US20020005156A1 - Thruster - Google Patents
Thruster Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020005156A1 US20020005156A1 US09/828,887 US82888701A US2002005156A1 US 20020005156 A1 US20020005156 A1 US 20020005156A1 US 82888701 A US82888701 A US 82888701A US 2002005156 A1 US2002005156 A1 US 2002005156A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- ducts
- thruster
- tunnel
- vessel
- thruster according
- 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
- B63H23/00—Transmitting power from propulsion power plant to propulsive elements
- B63H23/02—Transmitting power from propulsion power plant to propulsive elements with mechanical gearing
- B63H2023/0208—Transmitting power from propulsion power plant to propulsive elements with mechanical gearing by means of endless flexible members
- B63H2023/0216—Transmitting power from propulsion power plant to propulsive elements with mechanical gearing by means of endless flexible members by means of belts, or the like
Definitions
- the invention relates to thrusters, which are systems for the lateral propulsion of waterborne vessels. More particularly, the invention relates to thrusters that are permanently installed in the vessel, as either original equipment or post-fitted, and which may be found at the bow or the stern of the vessel, most usually at the bow.
- Such thrusters are very well-known and for the most part can be regarded as a ducted fan of which the propulsive duct is mounted transversely through the hull of the vessel so as to open into the water at each side of it.
- a thruster for mounting laterally through the hull of a waterborne vessel has propulsive ducts for opening to respective sides of the vessel and an inlet to the inboard end of both of the ducts.
- the inlets being at least partially provided by a tunnel which at least partially surrounds each of the ducts and, like the ducts, are for opening to each side of the vessel.
- the tunnels having an internal cross-sectional area greater than that of the ducts.
- An axial or mixed flow pump rotor is mounted in each of the ducts and arranged for driving in respectively opposite lateral directions.
- drive to both of the rotors comes from a single prime mover to respective unidirectional drives arranged coaxially with the rotors.
- the prime mover is preferably reversible.
- Inboard inlets to the propulsive ducts are preferably arranged symmetrically about the drive to the unidirectional drives.
- the propulsive ducts may be entirely contained within the tunnel and may be coaxial with such a cylindrical tunnel or be off center of it.
- the tunnel need not necessarily be circular in outline in its internal cross-section, and its outboard ends may be flared to conform to the vessel where it penetrates the vessel hull.
- a preferred prime mover is a reversible electric motor, and a preferred transmission format is a synchronous driving belt which drives one or other of the pump rotors by means of unidirectional roller clutches.
- FIG. 1 is a partial cutaway view of a thruster arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- a tunnel 1 of diameter D is for positioning laterally through the hull of a waterborne vessel so that its ends 2 , 3 are respectively open to the water at the lateral sides of the vessel.
- the tunnel is flared outwardly at 4 to provide lateral support for a casing 5 and to provide increased flow area.
- This casing 5 has at one end a housing 6 for a reversible electric motor and at the other surrounds a drive assembly for the thruster.
- the thruster has two cylindrical propulsion ducts 7 and 8 which are of diameter d, which have inboard ends 9 , 10 disposed laterally symmetrically on each side of the casing 5 , and outboard ends 11 , 12 which are sharp edged and lie just within ends 2 and 3 of the tunnel.
- Propulsion within the ducts is provided by respective propeller assemblies 13 , 14 which are to drive in the respective outboard direction by means of an inboard rotor 15 , 16 acting with an outboard stator 17 , 18 .
- the drive structure is seen in more detail in FIG. 2, where a toothed pulley 20 driven by a synchronized belt from a like pulley on the drive shaft of the motor in the casing 6 , the sychronized belt being contained within casing 5 .
- a PTFE ring 26 takes any reverse thrust which may occur when the pump rotor 15 is idling and also locates the toothed pulley 20 .
- the shaft 23 is sealed by means of twin radial seals 28 at its outboard end and by a V-seal 27 at its inboard end.
- the motor is driven in a sense of rotation appropriate for transmission of drive either to rotor 15 or to rotor 16 .
- a jet of water will be propelled through duct 7 as shown by arrows X; rotor 16 will free-wheel in a partial inflow of water shown by arrows Y.
- arrows Z there will also be inflow of water through the free area of the tunnel 1 , as shown by arrows Z, and these flows will all be available as an inlet flow to the inboard end 9 of the tunnel 7 .
