WO1997000197A1

WO1997000197A1 - A propeller driving mechanism for marine vessels

Info

Publication number: WO1997000197A1
Application number: PCT/SE1996/000500
Authority: WO
Inventors: Allan HAGSTRÖM
Original assignee: Motala Verkstad Ab
Priority date: 1995-06-16
Filing date: 1996-04-18
Publication date: 1997-01-03
Also published as: AU5915096A; SE9502213L; SE9502213D0; SE503427C2

Abstract

The invention concerns a propeller driving mechanism (5) for marine vessels having propeller blades arranged to be set in various pitch-angle positions in order to alter the angle of attack of the propeller blades against the water. The vessel has a propeller shaft (1) comprising two sections (2, 3), one inner section (2) and one outer section (3) with a universal joint or double joint (4) positioned therebetween in order to allow steering movements (yawing) of the vessel and/or trim movements in the vertical plane by turning the outer section of the propeller shaft (1) towards the starboard or the port side and/or in the vertical plane. A swivel (13) is disposed so as to surround the outer section (3). Communication channels (21, 22; 25, 26; 30, 31; 32, 33) connected to said swivel (13) extend along or laterally of the double joint (4). These communication channels are arranged to carry pressurized medium through the swivel (13) to be conveyed further through the outer section (3) of the propeller shaft (1), up to the drive means (5), in order to set the pitch angle of the propeller blades (6) by hydraulic or pneumatic means.

Description

A PROPELLER DRIVING MECHANISM FOR MARINE VESSELS

The subject invention relates to a propeller drive mechanism for marine vessels wherein the propeller blades of the drive means are arranged to be rotatably adjustable in order to alter the angle of attack of the propeller blades against the water.

SE 9304190-3 discloses a device of the kind outlined above wherein between a vessel drive motor and the propeller mechanism is coupled a propeller shaft comprising two sections, one inner section which is connected to the drive motor, and one outer section which is connected to the propeller drive mechanism. These shaft sections are interconnected by means of a double joint in order to allow steering movements (yawing) of the vessel and/or trim movements in the vertical plane by turning the outer section of the propeller shaft towards the starboard or the port side and/or in the vertical plane. In order to set the pitch angle of the propeller blades by hydraulic or pneumatic means this prior-art construc-tion is equipped with pressurized medium supply lines which extend through the two propeller shaft sections and through the double joint. Owing to this layout of the medium supply lines, it has, however become necessary to give the double joint a rather sophisticated design. Also electrical lines may be laid out along the same path up to the propeller drive means, if their purpose is to be operative in adjusting the propeller blade setting electrically.

The purpose of the subject invention is to allow a more conventional design of the double joint. To this end, the invention is characterized by the features defined in the appended claims. The invention will be explained in closer detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an articulated propeller shaft equipped with the device in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing a modified version of the embodiment of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing a modified version of the embodiment of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing a third embodiment of the invention. The construction shown in the drawing figures illustrates various possible technical solutions of combining propellers having adjustable propeller blades with an articulated propeller shaft. The propeller shaft comprises two sections, 2 and 3. Section 2 is connected to a drive motor, not shown, and is joined to one side of a double universal joint 4 which at the opposite joint side is joined to section 3, the latter being connected to a propeller hub 5 having adjustable propeller blades 6. The connection to the drive motor is shown in Fig. 1 in a simplified version including a drive gear 7 meshing with a cog wheel 8 which is non-rotationally mounted on to the propeller shaft 1.

In accordance with the embodiments shown in Figs.

1-4 it is assumed that the propeller drive means 5 are adjustable with the aid of a pressure medium. For this purpose, a medium supply line 9 and a medium return line 10 extend, in accordanace with the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2, through the propeller shaft 1, from a regulating valve 11 up to a swivel 12 mounted about the propeller shaft sectin 2. A second swi-el 13 is arranged on propeller shaft section 3, on the opposite side of the double joint 4. In the manner illustrated, line 9 preferably extends through line 10 in coaxial relationship therewith. Both lines are disposed inside a tube extending through section 2 of the propeller shaft, between a bracket 15, only suggested in the drawing figures, and the pivots 16 and 17 of the double universal joint 4 on one side there¬ of. From the pivots 18, 19 of the universal joint 4 at the opposite joint side, a second tube, not illustrated, extends through section 3 of the propeller shaft 1, into the propeller drive means 5, wherein it is supported in a bearing 20 housed in the latter.

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated, a pressurized medium supply tube 21 and a return tube 22 extend between the two swivels 12 and 13, alongside or laterally of the double joint 4. Assuming that these tubes 21, 22 are rigid, they should be equipped with one swivel each, numbered 23 and 24, respectively, said swivels preferably being positioned on an imaginary line extending through the centre of articulation of the double joint 4.

