EP0734340A1

EP0734340A1 - A propeller driving mechanism for marine vessels

Info

Publication number: EP0734340A1
Application number: EP95919248A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Allan HAGSTRÖM
Original assignee: Motala Verkstad AB
Current assignee: Motala Verkstad AB
Priority date: 1993-12-17
Filing date: 1994-12-16
Publication date: 1996-10-02
Also published as: FI962498A; SE9304190L; AU1286995A; FI962498A0; NO962522L; NO962522D0; WO1995016605A1; SE503426C2; SE9304190D0; JPH09506575A

Abstract

The invention concerns a device in propeller driving mechanisms (5) of marine vessels of the kind in which the propeller blades (6) are arranged to be turned into various angular positions to alter the angle of attack of said propeller blades (6) with respect to the water. Between a vessel drive motor and the propeller mechanism (5) is coupled a propeller shaft (1), the latter being flexible or articulated to allow steering movements (yawing) of the vessel and/or trim movements in the vertical plane by turning the section (3) of the propeller shaft closest to the propeller drive mechanism (5) towards the starboard or the port side and/or in the vertical plane.

Description

A PROPELLER DRIVING MECHANISM FOR MARINE VESSELS

The subject invention concerns a propeller driving mechanism for marine vessels. Several constructions are known according to which a propeller of a water-bore vessel is made pivotable to allow yawing movements towards port or starboard. From e.g. US Patent Specification 2 956 536 is known a mechanism according to which the propeller drive means is connected to the propeller shaft via a ball joint en¬ closing a universal joint and being pivotable around said ball joint by means of cables attached to an actuating arm.

From US Patent Specification 3 430 603 is further known a device according to which the propeller shaft is provided with a simple cardan joint and the propeller is movable along a semi-circular arc in order to achieve a steering function.

From US Patent Specification 3 919 965 is further known a device according to which the propeller drive housing is connected to the propeller shaft via a re¬ silient joint allowing the propeller drive housing to pivot relatively to the propeller shaft to steer a vessel. All these prior art devices concern only propellers having stationary blades. At the same time all prior-art propellers having adjustable blades are connected only to rigid propeller shaft, and thus the steering function is performed with the aid of rudders.

The subject invention suggests a device for perform- ing the steering functions (yawing movements) of a pro¬ peller drive mechanism having propeller blades that are arranged to be turned in various angular positions to change the angle of attack of the propeller blades with respect to the water. The characterizing features of this device are defined in the appended claims. The invention will be explained in closer detail in the following with reference to the enclosed drawing figures, wherein

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, shown partly in section, of a propeller shaft, which is articulated by means of a double universal joint, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, which on an enlarge scale and partly in section shows said double universal joint. The construction illustrated in the drawing figures is one example of how to solve the problem of combining propellors having adjustable propeller blades and a flex¬ ible propeller shaft. In accordance with the embodiment shown this propeller shaft 1 consists of two sections or part members 2,3. Section 2 is^' connected to a drive motor, not shown, and is joined to one side of a double universal joint 4 which at the opposite joint side is joined to member 3, the latter being connected to a propeller hub 5 having adjustable propeller blades 6. The connection to the drive motor is shown in Fig. 1 in a simplified version including a drive gear 7 meshing with a cog wheel 8 which is non-rotationally connected to the propeller shaft 1.

In accordance with the embodiment shown it is assumed that the propeller drive mechanism 5 is adjustable with the aid of a pressure medium. For this reason, a flexible medium supply line 9 and a flexible medium return line 10 extend through the propeller shaft 1, from a regulating valve 11 up to the respective one of swivels 12, 13 posi¬ tioned in the propeller driv mechanism 5 and conducting pressure medium further to a regulating means, not shown, for turning the propeller blades 6 in a manner known per se. As illustrated, the line 9 preferably extends coaxially through the line 10.

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing figures a tube 14 further extends through the member 2 of the propeller shaft 1, between a bracket 15, only suggested in the drawing figures, and the pivots 16 and 17 of the double universal joint 4 on one side thereof. From the pivots 18, 19 of the universal joint 4 at the opposite side thereof a second tube extends 20 through member 3 of the propeller shaft 1, into the propeller drive mechanism 4 wherein it is supported in a bearing 21 housed therein.

