US3780691A

US3780691A - Retractable water jet for a water jet/steering and propulsion system

Info

Publication number: US3780691A
Application number: US00310294A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Stelling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-11-29
Filing date: 1972-11-29
Publication date: 1973-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-25

Abstract

A vertically moveable water jet thruster unit for a water jet propulsion and steering system of a water vessel. The water jet unit comprises a stationary support cylinder rigidly affixed to the hull of the water vessel, a rotatable support cylinder mounted in the stationary cylinder on roller bearings, and a vertically moveable water jet disposed in the rotatable support cylinder in guide tracks. Vertically disposed guide members affixed to the water jet are disposed in the tracks in the rotatable cylinder and guide the water jet vertically upwardly into the water vessel when an underwater collision occurs.

Description

United States Patent Stelling [451 Dec. 25, 1973 Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant ExaminerStuart M. Goldstein Att0rneyAllison C. Collard 5 7 ABSTRACT A vertically moveable water jet thruster unit for a water jet propulsion and steering system of a water vessel. The water jet unit comprises a stationary support cylinder rigidly affixed to the hull of the water vessel, a rotatable support cylinder mounted in the stationary cylinder on roller bearings, and a vertically moveable water jet disposed in the rotatable support cylinder in guide tracks. Vertically disposed guide members affixed to the water jet are disposed in the tracks in the rotatable cylinder and guide the water jet vertically upwardly into the water vessel when an underwater collision occurs.

RETRACTABLE .WATER JET FOR A WATER JET/STEERING AND PROPULSION SYSTEM The present invention relates to water jet propulsion and steering systems for water vessels, and in particular to a vertically movable water jet for use with a water jet propulsion and steering system which retracts into the hull of the water vessel when it strikes an underwater object.

It is known that severe damage can be done to the hull of a water vessel when underwater objects are struck. This is particularly so in ships equipped with water jet propulsion systems, since the water jets are rigidly and integrally constructed with the hull of the ship, and very extensive damage may be done to the water vessel if a water jet unit is ripped from the hull by the impact of an underwater collision.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a water jet thruster unit which is constructed so as to prevent damage to itself and the hull of the water vessel in which it is disposed. The water jet unit of the present invention comprises a stationary cylindrical support member rigidly affixed to the hull of the ship in which a rotatable cylindrical support member is disposed. The rotatable member is mounted on ball bearings disposed in grooves provided in both support members, and is moveable through an angle of 360. The rotatable support member is also coupled to the steering mechanism of the water vessel, which changes the direction of the water jet with respect to the hull of the ship and thereby steers the water vessel. The water jet is slidably disposed in the rotatable support member, and includes a pair of vertically-disposed, U-shaped projecting members, in which ball bearings are disposed, which are slidably disposed in guide tracks provided in the rotatable support member. When an underwater object strikes the water jet, the force of the collision pushes the jet upwardly in the guide tracks into the hull of the water vessel so that it slides over the object. As soon as the obstruction is passed by the ship, the waterjet slides downwardly out of the hull to resume its normal operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a water jet thruster unit for the water jet propulsion and steering system of a water vessel which is automatically retractable into the hull of the water vessel when struck by an underwater object.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a water jet thruster unit for the water jet propulsion and 360 steering system of a water vessel which will not damage the hull of the water vessel during an underwater collision.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water jet thruster unit for a water vessel waterjet 360 steering and propulsion system which is simple in design, easy to manufacture and efficient and reliable in operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose an embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a water jet thruster unit constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional top view of the water jet thruster unit, taken along section 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a water jet thruster unit comprising a stationary support cylinder 10 which is secured to the hull ll of a water vessel by bolts 12. A rotatable support cylinder 13 is moveably disposed within stationary cylinder 10, and is mounted on upper and lower rings of roller bearings 14, which are disposed in circumferential grooves provided in the outside surface of cylinder 13 and the inside surface of cylinder 10, so that cylinder 13 is rotatable through an angle of 360. Cylinder 13 is provided with a central cylindrically-shaped water passageway 15 through which water under pressure is pumped to a water jet 16. The water jet is provided with a centrally disposed water passage 17, which channels the water from passageway 15 to one or more, water jet nozzles 18 which I eject the water substantially horizontally below the hull of the ship. Cylinder 13 is provided with a pair of vertically disposed elongated tracks 19 in which a pair of vertically disposed, U-shaped projecting members 20 provided on the water jet are disposed so as to guide the jet thruster unit upwardly and downwardly therein and in cylinder 13 and secure the water jet with respect to cylinder 13. Ball bearings 21 are disposed in projecting members 20 in order to insure that the water jet moves easily in cylinder 13. An annular plate 22 is secure to the bottom of hull 11 below

