US20230070348A1 - A vessel - Google Patents
A vessel Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20230070348A1 US20230070348A1 US17/904,733 US202117904733A US2023070348A1 US 20230070348 A1 US20230070348 A1 US 20230070348A1 US 202117904733 A US202117904733 A US 202117904733A US 2023070348 A1 US2023070348 A1 US 2023070348A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- azimuth thrusters
- vessel according
- azimuth
- thrusters
- propellers
- 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.)
- Pending
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
- B63H5/00—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water
- B63H5/07—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers
- B63H5/125—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers movably mounted with respect to hull, e.g. adjustable in direction, e.g. podded azimuthing thrusters
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
- B63B35/66—Tugs
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B3/00—Hulls characterised by their structure or component parts
- B63B3/14—Hull parts
- B63B3/38—Keels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
- B63H21/00—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels
- B63H21/12—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels the vessels being motor-driven
- B63H21/14—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels the vessels being motor-driven relating to internal-combustion engines
-
- 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
- B63H25/02—Initiating means for steering, for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
- B63H5/00—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water
- B63H5/07—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers
- B63H5/08—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers of more than one propeller
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
- B63H5/00—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water
- B63H5/07—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers
- B63H5/125—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers movably mounted with respect to hull, e.g. adjustable in direction, e.g. podded azimuthing thrusters
- B63H2005/1254—Podded azimuthing thrusters, i.e. podded thruster units arranged inboard for rotation about vertical axis
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
- B63H5/00—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water
- B63H5/07—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers
- B63H5/125—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers movably mounted with respect to hull, e.g. adjustable in direction, e.g. podded azimuthing thrusters
- B63H2005/1254—Podded azimuthing thrusters, i.e. podded thruster units arranged inboard for rotation about vertical axis
- B63H2005/1256—Podded azimuthing thrusters, i.e. podded thruster units arranged inboard for rotation about vertical axis with mechanical power transmission to propellers
-
- 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
- B63H25/02—Initiating means for steering, for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring
- B63H2025/026—Initiating means for steering, for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring using multi-axis control levers, or the like, e.g. joysticks, wherein at least one degree of freedom is employed for steering, slowing down, or dynamic anchoring
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Toys (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
- Glass Compositions (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
A vessel (1) comprises a hull (2) including a bow (3) and a stern (4) and has a length-to-beam ratio which is smaller than 10:1, preferably smaller than 5:1. The hull (2) has a vertical centre plane (CP) extending in a direction from the bow (3) to the stern (4). At each side of the centre plane (CP) the vessel (1) has at least two azimuth thrusters (6) including respective propellers (6a), which azimuth thrusters (6) are located next to each other in transverse direction of the centre plane (CP). Each azimuth thruster (6) drivably coupled to its own prime mover (7).
Description
- The present invention relates to a vessel comprising a hull including a bow and a stern and having a length-to-beam ratio which is smaller than 10:1, preferably smaller than 5:1, wherein the hull has a vertical centre plane extending in a direction from the bow to the stern.
- Such a vessel is known, for example in the form of a tug boat of which the length-to-beam ratio is about 3:1. A typical known tug boat has two azimuth thrusters for propelling and manoeuvring the tug boat, which azimuth thrusters are located at either side of the centre plane. The azimuth thrusters are drivably coupled to respective diesel engines and can be operated by a helmsman, for example by means of respective joysticks.
- An object of the invention is to provide a highly manoeuvrable vessel.
- This object is achieved with the vessel according to the invention, wherein at each side of the centre plane the vessel has at least two azimuth thrusters including respective propellers, which azimuth thrusters are located next to each other in transverse direction of the centre plane and wherein each azimuth thruster is drivably coupled to its own prime mover. Hence, a row of at least four azimuth thrusters extends in transverse direction of the hull. In practice, the same number of azimuth thrusters will be located at both sides of the centre plane.
