EP0159144A1 - Azimuth thruster for use in ships - Google Patents
Azimuth thruster for use in ships Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0159144A1 EP0159144A1 EP85301833A EP85301833A EP0159144A1 EP 0159144 A1 EP0159144 A1 EP 0159144A1 EP 85301833 A EP85301833 A EP 85301833A EP 85301833 A EP85301833 A EP 85301833A EP 0159144 A1 EP0159144 A1 EP 0159144A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- outboard housing
- propeller shaft
- propeller
- azimuth thruster
- conical recess
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
- B63H25/00—Steering; Slowing-down otherwise than by use of propulsive elements; Dynamic anchoring, i.e. positioning vessels by means of main or auxiliary propulsive elements
- B63H25/42—Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements; Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
- B63H5/00—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water
- B63H5/07—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers
- B63H5/125—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers movably mounted with respect to hull, e.g. adjustable in direction, e.g. podded azimuthing thrusters
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an azimuth thruster for use in ships, the azimuth thruster being mounted to ships together with a screw for improving maneuverability.
- the thruster for ships is mounted to the bow or stern other than the screw.
- Most conventional thrusters are a type of the tunnel type oneway thruster directed to the port and starboard.
- the 360 degree rotatable thruster there have been developed the Z-peller propeller and the like thrusters.
- these thrusters have a structure such that the propeller thereof projects downwards from the bottom of the ship, they are disadvantageous in that their use is largely restricted in depth of water in shallow sea, particularly near quay and hence are not widely used.
- an azimuth thruster for a ship, including: an outboard housing mounted within a substantially conical recess to turn about a vertically axis, the conical recess formed in the bottom of a hull of the ship to converge upwards; a turning unit, mounted to the hull, for turning the outboard housing about the vertical axis; a propeller shaft rotatably supported by the outboard housing to cross the vertical axis of the outboard housing with an acute angle; a propeller mounted on the lower end of the propeller shaft to be located outside the outboard housing and within the conical recess and to provide a thrust upwards in the direction of the propeller shaft; and a propulsion unit for rotating the propeller shaft.
- reference numeral 10 designates a hull of a ship, in the bottom 12 of which is formed a conical, more exactly, frustoconical recess 14 which converge upwards.
- a cylindrical casing 16 vertically passes through a frame 18, which defines the top of the frustoconical recess 14, and is supported in a conventional watertight manner by the frame 18 to be rotatable about its axis.
- 78 and 82 indicate bearing members and sealing member respectively.
- the cylindrical casing 16 has at its top a worm gear 20 integrally and concentrically formed with it, the worm gear 20 engaging a worm 22 which forms part of an outboard housing turning unit 23 mounted on the frame 18 within a thruster room 25.
- the cylindrical casing 16 is rotated by a hydraulic oil motor 60 (FIG. 3) through the worm 22 and the worm gear 20.
- an outboard housing 26 which has a hollow tubular portion 28 and a propeller shaft supporting portion 30 integrally formed with the tubular portion 28 and having a teardrop or streamline shape.
- the tubular portion 28 of the outboard housing 26 is concentrically and watertightly bolted to the lower end 24 of the cylindrical casing 16 as shown in FIG. 4.
- a vertical shaft 32 coaxially extends through and rotatably supported by the cylindrical casing 16 and the tubular portion 28 of the outboard housing 26 through bearing members 76 and 76, the vertical shaft 32 having an upper beveled gear 34 mounted at its upper end and a lower beveled gear 36 at its lower end.
- a propeller shaft 38 is rotatably supported by the propeller shaft supporting portion 30 of the outboard housing 26 through bearing members 74 and 74 to cross the axis of the vertical shaft 32 at an angle ⁇ .
- the lower end 40 of the propeller shaft 38 projects form the propeller shaft supporting portion 30 and has a propeller 42 mounted on it to provide a thrust upwards and in the direction of the axis of the propeller shaft 38.
- 80 designates a sealing member.
- the upper beveled gear 34 of the vertical shaft 32 engages a drive beveled gear 42 mounted on an output shaft 44 of a propulsion unit 46 and the lower beveled gear 36 engages a driven beveled gear 48 mounted on an upper end portion 50 of the propeller shaft 38.
- the driving force of the propulsion unit 46 is transmitted to the propeller shaft 38 through the output shaft 44, drive beveled gear 42, upper beveled gear 34, vertical shaft 32, lower beveled gear 36 and driven beveled gear 48, thereby rotating the propeller 42.
- actuation of the turning unit 23 rotates the cylindrical casing 16 and the outboard casing 26 to thereby turn the propeller 42 about the axis of the vertical shaft 32.
