Pivot column bearing for pivotable fin stabilizer

Abstract

To provide a pivot column bearing for a pivotable fin stabilizer of a ship capable of enabling both the automatic compensating for a positional deviation and the reliable operation in the case of the minimum positional deviation or no positional deviation.SOLUTION: The present disclosure is the pivot column bearing for a fin stabilizer of a ship with at least one spherical slide bearing and is a fin stabilizer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pivot post bearing for a pivotable fin stabilizer according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a fin stabilizer. [Background technology]

[0002] Fin stabilizers are used to stabilize the roll of a vessel and / or influence the progress of the vessel while underway, at anchor, or at zero speed. Known pivotable fin stabilizers have a stabilizer fin that is pivoted into a fin box in a rest position. In an operating position, the stabilizer fin is pivoted out of the fin box about a pivot axis so that it can move up and down about its vertical axis.

[0003] A pivot post from which the stabilizer fins extend laterally extends along the pivot axis. So-called pivot post bearings are provided for the pivotable bearing of the pivot post. The pivot post bearings have lower and upper bearings for guiding the pivot post at its ends. The bearings have cylindrical plain bearing surfaces and are respectively integrated into the wall parts (also known as upper and base plates) of the fin box. The bearings are usually inserted into openings in the wall parts and bolted to the wall parts. The fin box itself is welded to an opening in the hull of the ship. Due to thermal stresses that occur during welding, misalignments between the bearings can occur. These misalignments can lead to jamming and / or damage to the bearings. To compensate for misalignments, the pivot post bearings are usually provided with axial and / or radial play that can compensate for even the most unfavorable alignment, in order to prevent as much as possible damage to the bearings and / or the pivot post and jamming during operation. However, if there is no or only minimal misalignment between the bearings, the clearance fit may become too large, which can damage the plain bearings and / or pivot posts and result in high levels of noise. Furthermore, if there is no play anymore, it is possible to try to shim with linear plates or rework the bearings following the installation of fin stabilizers on the ship in order to prevent or eliminate the bearings from sticking after the ship is put into service. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The object of the present invention is not only to create a pivot post bearing for a pivotable fin stabilizer of a ship that allows both automatic compensation of misalignment and reliable operation in the event of minimal or no misalignment, but also to create a fin stabilizer with optimally guided stabilizer fins. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This object is achieved by a pivoting pillar bearing with the features of claim 1 and by a fin stabilizer with the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

[0006] The pivot post bearing according to the present invention for a fin stabilizer of a ship has an upper bearing and a lower bearing for supporting a pivot post of the stabilizer fin, which is pivotable about its vertical axis (pivot axis). According to the present invention, the upper bearing and / or the lower bearing have a spherical plain bearing surface.

[0007] A fin stabilizer according to the present invention includes a pivot post bearing according to the present invention.

[0008] For the purposes of the present invention, a pivot post is understood to be a device through which all forces occurring in the stabilizer fin are transmitted to the ship. Due to the spherical or top portion, misalignment or angular misalignment between the plain bearings can be compensated for with a certain play. The compensation occurs automatically, without the need for corrective measures or external adjustments. Therefore, the pivot post bearing according to the present invention can be manufactured with an optimal fit. The lubricant supply is such that when the load direction is switched, the lubricant is forced through the bearing and the corresponding free space like grease. Here, the balls of the bearing serve as guides. This measure significantly reduces or even eliminates the so-called switching click noise.

[0009] The spherical plain bearing surface of the lower bearing is preferably formed on a bearing bushing that cooperates with a cylindrical bearing surface of the pivot column side bearing ring. The bearing surrounding the pivot column is easy to manufacture due to its cylindrical bearing surface. Preferably, the lower bearing is designed as a floating bearing. The bearing bushing can be a bronze bushing. It is also possible to design the upper bearing as a floating bearing. A floating bearing is a bearing that transmits radial forces exclusively or almost exclusively (friction is not taken into account). Floating bearings are mainly used to compensate for height differences / displacements.

[0010] The manufacture of the spherical plain bearing surface of the lower bearing can be simplified if it is made from a conical section and a cylindrical section. The conical sections can, for example, be oriented so that they rise in opposite directions and merge into each other through the cylindrical section. The sphericity of the lower bearing can be adjusted via the angular position of the conical section, in particular via the length of the conical section and the length of the cylindrical section.

[0011] In one exemplary embodiment, the lower bearing is designed as a floating bearing, and for this purpose, it has a spherical bearing for allowing the tilting movement of the pivot post and a cylindrical bearing for allowing the axial displacement of the pivot post.

