US3762359A - Marine propeller stern bearing-shaft design and seal arrangement - Google Patents

Marine propeller stern bearing-shaft design and seal arrangement Download PDF

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Publication number
US3762359A
US3762359A US00190852A US3762359DA US3762359A US 3762359 A US3762359 A US 3762359A US 00190852 A US00190852 A US 00190852A US 3762359D A US3762359D A US 3762359DA US 3762359 A US3762359 A US 3762359A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
bearing
assemblage
propeller
seal
hub
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00190852A
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English (en)
Inventor
J Jones
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mobil Oil AS
ExxonMobil Oil Corp
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Mobil Oil AS
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
    • F16J15/00—Sealings
    • F16J15/44—Free-space packings
    • F16J15/447—Labyrinth packings
    • F16J15/4476—Labyrinth packings with radial path
    • F16J15/4478—Pre-assembled packings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H1/00—Propulsive elements directly acting on water
    • B63H1/02—Propulsive elements directly acting on water of rotary type
    • B63H1/12—Propulsive elements directly acting on water of rotary type with rotation axis substantially in propulsive direction
    • B63H1/14—Propellers
    • B63H1/20—Hubs; Blade connections
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C33/00—Parts of bearings; Special methods for making bearings or parts thereof
    • F16C33/72—Sealings
    • F16C33/74—Sealings of sliding-contact bearings
    • 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
    • B63H23/32—Other parts
    • B63H23/321—Bearings or seals specially adapted for propeller shafts
    • B63H2023/327—Sealings specially adapted for propeller shafts or stern tubes
    • 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
    • B63H23/32—Other parts
    • B63H23/34—Propeller shafts; Paddle-wheel shafts; Attachment of propellers on shafts
    • B63H2023/342—Propeller shafts; Paddle-wheel shafts; Attachment of propellers on shafts comprising couplings, e.g. resilient couplings; Couplings therefor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2326/00—Articles relating to transporting
    • F16C2326/30—Ships, e.g. propelling shafts and bearings therefor

