GB2381783A

GB2381783A - Electric pump marine drive system

Info

Publication number: GB2381783A
Application number: GB0301885A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Mervyn Booth; Patricia Ann Booth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-01-28
Filing date: 2003-01-28
Publication date: 2003-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-28
Also published as: GB2381783A8; GB0301885D0; GB2381783B

Abstract

A vessel has a marine drive system comprising two water pumps and two flow channels, each channel having an inlet at the front of the vessel and an outlet at the rear of the vessel, one pump being positioned in each flow channel. Each pump comprises a tubular housing 1 having a rubber vaned drive shaft 4 and 6 mounted along the central longitudinal axis of the housing. The housing also has an inlet and an outlet positioned on opposite sides of the housing and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The drive shafts of each pump are connected to a separate electric motor (2, Fig 1) and the housing inlets and outlets are connected to respective parts of their flow channel, such that water flows in through the flow channel inlets, enters the pump housing inlets, is carried by the rotating vanes to the pump housing outlets and is then forced out of the flow channel outlets to propel the vessel.

Description

ELECTRO POWERED HYDROVAIN MARINE DRIVE UNIT DESCRIPTION 1] ELECTRO POWERED HYDROVAIN MARINE DRIVE UNIT IS FOR COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE USE, IETHER FOR SMALL MARINE CRUISERS OR FOR LARGE COMMERCIAL SHIPPING, FEFER TO FIG 4. z THE ELECTRO POWERED HYDRO VAIN REPLACES THE CONVENTIONAL MARINE ENGINE, IT IS POWERED BY ELECTRICAL MOTORS, REFER TO FIG I. NUMBER 2.

3] ELECTRO POw"ERED HYDROV AIN PROVIDES PROPULSION THROUGH POWERFUL 3] ELECTRO POWERED HYDROVIRNT DELIVERY OF WATER, DRAWN IN FROM THE SUROUNDING RIVER OR SEA THROUGH INTAKES FROM THE OUTER HULL, DELIVERED TO THE HYDRO VAIN THROUGH PIPEWORK TO THE HYDROVAIN UNIT, REFER TO FIG 4. NUMBER l. ALSO THIS HAS INCORPERATED AT THE INTAKES AND AT THE OUTLET THROUGH THE STERN OF THE BOAT OR SHIP HYDRAULIC VALVES WHICH CAN BE CLOSED IF NEEDED, REFER TO FIG 4, NUMBER 2.

4] THE HYDRO VAIN HOUSING IS MADE FROM CAST MATERIAL, MACHINED INTERNALY TO MAKE SURE IT IS COMPLETELY ROUND. REFER TO FIG 2, NUMBER l. THIS ALSO HAS AT THE TOP A MANUAL VALVE TO ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO BE PURGED OF AIR WHEN NEW OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT, REFER TO FIG 2 NUMBER 11, THE HYDRO VAIN IS FITTED WITH A NUMBER OF THICK PLATES WHICH ARE WELDED TO A CENTRE TUBE, THIS TUBE HAS TO BE CASE HARDENED, IT IS SPLINED SO AS TO BE ABLE TO LINE UP TO THE SPLICED SHAFT WHICH MUST ALSO BE HARDENED, REFER TO FIG 2 NUMBER 4 WHICH TURNS THE UNIT, AT THE TOP OF EACH PLATE IS FITTED WATER RESILIANT SYNTHETIC RUBBER PADS, REFER TO FIG 2, NUMBER 6 AND 7, THESE ENSURE MAXIMUM WATER IS PUSHED THROUGH FROM THE INTAKE PASSING TO THE OUTLETS.

5J FITTED AT THE ENDS OF THE HOUSING IS THE END CAPS, THESE ARE BOLTED TO THE FLANGE AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSING REFER TO FIG 2, NUMBER 1, AT THE END ON WHICH THE ELECTRIC MOTORS LINE UP WITH, THIS END CAP IS FLAT. IT HAS TO HAVE FITTED A WATER TIGHT SEAL, WHICH CAN STAND UPTO HIGH SPEED AT

