cooling bodies <NUM> in the shape of thin strips or bars adjoining from inside along sides to the bottom <NUM> of the kayak which are made from a heat conductive material. On the supporting frame <NUM> is, by the help of a flat engine frame <NUM>, which is fixed to the supporting frame <NUM> and it is parallel with its plane, placed an electric engine <NUM> which is by the help of a transmitting element <NUM>, preferably a chain or a toothed belt, coupled with a gear box <NUM> which is fixed on the supporting frame <NUM>. An input shaft <NUM> of the gear box <NUM> is then situated in the area between the supporting frame <NUM> and the engine frame <NUM>, whereas the input shaft <NUM> is parallel with an engine shaft <NUM> of the electric engine <NUM>. The electric engine <NUM> is connected with a regulator <NUM> which controls its performance. On an unmarked protrusion of the gear box <NUM> is placed a drive element <NUM>, preferably designed as a shaft, which is directed toward the stern of the kayak, in whose wall is waterproof way pivoted and is consequently in an axial direction taken out from the hull <NUM>. On the back end part of the drive element <NUM> is then fixed a screw- propeller <NUM>. The back end part of the hull <NUM> of the kayak is, in its lower line, finished with a protective barb <NUM> which overreaches not only lengthwise but also vertical outline line of the screw-propeller <NUM>. To the hull <NUM> of the kayak is, in its back end part, around the vertical axis pivoted a helm <NUM> whose working area is situated behind the screw-propeller <NUM>. In the front end part of the hull <NUM> of the kayak is removable placed a battery box <NUM>, preferably waterproof, with batteries <NUM> to which is, by the help of electric conductors <NUM> through a safety switch <NUM>, connected the regulator <NUM> which is then connected with a wireless receiver <NUM>. The safety switch <NUM> is placed on an unmarked welt of a boarding opening <NUM>. On the side wall of the boarding opening <NUM> is placed a potentiometer <NUM> with an integrated non-illustrated wireless transmitter which is connected with the wireless receiver <NUM> through which is the potentiometer <NUM> connected to the regulator <NUM>. On the shaft <NUM> of kayak paddle <NUM>, which is an essential part of the kayak, is placed a controller <NUM>, preferably a button type, with a non-illustrated integrated wireless transmitter through which is together with the wireless receiver <NUM> is the controller <NUM> connected with the regulator <NUM>.

Connection of the electric engine <NUM> with the drive shaft <NUM> by the help of a transmitting element and the gear box <NUM> is not only possible design. Alternatively the electric engine <NUM> can be connected directly to the drive shaft <NUM> as is it illustrated in <FIG>.

In alternative design which is illustrated in <FIG> is the battery box <NUM> placed in a waterproof bow chamber <NUM> which is formed in the front end part of the kayak and is from the crew chamber <NUM> separated by a waterproof front screen <NUM>. The bow chamber <NUM> is accessible through a bow opening <NUM> which is formed in the deck <NUM> and it is waterproof way sealable with a bow cover <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A kayak with additional drive formed with a hull (<NUM>) comprising a bottom (<NUM>) and a deck (<NUM>) in which is formed a crew chamber (<NUM>) equipped with a seat (<NUM>) and which is equipped not only with an electric engine (<NUM>), which is coupled with a screw-propeller (<NUM>), but also with a battery (<NUM>), which is electrically connected with the electric engine (<NUM>), wherein the electric engine (<NUM>) is placed on a supporting frame (<NUM>), which is designed as a vertical flat element which is situated perpendicularly to the lengthwise axis of the kayak and is fixed in the back end part of the kayak, where the electric engine (<NUM>) is on the supporting frame (<NUM>) fixed by the help of a flat engine frame (<NUM>) which is on the supporting frame (<NUM>) fixed and it is parallel with its plane and also is, by the help of at least a drive element (<NUM>), which is by its end part waterproof way freely pivoted in the stern of the kayak in axial direction, coupled with the screw-propeller (<NUM>), whereas the battery (<NUM>) is placed in a battery box (<NUM>) which is placed in the front end part of the kayak.