Each double pivot 16, 17 and 18, 19 respectively is arranged to perform turning movements about a spherical bearing 22 (only one is shown in Fig. 2). Through an aperture 23 formed in an universal joint 4 a tubular piece 24 extends intermediate the two tubes 14 and 20. Each end of said tubular piece 24 is formed with oppositely posi¬ tioned tongues 25 extending into the end of the tube 20 (and of tube 14 respectively) in the spherical bearing 22. The tongues 25 form prolongations of the tubular piece 24 and are secured to pivot pins 26 (only one shown in Fig. 2) located on the imaginary center line 27 of the bearing 22.

The tubes 14 and 20 and the tubular piece 24 inter- connecting them form a stationary, i.e. non-rotational part of the construction. The lines 9 and 10 extend coaxi- ally through the tube 14, the tubular piece 24 and the tube 20 and these parts in turn extend coaxially through the entire propeller shaft 1. With a propeller shaft 1 constructed in the manner described it becomes possible, during operation, to turn element 3 in the direction of arrow 28 or that of arrow 29 in order to achieve yawing movements of a marine vessel while at the same time the propeller blades 6 are adjust- able for angular changes or for direction changes from motion ahead to reverse, or vice versa.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and described but may be varied in many ways within the scope of the appended claims. The medium supply lines 9 and 10, for instance, could extend in parallel inside the tubes 14 and 20 and the tubular piece 24 or could be formed as drilled channels. The propeller blades 6 may instead be operated pneumatically or electrically in which latter case the lines 9 and 10 are replaced by cables.

The pivot pin 26 may be arranged in an oval aperture formed in the lenghtwise direction of the tubular piece 24 in order to compensate for lengthwise tolerance deviations during rotational movements of the propeller shaft 1 and simultaneous swinging outwards of element 3.

Alternatively, the embodiment shown including the pivot pin 26 could be replaced by a cardan joint of the type used for instance in compass gyros or a globe, i.e. a cardan joint having an open centre. Owing to this arrange¬ ment a propulsion device could be set in angular positions deviating from the the centre line of the propeller shaft 1 also in the vertical plane.

Claims

1. A device in the propeller driving mechanism (5) of marine vessels in which driving mechanism (5) the pro¬ peller blades (6) are arranged to be turned into various angular positions to alter the angle of attack of said propeller blades (6) with respect to the water, c h a r¬ a c t e r i z e d in that between a vessel drive motor and the propeller mechanism (5) is coupled a propeller shaft comprising two sections (2, 3), one (2) of which is connected to the drive motor and the other one (3) to the propeller mechanism (5), said shaft sections intercon¬ nected by means of a double joint (4) to allow steering movements (yawing) of the vessel and/or trim movements in the vertical plane by turning the section (3) of the propeller shaft closest to the propeller drive mechanism towards the starboard or the port side and/or in the vertical plane, and in that through said two sections (2, 3) and the double joint (4) extend either lines (9, 10) for supply of medium, allowing setting of the angular position of the propeller blades (6) either hydraulically or pneumatically, or electrical lines supplying electric energy, allowing setting of said propeller-blade angular positions electrically.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that each pivot (16, 17 and 18, 19 resp. ) in the double joint (4) is arranged to turn about a spherical bearing (22), and in that a stationary tube (14 and 20 respectively) extends coaxially through each section (2, 3) of the propeller shaft 1, one end of said tubes being positioned inside one of the spherical bear¬ ings (22), and in that the medium lines (9, 10) or the electrical lines extend through both tubes (14, 20) and the double joint positioned therebetween.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that a tubular piece (24) extends intermediate the ends of the tubes (14, 20) positioned inside the spherical bearings (22) and through the double joint (4), said tubular piece (24) being provided with or formed with a pair of oppositely positioned tongues ex¬ tending in the lengthwise direction of the tubular piece (24), said tongues penetrating into the above mentioned end of each tube (14, 20) and being secured therein to pivot pins (26) positioned on the imaginary center line (27) of the respective bearings (22), and in that both medium lines (9, 10) and the electrical lines extend through both stationary tubes (14, 20) and the tubular piece (24) positioned therebetween.