Patent ID: 8690616

Claim:
A method of operating a hybrid drive system of a ship, the method comprising the steps of: forming the hybrid drive system from an internal combustion engine ( 103 , 303 ) and an electric machine ( 105 ), forming a drive unit ( 140 ) from the electric machine ( 105 ) and at least one shifting clutch ( 115 , 116 ), transmitting drive power to at least one propeller ( 108 , 208 , 308 , 408 , 508 ) via a drive device ( 109 , 209 , 309 , 509 ), forming the drive device ( 109 , 209 , 309 , 509 ) as a ship propulsion system that is pivotable about a substantially vertical control axis ( 120 , 220 , 320 , 420 , 520 ), forming an electric hybrid unit ( 101 ) from the drive device ( 109 ), the drive unit ( 140 ), power electronics ( 107 ), and a battery ( 106 ), controlling the internal combustion engine ( 103 ) and the electric hybrid unit ( 101 ) with an electric control unit ( 110 ), determining different operating modes of the hybrid drive system via the control unit ( 110 ), pivoting a thrust unit ( 121 , 221 , 321 , 421 , 521 ), associated with the drive device ( 109 , 209 , 309 , 509 ), and using the drive device ( 109 , 209 , 309 , 509 ) to change a direction of thrust of the propellers ( 108 , 208 , 308 , 408 , 508 ), signaling a command to reverse the ship by a reverse actuation of a control device ( 370 ), in response to the reverse actuation of the control device ( 370 ), if the electric machine is functioning, the electronic control unit reversing a direction of travel of the ship via reversing a rotational direction of the electric machine ( 105 ) and reversing a rotational direction of the propellers ( 108 , 208 , 308 , 408 , 508 ) from a normal rotational direction to an opposite rotational direction, and in response to the reverse actuation of the control device ( 370 ), if the electric machine ( 105 ) fails, the electronic control unit pivots the pivotable thrust unit ( 121 , 221 , 321 , 421 , 521 ) approximately 180° in an opposite direction to reverse the direction of thrust of the propeller ( 108 , 208 , 308 , 408 , 508 ) such that the ship is maneuverable exclusively via the internal combustion engine ( 103 ).