EP1970302A1 - Système oscillant de propulsion et de direction d'hydroptère - Google Patents

Système oscillant de propulsion et de direction d'hydroptère Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1970302A1
EP1970302A1 EP08075013A EP08075013A EP1970302A1 EP 1970302 A1 EP1970302 A1 EP 1970302A1 EP 08075013 A EP08075013 A EP 08075013A EP 08075013 A EP08075013 A EP 08075013A EP 1970302 A1 EP1970302 A1 EP 1970302A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
propulsion
steering
waterborne craft
craft according
casing
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
Application number
EP08075013A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1970302B1 (fr
Inventor
Paul Grima
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1970302A1 publication Critical patent/EP1970302A1/fr
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Classifications

    • 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
    • B63H1/30—Propulsive elements directly acting on water of non-rotary type
    • B63H1/32—Flaps, pistons, or the like, reciprocating in propulsive direction
    • 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
    • B63H25/52—Parts for steering not otherwise provided for

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an oscillating hydrofoil propulsion and steering system, which is provided in general for waterborne crafts.
  • propeller and cycloidal propulsion systems provided on different waterborne crafts, can be lethal to swimmers and aquatic life due to the blade rotation under water. It is therefore imperative to switch their engines off, for example, during rescue operations. Propeller and cycloidal propulsion systems are also very vulnerable to hitting hard objects.
  • Main object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a propulsion and steering system which makes vessels faster and more fuel-effcient than either cycloidal-driven vessels or most propeller vessel.
  • Further object of the present invention is to provide a propulsion and steering system which makes vessels much more maneuverable than either cycloidal vessels or propeller vessels, without need of any bow or stern thruster, since it is able to make a vessel turn 360 degrees on the same spot or even move sideways and backwards or in any other direction.
  • a submarine equipped with the propulsion and steering system according to the present invention can move sideways and/or up and down without any forward motion, even without its ballast tank operation, staying level, and always in quite complete silence, since it should be free from propeller noise and vibrations.
  • the propulsion and steering system according to the present invention may serve, while sailing under wind power, as a keel and/or rudder system.
  • Further object of the present invention is to provide a propulsion and steering system which is much safer for swimmers and aquatic life than propeller and cycloidal system, thus allowing for studying aquatic life closely without disturbing the same since there is no propeller noise and vibrations.
  • Further object of the present invention is to provide a propulsion and steering system which does not result as vulnerable as propeller and cycloidal systems to hitting hard objects.
  • Further object of the present invention is to provide a propulsion and steering system which can be made weedless and/or tangle-free, by which a vessel can avoid being entangled in submerged weeds, ropes or nets.
  • the oscillating hydrofoil propulsion and steering system according to the present invention can be applied suitably on all kinds of waterborne craft: model crafts, small boats, pedal power pleasured crafts, cabin cruisers, yachts, military stealth boats and ships, warships, submarines and supertankers.
  • a main drive unit 16 is shown, operatively connected to a pair of transmission units 15, each gearing a casing 4.
  • Each casing 4 has arranged thereon an hydrofoil blade 1 by a flap mechanism 3.
  • Said casings 4 are preferably mounted flush to any submerged or submersible portion of the outer surface of vessel (see fig. 3f ).
  • both the propulsion transmission and the steering operation are combined into each unit 15, governed by said unit 16, that generates a motion of the pinion 4a, gearing the crown wheel 4b, reciprocating for propulsion and continuous for steering, respectively.
  • the mechanism for the propulsion transmission comprises a pair of connecting rods 7 and a pair of harnesses 5 gearing each other.
  • Each connecting rod 7 is hinged to the corresponding harness 5 that, in turn, is hinged to a casing 4.
  • the connecting rods 7 are preferably a hydraulic or pneumatic rams and provide synchronous reciprocating motion to the casings 4 by said pair of harnesses 5.
  • the mechanism for the steering operation instead, comprises a shaft 11, a gearbox 8, a pair of telescopic shafts 9 and a pair of endless screws 12, each gearing the corresponding above described casing 4.
  • the rotation of the shaft 11 is transmitted, through said gearbox 8, to each telescopic shaft 9 that, in turn, rotates each endless screw 12, thus rotating the corresponding casing 4.