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A ships propeller, drive shaft and bearing support design which will locate the bcaring from its traditionally forward position to a position within the center of gravity of the propeller and seal the bearing from sea water with non-rubbing parts comprising a labyrinth seal is described.
  • FIGURE 1 RUDDER J v PROPELLER BULKHEAD 72 TAIL SHAFT MARINE PROPELLER STERN BEARING-SHAFT DESIGN AND SEAL ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • the development of cargo vessels and particularly tanker vessels has taken giant strides in recent years to the point that the Super Tankers of a few years ago are small by comparison with those vessels now under construction.
  • the design of marine propulsion systems still relies upon one or more propellers, a shaft and bearing arrangement which can accept their required loads and stresses.
  • more reliable lubrication of the bearing and improved seal assemblies are constantly being sought to reduce well known problems associated with even small vessels.
  • FIG. 1 depicts diagrammatically'the stern view of a vessel particularly-at the stern frame which supports the propeller in combination with the propeller drive shaft.
  • FIG. 11 diagrammatically depicts in substantially greater'detail a half portion of the stern arrangement including propeller drive shaft, support bearing and seal arrangement generally depicted in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. III diagrammatically shows in cross-sectional arrangement a labyrinth seal used in the assemblage of FIG. II.
  • FIG. IV diagrammatically. shows a detail of the drive ring intermediate-a propeller hub and the drive shaft.
  • the present invention is concerned with an improved design changing the relationship of propeller, shaft and bearing support so as to move the location of the hearing from its traditionally forward position to a position within the center of gravity of the propeller and effecting improved sealing of the bearing to exclude undesired travel of lubricant and sea water through the seal.
  • FIG. I generally depicts the stern view of a vessel particularly at the propeller location.
  • the propeller 2 with its hub 4 is connected through a drive-ring 6 to the prof peller tail shaft 8.
  • Retaining nut 10 maintains drive ring 6 and the shaft through a spline-connection in rigid contact with one another.
  • the described propeller, hub, drive ring and shaft assembly is supported by a bearing 12 between the propeller hub and the journal which is an extension of the stern frame 14 throughwhich the shaft extends.
  • the journal may be a part of the stern frame or a stern tube may be inserted in and rigidly connected to the stern frame whichever is more suitable during construction,
  • the bearing 12 is sealed from sea water by seal 18 more completely discussed hereinafter.
  • FIG. II diagrammatically depicts in greater detail a half portion of the arrangement of propeller, shaft, bearing and sealing arrangement generally discussed with respect toFIG. 1, and FIG. III provides even greater detail of the sealing arrangement to be used in the improved propeller stern design of this in? vention.
  • FIG. II a portion of the propeller blade 2 and its associated hub portion 4 is shown bolted to drive ring 6.
  • the drive ring 6 is fixedly positioned on the shaft end through a splined coupling to transmit torque from the shaft to the drive ring and is positioned on that shaft between an annular lip surface onthe shaft and the retaining nut 10 screwed on the end of the shaft.
  • the assemblage of propeller, shaft, bearing and inter.- connecting drive ring above described offers further advantage to the ship owner in that the annular seal is free of rubbing surface engagement,'while excluding sea water from the bearing and lubricating oil from leaking out into the sea.
  • the operating advantages of the seal will be discussed in greater detail below.
  • the annular seal is positioned between the forward surface of the propeller hub and a substantially vertical surface of the stern frame as generally depicted by reference numberal 20 on FIG. II.
  • An annular ring 22 known as a rope guard protects the seal after installation and is rigidly affixed as by welding or other suitable method to the external surface of the stern frame to provide a slight clearance 24 between it and the propeller hub.
  • oil supply tubes 26 at about the 90 and 270 angle about the extension or journal 14 are provided to supply oil to the forward end of the bearing.
  • FIG. III The enlarged seal arrangement depicted by FIG. III is known as a labyrinth seal and comprises an annular assembly of parts which might be constructed from materials such as bronze, rubber, plastic and various combinations thereof which are related between fixed and rotating parts to form a seal having essentially no rubbing parts.
  • a labyrinth is identified as a place full of intricate passageways. It is clear that the seal of FIG. III conforms to this definition.
  • the cross sectional area 14 conforms to a portion of the stern frame journal as shown in FIG. II
  • cross sectional area 4 corresponds to the forward end of the propeller hub
  • 22 conforms to the rope guard
  • 12 represents a forward end of the hearing which is pressed into the propeller hub
  • passage 26 corresponds to the oil inlet for lubricating the bearing.
  • the labyrinth seal of FIG. III comprises a rotating portion rigidly attached to the propeller hub as shown and identified as rotating ring and a stationary ring which is rigidly attached to the stern frame.
  • each of the rings are so positioned with respect to one another as to provide for a tortuous path passageway or space therebetween and this tortuous path is made even more tortuous in certain selected horizontal portions thereof by providing a plurality of male and female annular protrusions related to one another but spaced apart from one another in an amount which will cause a pressure drop to exist in a fluid medium caused to move through the labyrinth passageway.
  • FIG. III comprises a rotating portion rigidly attached to the propeller hub as shown and identified as rotating ring and a stationary ring which is rigidly attached to the stern frame.
  • labyrinth passageways there is provided at least three independent or separate combinations of labyrinth passageways to provide a tortuous path for fluid flow between spaced apart matching hill and valley variations comprising the stationary and moving rings of the sea].
  • the upper labyrinth passageway formed between the stationary and rotating members will operate to reduce the pressure of sea water entering between the members
  • the lower labyrinth passageway will operate to reduce the pressure of bearing oil from entering between the members
  • the intermediate labyrinth passageway will be pressured with air or desalinated water or fresh water to exclude mixing of sea water and oil therein.
  • the labyrinth passageways above discussed and shown on the drawing may be positioned horizontal to the shaft as shown or vertical thereto or inclined at an angle therefrom.
  • sea water will enter through space or opening 24 into the space between rotating member 30 fastened to hub 4 and stationary member 32.
  • the sea water passes through the space 34 into the upper labyrinth seal passageway 36 and passes through space 38 and into an initial portion of the intermediate labyrinth seal passageway 40.
  • An inlet or passageway 42 is provided for introducing air or other suitable fluid such as fresh water to a mid-portion of the intermediate labyrinth.
  • oil introduced by passageway 26 to lubricate bearing 12 passes through opening 44 into the lower labyrinth passage way 46.
  • the oil passes through the labyrinth with loss of pressure eventually passing through space 48 and thence into the end of the intermediate labyrinth 49 opposite to the sea water inlet end 40 wherein essentially balanced pressure conditions will prevail which will exclude substantially any further flow of either sea water or oil.
  • Air or desalinated water introduced through 42 will help to obtain this balanced pressure condition.
  • the water may be passed through passageway 42 to we clude sea water when the ship is docked for example.
  • FIG. IV is a detail of the drive ring and particularly the face surface between the drive ring and the propeller hub to show the method for coupling these surfaces to accept the loads imposed thereon.
  • a plurality of bolts 50 about the peripherial surface of the drive ring rigidly connect it to the hub and shear forces are resisted by elevated sections or keys 52 with tapered sides which are matched to corresponding female recesses in the hub surface.
  • the bolts resist primarily direct tensile forces imposedin view of the elevated sections or keys 52 provided for particularly resisting the shear forces.
  • a marine propulsion assemblage comprising in combination: 7
  • a ships stern frame comprising a cylindrical journal through which a propeller shaft extends
  • said drive ring fastened to the aft end of the hub of a ship's propeller circumscribing said cylindrical journal, said hub in contact with a bearing surface between said hub and the external surface of said cylindrical journal, and
  • cylindrical journal is a cylindrical stern tube extending from said stern frame.
  • seal for ward of said bearing may be one providing rubbing contact between stationary and moving surfaces to excluding lubricating oil and sea water from passing through the seal.
  • the seal comprises a plurality of interconnected labyrinth passageways between stationary and moving surfaces which are out of rubbing contact with one another, each of said labyrinth passageways providing a desired drop in pressure of the fluid passing therethrough and a labyrinth passageway intermediate the plurality of labyrinth passageways provided with means for injecting air or fresh water to provide a region of neutral pressure therein.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Sealing Of Bearings (AREA)
  • Sealing Using Fluids, Sealing Without Contact, And Removal Of Oil (AREA)
  • Sealing Devices (AREA)
US00190852A 1971-10-20 1971-10-20 Marine propeller stern bearing-shaft design and seal arrangement Expired - Lifetime US3762359A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US19085271A 1971-10-20 1971-10-20

