EP4227210A1 - Agencement de guidage d'écoulement d'un propulseur traçable, propulseur traçable et système - Google Patents

Agencement de guidage d'écoulement d'un propulseur traçable, propulseur traçable et système Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4227210A1
EP4227210A1 EP23154200.2A EP23154200A EP4227210A1 EP 4227210 A1 EP4227210 A1 EP 4227210A1 EP 23154200 A EP23154200 A EP 23154200A EP 4227210 A1 EP4227210 A1 EP 4227210A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flow guide
thruster
thruster unit
retractable
housing
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
Application number
EP23154200.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Henri Moilanen
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.)
Kongsberg Maritime Finland Oy
Original Assignee
Kongsberg Maritime Finland Oy
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kongsberg Maritime Finland Oy filed Critical Kongsberg Maritime Finland Oy
Publication of EP4227210A1 publication Critical patent/EP4227210A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B63H25/42—Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements; Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying 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
    • B63H25/46—Steering or dynamic anchoring by jets or by rudders carrying jets
    • 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
    • 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
    • B63H5/14—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers characterised by being mounted in non-rotating ducts or rings, e.g. adjustable for steering purpose
    • 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
    • B63H5/14—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers characterised by being mounted in non-rotating ducts or rings, e.g. adjustable for steering purpose
    • B63H5/15—Nozzles, e.g. Kort-type
    • 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
    • B63H25/46—Steering or dynamic anchoring by jets or by rudders carrying jets
    • B63H2025/465—Jets or thrusters substantially used for steering or dynamic anchoring only, with means for retracting, or otherwise moving to a rest position outside the water flow around the hull

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a flow guide arrangement of a retractable thruster of a marine vessel.
  • the invention relates also to a retractable thruster unit of a marine vessel.
  • the invention relates also to a system.
  • Marine vessels use various propulsion systems or units.
  • the main propulsion system unit or units is/are normally arranged in the aft part of the ship.
  • the main propulsion system may be either a fixed propeller arrangement creating a thrust force in the longitudinal direction of the marine vessel, or it may be a pod or thruster, i.e. a propeller arrangement that may be rotated round a vertical axis.
  • the marine vessels have also other propulsion arrangements that are mainly used when manoeuvring a ship in a port, for instance.
  • One type of such propulsion arrangements is a tunnel thruster, which may be used both at the bow or at the stern of a ship.
  • the tunnel thruster may be arranged in a horizontal tunnel running transverse to the longitudinal direction of the marine vessel through the hull of the marine vessel for assisting in moving the entire ship or one end of the ship sideways for instance for docking purposes.
  • the tunnel thrusters have been developed further by making such retractable i.e., the thruster unit may be kept within the hull, but it may be lowered below the hull i.e., below the baseline of the marine vessel. When the thruster unit is in a lowered position, it may be rotated round a vertical axis, and it may thus be used to generate thrust in any desired direction for driving and steering purposes.
  • These retractable thrusters having a tunnel mode and a drive mode may be called as combi thrusters.
  • combi thrusters may be that a part of flow in when the thruster is in a tunnel mode may bypass the propeller.
  • Particularly marine vessels having a well for receiving and moving the thruster unit in connection with the tunnel may lead to a leak of the flow from the tunnel to the well and pass the propeller of the thruster unit. This may cause inefficiency to the thrust of the thruster. It may also increase noise and fuel consumption.
  • Another drawback of prior art may be flow resistance of the structures that may hamper an efficiency and a steerability of the thruster in the drive mode in a lowered position.
  • An examples of prior art retractable thrusters are shown in US 3,550,547 and US 5,522,335A .
  • the objective of the invention is to alleviate the disadvantages mentioned above.
  • the present invention provides a flow guide arrangement of a retractable thruster unit, the retractable thruster unit comprising a thruster housing and a stem for connecting the thruster housing to a support and lifting structure, wherein the thruster housing is arranged rotatable around an axis of the stem, a propeller arranged rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the thruster housing, and a drive means for rotating the propeller.
  • the flow guide is arranged on the periphery of the thruster housing on a side opposite to the propeller.
  • the flow guide may be arranged on the periphery of the thruster housing on a side opposite to the propeller in relation to a plane that is parallel to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the thruster housing and aligned with the axis V of the stem.
