EP1885598B1 - Auxiliary drive device for ships - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an auxiliary drive device used as an auxiliary device for ships. Said device comprises at least one propulsion unit (11, 12) which acts both as a thruster and a driving mechanism and can be displaced in different positions inside the outer cross-sectional contour of the ship.

Description

The invention relates to an auxiliary drive device for ships according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such an auxiliary drive device with a Propulsionseinheit, which is movable into different positions inside and outside the hull is from the EP 0 950 005 B1 known.
The auxiliary drive device shown therein is either purely vertically from the hull down movable. This known drive device can also be used in the sense of a transverse thruster.
With regard to an auxiliary drive, in particular as a forward drive, this known drive device under the ship's bottom is extendable or pivotable. The pouring takes place in the midships plane, wherein in the swung-out state, a rotatability of the drive device about a vertical axis should be possible.
A disadvantage can be considered in this known auxiliary drive device that in the region of the ship's floor relatively large recesses for vertical movement or swiveling must be present, whereby the flow dynamics is significantly impaired.

Even more serious, however, appears that the auxiliary drive device can be used in the sense of an auxiliary drive only in one position, in which these below of the ship's bottom is placed. So a much larger draft of the ship has to be considered.
Since large container ships or tankers already have to reckon with low fairways, in particular in the harbor area, this known auxiliary drive device is scarcely usable in such ships and in relatively shallow running waters. But just there, the advantage of good maneuverability of big ships would be needed.

Other similar devices are for example from DE 1 136 907 , of the U.S. Patent 3,550,547 , of the U.S. Patent 5,522,335 , of the EP 1 512 623 A2 or the U.S. Patent 4,294,186 known.
Most of these known devices have the disadvantage that they must be extended for their operation below the bottom of the ship and thus in shallow waters, especially ports, can hardly be used.

A different kind of auxiliary drive is from the U.S. Patent 3,517,633 known. In this embodiment, the propulsion unit is indeed placed within the hull in the bow area and rotatable about a vertical axis. A disadvantage, however, is the insufficient flexibility with regard to a directional drive in this propulsion unit, since only one transverse channel and one longitudinal channel are provided. The mode of action in the longitudinal direction is also not efficient due to the almost downwardly directed exit region for the longitudinal channel.

From the WO 2004/050477 A is known a drive device for motor sport boats, which is composed of at least one outboard motor. This is arranged at the rear of the boat such that it can be transferred with a pendulum-like pivoting movement from a normal working position, which is located below the bottom of the ship, in a position which is located above the bottom of the ship. This reduces the depth of the sports boat.

Taking into account this prior art and the existing disadvantages, the invention has for its object to provide a suitable especially for large vessels auxiliary drive device, the significantly improves the maneuverability of the ship, which also applies to shallow waters and can also be used as an auxiliary drive or as an additional drive, eg to increase the speed.

This object is achieved according to the invention by an auxiliary drive device with the features of claim 1.

An essential core idea of the invention can be seen to not only improve the maneuverability of the ship in the transverse direction with an auxiliary drive device, but also to use this auxiliary drive device as a whole for improving maneuverability in the forward direction, if necessary, and also to provide this auxiliary drive device in its own To arrange working positions within the maximum cross-sectional plane of the ship, so that the normal draft of the ship determines the navigability of waters.

Another important idea is that the auxiliary drive device can perform a dual function, e.g. can be arranged as a transverse jet drive, bow or stern, and can also be used for different directional orientations for propulsion.

The drive device according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for large tanker or large container ships, as an auxiliary drive for problematic situations, with maneuvering forces, especially in the transverse and / or longitudinal direction of the ship, are required, and considered in shallow waters only the corresponding draft of the ship must become.

The invention can be realized in two essential alternatives.
On the one hand a pendulum-like suspension of one or more in the longitudinal direction of the ship in the midships plane usually successively arranged propulsion units is possible. The corresponding pendulum arrangement, which normally has only one propulsion unit, expediently as a drive nacelle with two drive propellers, can optionally be swung out only on one side. In an optimal embodiment, a swiveling on both sides within a pendulum box from a central stowage position in the midships plane both to starboard as well as to port outside the hull can be realized.
The overall device is expediently provided in the region of the narrower ship hull, in the bow or tail.
This makes it possible, on the one hand, to install a relatively short transverse channel in the bow region, which can be equipped with a sealing flap device on the hull for flow-related reasons.

For effect as a transverse thruster the auxiliary drive device can be used in the central position or stowed position, wherein advantageously an electromechanical or electromotive drive is provided.
As an auxiliary drive, in particular to support the propulsion, the auxiliary drive device is swung pendulum-like and the corresponding propulsion unit normally rotated by about 90 ° or more, so that a force effect is achieved substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel.