  • FIG. 3 shows a propulsion transmission system different in respect of the previous embodiment.
  • Each of said endless screws 12 is, indeed, hinged with a first end of an arm 14, hinged, in turn, at the opposite end with a shaft 13, by which the reciprocating motion is provided in order to generate the propulsion needed.
  • Figs. 3a to 3f show different configurations of the propulsion and steering system assured by the above described embodiment.
  • Fig. 3a shows the hydrofoil blade oscillation around its axis and the operation of the flap mechanism 3 that acts as shock absorber.
  • Fig. 3b shows the rotation of the hydrofoil blades 1 thus diverging, when the shaft 13 moves towards the casings 4, whilst fig.
  • FIG. 3c shows the rotation of the hydrofoil blades 1 thus converging, when the shaft 13 moves in the opposite direction. This reciprocating motion assures the oscillation of the hydrofoil blades 1 and therefore the propulsion of the vessel.
  • Figs. 3d and 3e instead, show two similar configurations, each of them corresponding to two different steering angles, 90 and 180 degrees respectively.
  • the hydrofoil blades 1 reach said steering angles by rotating the shaft 11 that, through the gearbox 8 and the telescopic shafts 9, rotates the endless screws 12, each, as previously shown, gears a casing 4.
  • Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment according to the present invention in which a single casing 4, housing a pair of hydrofoil blades 1, is used, Such embodiment, if preferred, can be a much lighter, simple and less expensive variant, having a parallel motion linkage.
  • Each hydrofoil blade 1 is mounted onto an arm 17, which is connected to a shaft 15 by a pair of arms 16. Said arms 16 are, indeed, hinged at their opposite ends between the shaft 15 and the arm 17.
  • On said arm 17 is also arranged the member 3 which even acts as shock absorber.
  • the reciprocating motion of the shaft 15 provides for the vessel propulsion, whilst the previously described endless screw mechanism provides for steering operation by the rotation of the shaft 11.
  • the hydrofoil blades 1 may be movably attached directly to the outer surface of a vessel by hinges 20, without the use of any casing, and providing the steering operation by the rotation of a shaft 18 acting on the transmission shaft 19.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates, in a perspective view, a strut mounted embodiment according to the present invention.
  • Such embodiment differs from previously described embodiments by the fact that the casings 4 are formed on a strut 18 and back-to-back arranged. Said strut is rotatable in order to assure the steering operation of the vessel on which it is mounted.
  • the embodiment in fig. 8 offers the further advantage of keeping vortices, generated during the propulsion motion of the hydrofoil blades 1, away from the surface of said vessel. It can be adapted to any planning or displacement hull, which does not result limited by the propulsion speed.
  • a given vessel can also be equipped by one or more struts 18 each of which incorporating one or more oscillating hydrofoil systems according to the present invention.
  • the height of the vessel hull from the water can be controlled and adjusted, as desired, by changing the angle of attack of the hydrofoil blades 1, depending on the weight of the same vessel and the desired speed.
  • a separate mechanisms are provided for propulsion motion and steering operation.
  • the strut 18 is provided with a pair of housing 20 and 21 for the casings 4 each, in turn, provided with a hole 4' and a hinge 4".
  • the hole 4' houses the hydrofoil blade axle 1' which is also supported by the flap mechanism 3, whilst the hinge 4" is connected to a first end of a rod 19, the other end of which is hinged with an end of a yoke 5.
  • Said yoke 5 is also hinged with a shaft 22 which has a reciprocating motion thus delivering the necessary oscillation to the hydrofoil blades 1.
  • Figs. 8c to 8e illustrate different displacements reachable by the hydrofoil blades 1 driven by the just described propulsion mechanism.
  • the steering operation is assured by a motor 8 which controls a crown wheel on the strut upper perimeter, provided with a gearing profile.
  • the flap mechanism member 3 can preferably be hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically remotely actively controllable or variable for optimum efficiency at any moment and in any condition as need be. Said flap mechanism 3 can also easily be locked or unlocked by way of a dogtooth 10 or hydraulic mechanism. Therefore, the resistance to flap can easily be varied hydraulically by opening or closing dedicated valves in the just above mentioned hydraulic mechanism.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Steering Devices For Bicycles And Motorcycles (AREA)
EP20080075013 2007-03-13 2008-01-07 Système oscillant de propulsion et de direction d'hydroptère Not-in-force EP1970302B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
MTP4142 2007-03-13