[0012] The spherical plain bearing surface of the upper bearing is preferably formed on the housing-side bearing shell and cooperates with a corresponding spherical bearing surface on the pivot column-side bearing ring. The bearing ring is mounted on the pivot column. The fact that these two bearing surfaces are designed to correspond ensures that the bearing ring is guided or supported over a large area on the bearing shell in all angular positions, thereby optimizing the guidance of the operating loads acting on the stabilizer fin to the ship's structure. Preferably, the upper bearing is designed as a fixed bearing. However, in principle, the lower bearing can also be designed as a fixed bearing. In this specification, a fixed bearing means one of the two bearings that transmit both radial and axial forces.

[0013] Specifically, the fixed bearing is advantageous for radial and axial support of the stabilizer fins when the spherical plain bearing surface of the upper bearing and the corresponding spherical bearing surface are arranged with their lower regions radially inward relative to their upper regions. In other words, the spherical center point of the bearing shell is located above the bearing shell. The "curved" or spherical portion is oriented such that its surface area increases from bottom to top.

[0014] The bearing ring of the upper bearing may have, at its head portion facing away from the lower bearing, a second spherical bearing surface oriented in the opposite direction to the first spherical bearing surface and cooperating with a corresponding sliding surface of the radially displaceable bearing cover. As a result of this measure, the upper bearing has two spheres that do not have the same center of rotation. In the event of deflection as a result of misalignment, the bearing cover is radially displaced. This displacement occurs as a counterbalance during installation, such as by welding, of the fin stabilizer on the ship and is generally only necessary during this phase. The transfer of the acting load to the ship structure is still ensured by the corresponding surface. Specifically, the center point of the spherical shape of the bearing cap is positioned below the bearing cap. In this exemplary embodiment, the bearing shell is designed in such a way that the pivot post is generally pushed downward (by gravity) during the pivoting movement. This is because the pivoting preferably occurs only when the stabilizer fin is in its neutral position and does not generate substantial buoyancy forces. Bearing shells can also transmit radial and axial forces, whereas bearing caps cannot (because they flex radially).

[0015] Preferably, the bearing cover is guided above the bearing shell so that it can be radially displaced relative to the thrust ring. A sliding surface is positioned between the thrust ring and the bearing cover. Contact between the bearing cover and the bearing shell should be avoided. Ideally, an axial gap is always formed between the bearing cover and the bearing shell. The axial gap ensures that the bearing cover, which must be able to move radially, does not get caught between the thrust ring and the bearing shell. Therefore, the axial gap does not provide a direct functional connection between the two surfaces of the bearing cover and the bearing shell.

[0016] Specifically, the second bearing surface of the upper bearing ring can have a shorter axial extent than the first bearing surface. The bearing cover can be designed to be correspondingly axially shorter (flatter). It is clearly shown that the lower sphere transfers the load (weight force) during the pivoting movement. Therefore, the upper sphere can be made smaller. The stabilizer fins generate no significant lifting force or very little lifting force when pivoted to the neutral position.

[0017] In the following, preferred exemplary embodiments of the fin stabilizer according to the invention will be explained in more detail with the aid of highly simplified drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through an exemplary embodiment of a pivoting post bearing according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the lower bearing from FIG. 1, which is designed as a fixed bearing. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the lower bearing from FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the upper bearing from FIG. 1, which is designed as a fixed bearing. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the lower bearing, which is designed as a floating bearing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In the context of this invention, designations such as "axial" and "radial" refer to the pivot or vertical axis of the pivot post of the pivotable fin stabilizer, and designations such as "up" and "down" refer to the installation position of the fin stabilizer on the ship. The fin stabilizer is typically welded to the hull at an installation angle of between 0° and 45°.

[0020] 1 shows a cross section along pivot axis X or vertical axis of an exemplary pivot post bearing 1. The pivot post bearing 1 is a component of a fin stabilizer for roll stabilization on a ship. The pivot post bearing 1 allows a pivot post 2, which carries a stabilizer fin, to pivot about pivot axis X. To pivot the pivot post 2, a pivot arm 4 is attached to the pivot post 2, which is operatively connected to a hydraulic or electric motor drive, not shown, or the like.