- the inclined angle a defined between the axis of the vertical shaft 32 and the propeller shaft 38 is set to 65° and the inclined angle formed between the wall of the recess 14 of the hull base line or the horizontal line H.B.L. is set to 25 0 .
- the angle a is generally in the range from 45° to 75° and the angle 8 is generally in the range from 15 0 to 45 0 .
- the shape of the recess 14 need not be exactly frustoconical, and may be substantially conical.
- the propulsion unit 46 includes a main engine 52, which is connected to the output shaft 44 through a clutch 54 which incorporates an oil hydraulic pump (not specifically shown) into it.
- the output shaft 44 is provided with an air brake 56 for preventing the rotation of the propeller 42 when the clutch 54 is disengaged.
- the turning unit 23 includes the oil hydraulic pump which is incorporated within the clutch 54, an oil hydraulic motor 60 (FIG. 3) actuated by the hydraulic pump, a cooler 62 for cooling the operating oil, a filter 64 for filtering the operating oil and an oil pump 66 for lubricating rotating portions of the unit.
- the rotation of the oil hydraulic motor 60 is transmitted through the worm 22, the worm gear 20, and the cylindrical casing 16 to the outboard housing 26.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a state in which the propeller 42 is directed toward the stern (to the left).
- the propulsion unit 46 is actuated in this state, the propeller 42 is, as previously described, rotated to thereby produce a thrust at the same angle as the inclined angle a, that is, a thrust directed upwards and parallel to the axis of the propeller shaft 38.
- the ship is propelled to the right in FIG. 1.
- FIG. 2 shows the outboard housing 26 turned 90° from the position in FIG. 1.
- the outboard housing 26 may be rotated 360° or more and equal thrust is obtained at any turned position of the outboard housing 26.
- the number and dimensions of the straightening plates 70 depend on dimensions of the propeller 42 but the straightening plates 70 are not necessarily provided.
- the driven beveled gear 48 may be mounted on the propeller shaft 38 as indicted by the phantom line in FIG. 4, in which case the lower beveled gear 36 is modified to engage the driven beveled gear indicated by the phantom line.
- Various combinations of toothed wheels other than toothed wheels shown in the drawings or other transmission means may be adopted.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an azimuth thruster for use in ships, the azimuth thruster being mounted to ships together with a screw for improving maneuverability.
- Heretofore, the thruster for ships is mounted to the bow or stern other than the screw. Most conventional thrusters are a type of the tunnel type oneway thruster directed to the port and starboard. As the 360 degree rotatable thruster, there have been developed the Z-peller propeller and the like thrusters. However, since these thrusters have a structure such that the propeller thereof projects downwards from the bottom of the ship, they are disadvantageous in that their use is largely restricted in depth of water in shallow sea, particularly near quay and hence are not widely used.
- To avoid this disadvantage there is proposed a cone- jet thruster in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-35919, published on August 5, 1983, (corresponding to West German Patent Application No. P 2757454.5), in which a frustoconical casing, which is provided with a through water passage having a water inlet and outlet opening at the bottom thereof and directed obliquely downward, is rotatably received in a recess formed in the bottom of a ship, the casing having a propeller pump mounted within the water passage. However, this thruster is complicated in structure.
- Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 360 degree rotatable azimuth thruster which is less complicated in structure and is operable at a relatively small depth of water, particularly near quay.
- With these and other objects in view the present invention provides an azimuth thruster for a ship, including: an outboard housing mounted within a substantially conical recess to turn about a vertically axis, the conical recess formed in the bottom of a hull of the ship to converge upwards; a turning unit, mounted to the hull, for turning the outboard housing about the vertical axis; a propeller shaft rotatably supported by the outboard housing to cross the vertical axis of the outboard housing with an acute angle; a propeller mounted on the lower end of the propeller shaft to be located outside the outboard housing and within the conical recess and to provide a thrust upwards in the direction of the propeller shaft; and a propulsion unit for rotating the propeller shaft.
-
- FIG. 1 is a partial vertical section taken along the longitudinal direction of a ship, illustrating an azimuth thruster constructed according to the present invention;
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the turning unit in FIG. 1; and
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the azimuth thruster in FIG. 1.
- Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2,
reference numeral 10 designates a hull of a ship, in thebottom 12 of which is formed a conical, more exactly,frustoconical recess 14 which converge upwards. As clearly shown in FIG. 4, acylindrical casing 16 vertically passes through aframe 18, which defines the top of thefrustoconical recess 14, and is supported in a conventional watertight manner by theframe 18 to be rotatable about its axis. 78 and 82 indicate bearing members and sealing member respectively. Thecylindrical casing 16 has at its top aworm gear 20 integrally and concentrically formed with it, theworm gear 20 engaging aworm 22 which forms part of an outboardhousing turning unit 23 mounted on theframe 18 within athruster room 25. Thecylindrical casing 16 is rotated by a hydraulic oil motor 60 (FIG. 3) through theworm 22 and theworm gear 20. At thebottom end 24 of thecylindrical casing 16 there is provided anoutboard housing 26 which has a hollowtubular portion 28 and a propellershaft supporting portion 30 integrally formed with thetubular portion 28 and having a teardrop or streamline shape. Thetubular portion 28 of theoutboard housing 26 is concentrically and watertightly bolted to thelower end 24 of thecylindrical casing 16 as shown in FIG. 4. Avertical shaft 32 coaxially extends through and rotatably supported by thecylindrical casing 16 and thetubular portion 28 of theoutboard housing 26 through bearingmembers vertical shaft 32 having an upperbeveled gear 34 mounted at its upper end and a lowerbeveled gear 36 at its lower end. Apropeller shaft 38 is rotatably supported by the propellershaft supporting portion 30 of theoutboard housing 26 through bearingmembers vertical shaft 32 at an angle α. Thelower end 40 of thepropeller shaft 38 projects form the propellershaft supporting portion 30 and has apropeller 42 mounted on it to provide a thrust upwards and in the direction of the axis of thepropeller shaft 38. 80 designates a sealing member. The upperbeveled gear 34 of thevertical shaft 32 engages a drive beveledgear 42 mounted on anoutput shaft 44 of apropulsion unit 46 and the lowerbeveled gear 36 engages a drivenbeveled gear 48 mounted on anupper end portion 50 of thepropeller shaft 38. With such a construction, the driving force of thepropulsion unit 46 is transmitted to thepropeller shaft 38 through theoutput shaft 44, drivebeveled gear 42, upperbeveled gear 34,vertical shaft 32, lowerbeveled gear 36 and drivenbeveled gear 48, thereby rotating thepropeller 42. Further, actuation of the turningunit 23 rotates thecylindrical casing 16 and theoutboard casing 26 to thereby turn thepropeller 42 about the axis of thevertical shaft 32. - In this embodiment, the inclined angle a defined between the axis of the
vertical shaft 32 and thepropeller shaft 38 is set to 65° and the inclined angle formed between the wall of therecess 14 of the hull base line or the horizontal line H.B.L. is set to 250. The angle a is generally in the range from 45° to 75° and the angle 8 is generally in the range from 150 to 450. The shape of therecess 14 need not be exactly frustoconical, and may be substantially conical. - The
propulsion unit 46 includes amain engine 52, which is connected to theoutput shaft 44 through aclutch 54 which incorporates an oil hydraulic pump (not specifically shown) into it. Theoutput shaft 44 is provided with anair brake 56 for preventing the rotation of thepropeller 42 when theclutch 54 is disengaged. The turningunit 23 includes the oil hydraulic pump which is incorporated within theclutch 54, an oil hydraulic motor 60 (FIG. 3) actuated by the hydraulic pump, acooler 62 for cooling the operating oil, afilter 64 for filtering the operating oil and anoil pump 66 for lubricating rotating portions of the unit. The rotation of the oilhydraulic motor 60 is transmitted through theworm 22, theworm gear 20, and thecylindrical casing 16 to theoutboard housing 26. The rotation angle of theoutboard housing 26 is detected by aturning angle detector 68. Theoutboard housing 26 is provided at itstubular portion 28 and propellershaft supporting portion 30 with several fairing or straighteningplates 70. 72 designates a fixing plate integrally formed with each straighteningplate 70 for attaching it to theoutboard housing 26 and has a streamline shape. FIG. 1 illustrates a state in which thepropeller 42 is directed toward the stern (to the left). When thepropulsion unit 46 is actuated in this state, thepropeller 42 is, as previously described, rotated to thereby produce a thrust at the same angle as the inclined angle a, that is, a thrust directed upwards and parallel to the axis of thepropeller shaft 38. Thus, the ship is propelled to the right in FIG. 1. During this operation, water flows in the form of an arc along the wall of therecess 14 from the right to the left in FIG. 1. Since theoutboard housing 26 is provided with the straighteningplates 70, water flows to thepropeller 42 smoothly or less turbulently. Thus, the efficiency of thepropeller 42 is increased and the generation of cavitation is reduced. Further, the oscillation of thebottom 12 of the ship due to turbulent flow is reduced. - In order to change the direction of thrust of the
propeller 42, the turningunit 23 is actuated to thereby turn thepropeller 42 toward a desired direction together with theoutboard housing 26. FIG. 2 shows theoutboard housing 26 turned 90° from the position in FIG. 1. Theoutboard housing 26 may be rotated 360° or more and equal thrust is obtained at any turned position of theoutboard housing 26. - The number and dimensions of the
straightening plates 70 depend on dimensions of thepropeller 42 but thestraightening plates 70 are not necessarily provided. - The propulsion unit and the turning unit are not restricted to those shown in the drawings. For example, the driven
beveled gear 48 may be mounted on thepropeller shaft 38 as indicted by the phantom line in FIG. 4, in which case the lowerbeveled gear 36 is modified to engage the driven beveled gear indicated by the phantom line. Various combinations of toothed wheels other than toothed wheels shown in the drawings or other transmission means may be adopted. - While the invention has been disclosed in specific detail for purposes of clarity and complete disclosure, the appended claims are intended to include within their meaning all modifications and changes that come within the true scope of the invention.