ING TI-IER IS WHICH THE SHAFT WILL TURN, ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CASTING THERE IS ALLOWANCE FOR A LARGE TAPERED BEARING FIGURE 2 NUMBER 12, WHICH IS AN ADDED SUPPORT FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT WHICH FITS THROUGH THE CENTRE OF THE BEARING, THIS IS LOCKED IN PLACE BY A WASHER THEN A LOCK NUT AS IN FIGURE 2 NUMBER 13 & 14 WITH A LARGE SPLIT PIN PASSING THROUGH THE SHAFT AS IN FIGURE 2 NUMBER 16. ENSURING THE LOCK NUT CANNOT UNDO WITH ANY VIBRATION, AT THE OTHER END THERE IS AN EXTRA PLATE FITTED FIGURE 2 NUMBER 9, BETWEEN THE HOUSING AND OUTER PLATE. THE OUTER PLATE ALSO HAS A LARGE TAPERED BEARING FITTED THIS IS TO HELP SUPPORT THE VERY HEAVY HYDROVAIN SHAFT, AND AS WEAR OCCURS WITH THE PHOSFEROUSE BRONZE BUSHES INTERNALLY THESE TAPERED BEARINGS CAN TAKE OUT ANY UNDUE MOVEMENT WHICH MAY APPEAR, THE THRUST WASHER WHICH IS FITTED ON THE INSIDE IS TO TAKE UP ANY SIDE PLAY WHICH MAY OCCUR, REFER TO FIG 2, NUMBER 8 AND 8A, THE DRIVE HAFT FITS INTO THE END CAP, THROUGH A PHOSFEROUS BUSH OR ANY SUITABLE MATERIAL WHICH MAY BE PREFERRED. REMEMBERING THAT THIS PAKT OF THE UNIT IS EXPOSED TO CONSTANT WATER, REFER TO FIG 2, NUMBER 6A & 6B, ALSO AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CASTING IS AN OUTLET, WHICH A GATE VALVE IS FITTED TO ALLOW DRAINAGE IF REPAIRS NEED TO BE CARRIED OUT, REFER TO FIG 2 NUMBER 10.

6] THE HYDROVAIN HAS ALLOWANCES TO BE CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRIC MOTOR BY A DRIVE GEAR WHICH IS SPLINED TO MATCH THE SPLINE ON THE END OF THE SHAFT EXPOSED OUTSIDE OF THE END PLATE, REFER TO FIG 3. NUMBER 4, THIS HAS A THREADED END FOR A WASHER AND LOCKING NUT, REFER TO FIG 3, NUMBER 8 AND 9-THERE IS ALSO A THREADED HOLE IN THE CASTING FOR A BOLTS. REFER TO FIG 3, NUMBER 6AND 7, THIS IS FOR AN INTERMEDIATE GEAR TO FIT BETWEEN THE GEAR ON THE END OF THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AND THE HYDROVAIN SHAFT. IT IS POSSIBLE TO INCREASE THE OUTPUT FROM THE HYDROVAIN BY ALTERING THE AMOUNT OF

TEETH THE GEARHAS, REFER TO FIG 3, NUMBER 3 AND 5. THIS ALTERS THE RATIO.

7] THE HYDRO VAINE IS FITTED IN PLACE WITHIN A CRADLE TO ENS1 IRE THAT AT NO TIME ANY MOVEMENT IS POSSIBLE, REFER TO FIG 3 NUMBER 10.

8] ONCE THE HYDROVAIN IS INSTALLED, IT HAS FITTED THE INLET AND OUTLET CASTINGS REFER TO FIG 2 NUMBER 5. THESE ARE ANGLED INTERNALLY AT APROXIMATELY 35% THE INLET AND THE OUTLET OPENINGS SHOULD BE APROXIMATELY AT THE SAME LEVEL, REFER TO FIG 5, NUMBER l, THIS ALSO SHOW THE TRAVEL OF WATER THROUGH THE SYSTEM, REMEMBER THE IMPELLER IS TRAVELLING AT AROUND 5. 500RPM, OR MORE IF REQUIRED.

9] THE HYDROVAIN SYSTEM IS SHOWN, REFER TO FIG 4, NUMBER I, AS YOU CAN SEE IT

& N f'X7 T TD-D HAS A CROSS OVER SYSTEM BUILT INTO IT FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES ONLY, THERE ARE A SYSTEM OF HYDRAULIC VALVES BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM TO ALLOW FOR OPPOSITE FEEDS OF WATER IF THE NEEDS ARISES, REFER TO FIG 4, NUMBERS 3-4-5-6-7 8-9-10-11-12. ALL THESE VALVES ISOLATE SECTIONS OF THE WATER TUBES, ALSO AT THE REAR SECTION OF THE OUTLET OF THE REAR TUBE THIS IS DECREASED IN SIZE, THIS COMPRESSES THE WATER AS IT IS ABOUT TO BE EXHAUSTED, AS IN FIGURE 5 NUMBER 2THIS DESIGN INCREASES THE PRESSURE, WHICH INCREASES THRUST, AS THE WATER IS EXPELLED, FITTED ABOVE IS A DEFLECTOR PLATE, THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE EXPELLED WATER IS FORCED DOWNWARD, NOT ALLOWING ANY UPWARD MOVEMENT, THIS IS SO THE PRESSURE OF WATER IS PUSHING AGAINST THE DEEPER AREAS BELOW THE SURFACE WHICH ALSO GIVES FURTHER THRUST FORWARD,