  • the flow guide may be arranged on the periphery of the thruster housing on a side opposite to the propeller in relation to the axis of the stem.
  • the present invention provides a retractable thruster unit comprising a thruster housing and a stem for connecting the thruster housing to a support and lifting structure, wherein the thruster housing is arranged rotatable around an axis of the stem, a propeller arranged rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the thruster housing, and a drive means for rotating the propeller, and a nozzle arranged on the thruster unit around the propeller.
  • the present invention provides a system comprising a retractable thruster unit and a well for receiving the retractable thruster unit for marine vessel comprising a hull and a through hole i.e., a tunnel from a first side of the hull to the second side of the hull, wherein the well is arranged cross the tunnel, an opening is arranged from the well to outside the hull for moving the thruster unit outside of the hull, wherein the system comprises the retractable thruster unit with a flow guide arrangement according to any one of the embodiments mentioned below or above alone or together with any other embodiment.
  • the technical effect is that with the flow guide a flow leakage i.e., a bypass flow, and/or turbulent flow can be minimized when the retractable thruster is in a tunnel position.
  • a flow leakage i.e., a bypass flow, and/or turbulent flow
  • a low flow resistance and a good steerability may be achieved.
  • inventive embodiments are characterized by what is stated in the other claims. Inventive embodiments are also disclosed in the specification and drawings of this patent application.
  • inventive content of the patent application may also be defined in other ways than defined in the following claims.
  • the inventive content may also be formed of several separate inventions, especially if the invention is examined in the light of expressed or implicit subtasks or in view of obtained benefits or benefit groups. Some of the definitions contained in the following claims may then be unnecessary in view of the separate inventive ideas.
  • Features of the different embodiments of the invention may, within the scope of the basic inventive idea, be applied to other embodiments.
  • the flow guide may comprise a front face and a back face and a guide wall connecting the front face to the back face.
  • the flow guide may have at least one of an oval shape, an annular shape, a ring-like shape, or polygonal shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the thruster housing.
  • the flow guide may comprise at least one of a semi-oval shape, a semi-annular shape, a semi-ringlike shape, or an open polygonal shape or a combination of at least one other shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the thruster housing.
  • the flow guide may be a one-piece part.
  • the flow guide may comprise multiple parts.
  • the flow guide may be arranged of a plurality of different parts possibly having different properties and/or shapes. Its adaptability for use with different kind of applications is good.
  • the polygonal shape of the flow guide may be made for example by combining a plurality of plate-like pieces to form a flow guide.
  • plate-like pieces may be combined for example by welding or by gluing.
  • flow guide may comprise plate like pieces combined by using fixing members e.g. nuts and bolts, an/or rivets.
  • the flow guide may be arranged at a distance from the longitudinal axis.
  • the flow guide may comprise a first end and a second end and wherein a central angle from the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end may be about 20 to 360 degrees, preferably about 20 to less than 360 degrees.
  • the distance from the longitudinal axis to the flow guide may be shorter than a distance from the longitudinal axis to a nozzle possible arranged around the propeller in a plane perpendicular to longitudinal axis.
  • the flow guide may be arranged on the thruster housing coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the thruster housing.
  • a distance from the back face to a lower part and/or an upper part of the front face of the flow guide is longer than the distance from the back face to other part of the flow guide in a plane parallel to a plane comprising the longitudinal axis of the thruster housing and the axis of the stem.
  • a retractable thruster unit comprising a thruster housing and a stem for connecting the thruster housing to a support and lifting structure
  • the thruster housing may be arranged rotatable around an axis of the stem, a propeller arranged rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the thruster housing, and means for rotating the propeller, and a nozzle arranged on the thruster unit around the propeller.
  • the retractable thruster unit may comprise a flow guide arrangement of any one of the embodiments mentioned above lone or in a combination with other embodiment(s).
  • the retractable thruster unit is configured to be moved in a space i.e., a well arranged in a hull of the marine vessel between two positions: a retracted position in which the thruster unit is arranged to operate in a tunnel of a hull of the marine vessel and a second position in which the thruster unit is arranged to operate outside of the hull of the marine vessel.
