US1519580A

US1519580A - Maneuvering or steering of ships and other vessels

Info

Publication number: US1519580A
Application number: US674327A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gill James Herbert Wainwright
Original assignee: GILL PROPELLER Co Ltd
Current assignee: GILL PROPELLER Co Ltd
Priority date: 1922-12-14
Filing date: 1923-11-12
Publication date: 1924-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 1941-12-16
Also published as: DE423687C; FR575375A; GB210930A

Description

J. H. W. GILL MANEUVERING OR STEERING OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS Filed Nov. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet.l

w 5 i M J H A f, K w w 0 IN VENTOR J. H. W. GILL MANEUVERING OR STEERING OF SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS Filed Nov. 12, 1923. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /IVI/EIVTOR Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

UNETZF. ST

JAMES HERBERT ISTERED COMPANY OF ENGLAND.

FICE

ENGLAND, ASSIGNOB T0 GILL NORFOLK, ENGLAND, A REG- MANEUVERING OR STEERING 0F SHIPS AND OTHER -"iTESSELS.

Application filed November 12, 1923. Serial Nov 674,327.

To all whomz't may COW/067%.

Be it known that I, JAMnsl-lnRnnnr VVAIN- wnreI-rr GILL, subject of the King of England, and residing at Heacham, Norfolk, in England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Maneuvering or Steering of Ships and other Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the propulsion, maneuvering of steering of ships and other vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, and has more particular reference to apparatus in which a discharge stream is delivered through a rotary valve or nozzle disposed at the outlet end of the discharge pipe. In a known arrangement, also devised by the present inventor, such a valve is rotatably mounted within the enlarged end of a downwardly directed discharge passage from a pump, the discharge stream being deflected from the vertical direction of entry to the valve into an approximately horizontal direction of discharge therefrom. In the smaller sizes of hydraulic propelling plant this valve does not require any objectionable projection of the valve lip beyond the skin of the vessel, but in larger installations the retention of reasonable dimensions of valve involves the employment of an outlet lip whose projection beyond the skin of the vessel, although relatively small, is open to 0bjection on the score of fouling obstructions when operating in extremely shallow water. For instance, in the case of an 18 inch discharge pipe diameter at entry to the valve and a discharge stream deflected to about 26 below the horizontal, the overall diameter of the valve body being limited to 30 inches, the projection of the valve outlet lip amounts to 8 inches, which may be sufiicient to cause fouling of obstructions in very shallow water.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved propulsive, steering or maneuvering apparatus of the type indicated which is not subject to this disadvantage and will enable the outboard projection to be eliminated or reduced to a very small amount.

ln the apparatus according to this invention the valve or nozzle, which is rotatably d 'iosed in the enlarged end of a pump dis z-narge passage and has a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into a horizontal or approximately horizontal direction, is provided with one or more vanes mounted within the outlet passage and so shaped as to assist the deflection of the discharge stream into the desired direction. Conveniently the guide vanes are curved and of varying thickness and are disposed parallel to one another within the outlet passage so as to extend from side to side thereof, the shape and thickness of the guide vanes being such as to give a progressive increase in velocity with a minimum loss of head. to the discharge stream flowing between them. The valve is preferably supported on a vertical spindle centrally disposed within the aumo dischar e aassa e the thrust due to the l a a: a

reaction being taken up by thrust rollers mounted within the enlarged end of the discharge passage and adapted to engage with a flange on the valve. In some cases these rollers may also be employed to support the weight of the valve, and with this arrange ment the vertical spindle may be dispensed with, if desired, the rotation of the valve being effected by means of a pinion engaging with a toothed ring mounted on the valve body. The arrangement may be such that the whole valve is removable without dismantling the discharge passage.

An axial flow pump is preferably employed having its intake opening in the bottom or other outside wall of the vessel, and the discharge passage from the pump is curved and has an enlarged outlet end within which is disposed the rotary valve or nozzle. Conveniently two casings or wells are provided, which are so disposed in the vessel that their lower ends open through the bottom or other outside wall of the vessel, one of these wells containing the axial flow pump whilst the other contains the rotary valve. The discharge passage preferably connects the two wells and is so shaped as to offer minimum resistance to the flow of the discharge stream from the pump to the valve within the limits of space available.

The weight of the valve body may be sup ported by means of a transverse bridge piece mounted on the cover plate of the well, or alternatively it may be supported on an external bearing on the upper side of the curved discharge passage.

The axial flow pump employed is preferably of the type described in the specification accompanying the present applicants prior application for United States of America Letters Patent Serial No. 653,758, filed 25th July, 1923.

This pump consists of a rotary impeller having a shroud mounted on the tips of the blades, and two sets of fixed guide vanes disposed respectively on the inlet and outlet sides of the impeller. The guide vanes are mounted within fixed shrouding rings, and the shape of the parts of the whole pump is such that a uniform progressive increase in the dynamical equivalent of head is given to the fluid stream flowing through the guide vanes and the impeller, i. e. such that there is a constant rate of increase in the square of the velocity of flow of this stream.

The. invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but a preferred construction is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section through the rotary valve.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the valve body, and

Figure 3 shows the general arrangement of the pump, the valve and the discharge passage.

In this construction two similar wells A. and B are mounted with their lower ends opening through the bottom of the vessel, and contain respectively an axial flow pump and a rotary maneuverin valve D. The upper ends of the wells A are connected together by means of a curved pump dis charge passage E which is in the form of a siphon pipe, the ends of this pipe adjaent to the wells being substantially vertical. On its upper side this pipe'E is provided with two mountings F G serving respectively for the pump spindle Hand for the valve spindle J, these mountings being disposed vertically above the centres of the two wells A B and being provided with water-tight packing glands F and G.

The axial flow pump C is of the type described in the prior application referred to above and consists of a suitably shaped shrouded impeller K mounted on the pump spindle H near its end so as to rotate between two sets of fixed guide vanes L and M. The guide vanes L on the inlet side are disposed at the lower end of the well and serve to guide the incoming water to the rotary impeller K. The guide vanes M on the outlet side guide the discharge stream from the impeller K into an axial direction, and deliver this stream into the siphon pipe E, through which it flows to the maneuvering valve D, the. siphon pipe being so shaped as to offer minimum resistance to the flow of the stream within the limits of space available. In some cases it may be desirable to give the siphon pipe E a slight taper from the pump C to the valve D.

The outlet end of the siphon pipe E is secured to a cover plate B on the upper end of the well B containing the rotary maneuvering valve D, so that the well B in efi'ect forms an enlargement of the discharge pipe E. The valve consists of a hollow body D Whose internal shape gradually changes at its upper end N from a circular opening of the same diameter as the end of the siphon pipe E to an approximately square or rectangular prism forming the lower portion 0 of the valve. Gutside the neck or upper portion N of the hollow valve body is a flange N having a machined surface which engages with thrust rollers P carried beneath the cover plate B of the Well, these rollers serving to centre the valve and also tov take the thrust of the discharge reaction and to act as an antifriction bearing.

The valve body D is fixed toa vertical spindle J, which as stated above passes through a mounting G on the upper side of the siphon pipe This spindle J may be supported by means of a collar Q on a transverse bridge piece Q, of streamline section mounted on the cover plate B of the well -(see Figure 3), but ispreferably carried by means of a collar R on a thrust hearing R on the external mounting (i on the siphon pipe E. The rotation of the spindle J is efliected by means of suitable steering gear in the vessel, such for example as a tiller S mounted on the upper end of the valve spindle.