[0021] The pivot post bearing 1 has a lower bearing 20 and an upper bearing 50 which each surround the end portions 6, 8 of the pivot post 2 and are inserted into opposite openings 10, 12 in the lower and upper wall portions 14, 16 of the fin box.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 2, the lower bearing 20 has a bearing bush 22 on the housing side and a bearing ring 24 on the column side. The lower bearing 20 is designed here as a floating bearing. The bearing ring 24 is firmly attached to or screwed onto the lower end part 6 of the pivot column 2 and is rotatably guided in the bearing bush 22. The bearing bush 22 is inserted into the lower opening 10 and fastened to the lower wall part 14 by means of an outer ring cover 26 and an inner support bearing cover 28. A lubricant supply 34 is integrated into the lower bearing 20 to supply lubricant to the guide surfaces 30, 32 of the lower bearing 20.

[0023] According to the detailed view shown in FIG. 3 , the guide or plain bearing surface 30 of the bearing bush 22 of the lower bearing 20 is spherical or quasi-spherical. The guide or bearing surface 32 of the bearing ring 24, which cooperates with this lower spherical plain bearing surface 30, is cylindrical. In this exemplary embodiment, the sphericity is achieved by dividing the spherical plain bearing surface 30 into two outer conical sections 36, 38 and a central cylindrical section 40. The two conical sections 36, 38 are oriented opposite each other in such a way that the cylindrical section 40 connecting them is located radially inside the conical sections 36, 38. An annular gap 41, shown in FIG. 3 , between the bearing bush 22 and the bearing ring 24 is useful for the operation of the lower bearing.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the upper bearing 50. The upper bearing 50 is designed here as a fixed bearing. On the column side, the upper bearing 50 has a bearing ring 52 that surrounds the upper end portion 8 of the pivot column 2 and is rigidly connected to it. On the housing side, the bearing ring 52 is radially guided in a bearing shell 54. The bearing shell 54 is inserted into an opening 12 in the upper wall portion 16 of the fin box and is fixed against rotation. An outer support bearing ring 56 and an inner thrust ring 57 are fastened to the upper wall portion 16. A lubricant supply (not shown) is provided in the upper bearing 50 to supply lubricant to the guide surfaces 58, 60, 62, 64 of the upper bearing. An axial hole 66 can be provided in the thrust ring 57 for indirect measurement of axial play.

[0025] Both the bearing ring 52 and the bearing shell 54 have spherical guide surfaces 58, 60. The spherical guide or plain bearing surface 58 of the bearing shell 54 and the spherical guide or bearing surface 60 of the bearing ring 52 are designed to correspond to each other. The surfaces are oriented relative to each other in such a way that their lower regions are located radially inward relative to their upper regions.

[0026] In addition to this one sphere, the upper bearing 50 has a second sphere. For this purpose, the upper bearing ring 52 has, at its head portion 68 facing away from the lower bearing 20, a second spherical bearing surface 62 oriented in the opposite direction to the first spherical bearing surface 60 and cooperating with a corresponding sliding surface 64 of the bearing cover 70. The second bearing surface 62 of the upper bearing ring 52, and therefore the sliding surface 64 of the bearing cover 70, have a shorter axial extent than the first bearing surface 60 of the upper bearing ring 52. The bearing cover 70 is supported on the bearing ring 52 and is radially displaceable relative to the thrust ring 57. Contact between the bearing cover 70 and the bearing shell 54 must be avoided. Axial upward forces are transmitted to the thrust ring 57 via the bearing cover 70. Specifically, the spherical center point of the bearing shell 54 is located above the bearing shell 54. The spherical center point of the bearing cover 70 is located below the bearing cover 70.

[0027] According to the invention, misalignment of the bearings 20, 50 relative to one another is compensated for by the spheres or peaks of their guide surfaces 30, 32 and 58, 60, 62, 64.

[0028] If an angular position is applied to the pivot post 2 as a result of misalignment, the pivot post 2 can tilt accordingly due to the spherical shape of its bearings 20, 50. Due to said tilting, the upper bearing cover 70 is radially displaced by the head portion of the upper bearing ring 52. The spheres not only ensure the tilting of the pivot post 2, but also in particular the maximum possible constant / continuous surface contact between the guide surfaces 30, 32 and 58, 60, 62, 64, and thus the optimum guidance of the operating loads acting on the stabilizer fins to the ship's structure.