  • the system may comprise a retractable thruster unit and a well for receiving the retractable thruster unit for a marine vessel comprising a hull and a through hole i.e., a tunnel from a first side of the hull to the second side of the hull.
  • the well may be configured to be arranged in the hull of the marine vessel cross the tunnel.
  • An opening may be arranged from the well to outside the hull for moving the thruster unit outside of the hull.
  • the system may comprise the retractable thruster unit with a flow guide arrangement according to any one of the embodiments mentioned above or below, alone or together with any other embodiment.
  • a wall structure may be arranged to extend from a side wall plane of the well a distance in the space of the well for guiding the flow.
  • the marine vessel may comprise the retractable thruster unit with a flow guide arrangement according to any one of the embodiments mentioned above alone or combined with other embodiment (s) .
  • the tunnel may comprise a tunnel wall structure extending from a side wall plane of the well a distance in the space of the well.
  • Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment of a marine vessel 100.
  • the marine vessel 100 may be provided with a retractable thruster unit 1.
  • the marine vessel 100 may be provided with a tunnel 20 arranged in a hull 101 of the marine vessel 100.
  • the tunnel 20 may be arranged to extend from a first side, for example from a starboard side, of the hull 101 to the second side, for example to a port side, of the hull.
  • the tunnel 20 may be a through hole from a first side to the second side of the hull 101 of the marine vessel 100.
  • the retractable thruster unit 1 may be arranged to be moved between a retracted position ( fig-ure 9 ) and an extended position ( figure 10 ).
  • the thruster unit 1 In the retracted position i.e., in a tunnel position, the thruster unit 1 may be arranged to able to operate as a tunnel thruster. In the extended position i.e., in a drive position, the thruster unit 1 may be arranged to able to operate as an azimuth thruster. In the drive position the thruster unit 1 may be arranged to rotate around an axis V. In an embodiment the axis V may be a vertical axis. In an embodiment the axis V may be axis of a stem 3. In the extended position the thruster unit 1 may be arranged outside the hull 101 as in fig-ure 11 .
  • the thruster unit 1 may be arranged to operate as a combi thruster having two operating modes: a tunnel mode in the retracted position, and a drive mode in the extended position, in which the thruster unit is arranged outside the hull.
  • the thruster unit 1 may be kept within the hull 101 but it may be lowered below the hull 101 i.e., below the baseline of the marine vessel. When the thruster unit is lowered position, it may be rotated round a vertical axis, and it may thus be used to generate thrust in any desired direction for driving and steering purposes.
  • the thruster unit 1 is in the drive mode.
  • the retractable thruster may be arranged to be moved with a moving device between the retracted position and the extended position.
  • the moving device may be for example a hydraulic moving device for moving the thruster unit between the retracted position and the extended position.
  • the moving and supporting devices are illustrated schematically as a moving and supporting unit 31.
  • the moving and supporting unit 31 may comprise guides 33 and lifting device 34 for moving the thruster unit.
  • the moving and supporting unit 31 may also comprise a rotating device 35 of the thruster unit for rotating the thruster unit in relation to the axis V.
  • the moving and supporting unit 31 may comprise a holding device for station keeping and/or holding the thruster unit in the retracted and/or lowered position.
  • a drive device for rotating the propeller 4 such as a motor 36, may be arranged in connection with the thruster unit.
  • the moving and supporting unit may be a rotation unit for rotating the thruster unit around a pivot point or a fulcrum between the tunnel position and the drive position.
  • the thruster unit 1 may comprise a thruster housing 2.
  • the thruster housing 2 may be a pod for example for an engine and or a transmission.
  • the thruster housing 2 has a first end i.e., a front end 9, and a second end i.e., a rear end.
  • a propeller 4 In a rear end of the thruster housing may be arranged a propeller 4.
  • an axis L i.e., a longitudinal axis, is illustrated in the figures.
  • the axis L may be parallel with a rotational axis of the propeller 4.
  • a stem 3 may be arranged to extend from the thruster housing.
  • the stem 3 may be arranged to extend from the thruster housing 2 to a support device of the thruster unit 1.
  • the support device may be connected to a moving device.
  • the moving device may be a lifting device.
  • a connecting device for connecting the thruster unit 1 to the moving device.