During the rotation of the propeller shaft 1 and operation of a vessel, pressurized medium may be supplied from a source of pressurized medium, not shown, via the valve 11, the line 9, the swivel 12, the line 21, the swivel 23, the swivel 13, through the propeller shaft section 3, in the same way as through the propeller shaft section 2, up to the propeller drive means 5 and back through the section 3, the swivel 13, the line 22, the swivel 24, the swivel 12, the line 10 and the valve 11, while thus, on its way making the section 3 pivot in the direction of arrow 28 or in the direction of arrow 29 in order to cause the vessel to perform yawing movements while at the same time the propeller blades 6 may be adjusted for angular changes or for direction changes from motion ahead to reverse, or vice versa.

Fig. 2 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 1, according to which the tubes 21, 22 are replaced by flexible hoses 25, 26. According to this modification no swivels 23,24 thus are required to absorb flexural movements of the double joint 4.

Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment according to which the supply tube 30 and the return tube 31 extend from the regulating valve 11 along the inner section 2 of the propeller shaft 1 and the double joint 4 by way of the swivels 23, 24, up to the swivel 13 of the outer section 3. This gives a simplified construction inasmuch as the lines 9 and 10 as also the swivel 12 are eliminated. Fig. 4 illustrates a modified version of the embodiment of Fig. 3, according to which the tubes 30, 31 are replaced by flexible hoses 32, 33.

Fig. 5, finally, illustrates an embodiment according to which the propeller drive means 5 are assumed to operate electrically. Electrical lines, not shown, thus are drawn to these drive means by way of the outer section 3 of the propeller shaft 1. According to the inventive idea, the swivel 13 surrounding the outer section 3 is replaced in this embodiment by an electric commutator 34 to which the electrical cables concerned are connected. Electrical lines 35, 36, 37 extend from an electrical power source, not shown, past the double joint 4 up to the commutator 34 to be connected to the latter. Equipped with this device the propeller shaft 1 may operate in a manner corresponding to that described in the aforegoing, with the drive means 5 being an electri¬ cal shifting motor.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated but could be varied in many ways within the scope of the amended claims. For in¬ stance, the tubes 21, 22 and 30, 31, respectively, or the hoses 25, 26 and 32, 33, respectively, could be replaced by bores drilled into the structural mass surrounding the propeller shaft 1.

Claims

PATENTKRAV

1. A propeller driving mechanism for marine vessels wherein the propeller blades (6) of the drive means (5) are arranged to be rotatably adjustable in order to alter the angle of attack of the propeller blades against the water, wherein between a vessel drive motor and the propeller means (5) is coupled a propeller shaft comprising two sections (2,3), one inner section (2) which is connected to the drive motor and one outer section (3) which is connected to the propeller drive means (5) , said shaft section being interconnected by means of a double joint (4) in order to allow steering movements (yawing) of the vessel and/or trim movements in the vertical plane by turning the outer section (3) of the propeller shaft (1) towards the starboard of the port side and/or in the vertical plane, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a swivel (13) is disposed so as to surround the outer section (3), and in that communication channels (21, 22; 25, 26; 30, 31; 32, 33) are connected to said sviwel (13) , said communication channels extending along or laterally of the double joint (4) and arranged to carry pressurized medium through the swivel (13) to be conveyed further through he outer section (3) of the propeller shaft (1) , up to the drive means (5) , in order to set the pitch angle of the propeller blades (6) by hydraulic or pneumatic means.

2. A propeller driving mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a supply line (9) and a return line (10) for supply and return, respectively, of said pressurized medium extend through the inner section (2) of the propeller shaft (1) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a swivel (12) is disposed also around the inner section (2), to which swivel (12) said lines (9, 10) are connected, and in that a pressurized medium supply tube (21) and a pressurized medium return tube (22) extend laterally of the double joint (4) between said swivel (12) and the swivel (13) disposed on the outer section (3).

3. A propeller driving means as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that both the supply tube (21) and the return tube (22) are provided with a swivel (23 and 24, respectively), preferably positioned along a line extending through the centre of articulation of the double joint (4) .

4. A propeller driving means as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a couple of flexible hoses (25, 26) , serving as pressurized medium supply and return lines, extend between the swivel (12) disposed on the inner section (2) of the propeller shaft (1) and the swivel (13) disposed on the outer section (3) thereof.

5. A propeller driving means as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the supply tube (30) and the return tube (31) extend from a pressurized medium regulating valve (11), along the inner section (2) of the propeller shaft (1) and the double joint (4), up to the swivel (13) of the outer section (3) .

6. A propeller drive means as claimed in claims 4 and 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the flexible hoses (32, 33) extend from the regulating valve (11) along the inner section (2) of the propeller shaft (1) and the double joint (4) up to the swivel (13) of the outer section (3) .

7. A modification of the device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the propeller drive means (5) are operated electrically, electrical cables extending through the outer section (3) of the propeller shaft (1) being connected to said drive means (5), c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that an electric commutator means (34) to which said electrical cables are connected, is disposed around the outer section (3) , and in that electrical lines (35, 36, 37) extend from an electrical power source past the double joint (4) up to the commutator means (34) to be connected to the latter.