cylinder

13 and 10 to secure the cylinders, and includes an aperture 23 through which the bottom of the water jet is disposed.

Upon colliding with an underwater object, the curved side of water jet 16 causes an upward force to be exerted on the waterjet which pushes it upwardly in guide tracks 19. The water jet moves into the hull of the water vessel a distance corresponding to the height of the underwater object struck. The maximum distance the jet thruster unit will move into the hull is the distance it extends from the bottom of the hull. Full retraction of the water jet will occur when the water vessel is grounded or beached. A water shut-off safety valve (not shown), coupled to the water jet propulsion system water pump, is provided to immediately shut off the water pressure to the water jets of the system when they are retracted into the hull of the vessel in order to prevent damage to the system and to the water vessel. The described water jet thruster unit may be in all types of water vessels, such as submarines, surface ships, and small motor boat craft. It is particularly suited for use in a 360 water jet steering and propulsion system such as that disclosed in applicants co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 244,079, filed Apr. 14, 1972, entitled Water Jet Propulsion and Steering System for a Multi- Section Prime-Mover Ship. The materials used to construct the water jet thruster unit may be any suitable conventional materials used in the construction of marine vehicles.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those persons of skill in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatically retractable water jet for the water jet steering and propulsion system of a water vessel, comprising:

a first, stationary, cylindrical support member affixed to the hull of the water vessel;

a second movable cylindrical support member, rotatably disposed in said first support member, and having a plurality of vertically-disposed guide tracks provided on the inside surface thereof; and

a water jet, having a plurality of vertically-disposed, radially outwardly extending projecting members slidably disposed in said guide tracks, said water jet being slidable vertically upwardly in said second cylindrical member, and being guided by said projecting members in said guide tracks, when a vertically upwardly directed force is exerted on said water jet as a result of an underwater collision.

2. The water jet as recited in claim 1, wherein said projecting members are U-shaped, and include a plurality of roller bearings disposed in said projecting members for slidably guiding said projecting members in said guide tracks.

3. The water jet as recited in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of roller bearings, disposed between said first and second cylindrical support members, for rotatably mounting said second cylindrical support member in said first cylindrical support member.

4. The water jet as recited in claim 3, wherein a plurality of circular peripheral grooves are provided in the inside surface of said first cylindrical support member and in the outside surface of said second cylindrical support member, and wherein said roller bearings comprise a plurality of roller bearings disposed in an annular arrangement in said grooves provided in said first and second cylindrical support members, for rotatably mounting said second cylindrical support member in said first cylindrical support member.

5. The water jet as recited in claim 4, wherein said plurality of roller bearings in said projecting members are disposed in a vertical linear arrangement.

6. The water jet as recited in claim 5, wherein said water jet is provided with a curved bottom surface extending from the hull of the water vessel, and includes a plurality of water jet nozzles, for directing water under pressure from said water jet substantially horizontally under the hull of the water vessel.

Claims

1. An automatically retractable water jet for the water jet steering and propulsion system of a water vessel, comprising: a first, stationary, cyliNdrical support member affixed to the hull of the water vessel; a second movable cylindrical support member, rotatably disposed in said first support member, and having a plurality of vertically-disposed guide tracks provided on the inside surface thereof; and a water jet, having a plurality of vertically-disposed, radially outwardly extending projecting members slidably disposed in said guide tracks, said water jet being slidable vertically upwardly in said second cylindrical member, and being guided by said projecting members in said guide tracks, when a vertically upwardly directed force is exerted on said water jet as a result of an underwater collision.