  • the thruster may be arranged rotatable in relation to an axis V.
  • the axis V is a vertical axis.
  • a propeller 4 In an embodiment of the figures the propeller 4 may have several blades 8. In the figures the propeller 4 has four blades 8, but the propeller may have more blades 8 or less blades than in an embodiment of the figures.
  • the thruster housing 2 and the propeller 4 with the thruster housing 2 may be rotated to any horizontal angle around the axis V.
  • the propeller 4 may be driven by a driving motor possible via a driving shaft and a gear. Part of the driving motor or the gear may be situated in the thruster housing 2.
  • the stem 3 may be a cylinder like structure having a space surrounded by the cylinder wall.
  • part of the means for transmitting torque of the power to the propeller may be arranged to the space arranged in the stem 3.
  • the engine or motor may be arranged in the thruster housing 2.
  • a nozzle 5 may be arranged on the thruster unit.
  • the nozzle 5 may be an annular structure arranged on the thruster unit.
  • the nozzle 5 may be arranged coaxially with the propeller 4.
  • the nozzle may have a front face 6 and a back face 7 and a surface between the front face and the back face of the nozzle.
  • the nozzle opening may have a radial distance R1 from axis L.
  • the nozzle 5 may be arranged to the thruster housing by arms 11.
  • a flow guide 10 is arranged to the thruster unit 1.
  • the flow guide 10 may be a hydrodynamic device attached to the thruster unit 1 with a purpose to improve the hydrodynamic properties and to control the flow.
  • the flow guide 10 may be arranged on the periphery of the thruster housing 2.
  • the flow guide 10 may be arranged to control the flow in tunnel conditions.
  • the flow guide 10 may be arranged to work as a single flow control element or interact with other flow control elements.
  • the other flow control elements may comprise one or more of the following: a thruster nozzle 5, a tunnel wall, a thruster housing 2, a stem 3, a propeller 4, an arm 11, and/or walls 26, 27, 28 of a space crossing the tunnel 2 i.e., a well 22.
  • the flow guide 10 may be arranged to the thruster unit 1 at a distance from the propeller end of the thruster unit in a direction of the axis L. In an embodiment the flow guide 10 may be arranged on a part of the thruster unit that is on the other end of the thruster unit than the propeller 4. In an embodiment the flow guide 10 may be arranged on the periphery of the thruster housing on a side opposite to the propeller in relation to a plane P ( Fig 8 ) that is parallel to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the thruster housing 2 and aligned with the axis V of the stem 3.
  • the flow guide 10 may be arranged on the periphery of the thruster housing 2 on a side opposite to the propeller 4 in relation to the axis V of the stem 3.
  • the axis V of the stem 3 may be a vertical axis.
  • the plane P may situated between the propeller 4 and the front end 9 of the thruster housing 2.
  • the plane P may be aligned with the axis V of the stem 3.
  • the plane P may be perpendicular with the longitudinal axis L of the thruster housing 2.
  • the flow guide 10 may have a curved shape in a plane perpendicular to axis L.
  • the shape of the flow guide may have a radius of R1 i.e., a distance from the axis L in a plane perpendicular to axis L.
  • the radius R1 may be a constant.
  • the radius R1 i.e., the distance from the axis L in a plane perpendicular to axis L may vary.
  • the flow guide may have a polygonal shape in a plane perpendicular to axis L.
  • the polygonal shape of the flow guide may comprise several portions that may be arranged so that an angle is formed between the portions.
  • the flow guide 10 may have an oval shape in a plane perpendicular to axis L. In an embodiment of the flow guide arrangement the flow guide 10 may have an annular shape in a plane perpendicular to axis L. In an embodiment of the flow guide arrangement the flow guide 10 may have a ring-like shape in a plane perpendicular to axis L.
  • the flow guide 10 may have a semioval shape in a plane perpendicular to axis L. In an embodiment the flow guide 10 may have a semi-annular shape in a plane perpendicular to axis L. In an embodiment the flow guide 10 may have a semiring-like shape in a plane perpendicular to axis L.
  • the flow guide 10 may be a one-piece part. In an embodiment the flow guide 10 may comprise multiple parts. In an embodiment the flow guide 10 may comprise a plurality of curved parts. An embodiment of the flow guide arrangement may comprise a plurality of single flow guides 10.