REFER TO FIG 4, NUMBER 3, AT THE FRONT OF THE SYSTEM THE INLET IS SET FLAT Tt Ts Ass, TT sTzj ITYE cLT A DE OF ATYE sU1TuTT T,, TTO\I, TER, 7T, wR sTaTg TS A TJST BE FIT TED l. X, iTs, TH INLINE WITH THE SHAPE OF THE HULL, HOWEVER THIS MUST BE FITTED WITH STRONG BARS AT CLOSE DISTANCE TO EACH OTHER. THIS IS TO STOP ANY FORIEGN STRONG BARS AT CLOSE DISTANCE TO EACH OTH-El, TIUS IS TO STOP ANY FORIEGN OBJECT BEING SUCKED INTO THE SYSTEM, ALSO ADDED PROTECTION FOR MARINE MAMMALS WHICH FOLLOW SHIPS, REFER TO FIG 4, NUMBER 13.

10] THE ELECTRIC MOTORS WHICH DRIVE THE HYDRO VAIN UNIT ARE FIXED TO A SUPPORT FRAME, THIS FRAME HAS ANOTHER FRAME FITTED ON TOP OF THE LOWER ONE THESE FRAMES HAVE ROLLERS FITTED TO THEM, REFER TO FIG 5, NUMBER 5, THE REASON FOR THIS IS SO AN ADDITIONAL ELECTRIC MOTOR CAN BE PLACED FURTHER BACK ALONG THE FRAME, IF A MOTOR FAILS IT CAN BE UNCOUPLED, AND THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE FRAME ARE UNDONE, THIS ALLOWS THE MOTOR TO BE MOVED NOT ONLY BACK AWAY FROM THE HYDRO VAIN DRIVE BUT TO ONE SIDE. BEING ON ROLLERS MAKES THE TASK EASY, THE SPARE MOTOR IS THEN MOVED INTO POSITION.

BOLTS ARE UNDONE AND MOVED FORWARDTO BE COUPLED UPTO THE HYDRO VAIN, UNIT REFER TO FIG 5, NUMBER 4. AS ARROWED.

11] THE HYDROVAIN POWER DRIVE WILL NEED TO HAVE THE INTERNAL CAST COATED WITH A PROTECTIVE COATING WHICH IS RESILIANT TO SEA WATER. ALSO THE INTERNAL NETWORK OF PIPES, ALTHOUGH THIS IS AN EXTRA COST IT WILL PROVE INVALUABLE IN THE LONG TERM AS SERVICE WORK WILL NOT BE NEEDED AS OFTEN.

IT WILL STOP CORROSION WHICH CAST IRON SUFFERS WITH IN THE LONG TERM.

Claims

ELECTRO POWERED HYDROVAIN MARINE DRIVE UNIT THE MAIN FEATURE OF THE ELECTRO HYDROVAIN MARINE DRIVE UNIT IS THE UNIT ITSELF IT COMPRISES OF A ROUND CAST CYLINDER WITH INLET AND OUTLET PORTS. IT HAS ALSO