The propellers of the propulsion unit lie in this propulsion arrangement outside the hull, but still within the maximum cross-sectional plane of the ship. In this way, a high efficiency of the propulsion is achieved fluidically, without the maximum draft of the ship is still increased.

The propulsion units designed as drive gondolas are mounted rotatably, so that other angles of attack are also possible.

Instead of a single propulsion unit suspended by means of a pendulum arrangement, advantageously two successive propulsion units can be installed in the ship. This is done by means of a pendulum box, wherein a partition wall may be provided for the individual units.
Dual propulsion units in the narrow area of the bow increase auxiliary propulsion power, improve redundancy, and can also be used on one side of the vessel when needed.

Instead of the pendulum arrangement, the corresponding propulsion unit can be extended in an arcuate manner or substantially horizontally on or on a rail system, from a central stowed position to one side or both sides, similar to previously known transverse beam channels in such a transverse channel. After extension or unfolding of these propulsion units to the outside of the hull, the same function, as previously described, achievable.

Since, in spite of the size of today's Supermax tankers or container ships, only single-screw ships are usually used, such an auxiliary drive device significantly improves the safety and maneuverability of these ships.

The operation of the device according to the invention can therefore be on the one hand in the sense of a bow thruster or after swinging and swinging out as an auxiliary drive for additional maneuvering forces. Also for a reserve or emergency operation, eg for the return journey of a ship, the device can be used.
When using multiple auxiliary drive devices, these can understandably be controlled and operated separately.
When realized by means of a transverse track, the propulsion unit can be moved on or on horizontal or curved rails from a central storage position, with Ausklappsysteme secure the working position outside the protective cover.

The arbitrary rotation of the propulsion units, z. B. as drive gondolas, about 90 or more, improves maneuverability. When using several auxiliary drive devices, the safety is further increased by the redundancy drive. Two-sided provided propellers on corresponding drive gondolas improve the flow characteristics and thus the introduction of forces into the water.

Despite relatively small cross-section of the transverse channels or channels on the hull, end flaps or slides are preferred for fluidic reasons. These shutters are opened when using the Propulsionseinheiten outside the hull and set in a fluidically good location.
The pendulum box (s) are isolated for safety reasons.
When equipping the propulsion units with electromechanical or electrodynamic drive, this has the advantage that relatively small spaces for supplying the energy to the propulsion units are needed, with a high flexibility in the energy supply is also available in conventional ships.

The auxiliary drive device in the area of the propulsion unit can therefore be equipped with propellers or designed as a POT drive.

Fig. 1

einen partiellen Längsschnitt durch den Bugbereich eines Schiffes mit zwei hintereinander angeordneten Zusatzantriebs-Vorrichtungen;

Fig. 2

die schematische Darstellung des Schiffsbereiches nach Fig. 1 in einem horizontalen Schnitt, und

Fig. 3

die schematische Darstellung des Schiffsbereiches nach Fig. 1, 2 in einer vertikalen Querschnittsebene im Bereich der Zusatzantriebs-Vorrichtung.

The invention will now be illustrated by way of example with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a partial longitudinal section through the bow region of a ship with two successively arranged auxiliary drive devices;

Fig. 2

the schematic representation of the ship area after Fig. 1 in a horizontal section, and

Fig. 3

the schematic representation of the ship area after Fig. 1, 2 in a vertical cross-sectional plane in the area of the auxiliary drive device.

FIG. 1 shows in a simplified representation of the bow area 2 of a ship 1, wherein the horizontal lines provided in the region of the bead bow 3 and the ship bottom 6 approximately in the water lines 35 show.
Encapsulated in the area of the bow 2, the auxiliary drive device 10 is provided, which in this example has two successively arranged propulsion units 11 and 12.

These propulsion units 11, 12 are arranged within a partitioned drive box 31, which may be divided by a dividing wall 32 into two separate chambers.
The propulsion units 11, 12 are in this case pivotally mounted in the pendulum axis 15 extending approximately in the midships plane.

The drawing shown in the manner of a horizontal section through the bow area 2 FIG. 2 shows the contours of the water lines 35 with the narrow Bülstbug 3, which widens transiently aft in the hull.
In this relatively narrow, front area of the ship 1, the two pendulum boxes 31 are sealed and provided sealed off from the hull.
The same reference numerals designate the same technical details.
In this horizontal view to FIG. 2 are the two transverse channels 27 can be seen, the control and port side corresponding openings, in approximately circular or slightly elliptical nature, in the outer wall of the hull 5 have. These openings are suitably closed by flaps 28 and opened.