  • the flow guide 10 may be a tubelike part arranged on the thruster unit 1 as illustrated in figures 1 to 3 and 7 to 10 .
  • the flow guide 10 may be arranged coaxially with the propeller axis and/or longitudinal axis L of the thruster housing 2 the thruster unit 1. In an embodiment the flow guide may be arranged to the thruster housing 2 with arms 11. In an embodiment of the flow guide arrangement the flow guide may be arranged on the stem 3 of the thruster unit.
  • the flow guide 10 may have a front face 12 and a back face 13.
  • the flow guide 10 may have a guide wall 10' connecting the front face 12 and the back face 13.
  • the guide wall 10' may have a first side and a second side.
  • a first side and/or the second side of the guide wall of the flow guide may have a curved form.
  • the first side and/or the second side of the guide wall 10' may have a convex form in a cross direction of the flow guide.
  • the first side of the guide wall 10' may have a convex form and the second side of the guide wall 10' may have a concave form.
  • first side of the guide wall 10' may have a concave form and the second side of the guide wall may have a convex form.
  • the flow guide may have a wing like form.
  • guide wall 10' between the front face 12 and the back face 13 of the flow guide 10 may have extend a distance X in a plane parallel with the axis L. In an embodiment the distance X in a plane parallel with the axis L may be constant between the front face 12 and the back face 13 of the flow guide 10.
  • the front face 12 of the flow guide 10 may extend more from the back end 13 in lower part of the flow guide i.e., the distance X in a plane parallel with the axis L is longer in the lower part of the flow guide 10 than in the upper part of the flow guide 10. In an embodiment the front face 12 may extend more from the back end 13 in lower part of the flow guide i.e., the distance X in a plane parallel with the axis L is greater in the lower part of the flow guide 10 than in the middle part of the flow guide 10.
  • the front face 12 and the surface of the flow guide 10 may extend in an upper part of the flow guide 10 so that the distance X in a plane parallel with the axis L may be greater in the upper part of the flow guide than in the middle part of the flow guide 10.
  • This form of the flow guide 10 may be useful especially with the well 22 having a cylinder like side wall. A distance between the wall of the well 22 and the flow guide 10 of the thruster unit 1 may be made short thus enhancing the flow guiding abilities near the tunnel opening 30 in the tunnel mode of the flow guide 10 of the thruster unit 1.
  • the thruster housing 2 of the thruster may have a tapering shape, tapering towards a front end 9 of the thruster housing 2.
  • the front end 9 of the thruster housing 2 may have a dome like shape.
  • a wall of the thruster housing 2 may have a small radius i.e., radial distance from the axis L, at least near the front end 9 of the thruster housing.
  • the radial distance from the axis L to an outer surface of the wall of the thruster housing 2 may be vary in a plane perpendicular to axis L, when moving from the front end 9 towards a middle part of the thruster housing 2.
  • the radial distance from the axis L to an outer surface of the thruster housing may increase when moving from the front end 9 of the thruster housing towards a middle part of the thruster housing 2.
  • the radial distance R1 to a guide surface 10' of the flow guide 10 from axis L in a plane perpendicular to axis L may be small in relation to the radial distance R2 to a wall of the nozzle 5 from axis L in a plane perpendicular to axis L.
  • the radial distance R1 to a guide surface 10' of the flow guide 10 from axis L in a plane perpendicular to axis L ⁇ radial distance R2 to a wall of the nozzle 5 from axis L in a plane perpendicular to axis L i.e., (R1 ⁇ R2).
  • the flow guide 10 may have a tapering form. In an embodiment the flow guide 10 may be configured to taper from the front face 12 towards back face 13. In an embodiment the flow guide may be configured to taper from the back face 13 towards the front face 12.
  • the flow guide 10 may be arranged in an inclined position in a relation to the longitudinal axis L.
  • the flow guide 10 may have a semioval shape in a plane perpendicular to axis L.
  • the flow guide 10 may have a semi-annular shape in a plane perpendicular to axis L.
  • the flow guide 10 may have a semiring-like shape in a plane perpendicular to axis L.