T, NI CAST INDUCTION PIPE CONNECTIONS IETHER SIDE FOR THE SERIES OF PIPEWORK TO CONNECT TO, AT THE TOP IS A BLOW OFF VALVE TO ALLOW AIR TO BE RELEASED, BEFORE AND AFTER REPAIRS, INTERNALLY IS A SERIES OF PLATES WHICH HAVE WATER RESILIENT PADS FITTED TO THE TOP OF EACH PLATE, THESE PLATES ARE WELDED TO A CENTRE SHAFT WHICH FITS TO A SPLINE SHAFT WHICH CONNECTS TO GEARING WHICH IN TURN CONNECTS TO THE ELECTRIC DRVE MOTORS, THE OUTER OF THE DRIVE PLATES IS WELDED CIRCULAR PLATES TO TIE THE WHOLE DRIVE PLATES TOGETHER, THIS ALSO REINFORCES THE UNIT, AT THE BOTTOM IS ALSO A LARGE DRAIN VALVE FOR EMPTYING THE HYDRO VAIN OF WATER WHEN REPAIRS NEED TO BE CARRIED OUT, THE SYSTEM OF PIPEWORK HAS BUILT INTO IT A SERIES OF HYDRAULIC SHUT OFF VALVES FOR BOTH EMERGENCIES AND FOR SECTIONAL REPAIR WORK. THE INDUCTION PIPE IS INLINE WITH THE OUTER HULL, THE STERN OUTLET IS TAPERED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CREATE A BUILD UP OF PRESSURE FOR ADDED OUTLET DRIVE, AT THE STERN IS TWO DEFLECTER PLATES POINTING AT A DOWNWARD POSITION TO DEFLECT THE WATER BEING EXPELLED FROM THE OUTLET TUBES, THESE UNITS HAVE TO BE FITTED IN PAIRS AS THEY ARE CAPABLE OF NOT ONLY PROPELLING THE SHIP BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO STEAR BY USE OF THE CONTROL LEVERS IN THE BRIDGE THESE CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE ELECTRIC MOTORS, THE MOTORS ARE POWERED BY THE SHIPS GENERATORS.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1 A VESSEL HAVING A MARINE DRIVE SYSTEM COMPRISING TWO HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS AND TWO FLOW CHANNELS, EACH CHANNEL HAVING AN INLET AT THE FRONT OF THE VESSEL, AND AN OUTLET AT THE REAR OF THE VESSEL, ONE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP BEING POSITIONED IN EACH FLOW CHANNEL, WHEREIN EACH HIGH PRESSURE PUMP COMPRISES A TUBULAR HOUSING MADE FROM CAST MATERIAL, SEALED AT BOTH ENDS AND HAVING A DRIVE SHAFT MOUNTED ALONG THE CENTRAL LONGTITUDE AXIS OF THE HOUSING, THE SHAFT HAVING A NUMBER OF VANES WITH WATER RESILIENT THICK PADS FITTED ONTO THE TOP OF THEM, EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY OUT FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INTERNAL WALL OF THE HOUSING, AND THE HOUSING HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET POSITIONED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HOUSING AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE HOUSING, THE DRIVE SHAFTS OF EACH HIGH PRESSURE PUMP BEING CONNECTED TO A SEPARATE ELECTRIC MOTOR AND THE HOUSING INLET AND OUTLET BEING CONNECTED TO RESPECTIVE PARTS OF THEIR FLOW CHANNELS SUCH THAT WATER FLOWS IN THROUGH THE FLOW CHANNEL

INLETS ENTERS THE PUM HE N NE INLETS ENTERS THE PUMP HOUSING INLETS, IS CARRIED BY THE ROTATING VANES TO THE PUMP HOUSING OUTLETS AND IS THEN FORCED OUT OF THE FLOW CHANNEL OUTLET TO PROPEL THE VESSEL.

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CLAIM 2 -------------WI-T i nu I AS WHEREIN THE INLET CHANNELS ARE FITTED WITH A SERIES OF HYDRAULIC SHUT OFF VALVES AS ARE THE OUTLET CHANNELS ALSO SIGHTED AT VARIOUS POINTS WITHIN THE FLOW CHANNELS.

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CLAIMS 3 -----------------SOT AS WHEREIN THE PUMPS HOUSING HAS FITTED AT THE TOP A VALVE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF RELEASING AIR FROM WITHIN THE HOUSING, ALSO AT THE BOTTOM OF THE END PLATE IS FITTED A LARGE DRAIN VALVES FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING DRAINAGE FROM WITHIN THE HOUSING.

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CLAIMS 4 CLAIMS4 - ------.,. ---------- AS WHEREIN THE WATER CHANNELS HAVE FITTED AT THE OUTLET OF THE VESSEL A SPECIFIC SHAPED OUTLET WHICH ALLOWS COMPRESSION OF THE FLOW OF WATER BEING DELIVERED FROM THE OUTLET OF THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP FROM WITHIN.

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CLAIMS 5 AS WHEREIN THE ELECTRO POWERED HYDROVAIN MARINE DRIVE UNIT IS ABLE TO iE i -, OPERATE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, BEING ABLE TO DRAW WATER INTO THE OUTLET AND EXPELL FROM THE INLET CREATING A WATER BRAKE IN DOING SO, AS THE ELECTRIC MOTORS WOULD BE DIRECTIONAL, BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE.

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CLAWS 6 CLAIMS6 T AS WHEREIN THE INLET CHANNELS HAVE FITTED CROSS DIRECTIONAL CHANNELS ALLOWING BOTH CHANNELS TO BE SUPPLIED FROM THE OPPOSITE CHANNEL AS AND IF REQUIRED