Publications (1)

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US3762359A true US3762359A (en) 1973-10-02

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Country Status (7)

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US (1) US3762359A (enExample)
JP (1) JPS4850494A (enExample)
BE (1) BE790095A (enExample)
DE (1) DE2251025A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2157589A5 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1379967A (enExample)
NL (1) NL7210260A (enExample)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3895598A (en) * 1973-02-23 1975-07-22 Voith Gmbh J M Ship propulsion unit having a variable pitch propeller
US3902771A (en) * 1974-03-26 1975-09-02 Us Navy Rubber stave bearing which will permit slow speed motion without stick-slip and resultant squeal
US4886420A (en) * 1988-06-10 1989-12-12 Engineering Measurments Company Protected flow meter rotor bearing
US20040091356A1 (en) * 2001-11-13 2004-05-13 Gerlach Charles L. Labyrinth seal adapter for marine propeller
CN114802679A (zh) * 2022-03-21 2022-07-29 万力达船用动力系统(苏州)有限公司 一种船用定距桨型侧向推进装置
US20240051647A1 (en) * 2020-12-18 2024-02-15 Aker Arctic Technology Oy Marine propeller

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2159895B (en) * 1984-06-04 1987-09-16 Gen Electric Stepped-tooth rotating labyrinth seal
EP0217956A1 (en) * 1984-12-31 1987-04-15 OZAKI, Hideji Propeller and rudder arrangement on a ship
EP2878865B1 (en) * 2012-07-27 2018-03-21 Eagle Industry Co., Ltd. Stern tube sealing device
CN111720548A (zh) * 2020-06-22 2020-09-29 东台市海鹏船舶配件厂 一种同步抵压式船用密封装置

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3530819A (en) * 1968-11-13 1970-09-29 Henry J Modrey Bearing assembly
US3540405A (en) * 1967-04-25 1970-11-17 Turnbull Marine Design Propeller tail-shafts of ships
US3565447A (en) * 1967-10-05 1971-02-23 Inst Schiffbau Stern tube seal

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3540405A (en) * 1967-04-25 1970-11-17 Turnbull Marine Design Propeller tail-shafts of ships
US3565447A (en) * 1967-10-05 1971-02-23 Inst Schiffbau Stern tube seal
US3530819A (en) * 1968-11-13 1970-09-29 Henry J Modrey Bearing assembly

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3895598A (en) * 1973-02-23 1975-07-22 Voith Gmbh J M Ship propulsion unit having a variable pitch propeller
US3902771A (en) * 1974-03-26 1975-09-02 Us Navy Rubber stave bearing which will permit slow speed motion without stick-slip and resultant squeal
US4886420A (en) * 1988-06-10 1989-12-12 Engineering Measurments Company Protected flow meter rotor bearing
US20040091356A1 (en) * 2001-11-13 2004-05-13 Gerlach Charles L. Labyrinth seal adapter for marine propeller
US6835047B2 (en) 2001-11-13 2004-12-28 Michigan Wheel Corporation Labyrinth seal adapter for marine propeller
US20240051647A1 (en) * 2020-12-18 2024-02-15 Aker Arctic Technology Oy Marine propeller
CN114802679A (zh) * 2022-03-21 2022-07-29 万力达船用动力系统(苏州)有限公司 一种船用定距桨型侧向推进装置
CN114802679B (zh) * 2022-03-21 2023-11-24 万力达船用动力系统(苏州)有限公司 一种船用定距桨型侧向推进装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE790095A (fr) 1973-04-13
NL7210260A (enExample) 1973-04-25
GB1379967A (en) 1975-01-08
FR2157589A5 (enExample) 1973-06-01
JPS4850494A (enExample) 1973-07-16
DE2251025A1 (de) 1973-04-26

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