Within the valve'body D are mounted a number of guide vanes T which are disposed parallel to one another and extend across from side to side of the valve body. These vanes T resemble the guide vanes of a turbine in shape and arrangement, and

they receive'the out-flowing water in the direction of approach and deflect it into the required direction of discharge. The vanes have also such varying shape and thickness that the change of sectional area in the passages between them is such that the discharge stream is accelerated from the velocity of entry into the vanesto the velocity of discharge therefrom in such a manner to minimize inequalities of flow and loss of head. The vanes T may be strengthened by means of a central Web T which will also serve as connecting means between thevalve body D and the spindle J. At the lower end of the outside of the valve body D are mounted one or more circular flanges U extending to within working clearance distance from the inner surface of the cylindrical well B, these flanges U together with a labyrinth joint at the top of the valve body being so arranged'as to minimize leakage between the valve body D and the well B.

The provision of guide vanes T has the advantage 0t reducing eddy losses to a minimum, and these losses are often considerable when, in the present case, different accelerations have to be given to ditierent portions of a fluid stream. These vanes T thus enable the outboard projection 01 the valve body D to be reduced to a very small amount and in some cases to be eliniinated altogether. The particular con struction described has also the advantage that the whole valve body D is removable in a simple manner, trom the well B, with out the necessity of dismounting the Well itself.

The thrust rollers P which serve to centre the valve in the well are conveniently mounted. on crank-shaped or eccentrically stepped pins P carried in the cover plate B of the well B. This arrangement permits an adjustment of the positions of the thrust rollers P by rotating the pins P.

It has been found convenient in some cases to arrange the two wells A and B, containing the pump C and the rotary 'alve l), athwartships, one on each side of the heel of. the vessel, but other arrangements may be employed as desired.

The present invention thus provides meai'is whereby a vessel may be con'ipletely controlled by the reaction ellect ot the discharge stream. The apparatus according to the invention also provides an etticiont steering: and maneuvering gear which may be employed in vessels where other main propulsive apparatus is installed.

It Will be understood that the particular construction described has been given by way of example only, and the construction and ar angement of parts may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combination or a pump, a discharge passage therefrom having an outlet end opening through the wall of the vessel, a valve r0 1; ably disposed in the enlarged end of the discharge passage and having a curved outlet passage adapted to del'lect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, and means for rotating the valve, the body of the valve having a cross-section which varies from circular term at the inlet end to an approximately rectangular form at the outlet end.

2. ln apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other ves sels by the reaction etlect of water jets, the combination of an axial flow pump, a discharge passage theretrom, a Well so disposed within the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall of the vessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, a valve rotatably disposed in the Well and having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an ap proxin'iately horizontal direction, means for rotating the valve, and a number of curved guide vanes of varying thickness disposed parallel to one another within the outlet passage in the valve and extending from side to side thereof, the shape and thickness ol" the guide vanes being such as to give a progressive increase in velocity With a minimum loss of head to the discharge stream flowing between them, the body of the valve having a cross-section which varies from circular form at the inlet end to an approximately rectangular form at the outlet end.

3. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other vessels by the reaction etlect of water jets, the combination of a pump, a discharge passage therefrom having an enlarged outlet end opening through the wall of the vessel. a valve rotatably disposed in the enlarged end of the discharge passage and having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, means t-orrotating the valve, and a number of curved guide vanes of varying thickness disposed parallel to one another within the out-let passage in the valve and extending from side to side thereof, the shape and thickness ot the guide vanes being such as to give a progressive increase in velocity With a minimum loss of head to the discharge stream flowing between them.

4. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other ves sels by the reaction eliect of water jets, the combination of an axial flow pump, a discharge passage theretrom, av well. so disposed Within the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall of the vessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, a valve rotatably disposed in the well and having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction. n'ieans for rotating the alve, and at least one guide vane mounted within the outlet passage in the valve and so shaped as to assist the deflection of the discharge stream into the desired direction.