- the relationship between the cross-sectional areas of the propulsive ducts and of the tunnel is not critical. Although increasing propulsive duct diameter would increase the efficiency of the rotors and reduce the power needed, an increase in tunnel cross-section would increase the space required. An example of diameter d for a 3Kw, 50 Kgf thrust model would be 90 mm and of diameter D 130 mm. On the other hand, given that the propulsion duct diameters cannot for that reason be increased greatly the rotor and stator lengths should be as axial lengths should be as great as possible to reduce cavitation effects and for example as shown the dimension W from end to end of the two propellers is 330 mm with a lateral dimension A for the casing of 30 mm.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
- Lining And Supports For Tunnels (AREA)
- Excavating Of Shafts Or Tunnels (AREA)
Abstract
A thruster is adapted to be laterally mounted through the hull of the vessel and has propulsive ducts for opening to respective sides of the vessel and an inlet to the inboard end of both of the ducts, the inlet being at least partially provided by a tunnel having an internal cross-sectional area greater than that of the ducts, the tunnel at least partially surrounding each of the ducts and opening to each side of the vessel.
Description
- The invention relates to thrusters, which are systems for the lateral propulsion of waterborne vessels. More particularly, the invention relates to thrusters that are permanently installed in the vessel, as either original equipment or post-fitted, and which may be found at the bow or the stern of the vessel, most usually at the bow.
- Such thrusters are very well-known and for the most part can be regarded as a ducted fan of which the propulsive duct is mounted transversely through the hull of the vessel so as to open into the water at each side of it. There may be a single or a double pump rotor in the duct which may be reversible.
- However, as far as we are aware, all such thrusters have penetrated the hull only by the duct containing the pump rotor, and have been constructed in the usual way for a ducted fan, namely with the rotor occupying as far as practicable the complete cross-sectional area of the duct.
- By contrast, according to the present invention a thruster for mounting laterally through the hull of a waterborne vessel has propulsive ducts for opening to respective sides of the vessel and an inlet to the inboard end of both of the ducts. The inlets, being at least partially provided by a tunnel which at least partially surrounds each of the ducts and, like the ducts, are for opening to each side of the vessel. The tunnels having an internal cross-sectional area greater than that of the ducts.
- An axial or mixed flow pump rotor is mounted in each of the ducts and arranged for driving in respectively opposite lateral directions. Preferably, drive to both of the rotors comes from a single prime mover to respective unidirectional drives arranged coaxially with the rotors. The prime mover is preferably reversible. Inboard inlets to the propulsive ducts are preferably arranged symmetrically about the drive to the unidirectional drives.
- The propulsive ducts may be entirely contained within the tunnel and may be coaxial with such a cylindrical tunnel or be off center of it. The tunnel need not necessarily be circular in outline in its internal cross-section, and its outboard ends may be flared to conform to the vessel where it penetrates the vessel hull.
- A preferred prime mover is a reversible electric motor, and a preferred transmission format is a synchronous driving belt which drives one or other of the pump rotors by means of unidirectional roller clutches.
- The invention further includes a waterborne vessel equipped with such a thruster.
- Particular embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
- FIG. 1 is a partial cutaway view of a thruster arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention; and
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing ceratin details of the construction of a propeller drive according to the present invention.
- Looking first at FIG. 1, a
tunnel 1 of diameter D is for positioning laterally through the hull of a waterborne vessel so that itsends - The
ends - Alternatively, ends of the tunnel may comprise separate mouldings, adapted for a particular vessel or type of vessel and to be joined to a plain tunnel upon installation. As will become evident, the tunnel need not be of circular cross-section but can be any convenient shape conformable to the structure of the vessel, and in particular of its bulkheads, to which it is fitted, or intended to be fitted.
- At its central portion the tunnel is flared outwardly at 4 to provide lateral support for a
casing 5 and to provide increased flow area. - This
casing 5 has at one end ahousing 6 for a reversible electric motor and at the other surrounds a drive assembly for the thruster. - The thruster has two
cylindrical propulsion ducts inboard ends casing 5, andoutboard ends 11, 12 which are sharp edged and lie just withinends - Propulsion within the ducts is provided by
respective propeller assemblies inboard rotor outboard stator - The drive structure is seen in more detail in FIG. 2, where a
toothed pulley 20 driven by a synchronized belt from a like pulley on the drive shaft of the motor in thecasing 6, the sychronized belt being contained withincasing 5. - At each outboard side of the
pulley 20 areunidirectional drives unidirectional drive 21 drives arotor shaft 23 on ahub 24 of which thepropeller rotor 15 is mounted, thrust from the rotor being taken also on a needleroller thrust race 25. - A
PTFE ring 26 takes any reverse thrust which may occur when thepump rotor 15 is idling and also locates thetoothed pulley 20. Theshaft 23 is sealed by means of twinradial seals 28 at its outboard end and by a V-seal 27 at its inboard end. - In operation, the motor is driven in a sense of rotation appropriate for transmission of drive either to
rotor 15 or torotor 16. Assumingrotor 15 to be driven, a jet of water will be propelled throughduct 7 as shown by arrows X;rotor 16 will free-wheel in a partial inflow of water shown by arrows Y. However, there will also be inflow of water through the free area of thetunnel 1, as shown by arrows Z, and these flows will all be available as an inlet flow to theinboard end 9 of thetunnel 7. Hence, one has a propulsive column of water shown by arrows X of which the output velocity is greater than an input velocity of water whether contributed by arrows Y or arrows Z. In exactly the same way, ifrotor 16 is driven lateral propulsion in the opposite direction will be assured by a propulsive jet of water of arrows Y (now reversed in direction) with input from arrows Z through the free area of the tunnel and throughduct 7 by arrows X (now reversed). - The relationship between the cross-sectional areas of the propulsive ducts and of the tunnel is not critical. Although increasing propulsive duct diameter would increase the efficiency of the rotors and reduce the power needed, an increase in tunnel cross-section would increase the space required. An example of diameter d for a 3Kw, 50 Kgf thrust model would be 90 mm and of diameter D 130 mm. On the other hand, given that the propulsion duct diameters cannot for that reason be increased greatly the rotor and stator lengths should be as axial lengths should be as great as possible to reduce cavitation effects and for example as shown the dimension W from end to end of the two propellers is 330 mm with a lateral dimension A for the casing of 30 mm.
- While the present invention has been described by reference to the above-mentioned embodiments, certain modifications and variations will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the present invention is to limited only by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
Claims (11)
1. A thruster for lateral propulsion of a waterborne vessel having a hull with two sides wherein said thruster is to be laterally mounted through the hull of the vessel, said thruster having propulsive ducts each having an inboard and an outboard end, said outboard end for opening to respective sides of the vessel, and an inlet to the inboard end of both of the ducts wherein said inlet is at least partially provided by a tunnel having an internal cross-sectional area greater than that of the ducts, said tunnel at least partially surrounds each of the ducts, the tunnel for opening to each side of the vessel.
2. A thruster according to claim I wherein said ducts are entirely contained within said tunnel.
3. A thruster according to claim 1 wherein said tunnel is cylindrical and said ducts are co-axial with said tunnel.
4. A thruster according to claim 1 further including an axial or mixed flow pump rotor mounted in each of the ducts, said rotors arranged for driving in respectively opposite lateral directions.
5. A thruster according to claim 4 wherein drive to both the rotors comes from a single prime mover to respective unidirectional drives arranged coaxially with the rotors.
6. A thruster according to claim 5 further comprising a transmission, the transmission comprising a synchronous driving belt which drives one or other of the pump rotors by means of unidirectional roller clutches.
7. A thruster according to claim 5 wherein said prime mover is reversible.
8. A thruster according to claim 7 wherein said prime mover is a reversible electric motor.
9. A thruster according to claim 6 wherein said inlet to the inboard ends to the propulsive ducts are arranged symmetrically about the drive to the unidirectional drives.
10. A waterborne vessel including a thruster as defined in claim 1 .
11. A thruster comprising:
at least one propulsive duct having an inbound end;
at least one tunnel at least partially surrounding the at least one duct; and
an axial or mixed flow pump rotor mounted in the at least one duct, the rotor adapted for driving in opposite lateral directions.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0008763 | 2000-04-10 | ||
GBGB0008763.5A GB0008763D0 (en) | 2000-04-10 | 2000-04-10 | Thruster |
GB0008763.5 | 2000-04-10 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20020005156A1 true US20020005156A1 (en) | 2002-01-17 |
US6435120B2 US6435120B2 (en) | 2002-08-20 |
Family
ID=9889569
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/828,887 Expired - Fee Related US6435120B2 (en) | 2000-04-10 | 2001-04-10 | Thruster |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6435120B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1145950A3 (en) |
AU (1) | AU3510201A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2343570A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB0008763D0 (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ510994A (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20030228214A1 (en) * | 2001-10-26 | 2003-12-11 | Mcbride Mark W. | Mixed flow pump |
US7121219B1 (en) * | 2005-05-24 | 2006-10-17 | James Stallings | Boat control system |
US20070028824A1 (en) * | 2005-05-24 | 2007-02-08 | James Stallings | Boat control system |
US20150053628A1 (en) * | 2012-04-04 | 2015-02-26 | Sea-Lix As | Filter cleaning |
US20180321299A1 (en) * | 2015-03-25 | 2018-11-08 | Applied Materials Israel Ltd. | Method of inspecting a specimen and system thereof |
CN114313184A (en) * | 2022-01-05 | 2022-04-12 | 武汉船用电力推进装置研究所(中国船舶重工集团公司第七一二研究所) | Rim propulsion unit |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA2419669A1 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2004-06-06 | Cap Sante Marine, Ltd. | Boat thruster apparatus and method |
KR101881725B1 (en) * | 2015-09-25 | 2018-08-27 | 바르트실라 네덜란드 비.브이. | How to control the ship |
CA3012297A1 (en) * | 2018-07-25 | 2020-01-25 | Sideshift Inc. | Stern-mounted lateral marine thruster |
US11187213B2 (en) | 2018-07-26 | 2021-11-30 | Ankur Bhatt | Thruster device |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3127865A (en) * | 1960-12-23 | 1964-04-07 | Pleuger Friedrich Wilhelm | Propulsion units for watercraft |
US3830184A (en) * | 1970-02-24 | 1974-08-20 | Schottel Werft | Lateral thrust rudder unit |
GB1419546A (en) * | 1972-02-15 | 1975-12-31 | Pleuger Unterwasserpumpen Gmbh | Ship having a bow thruster unit |
DE2458979A1 (en) * | 1974-12-13 | 1976-06-16 | Korenjak Bozidar | Shroud for ship propeller - has recessed coaxial sleeve carried within extended channel below water level |
US4074652A (en) * | 1976-07-26 | 1978-02-21 | Jackson William M | Steering and propulsion device for watercraft |
US4214544A (en) | 1977-10-31 | 1980-07-29 | Omnithruster Inc. | Boat thruster |
DE3068995D1 (en) | 1980-04-09 | 1984-09-27 | Weir Pumps Ltd | Valve system for controlling the direction of fluid discharge from a nozzle in a thruster system |
US4455960A (en) | 1981-11-10 | 1984-06-26 | Omnithruster, Inc. | Fluid valve actuated boat thruster |
DE3460525D1 (en) * | 1983-02-04 | 1986-10-02 | Brunvoll Motorfab | Elastically supported thruster structure |
US5522335A (en) * | 1995-01-30 | 1996-06-04 | Westinghouse Electric Corporation | Combined azimuthing and tunnel auxillary thruster powered by integral and canned electric motor and marine vessel powered thereby |
DE19523350A1 (en) * | 1995-06-27 | 1997-01-09 | Gerd Elger | Control arrangement of water craft by using water jet producer - water jet producer has two fixed water jet deflecting control surfaces symmetrically spaced in relation to swivel axis |
GB9810169D0 (en) | 1998-05-13 | 1998-07-08 | Wilkins Mark V | Propulsion unit |
-
2000
- 2000-04-10 GB GBGB0008763.5A patent/GB0008763D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2001
- 2001-04-05 EP EP01303227A patent/EP1145950A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-04-06 NZ NZ510994A patent/NZ510994A/en unknown
- 2001-04-09 CA CA002343570A patent/CA2343570A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-04-10 US US09/828,887 patent/US6435120B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2001-04-10 AU AU35102/01A patent/AU3510201A/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20030228214A1 (en) * | 2001-10-26 | 2003-12-11 | Mcbride Mark W. | Mixed flow pump |
US6692318B2 (en) * | 2001-10-26 | 2004-02-17 | The Penn State Research Foundation | Mixed flow pump |
US7121219B1 (en) * | 2005-05-24 | 2006-10-17 | James Stallings | Boat control system |
US20070028824A1 (en) * | 2005-05-24 | 2007-02-08 | James Stallings | Boat control system |
US20150053628A1 (en) * | 2012-04-04 | 2015-02-26 | Sea-Lix As | Filter cleaning |
US20180321299A1 (en) * | 2015-03-25 | 2018-11-08 | Applied Materials Israel Ltd. | Method of inspecting a specimen and system thereof |
CN114313184A (en) * | 2022-01-05 | 2022-04-12 | 武汉船用电力推进装置研究所(中国船舶重工集团公司第七一二研究所) | Rim propulsion unit |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1145950A2 (en) | 2001-10-17 |
EP1145950A3 (en) | 2001-12-05 |
CA2343570A1 (en) | 2001-10-10 |
AU3510201A (en) | 2001-10-11 |
GB0008763D0 (en) | 2000-05-31 |
US6435120B2 (en) | 2002-08-20 |
NZ510994A (en) | 2002-09-27 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: LEWMAR LIMITED, ENGLAND Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DUNCAN, IAN JAMES;REEL/FRAME:012050/0138 Effective date: 20010417 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20060820 |