The corresponding transverse channel 27 of the auxiliary drive device 10 is, as in FIG. 3 clearly recognizable, provided in the case of a pendulum assembly 14 arc segment-like.
In the case of attachment of the corresponding propulsion unit 11, 12 with a rail-like suspension or support, the transverse web 16 can also extend substantially horizontally.

In FIG. 3 schematically the pendulum box 31 is shown with broken lines, which merges outwardly into the corresponding contour of the hull 5 and the lower region can form the conclusion of the transverse channel 27. In FIG. 3 is shown in hatching plane 8 in hatched representation of the pendulum assembly 14 in its stowage position 19. This stowage position also represents the bearing arrangement, in which the corresponding propulsion unit can be used as a transverse thruster 18.

In the case of two propulsion units 11, 12 (arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the ship 1) Fig. 1 ) can z. Example, the one propulsion unit 11 on the one hand, to starboard, be swung over the hull 5, while the other propulsion unit 12 are swung to port. The corresponding propulsion unit 11, which is designed as a drive nacelle, is then rotated, as indicated by the arrow 39, at least by 90. In this then reached position, a propulsion or a reverse-acting force can be achieved by the propellers of the propulsion unit 11 and 12, respectively.

The illustrated in "black" pendulum assembly 14 with propulsion unit 12 is in the example after FIG. 3 z. B. swung out to port. The pendulum is indicated for this case below the ship's bottom 6 with arrow to the right / left.
Appropriately, a concept with swiveling or mobility of the propulsion units is provided on both sides of the ship.

In the embodiment of the auxiliary drive device 10 with two propulsion units 11, 12, these can, as in the example according to FIG. 3 shown in the swung-out arrangement are very well used as auxiliary drives for the ship 1. The appropriate Rotationsbzw. Angular position and orientation of the propeller axes of the propulsion units depends here on the outer contour of the hull 5 and is adjustable according to the requirements. Thus, a transverse beam effect for the bow area of the ship can also be achieved outside the hull or a flow dynamic adjusted propulsive action can be adjusted taking into account the course of the hull in this area.

The invention is therefore advantageously suitable for ships, in particular screw-in boats, which must have a high safety standard and must be maneuvered well in shallow waters.

Claims (11)

1. Auxiliary drive unit (10) for ships (1),
   having at least one propulsion unit (11, 12), at least one working position being provided outside the ship's hull (5) above the ship's bottom (6),
   characterized in that
   the auxiliary drive unit (10) can be moved into several positions inside and outside the ship's hull (5),
   that the propulsion unit (11, 12) is arranged in pendulum-like or transverse path-like manner substantially at right angles to the centreline plane (8) in the vicinity of the latter and
   that the propulsion unit (11, 12) is displaceable at least to one side of the ship (1) by means of the pendulum arrangement (14) or transverse path (16) up to at least one working position outside the ship's hull (5).
2. Auxiliary drive unit according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the action direction of the propulsion unit (11, 12) relative to the arrangement in the centreline plane (8) in the arrangement outside the ship's hull (5) is rotatable by at least 90° (39).
3. Auxiliary drive unit according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   two or more propulsion units (11, 12) are arranged successively in the longitudinal direction of the ship (1).
4. Auxiliary drive unit according to one of the claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that
   the propulsion unit (11, 12) or propulsion units are provided in the bow region (2) and/or stern region of the ship (1).
5. Auxiliary drive unit according to one of the claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that
   the propulsion unit (11, 12) or propulsion units can be displaced or swung out to either side of ship (1).
6. Auxiliary drive unit according to one of the claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that
   the propulsion unit can be used as a side thruster (18) or as a drive in the longitudinal direction of the ship.
7. Auxiliary drive unit according to one of the claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that
   the propulsion unit is designed as drive gondolas (23), with in particular bilateral propellers (24), and is rotatable with respect to the pendulum axis (38) or transverse path axis.
8. Auxiliary drive unit according to one of the claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that
   in the vicinity of the pendulum path or transverse path the ship's hull (5) has terminal flaps (28).
9. Auxiliary drive unit according to one of the claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in that
   in the case of a pendulum arrangement one or more separate pendulum boxes (31) are provided, more particularly in compartmentalized manner, over an arcuate segment of roughly 90° or more in the ship (1).
10. Auxiliary drive unit according to one of the claims 1 to 9,
    characterized in that
    the propulsion unit or units (11, 12) are provided afterwards to bow (2) or bulb bow (3) and/or in the stern bulb.
11. Auxiliary drive unit according to one of the claims 1 to 10,
    characterized in that
    the propulsion unit (11, 12) is driven electrodynamically.

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