1n apparatus tor the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other vessels by the reaction eliect of water jets, the combination of a pump, a discharge passage theret'ron'i having an enlarged outlet end opening through the wall. of the vessel. a valve rotatably disposed in the enlarged cnd ot the discharge passage and having a curved outlet passage adapted to detlect the discharge mam into an approximately horizontal direction, means for rotating the valve, an external flange on the valve, thrust rollers rotatably mounted in the enlarged end of the discharge passage and adapted to engage with the flange on the valve, and

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guide vanes mounted within the outlet passage in the valve and so shaped as to assist the deflection of the discharge stream into the desired direction.

6. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other ves sels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combination of a pump, a discharge passage therefrom, awell so disposed Within the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall of the vessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, a valve rotata-bly disposed in the well and having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an ap proximately horizontal direction, a vertical spindle centrally disposed within the pump discharge passage and serving to support the valve, means for rotating the spindle and the valve carried thereby, and at least one guide vane mounted within the outlet passage in the valve and so shaped as to assist the deflection of the discharge stream into the desired direction.

7. In apparatus for the propulsion,steer-' ing or maneuvering of ships and other vessels by the reaction ell'ect of water jets, the combination of an axial flow pump, a dis charge passage therefrom, a well so disposed within the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall of the vessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, a valve rotatably disposed in the well and having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, a vertical spindle centrally disposed within the pump discharge passage and serving to support the valve, means for rotating the spindle and the valve carried thereby, an external flange on the valve, and thrust rollers rotatably mounted in the well and adapted to engage with the flange on the valve.

8. In apparatus for the propulsion, steer ing or maneuvering of ships and other vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combination of an axial flow pump, a discharge passage therefrom, a well so disposed within the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall of the vessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, a valve rotatably disposed in the well and having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, a vertical spindle centrally disposed within the pump discharge passage and serving to support the valve, means for rotating the spindle and the valve carried thereby, and a number of curved guide vanes of varying thickness disposed parallel to one another within the outlet passage in the valve and extending from side to side thereof, the shape and thickness of the guide vanes being such as to give a progressive increase in velocity wit-h a minimum loss of head to the discharge stream flowing between them.

9. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combination of a pump, a, discharge passage therefrom, a well so disposed within the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall of the vessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, a valve rotatably disposed in the well and having a curved outlet passage adaptedto deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, a vertical spindle centrally disposed within the pump discharge passage and serving to support the valve, means for rotating the spindle and the valve carried thereby, an external flange on the valve, thrust rollers rotatably mounted in the well and adapted to engage with the flange on the valve, and av number of curved guide vanes of varying thickness disposed. parallel to one another within the outlet passage in the valve and extending from side to side thereof, the shape and thickness of the guide vanes being such as to give a progressive increase in velocity with a Ii'lillill'iulll loss of head to the discharge stream flowing between them.

10. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combination of an axial flow pump, a discharge passage therefrom, a well so disposed within the vessel that its lower end opens through the wall of the vessel and constituting an enlarged outlet end for the discharge pipe, a valve rotatably disposed in the well and having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, means for rotating the valve, an external flange on the valve, thrust rollers rotatably mounted in the well and adapted to engage with the flange on the valve, and a number of curved guide vanes of varying thickness disposed parallel to one another withinthe outlet passage in the valve and extending from side to side thereof, the shape and thickness of the guide vanes being such as to give a progressive increase in velocity with a minimum loss of head to the discharge stream flowing between them.

11. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other vessels by the reaction effect oi water jets, the combination of two wells so disposed within the vessel that their lower ends open through the wall of the vessel, a pump mounted in one of the wells, a curved pump discharge passage connecting the two Wells.

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a valve rotatahly disposed in the other well. and having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approxinmtel v horizontal direction, and means for rotating the valve.

12. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other vessels by the reaction effect of water jets, the combination of two wells so disposed within the vessel that their lower ends open through the wall of the vessel, and axial flow pump mounted in one of the wells, a curved pump discharge passage connecting the two .vells and so shaped as to offer minimum resist ance to the flow of the discharge stream, a valve rotatably disposed in the other well and having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, means for rotating the valve, and at least one guide vane mounted within the outlet passage in the valve and so shaped as to assist the deflection ot the discharge stream into the desired direction.