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP59037203A JPS59171730A (en) | 1983-03-15 | 1984-02-27 | Interior finish structure |
JP37203/84 | 1984-03-15 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0159144A1 true EP0159144A1 (en) | 1985-10-23 |
EP0159144B1 EP0159144B1 (en) | 1989-06-07 |
Family
ID=12491023
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19850301833 Expired EP0159144B1 (en) | 1984-02-27 | 1985-03-15 | Azimuth thruster for use in ships |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0159144B1 (en) |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2179312A (en) * | 1985-08-19 | 1987-03-04 | Hollming Oy | Turnable propeller assembly |
GB2179903A (en) * | 1983-03-04 | 1987-03-18 | Kamewa Ab | A vessel having parallel hulls |
US7614926B2 (en) | 2005-11-30 | 2009-11-10 | Rolls-Royce Marine As | Means for bearing a propulsion unit and a propulsion system for a waterbourne vessel |
WO2012171594A1 (en) * | 2011-06-15 | 2012-12-20 | Schottel Gmbh | Hydraulic power bypass for rudder propeller drives |
US8968776B2 (en) | 2004-07-29 | 2015-03-03 | Ucb, Inc. | Composition comprising a benzimidazole and process for its manufacture |
CN106240738A (en) * | 2016-08-04 | 2016-12-21 | 福建省马尾造船股份有限公司 | A kind of installation method of all-direction propeller |
RU2610887C2 (en) * | 2011-11-18 | 2017-02-17 | Роллс-Ройс Аб | Method and device for reducing azimuthal torque affecting propulsion gondola unit or azimuthal maneuvering device |
US10384754B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2019-08-20 | Sangha Cho | Azimuth thruster system driven by cooperating prime movers and control method |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0035600A1 (en) * | 1980-02-27 | 1981-09-16 | Machinefabriek en Reparatiebedrijf Lips-Keller B.V. | A device for steering a ship |
-
1985
- 1985-03-15 EP EP19850301833 patent/EP0159144B1/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0035600A1 (en) * | 1980-02-27 | 1981-09-16 | Machinefabriek en Reparatiebedrijf Lips-Keller B.V. | A device for steering a ship |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2179903A (en) * | 1983-03-04 | 1987-03-18 | Kamewa Ab | A vessel having parallel hulls |
GB2179312A (en) * | 1985-08-19 | 1987-03-04 | Hollming Oy | Turnable propeller assembly |
US8968776B2 (en) | 2004-07-29 | 2015-03-03 | Ucb, Inc. | Composition comprising a benzimidazole and process for its manufacture |
US7614926B2 (en) | 2005-11-30 | 2009-11-10 | Rolls-Royce Marine As | Means for bearing a propulsion unit and a propulsion system for a waterbourne vessel |
NO335597B1 (en) * | 2005-11-30 | 2015-01-12 | Rolls Royce Marine As | Device for storing a propulsion unit and a propulsion unit for a marine vessel |
WO2012171594A1 (en) * | 2011-06-15 | 2012-12-20 | Schottel Gmbh | Hydraulic power bypass for rudder propeller drives |
RU2610887C2 (en) * | 2011-11-18 | 2017-02-17 | Роллс-Ройс Аб | Method and device for reducing azimuthal torque affecting propulsion gondola unit or azimuthal maneuvering device |
CN106240738A (en) * | 2016-08-04 | 2016-12-21 | 福建省马尾造船股份有限公司 | A kind of installation method of all-direction propeller |
CN106240738B (en) * | 2016-08-04 | 2018-05-29 | 福建省马尾造船股份有限公司 | A kind of installation method of all-direction propeller |
US10384754B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2019-08-20 | Sangha Cho | Azimuth thruster system driven by cooperating prime movers and control method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0159144B1 (en) | 1989-06-07 |
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