[0029] 5, in contrast to the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the lower bearing 71 is designed as a floating bearing with two spherical bearing surfaces. For this purpose, the lower bearing 71 has a bearing shell 72 with a radially inner spherical bearing surface 74 and a radially outer cylindrical bearing surface 76. The spherical bearing surface 74 interacts with a corresponding spherical mating surface 78 of the column-side bearing ring 80. The cylindrical bearing surface 76 cooperates with a corresponding cylindrical mating surface 82 of the ring cover 26, the support bearing cover 28, and / or the wall portion 14 such that forces are transmitted indirectly to the fin box wall portion 14 via the housing-side support bearing cover 28 and the housing-side ring cover 26, and are introduced directly into the wall portion 14.

[0030] The spherical bearings 74, 78 allow tilting movement of the pivot post 2 shown in Figure 1. The cylindrical bearings 76, 82 allow displacement of the pivot post 2 along the pivot axis X.

[0031] To prevent the bearings 74, 78 and 76, 82 from binding, corresponding bearing gaps 84, 86 are provided between the bearing components 74, 78 and 76, 82 which are in sliding contact with one another.

[0032] To simplify assembly, the bearing shell 72 may be split in two transversely (at a separation plane 88) and thus may consist of two halves 72a, 72b. Separation may also occur vertically (not shown).

[0033] Disclosed is a pivot post bearing for a fin stabilizer of a vessel having at least one spherical plain bearing, and also a fin stabilizer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1 Pivot column bearing 2 pivot columns 4 pivoting arms 6 Pivot column end part 8 Pivot column end part 10 aperture 12 Aperture 14 Wall fin box 16 Wall fin box 20 Lower bearing 22 Bearing bush 24 bearing ring 26 Ring cover 28 Support bearing cover 30 Guideway or plain bearing surface 32 Guideway or bearing surface 34 Lubricant supply section 36 Cone-shaped part 38 Cone-shaped part 40 Cylindrical part 41 Annular gap 50 Upper bearing 52 Bearing ring 54 Bearing shell 56 Support bearing ring 57 Thrust Ring 58 Guideway or plain bearing surface 60 Guideway or bearing surface 62 Guideway or second bearing surface 64 Guideway or sliding surface 66 Hole for indirect measurement of axial play 68 Head part 70 Bearing cover 71 Lower bearing (floating bearing with two spherical surfaces) 72 Bearing shell 72a, 72b Bearing shell halves 74 Spherical bearing surface 76 Cylindrical bearing surface 78 Spherical mating surface 82 Cylindrical mating surface 84 Bearing clearance 86 Bearing clearance 88 Separation plane X pivot axis

Claims

1. A pivot post bearing (1) for a pivotable fin stabilizer of a ship, comprising an upper bearing (50) and a lower bearing (20, 71) for pivotally mounting a pivot post (2) of the stabilizer fin about its vertical axis (X), characterized in that the upper bearing (50) and / or the lower bearing (20) have spherical guide surfaces (30, 32, 58, 60, 62, 64).

2. 2. The pivot column bearing according to claim 1, wherein the spherical plain bearing surface (30) of the lower bearing (20) is formed on a bearing bush (22) and cooperates with a cylindrical bearing surface (32) of a pivot column side bearing ring (24).

3. 3. The pivot column bearing according to claim 1, wherein the spherical plain bearing surface (30) of the lower bearing (20) is formed from two conical portions (36, 38) and a cylindrical portion (40) arranged between the conical portions (36, 38).

4. 3. A pivoting column bearing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower bearing (71) comprises a spherical bearing (74, 78) and a cylindrical bearing (76, 82).

5. 5. A pivot column bearing according to claim 1, wherein the spherical plain bearing surface (58) of the upper bearing (50) is formed on a housing-side bearing shell (54) and cooperates with a corresponding spherical bearing surface (60) of a pivot column-side bearing ring (52).

6. 6. A pivoting column bearing according to claim 5, wherein the spherical plain bearing surface (58) of the upper bearing (50) and the corresponding spherical bearing surface (60) are arranged with their lower regions radially inward relative to their upper regions.

7. 7. A pivoting column bearing according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the bearing ring (52) has, in its head portion (68) facing away from the lower bearing (20, 71), a second spherical bearing surface (62) oriented in the opposite direction to the first spherical bearing surface (60) and cooperating with a corresponding spherical running surface (64) of a radially displaceable bearing cover (70).

8. 8. A pivoting column bearing according to claim 7, wherein the bearing cover (70) is guided radially displaceably relative to the thrust ring (57).

9. 9. A pivoting column bearing according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the second bearing surface (62) of the upper bearing ring (52) has a shorter axial extent than the first bearing surface (60).

10. A fin stabilizer with a pivoting post bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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