1 in apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other vesby the reaction elfect of water jets, the combination of two wells so disposed within the vessel that their lower ends open through the wall oi the vessel, an axial flow pump mounted in one of the wells, a curved pump discharge passage connecting the two wells. a valve rotatahly disposed in the other well and. having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, means for rotating the valve, and a number of curved guide vanes of varying thickness disposed parallel to one another within the outlet passage in the valve and extending from side to side thereof. the shape and thickness of the hide vanes being such as to give a prorivcs we increase in velocity with a minimum loss head to the discharge stream Flowing hetween them.

l t. in apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other ves sels by the reaction effect of water jets, the on'ilfntnition of two wells so disposed within the vessel'that their lower ends open through the wall of the vessel, a pump mounted in one of the wells, a curved pump discharge passage connecting the two wells, a valve rotatablv disposed in the other well and having a curved outlet passage adapted to defleet the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, two vertical spindles rotatably mounted in the discharge passage and serving respectively as the Jump driving spindle and as a supporting spindle for the valve, and means for rotating the valve spindle and the valve carried thereby.

15. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other vesreaction eliect oli water jets, the

0 wells so disposed within the vessel that their lower ends open through the wall ol the vessel, an axial flow pump mounted in one of the wells, a curved pump discharge passage connecting the two wells, a valve rotatahlv disposed in the other well and having a crn'vod outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, two vertical spindles rotatahlv mounted in the dis charge passage and serving respectively as the pump driving spindle and as a supporting spindle for the valve, a thrust hearing mounted on the upper side of the discharge pass go and serving to support the weight of the valve spindle and the valve carried therehv, means for rotating the valve spindle, and

sels l) the comlnuatron oi tw a number oil curved guide vanes of varying thiel-Lness disposed parallel to one another within. the outlet passage in the valve and extending "from side to side thereof, the shape and thickness of the guide vanes being such as to give a progressive increase in veloei'l with a minimum loss of head to the discharge stream flowing between them.

In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other vesscis h the reaction effect of water jets, the comhimition of two wells so disposed within the vessel that their lower ends open through the wall of the vessel, an axial flow pump mounted in one of the wells, a curved pump discharge passage connecting the two wells and so shaped. as to o'lter minimum resistance to the flow of the discharge stream, a valve rotatahlv disposed in the other well and having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, and means for rotating the valve, the axial flow pump comprising a rotary impeller, a shroud mounted on the. tips of the blades of the impeller, two fixed sln'ouding rings disposed one on either side of the impeller shroud, and fixed guide vanes mounted within each shrouding ring, the shape ot the parts of the whole pump being such that a uniform progressive increase in the dynamical eouival-ent of head is given to the fluid stream flowing through the guide vanes and the impeller.

1'7. In apparatus for the propulsion, steering or maneuvering of ships and other vessels by the reaction edect of water jets, the combination Of a pump, a discharge passage therefrom having an enlarged outlet end opening through the wall of the vessel, a valve rotataloly disposed in the enlarged end of the discharge passage and having a curved outlet passage adapted to deflect the discharge stream into an approximately horizontal direction, means for rotating the valve, and a number of curved guide vanes of varying thickness disposed parallel to one another within the outlet passage in the lllS .llll

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valve and extending from side to side thereof, the shape and thickness of the guide vanes being such as to give a progressive increase in velocity with a minimum loss of head to the discharge stream flowing between them, the axial flow pump comprising a rotary impeller, a shroud mounted on the tips otthe blades of the impeller, two fixed shroudlng rings disposed one on either side of the impeller shroud, and fixed guide vanes mounted Within each shrouding ring, the shape of the parts of the Whole pump being such that a uniform progressive increase in the dynamical equivalent of head is given to the fluid stream flowing through the guide vanes and the impeller.

In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification.

JAMES HERBERT WAINWRIGHT GILL.