- Due to the relatively small length-to-beam ratio the relatively wide beam provides the possibility to apply a plurality of azimuth thrusters at each side of the centre plane. For achieving a similar power level, an increasing number of azimuth thrusters may have decreasing propeller diameters of the individual azimuth thrusters. Consequently, the total height of the series of azimuth thrusters can be kept relatively small.
- The application of relatively small azimuth thrusters also provides the opportunity to apply relatively small cooperating prime movers. An advantage of relatively small azimuth thrusters and prime movers is that their response time is relatively short, which leads to improved manoeuvrability of the vessel.
- In a practical embodiment the azimuth thrusters are aligned in transverse direction of the centre plane.
- Distances between centrelines of the propellers of each two neighbouring azimuth thrusters may be the same in order to achieve a symmetric arrangement. The distance between centrelines of the propellers of the neighbouring azimuth thrusters which are located at either side of the central plane, i.e. the two azimuth thrusters which are located closest to the central plane, may be different from the distance between the centrelines of the propellers of each two neighbouring azimuth thrusters at each side of the centre plane.
- In a particular embodiment the propellers of the at least two azimuth thrusters have different diameters. The propeller of one of the at least two azimuth thrusters which is located at a larger distance from the centre plane than the other one of the at least two azimuth thrusters may have a larger diameter than the propeller of the other one of the at least two azimuth thrusters.
- The azimuth thrusters may be located at the bow or at the stern.
- At least one of the prime movers may be an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine may be a diesel engine having a maximum speed above 1000 rpm. Such a diesel engines may be known as a high-speed diesel engine. If the desired power per individual azimuth thruster is relatively large such that a low-speed diesel engine must be applied, it is in the spirit of the present invention preferred to apply a higher number of relatively small azimuth thrusters including high-speed diesel engines instead of applying a smaller number of relatively large azimuth thrusters including low-speed diesel engines.
- The at least two azimuth thrusters and their prime movers may be functionally coupled to a common controller for operating the at least two azimuth thrusters simultaneously. The common controller may be a joystick such that an operator can operate two joysticks, one for simultaneously controlling the at least two azimuth thrusters including their prime movers at one side of the centre plane and one for simultaneously controlling the at least two azimuth thrusters including their prime movers at the other side of the centre plane.
- In a particular embodiment at each side of the centre plane a skeg is mounted to a lower side of the hull, which skeg extends in longitudinal direction of the hull, for example from the bow to about halfway the hull. In this embodiment the vessel has at least two skegs which may have a relatively small height, which reduces draught of the vessel, improves seakeeping behaviour and facilitates easy docking. Furthermore, at least two skegs improve course stability and manoeuvrability and allows relatively large steering forces during escorting a large vessel.
- The skeg may be located at a horizontal position between axes of rotation of the respective propellers of the at least two azimuth thrusters as seen in a direction from the stern to the bow.
- Furthermore, the maximum height of the skeg may be smaller than the diameter or 1.5 times the diameter of each of the propellers of the respective azimuth thrusters, or even smaller than 80% thereof.
- The vessel may be a tug boat.
- The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to very schematic drawings showing embodiments of the invention by way of example.