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1970302A1 true EP1970302A1 (fr) 2008-09-17
EP1970302B1 EP1970302B1 (fr) 2012-11-21

Family

ID=39529761

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20080075013 Not-in-force EP1970302B1 (fr) 2007-03-13 2008-01-07 Système oscillant de propulsion et de direction d'hydroptère

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EP (1) EP1970302B1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140203558A1 (en) * 2013-01-21 2014-07-24 Brown University Kinetic energy harvesting using cyber-physical systems
WO2018002383A1 (fr) * 2016-07-01 2018-01-04 Norwegian University Of Science And Technology (Ntnu) Navire du type hydroptère
CN114104236A (zh) * 2021-11-30 2022-03-01 中国船舶科学研究中心 一种新型仿生振荡翼的组合运动方式
CN115776963A (zh) * 2020-05-11 2023-03-10 马士基有限公司 推进单元和包括该推进单元的船舶

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10562602B1 (en) 2018-07-31 2020-02-18 Brunswick Corporation System and method for maneuvering marine vessel with non-engine-powered propulsion device

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2085307A (en) 1936-07-02 1937-06-29 Bernard C Freise Propeller
GB541775A (en) 1938-08-08 1941-12-11 Brev Moineau S A R L Soc D Exp Improvements in devices for the propulsion of watercraft
FR1330218A (fr) 1962-05-07 1963-06-21 Dispositif de propulsion nautique
FR2306874A1 (fr) 1975-04-09 1976-11-05 Chabiland Michel Dispositif de propulsion aquatique
FR2470875A1 (fr) 1979-12-06 1981-06-12 Hydrodyne Internal Sa Dispositif perfectionne pour la propulsion ou le pompage d'un fluide et navire comportant application de ce dispositif
WO2002055381A2 (fr) 2000-11-08 2002-07-18 Cid, Inc. Embarcation individuelle a moteur
US20040195440A1 (en) 2003-03-05 2004-10-07 Pengfei Liu Oscillating foil propulsion system

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2085307A (en) 1936-07-02 1937-06-29 Bernard C Freise Propeller
GB541775A (en) 1938-08-08 1941-12-11 Brev Moineau S A R L Soc D Exp Improvements in devices for the propulsion of watercraft
FR1330218A (fr) 1962-05-07 1963-06-21 Dispositif de propulsion nautique
FR2306874A1 (fr) 1975-04-09 1976-11-05 Chabiland Michel Dispositif de propulsion aquatique
FR2470875A1 (fr) 1979-12-06 1981-06-12 Hydrodyne Internal Sa Dispositif perfectionne pour la propulsion ou le pompage d'un fluide et navire comportant application de ce dispositif
WO2002055381A2 (fr) 2000-11-08 2002-07-18 Cid, Inc. Embarcation individuelle a moteur
US20040195440A1 (en) 2003-03-05 2004-10-07 Pengfei Liu Oscillating foil propulsion system

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140203558A1 (en) * 2013-01-21 2014-07-24 Brown University Kinetic energy harvesting using cyber-physical systems
US10087910B2 (en) * 2013-01-21 2018-10-02 Brown University Kinetic energy harvesting using cyber-physical systems
WO2018002383A1 (fr) * 2016-07-01 2018-01-04 Norwegian University Of Science And Technology (Ntnu) Navire du type hydroptère
CN115776963A (zh) * 2020-05-11 2023-03-10 马士基有限公司 推进单元和包括该推进单元的船舶
CN114104236A (zh) * 2021-11-30 2022-03-01 中国船舶科学研究中心 一种新型仿生振荡翼的组合运动方式

Also Published As

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EP1970302B1 (fr) 2012-11-21

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