  • fig-ures 4 to 6 illustrate an example of the flow guide forming a wing like structure.
  • the flow guide may have a form of a section of a circle or a section of another ring-like form.
  • the central angle ⁇ may vary according to the application.
  • the central angle ⁇ may be an angle between a line drawn from the axis L to a first end 14 of the flow guide 10 and a second line from the axis L to a second end 15 of the flow guide.
  • the central angle ⁇ of the flow guide 10 may be for example 20 to 360 degrees.
  • the central angle may be 20 to 270 degrees.
  • the central angle may be 45 to 150 degrees.
  • the flow guide 10 is arranged to the thruster housing 2 of the thruster unit 1 via arms 11.
  • the flow guide 10 may be arranged on a lower portion of the thruster unit in a plane perpendicular to the axis L, as illustrated for example in figure 6 .
  • the flow guide may be arranged on other portions of the thruster unit in a plane perpendicular to the axis L.
  • the flow guide 10 or a part of the flow guide arrangement may be arranged on an upper portion of the thruster unit in a plane perpendicular to the axis L.
  • the flow guide or a part of the flow guide arrangement of the thruster unit may be arranged on a left side and/or on a right side of a vertical plane parallel of axis L in a plane perpendicular to axis L.
  • the thruster unit may be comprise a closing plate 23 arranged via a support to the thruster.
  • the closing plate 23 may close and open an opening 21 arranged in the hull 101 for moving the retractable thruster between the first position and the second position.
  • a first support 24 may be arranged from the thruster housing 2 to the closing plate.
  • the first support 24 may be arranged from the nozzle 5 to the closing plate 23.
  • a second support 25 may be arranged to support the closing plate 23.
  • the flow guide 10 may be arranged to be supported by the second support 25.
  • the closing plate may be arranged to close the opening 21 arranged in the hull to prevent a flow through the opening when the thruster unit is in its retracted position i.e., in the tunnel position ( Fig 9 ).
  • the closing plate may significantly improve the performance of the thruster unit in the tunnel mode, while also reducing the drag of the vessel. Without a closing plate the thruster may intake water through the opening of the bottom well in an inefficient manner, which may cause the thrust to be significantly reduced. On open water conditions i.e., in the drive mode, the closing plate 23 may cause a small reduction in maximum thrust.
  • the thruster unit 1 may be placed in a well 22.
  • the well 22 may be a space arranged in the hull 101.
  • the well 22 may be arranged crossing the tunnel 20 arranged in the hull.
  • the well 22 may have side wall(s), 26, 27, 28 defining the space of the well.
  • a tunnel opening 30 of the tunnel 20 may be arranged to extend through the well 22.
  • the space of the well may extend in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tunnel.
  • the flow guide 10 may guide the flow so that water may flow to the propeller 4 and by-pass flow passing the propeller 4 may be effectively reduced. It has proved to be useful to arrange the flow guide 10 to the thruster unit 1.
  • flow may attach to in and outsides of the flow guide 10, which may guide the flow between tunnel and nozzle 5.
  • Fast flow may be attached to the flow guide and guided from tunnel to the nozzle and to the propeller.
  • an increase over 40 percent may be achieved in thrust.
  • flow guide 10 may prevent the flow from diverting and being trapped to the well 22, thus greatly improving thrust.
  • the thruster unit with the flow guide 10 performs well also when the propeller 4 is driven in reverse when the thruster unit 1 is in the tunnel position. In an embodiment an increase over 25 percent may be achieved in thrust.
  • the flow guide may have several important benefits.
  • the thruster unit with the flow guide 10 may give more thrust and/or with less fuel. Noise and vibration may be less.
  • the flow guide 10 may give further protection for the propeller.
  • the flow guide operates also well in the drive mode i.e., the thruster unit 1 moved outside the hull 101.
  • the thruster unit with the flow guide 10 operates well when the propeller 4 is rotated with the motor in reverse direction in the drive mode. It has proven that the thruster unit with the flow guide operates well in the retractable thruster unit operated as a combi thruster i.e., in the tunnel mode and in the open water drive mode.
  • the tunnel 20 may have a wall portion extending a distance from the side wall of the well 22 a distance to the well space.