-
FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a vessel according to the invention. -
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a part of the vessel as shown inFIG. 1 on a larger scale. -
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the vessel as shown inFIG. 1 on a larger scale. -
FIG. 4 is a similar view asFIG. 3 , but showing an alternative embodiment. -
FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment of a vessel according to the invention. The vessel is atug boat 1, which has ahull 2 including abow 3 and astern 4. Such atug boat 1 is typically used as an escort tug, anchor handling tug, salvage tug, oil recovery vessel, safety stand-by vessel or as ship handling tug near offshore terminals and FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels). Thetug boat 1 may be used for assisting large ships which are much larger than thetug boat 1. Thetug boat 1 may be connected to the large ship by a towing cable for towing the large ship in a specific direction or thetug boat 1 is manoeuvred against the large ship in order to be able to push it in a certain direction. - The
hull 2 of thetug boat 1 as shown inFIGS. 1-3 has a length of about 50 m and a beam of about 16 m, hence a length-to-beam ratio of about 3. Thehull 2 has a vertical centre plane CP which extends in a direction from thebow 3 to thestern 4, seeFIGS. 2 and 3 . Acentral skeg 5 is mounted to a lower side of thehull 2. Thecentral skeg 5 extends in longitudinal direction of thehull 2 from thebow 3 to about halfway thehull 2 at the centre plane CP. - The
tug boat 1 is provided with a series of fourazimuth thrusters 6, which are arranged in an aligned row that extends in transverse direction of the centre plane CP. Theazimuth thrusters 6 haverespective propellers 6 a which are located below thehull 2, in this case at thestern 4. In an alternative embodiment theazimuth thrusters 6 may be located at thebow 3 or elsewhere in between. - The application of an azimuth thruster for propelling a vessel is well-known, for example in ASD (azimuth-stern-drive) tug boats. The entire propulsion unit can turn in the horizontal plane and thrust can be produced in any desired direction.
- In the embodiment as shown in
FIGS. 1-3 at each side of the centre plane twoazimuth thrusters 6 are located next to each other in transverse direction of the centre plane CP and theazimuth thrusters 6 are drivably coupled to respective prime movers in the form of high-speed diesel engines 7 viarespective propeller shafts 8. The high-speed diesel engines 7 are located within thehull 2 below adeck 9. The high-speed diesel engines 7 provide a fast response when increased thrust is desired. -
FIG. 3 shows that thepropellers 6 a of the outer twoazimuth thrusters 6 have larger diameters than thepropellers 6 a of the inner twoazimuth thrusters 6. - The pair of
azimuth thrusters 6 and theirprime movers 7 at one side of the centre plane CP can be operated simultaneously by a first joystick and the pair ofazimuth thrusters 6 and theirprime movers 7 at the other side of the centre plane CP can be operated simultaneously by a second joystick. -
FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment, which distinguishes from the embodiment as shown inFIG. 3 in that twoskegs hull 2. Theskegs 5 extend in longitudinal direction of thehull 2 from thebow 3 to about halfway thehull 2 at a distance from the centre plane CP. As seen from behind of thehull 2, each of theskegs propellers 6 a of the neighbouringazimuth thrusters 6. Due to the application of twoskegs small azimuth thrusters 6 and at least oneskeg skegs propellers 6 a. - The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings and described hereinbefore, which may be varied in different manners within the scope of the claims and their technical equivalents.
Claims (20)
1. A vessel comprising a hull including a bow and a stern and having a length-to-beam ratio which is smaller than 10:1, wherein the hull has a vertical center plane extending in a direction from the bow to the stern, at each side of the center plane the vessel has at least two azimuth thrusters each including respective propellers, which azimuth thrusters are located next to each other in a transverse direction of relative to the center plane (CP) and each azimuth thruster is coupled to its own prime mover in a manner whereby each azimuth thruster Is capable of being driven by the respective prime mover.
2. The vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the azimuth thrusters are aligned in transverse direction relative to the center plane.
3. The vessel according to claim 1 , wherein distances between centerlines of the propellers of each two of the neighbouring azimuth thrusters are the same.
4. The vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the propellers of the at least two azimuth thrusters have different diameters.
5. The vessel according to claim 4 , wherein the propeller of one of the at least two azimuth thrusters which is located at a larger distance from the center plane than another one of the at least two azimuth thrusters has a larger diameter than the propeller of the another one of the at least two azimuth thrusters.
6. The vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the azimuth thrusters are located at the bow or at the stern.
7. The vessel according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the prime movers is an internal combustion engine.
8. The vessel according to claim 7 , wherein the internal combustion engine is a diesel engine.
9. The vessel according to claim 8 , wherein the diesel engine has a maximum speed above 1000 rpm.
10. The vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two azimuth thrusters and their prime movers are functionally coupled to a common controller for operating the at least two azimuth thrusters simultaneously.