  • the tunnel 20 may comprise a marine vessel 100 with the tunnel 20 extending from a first side of the hull to the second side of the hull wherein a well with side wall(s) forming a well space crossing the tunnel is arranged for receiving the retractable thruster unit with the flow guide as defined with above.
  • the disclosure relates also to a system comprising a retractable thruster unit 1 and a well 22 for receiving the retractable thruster unit 1 for a marine vessel 100 comprising a hull 101 and a through hole i.e., a tunnel 20 from a first side of the hull to the second side of the hull.
  • the well 22 may be configured to be arranged in the hull of the marine vessel cross the tunnel 20.
  • An opening 21 may be arranged from the well 22 to outside the hull 101, below the baseline of the hull, for moving the thruster unit 1 outside the hull.
  • the system may comprise the retractable thruster unit 1 with a flow guide 10 arrangement according to any one of the embodiments alone or together with any other embodiment mentioned above or below.
  • a wall structure 32 may be arranged to extend from a side wall 26, 27 plane of the well 22 a distance in the space of the well 22 for guiding the flow.
  • the wall structure may extend between the plane of the side wall 26, 27 of the well 22 and the thruster unit 1 when the thruster unit is in a tunnel mode.
  • the wall structure may be a tunnel extension.
  • the tunnel extension may help guide the flow over the bottom well smoothly to the nozzle 5 and to the propeller 4, which results to higher thrust.
  • the tunnels and the retractable thruster units may be arranged grouped in the bow and/or in the stern of the vessel and/or spread on a length of a hull of the marine vessel.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
  • Earth Drilling (AREA)
EP23154200.2A 2022-02-11 2023-01-31 Agencement de guidage d'écoulement d'un propulseur traçable, propulseur traçable et système Pending EP4227210A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20225121A FI131461B1 (en) 2022-02-11 2022-02-11 RETRACTABLE PROPELLER UNIT FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM, RETRACTABLE PROPELLER UNIT AND SYSTEM

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4227210A1 true EP4227210A1 (fr) 2023-08-16

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EP (1) EP4227210A1 (fr)
FI (1) FI131461B1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3550547A (en) 1968-06-27 1970-12-29 Friedrich W Pleuger Auxiliary maneuvering means for ships
US5522335A (en) 1995-01-30 1996-06-04 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Combined azimuthing and tunnel auxillary thruster powered by integral and canned electric motor and marine vessel powered thereby
EP2931600B1 (fr) * 2012-12-14 2018-11-07 Rolls-Royce Oy Ab Procédé pour désassembler et/ou assembler une partie immergée d'une unité de propulseur rétractable
EP2994379B1 (fr) * 2013-05-06 2019-05-01 Becker Marine Systems GmbH Dispositif de reduction de puissance de propulsion d'une embarcation
CN111645838A (zh) * 2020-06-15 2020-09-11 中国船舶科学研究中心 导管桨支撑分区预旋导流装置

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SU485915A1 (ru) * 1973-03-09 1975-09-30 Предприятие П/Я В-8662 Подруливающее устройство

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3550547A (en) 1968-06-27 1970-12-29 Friedrich W Pleuger Auxiliary maneuvering means for ships
US5522335A (en) 1995-01-30 1996-06-04 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Combined azimuthing and tunnel auxillary thruster powered by integral and canned electric motor and marine vessel powered thereby
EP2931600B1 (fr) * 2012-12-14 2018-11-07 Rolls-Royce Oy Ab Procédé pour désassembler et/ou assembler une partie immergée d'une unité de propulseur rétractable
EP2994379B1 (fr) * 2013-05-06 2019-05-01 Becker Marine Systems GmbH Dispositif de reduction de puissance de propulsion d'une embarcation
CN111645838A (zh) * 2020-06-15 2020-09-11 中国船舶科学研究中心 导管桨支撑分区预旋导流装置

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
GO J S ET AL: "Effects of a duct before a propeller on propulsion performance", OCEAN ENGINEERING, vol. 136, 15 May 2017 (2017-05-15), pages 54 - 66, XP029984300, ISSN: 0029-8018, DOI: 10.1016/J.OCEANENG.2017.03.012 *

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FI20225121A1 (en) 2023-08-12
FI131461B1 (en) 2025-05-05

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