11. The vessel according to claim 10 , wherein the common controller for each of the at least two azimuth thrusters and their prime movers is a joystick configured such that an operator can operate two joysticks, the joystick for simultaneously controlling the at least two azimuth thrusters including their prime movers at one side of the center plane and the second joystick for simultaneously controlling the at least two azimuth thrusters including their prime movers at the other side of the center plane.
12. The vessel according to claim 1 wherein at each side of the center plane a skeg is mounted to a lower side of the hull, which skeg extends in longitudinal direction of the hull.
13. The vessel according to claim 12 , wherein the skeg is located at a horizontal position between axes of rotation of the respective propellers of the at least two azimuth thrusters, as seen in a direction from the stern to the bow.
14. The vessel according to claim 12 , wherein a maximum height of the skeg is smaller than a diameter or of each of the propellers of the respective azimuth thrusters.
15. The vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a tug boat.
16. The vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the length-to-beam ratio is smaller than 5:1.
17. The vessel according to claim 14 , wherein maximum height of the skeg is smaller than 1.5 times the diameter of each of the propellers of the respective azimuth thrusters.
18. The vessel according to claim 2 , wherein distances between centerlines of the propellers of each two of the neighbouring azimuth thrusters are the same.
19. The vessel according to claim 2 , wherein the propellers of the at least two azimuth thrusters have different diameters.
20. The vessel according to claim 19 , wherein the propeller of one of the at least two azimuth thrusters which is located at a larger distance from the center plane than another one of the at least two azimuth thrusters has a larger diameter than the propeller of the another one of the at least two azimuth thrusters.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP20159261.5A EP3871970A1 (en) | 2020-02-25 | 2020-02-25 | A vessel |
EP20159261.5 | 2020-02-25 | ||
PCT/EP2021/054099 WO2021170493A1 (en) | 2020-02-25 | 2021-02-19 | A vessel |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20230070348A1 true US20230070348A1 (en) | 2023-03-09 |
Family
ID=69845812
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/904,733 Pending US20230070348A1 (en) | 2020-02-25 | 2021-02-19 | A vessel |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20230070348A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3871970A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN115135575A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2021226803A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3168219A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2021170493A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3750607A (en) * | 1971-06-23 | 1973-08-07 | D Seymour | Shallow-draft boat |
US3934531A (en) * | 1974-07-18 | 1976-01-27 | Allen Rudolph A | Ocean going cargo transport system |
SE8301196L (en) * | 1983-03-04 | 1984-09-05 | Goetaverken Arendal Ab | DEVICE FOR SHIPS WITH PARALLEL HULLS |
CN103482037A (en) * | 2013-09-23 | 2014-01-01 | 浙江海洋学院 | Small-sized tugboat |
WO2016023080A1 (en) * | 2014-08-12 | 2016-02-18 | Frozen Motion Pte Ltd | Marine craft for performing surface operations |
-
2020
- 2020-02-25 EP EP20159261.5A patent/EP3871970A1/en active Pending
-
2021
- 2021-02-19 CA CA3168219A patent/CA3168219A1/en active Pending
- 2021-02-19 AU AU2021226803A patent/AU2021226803A1/en active Pending
- 2021-02-19 US US17/904,733 patent/US20230070348A1/en active Pending
- 2021-02-19 CN CN202180015832.9A patent/CN115135575A/en active Pending
- 2021-02-19 WO PCT/EP2021/054099 patent/WO2021170493A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA3168219A1 (en) | 2021-09-02 |
AU2021226803A1 (en) | 2022-09-15 |
WO2021170493A1 (en) | 2021-09-02 |
EP3871970A1 (en) | 2021-09-01 |
CN115135575A (en) | 2022-09-30 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DAMEN 40 B.V., NETHERLANDS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VAN SCHAIK, JAN HENDRIK;REEL/FRAME:061158/0304 Effective date: 20220902 |
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Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |