Discharge device of propulsion unit

Abstract

The subject of the present application is a discharge device for a propulsion unit. The invention relates to a discharge device for a propulsion unit (1) of a vessel (2). The propulsion unit (1) comprises a hull structure (3). The hull structure (3) defines at least one bottom section (5) configured to receive a liquid. The discharge device comprises a pneumatically operated discharge device, the pneumatically operated discharge device comprising an intermediate tank (8) within the hull structure (3), a pressurizing device (9) functionally connected to the intermediate tank (8) and configured to selectively provide a vacuum or an overpressure in the intermediate tank (8), a first liquid line (10) arranged between the intermediate tank (8) and the at least one bottom section (5), and a second liquid line (12) arranged between the intermediate tank (8) and a collector device (7) within the hull (4) of the vessel (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a discharge device for a propulsion unit as defined in the preamble of independent claim 1 . Background Art

[0002] A problem with pneumatically operated discharge devices, such as vacuum pumps, is their maximum theoretical suction height capacity, which is approximately 10.33 meters at sea level. This means that if the suction height is approximately 7 meters, the suction capacity (liters per minute) will be very low. This creates a problem when draining the bottom portion of large propulsion units for ships, where the height of the hull structure of the propulsion unit may exceed 8 meters. This means that if liquid from the bottom portion of the propulsion unit's hull structure is to be removed from the propulsion unit and moved into position within the ship's hull, the liquid from the bottom portion of the propulsion unit's hull structure needs to be lifted by more than 8 meters. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a discharge device that solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0004] The discharge device is characterized by what is defined in independent claim 1 .

[0005] Preferred embodiments of the discharge device are defined in the dependent claims.

[0006] The present invention is based on the provision of an intermediate tank within the propulsion unit's hull structure, which enables drainage of the propulsion unit in two steps. In the first step, liquid is drawn from the bottom section of the propulsion unit's hull structure into the intermediate tank, which is located within the hull structure. This allows for a low suction height and high suction capacity. In the second step, the liquid drawn into the intermediate tank is forced out of the propulsion unit into a collector device located within the vessel's hull. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008] Figure 1 A first embodiment of the discharge device is shown,

[0009] Figure 2 A second embodiment of the discharge device is shown, and

[0010] Figure 3 A third embodiment of a discharge device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Next, the discharge arrangement of a propulsion unit 1 (eg an azimuthing propulsion unit) of a vessel 2 will be described in more detail, as well as some embodiments and variants thereof.

[0012] The propulsion unit 1 comprises a hull structure 3 which is mounted beneath a hull 4 of the vessel such that when the vessel 2 is floating in the water, the hull structure 3 is at least partially submerged in the water.

[0013] The housing structure 3 defines at least one bottom section 5 configured to receive liquid formed within the housing structure 3 and / or liquid entering the housing structure 3 from outside the housing structure 3 .

[0014] The discharge device comprises a pneumatically operated discharge device 6 which is fluidically connected to the at least one bottom section 5 .

[0015] The pneumatically operated discharge device 6 is configured to at least partially discharge the at least one bottom section 5 and transfer liquid from the at least one bottom section 5 to a collector device 7 , preferably to a collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 arranged within the hull 4 of the vessel 2 .

[0016] The pneumatically operated discharge device 6 comprises an intermediate tank 8 within the housing structure 3 of the propulsion unit 1 .

[0017] An intermediate tank 8 is located at a vertical level above the at least one bottom section 5 .

[0018] The pneumatically operated discharge device 6 comprises a pressurizing device 9 which is functionally connected to the intermediate tank 8 and is configured to selectively provide a vacuum in the intermediate tank 8 or an overpressure in the intermediate tank 8 .

[0019] The pneumatically operated discharge device 6 comprises a first liquid line 10 which is arranged between the intermediate tank 8 and the at least one bottom section 5 of the housing structure 3 of the propulsion unit 1 .

[0020] The first liquid line 10 is provided with a first check valve 11 configured to prevent liquid from flowing from the intermediate tank 8 to the at least one bottom section 5 and to allow liquid to flow from the at least one bottom section 5 to the intermediate tank 8 .

[0021] The pneumatically operated discharge device 6 comprises a second liquid line 12, which is arranged between the intermediate storage tank 8 and the collector device 7 located inside the hull 4 of the vessel 2. As shown in the figures, the second liquid line 12 preferably, but not necessarily, extends between the bottom of the intermediate storage tank 8 and the collector device 7 inside the hull 4 of the vessel 2, in order to ensure better drainage of the intermediate storage tank 8.

[0022] The second liquid line 12 is provided with a second check valve 13 configured to prevent liquid from flowing from the collector device 7 provided in the hull 4 of the vessel 2 to the intermediate storage tank 8, and configured to allow liquid to flow from the intermediate storage tank 8 to the collector device 7 provided in the hull 4 of the vessel 2.

[0023] Said at least one bottom section 5 is preferably, but not necessarily, situated at a vertical level below the propeller shaft 31 .

[0024] The intermediate tank 8 within the shell structure 3 may be located at a vertical level above or below the propeller shaft 31 or at the vertical level of the propeller shaft 31 .

[0025] The pressurizing device 9 preferably, but not necessarily, comprises a pneumatic circuit 14, which is fluidically connected to a pneumatic system 15 provided in the hull 4 of the vessel 2 and to the intermediate tank 8. The pneumatic circuit 14 is configured to operate in a vacuum mode, in which a vacuum is applied to the intermediate tank 8 so as to achieve suction of the liquid from the at least one bottom section 5 of the hull structure 3 of the propulsion unit 1 in the first liquid line 10 into the intermediate tank 8 in the hull structure 3 of the propulsion unit 1, and in a pressure mode, in which pressure is applied to the intermediate tank 8 so as to achieve pressing of the liquid from the intermediate tank 8 into the second liquid line 12 and pressing of the liquid in the second liquid line 12 into the collector device 7 provided in the hull 4 of the vessel 2.

[0026] If the pressurizing device 9 comprises a pneumatic circuit 14 connected and operable as shown, in some embodiments of the discharge device, the pneumatic circuit 14 comprises a suction pump 16 or a vacuum ejector or the like, which is driven by a pneumatic system 15 arranged in the hull 4 of the vessel 2 and driven by a first gas pipeline 25 fluidly connected to the intermediate tank 8 in the shell structure 3 of the propulsion unit 1. In such an embodiment of the discharge device, the pneumatic circuit 14 includes a valve device 26, which is used to selectively (i) supply pressurized gas from the pneumatic system 15 arranged in the hull 4 of the vessel 2 to the suction pump 16 in the second gas pipeline 27 so as to operate the pneumatic circuit 14 in a vacuum mode and to provide a vacuum in the first gas line 25 and the intermediate storage tank 8 and the first liquid line 10, thereby achieving suction of liquid from the at least one bottom section 5 of the hull structure 3 of the propulsion unit 1 in the first liquid line 10 into the intermediate storage tank 8 in the hull structure 3 of the propulsion unit 1, or (ii) supply pressurized gas from the pneumatic system 15 arranged in the hull 4 of the vessel 2 in the third gas line 28 to the intermediate storage tank 8 in the hull structure 3 so as to operate the pneumatic circuit 14 in a pressure mode, thereby achieving pressing of liquid from the intermediate storage tank 8 into the second liquid line 12, and pressing of the liquid in the second liquid line 12 into the collector device 7 arranged in the hull 4 of the vessel 2. In this embodiment of the discharge device, the valve arrangement is functionally connected to a valve control device 29 which is configured to switch the pneumatic circuit between a vacuum mode and a pressure mode.

[0027] If the pressurizing device 9 comprises a pneumatic circuit 14 connected and operable as shown, and the pneumatic circuit 14 comprises a first gas line 25 as shown, then the collector device 7 arranged in the hull 4 of the vessel 2 comprises, in some embodiments of the discharge device, a collector tank 17 forming part of the first gas line 25 of the pneumatic circuit 14, so that the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 arranged in the hull 4 of the vessel 2 is located in the first gas line 25 of the pneumatic circuit 14, which is arranged between the suction pump 16 and the intermediate tank 8 in the hull structure 3.

[0028] If the pneumatic circuit 14 of the discharge device comprises a first gas line 25, a second gas line 27 and a third gas line 28 as shown, and if the collector tank 17 forms part of the first gas line 25 of the pneumatic circuit 14 as shown, the third gas line 28 of the pneumatic circuit 14 may be, for example Figure 2As shown, a connection point 30 between the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 and the intermediate tank 8 disposed within the hull structure 3 is fluidly connected to the first gas line 25 of the pneumatic circuit 14, such that the first gas line 25 and the third gas line 28 between the connection point 30 and the intermediate tank 8 within the hull structure 3 share a common conduit. In this embodiment, a third valve 20 is disposed in the first gas line 25 of the pneumatic circuit 14, between the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 disposed within the hull 4 of the vessel 2 and the connection point 30. The third valve 20 is functionally connected to a valve control device 29 configured to switch the pneumatic circuit 14 between a vacuum mode and a pressure mode. The valve control device 29 is configured to open the third valve 20 when operating the pneumatic circuit 14 in the vacuum mode, thereby allowing a vacuum to form in the first gas line 25 and the intermediate tank 8. The valve control device 29 is configured to close the third valve 20 when operating the pneumatic circuit 14 in pressure mode to prevent pressurized fluid from entering the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 from the third gas line 28 of the pneumatic circuit 14 .

[0029] If the pressurizing device 9 comprises a pneumatic circuit 14 connected and operable as shown, and if the pneumatic circuit 14 of the exhaust device comprises a first gas line 25, a second gas line 27 and a third gas line 28 as shown, then Figure 2As shown, the valve device 26 may include a first valve 18 disposed in a second gas line 27 of the pneumatic circuit 14 between the pneumatic system 15 and the suction pump 16 in the hull 4 of the vessel 2. The valve device 26 may include a fourth valve 21 disposed in a third gas line 28 of the pneumatic circuit 14 between the pneumatic system 15 in the hull 4 of the vessel 2 and the intermediate tank 8 in the hull structure 3. The first valve 18 and the fourth valve 21 can be functionally connected to a valve control device 29 configured to switch the pneumatic circuit 14 between the vacuum mode and the pressure mode. The valve control device 29 can be configured to switch the vacuum mode by closing the fourth valve 21 and by opening the first valve 18 in the second gas pipeline 27 to supply pressurized fluid from the pneumatic system 15 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2 to the suction pump 16, thereby generating a vacuum in the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2, and generating a vacuum in the first gas pipeline 25, and generating a vacuum in the intermediate tank 8 in the shell structure 3, thereby realizing the suction of liquid from the at least one bottom section 5 to the intermediate tank 8 in the first liquid line 10. The valve control device 29 can be configured to switch the pressure mode by closing the first valve 18 in the second gas pipeline 27 and by opening the fourth valve 21 in the third gas pipeline 28 so as to feed the pressurized fluid from the pneumatic system 15 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2 to the intermediate tank 8 in the shell structure 3 in the third gas pipeline 28 and the first gas pipeline 25, so as to realize that the liquid is pressed from at least one bottom section 5 of the intermediate tank 8 in the shell structure 3 to the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2 in the second liquid pipeline 12.

[0030] If the pneumatic circuit 14 of the discharge device comprises a first gas line 25, a second gas line 27 and a third gas line 28 as shown in the figure, and if the collector tank 17 forms part of the first gas line 25 of the pneumatic circuit 14 as shown in the figure, the pneumatic circuit 14 may include a second valve 19 arranged in the pneumatic circuit 14 between the suction pump 16 in the hull 4 of the vessel 2 and the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7, wherein the valve control device 29 is configured to open the second valve 19 when the vacuum mode is turned on, and wherein the valve control device 29 is configured to close the second valve 19 when the pressure mode is turned on.

[0031] If the pressurizing device 9 comprises a pneumatic circuit 14 connected and operable as shown, the pressure regulating valve 22 may be provided in the pneumatic circuit 14 between the pneumatic system 15 provided in the hull 4 of the vessel 2 and the intermediate tank 8 in the hull structure 3 .

[0032] If the pressurizing device 9 includes a pneumatic circuit 14 connected and operable as shown, a fifth valve 23 can be provided in the second liquid line 12, wherein the valve control device 29 is configured to close the fifth valve 23 when the vacuum mode is turned on, and wherein the valve control device 29 is configured to open the fifth valve 23 when the pressure mode is turned on.

[0033] If the collector arrangement 7 provided within the hull 4 of the vessel 2 comprises a collector tank 17 , the collector tank 17 may be provided with a non-return valve 24 configured to regulate the pressure inside the collector tank 17 .

[0034] Figure 3 The pneumatically operated discharge device of the embodiment of the discharge device shown in FIG comprises, in addition to the intermediate tank 8, an auxiliary intermediate tank 8 ′ which is arranged inside the shell structure 3 and is located at a vertical level above the further bottom section 5 ′, which is defined by the shell structure 3 and is configured to receive liquid formed inside the shell structure 3 and / or liquid entering the shell structure 3 from outside the shell structure 3. Figure 3 In the embodiment, the intermediate tank 8 is arranged at the non-drive end of the propulsion unit 1 and the auxiliary intermediate tank 8' is arranged at the drive end of the propulsion unit 1. Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the pressurizing device 9 is additionally functionally connected to the auxiliary intermediate tank 8', such that the pressurizing device 9 is configured to selectively provide a vacuum in the auxiliary intermediate tank 8' or an overpressure in the auxiliary intermediate tank 8'. Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the auxiliary first liquid pipeline 10' is provided between the auxiliary intermediate storage tank 8' and the other bottom section 5', and an auxiliary first check valve 11' is provided in the auxiliary first liquid pipeline 10'. The auxiliary first check valve 11' is configured to prevent liquid from flowing from the auxiliary intermediate storage tank 8' to the other bottom section 5' and is configured to allow liquid to flow from the other bottom section 5' to the auxiliary intermediate storage tank 8'. Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, an auxiliary second liquid line 12' is provided between the auxiliary intermediate storage tank 8' and the second liquid line 12, and an auxiliary second check valve 13' is provided in the auxiliary first liquid line 10', the auxiliary second check valve 13' being configured to prevent liquid from flowing from the second liquid line 12 to the auxiliary intermediate storage tank 8', and being configured to allow liquid to flow from the auxiliary intermediate storage tank 8' to the second liquid line 12. The auxiliary second liquid line 12' preferably, but not necessarily, extends between the bottom of the auxiliary intermediate storage tank 8' and the collector device 7 inside the hull 4 of the vessel 2, as shown, to ensure better drainage of the auxiliary intermediate storage tank 8'. Figure 3In the embodiment shown, an auxiliary third gas line 28' is provided between the third gas line 28 and the auxiliary intermediate storage tank 8' so that in pressure mode, pressurized gas can be supplied from the pneumatic system 15 provided in the hull 4 of the vessel 2 to the auxiliary third gas line 28' via the third gas line 28 and to the auxiliary intermediate storage tank 8' in the auxiliary third gas line 28'. The auxiliary fourth valve 21' provided in the auxiliary third gas line 28' and the auxiliary fourth valve 21' is functionally connected to a valve control device 29, which is configured to switch the pneumatic circuit 14 between vacuum mode and pressure mode. Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the auxiliary third gas line 28' of the pneumatic circuit 14 is fluidly connected to the auxiliary first gas line 25' of the pneumatic circuit 14 at the auxiliary connection point 30' between the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 and the auxiliary intermediate tank 8' in the housing structure 3, so that the auxiliary first gas line 25' and the auxiliary third gas line 28' between the auxiliary connection point 30' in the housing structure 3 and the auxiliary intermediate tank 8' have a common pipe. Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, an auxiliary third valve 20' is disposed in the auxiliary first gas line 25' between the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 within the vessel's hull 4 at the auxiliary connection point 30'. The auxiliary third valve 20' is functionally connected to a valve control device 29, which is configured to switch the pneumatic circuit 14 between a vacuum mode and a pressure mode. The valve control device 29 is configured to open the auxiliary third valve 20' when the pneumatic circuit 14 is operated in the vacuum mode for the auxiliary intermediate tank 8', thereby allowing a vacuum to form in the auxiliary first gas line 25' and in the auxiliary intermediate tank 8'. The valve control device 29 is configured to close the auxiliary third valve 20' when the pneumatic circuit 14 is operated in the pressure mode for the auxiliary intermediate tank 8', thereby preventing pressurized fluid from entering the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 from the auxiliary third gas line 28' of the pneumatic circuit 14.

[0035] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the valve control device 29 can be configured to switch on the vacuum mode for the intermediate tank 8 by closing the fourth valve 21 in the third gas pipeline 28 and by closing the auxiliary fourth valve 21' in the auxiliary third gas line 28' and by opening the third valve 20 in the first gas line 25 and by opening the first valve 18 in the second gas line 27, so as to feed pressurized fluid from the pneumatic system 15 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2 to the suction pump 16 to generate a vacuum in the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2, and to generate a vacuum in the first gas line 25, and to generate a vacuum in the intermediate tank 8 in the shell structure 3, thereby achieving the suction of liquid from the bottom section 5 to the intermediate tank 8 in the first liquid line 10.

[0036] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the valve control device 29 can be configured to switch on the vacuum mode of the auxiliary intermediate tank 8' by closing the fourth valve 21 in the third gas pipeline 28 and by closing the auxiliary fourth valve 21' in the auxiliary third gas pipeline 28' and by opening the auxiliary third valve 20' in the auxiliary first gas line 25' and by opening the first valve 18 in the second gas line 27, so as to feed pressurized fluid from the pneumatic system 15 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2 to the suction pump 16, so as to generate a vacuum in the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2, and to generate a vacuum in the auxiliary first gas line 25' and to generate a vacuum in the auxiliary intermediate tank 8' in the shell structure 3, thereby achieving the suction of liquid from the other bottom section 5' to the auxiliary intermediate tank 8' in the auxiliary first liquid line 10'.

[0037] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the valve control device 29 can be configured to switch on the pressure mode for the intermediate tank 8 by closing the first valve 18 in the second gas pipeline 27 and by closing the third valve 20 in the first gas pipeline 25 and by opening the fourth valve 21 in the third gas pipeline 28, so as to feed pressurized fluid from the pneumatic system 15 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2 to the intermediate tank 8 in the hull structure 3 in the third gas pipeline 28 and the first gas pipeline 25, so as to realize pressing the liquid from the bottom section 5 of the intermediate tank 8 in the hull structure 3 to the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2 in the second liquid line 12.

[0038] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the valve control device 29 can be configured to switch on the pressure mode for the auxiliary intermediate tank 8' by closing the first valve 18 in the second gas pipeline 27 and by closing the auxiliary third valve 20' in the auxiliary first gas pipeline 25' and by opening the auxiliary fourth valve 21' in the auxiliary third gas pipeline 28', so as to feed the pressurized fluid from the pneumatic system 15 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2 to the auxiliary intermediate tank 8' in the hull structure 3 in the auxiliary third gas pipeline 28' and the auxiliary first gas pipeline 25', so as to realize that the liquid is pressed from the auxiliary intermediate tank 8' in the hull structure 3 at the other bottom section 5' in the auxiliary second liquid line 12' and the second liquid line 12 to the collector tank 17 of the collector device 7 arranged in the hull 4 of the ship 2.

[0039] It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the basic idea of ​​the invention can be implemented in various ways. Therefore, the invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above, but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A discharge arrangement of a propulsion unit (1) of a vessel (2), the propulsion unit (1) comprising a hull structure (3), the hull structure (3) being mounted below the hull (4) of the vessel (2) such that when the vessel (2) is floating in the water, the hull structure (3) is at least partially submerged in the water. wherein the housing structure (3) defines at least one bottom section (5) configured to receive liquid formed within the housing structure (3) and / or liquid entering the housing structure (3) from outside the housing structure (3), and wherein the discharge device comprises a pneumatically operated discharge device (6) in fluid connection with the at least one bottom section (5), wherein the pneumatically operated discharge device (6) is configured to at least partially discharge the at least one bottom section (5) and transfer liquid from the at least one bottom section (5) to a collector device (7) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2), It is characterized by: The pneumatically operated discharge device (6) comprises: an intermediate storage tank (8) within the shell structure (3), wherein the intermediate storage tank (8) is located at a vertical level above the at least one bottom section (5), a pressurizing device (9) which is functionally connected to the intermediate tank (8) and is configured to selectively provide a vacuum in the intermediate tank (8) or an overpressure in the intermediate tank (8), a first liquid line (10) provided between the intermediate storage tank (8) and the at least one bottom section (5), wherein the first liquid line (10) is provided with a first check valve (11) configured to prevent liquid from flowing from the intermediate storage tank (8) to the at least one bottom section (5) and to allow liquid to flow from the at least one bottom section (5) to the intermediate storage tank (8), and A second liquid pipeline (12) is provided between the intermediate storage tank (8) and the collector device (7) in the hull (4) of the vessel, wherein the second liquid pipeline (12) is provided with a second check valve (13), the second check valve (13) being configured to prevent liquid from flowing from the collector device (7) provided in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) to the intermediate storage tank (8), and being configured to allow liquid to flow from the intermediate storage tank (8) to the collector device (7) provided in the hull (4) of the vessel (2).

2. The discharge device according to claim 1, characterized in that The at least one bottom section (5) is located at a vertical height below the propeller shaft (31).

3. The discharge device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The pressurizing device (9) comprises a pneumatic circuit (14) which is fluidically connected to a pneumatic system (15) provided in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) and to the intermediate storage tank (8), wherein the pneumatic circuit (14) is configured to operate in a vacuum mode for applying a vacuum to the intermediate storage tank (8) and a pressure mode for applying a pressure to the intermediate storage tank (8).

4. The discharge device according to claim 3, characterized in that The pneumatic circuit (14) comprises a suction pump (16) driven by the pneumatic system (15) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) and connected to the intermediate storage tank (8) in the shell structure (3) via a first gas line (25). The pneumatic circuit (14) comprises a valve device (26) for selectively (i) supplying pressurized gas from the pneumatic system (15) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) in a second gas line (27) to the suction pump (16) in order to operate the pneumatic circuit (14) in the vacuum mode and to provide a vacuum in the first gas line (25), or (ii) supplying pressurized gas from the pneumatic system (15) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) in a third gas line (28) to the intermediate tank (8) in the shell structure (3) in order to operate the pneumatic circuit (14) in the pressure mode, and The valve device (26) is functionally connected to a valve control device (29) configured to switch the pneumatic circuit (14) between the vacuum mode and the pressure mode.

5. The discharge device according to claim 4, characterized in that The collector tank (17) of the collector device (7) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) forms part of the first gas line (25) of the pneumatic circuit (14), wherein the collector tank (17) of the collector device (7) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) is located in the first gas line (25) of the pneumatic circuit (14), and the first gas line (25) is arranged between the suction pump (16) and the intermediate tank (8) in the shell structure (3).

6. The discharge device according to claim 5, characterized in that The third gas line (28) of the pneumatic circuit (14) is in fluid connection with the first gas line (25) of the pneumatic circuit (14) at a connection point (30) between the collector tank (17) of the collector device (7) and the intermediate tank (8) in the housing structure (3), so that the first gas line (25) and the third gas line (28) between the connection point (30) and the intermediate tank (8) in the housing structure (3) have a common conduit, a third valve (20) in the first gas line (25) of the pneumatic circuit (14) between the collector tank (17) of the collector device (7) provided in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) and the connection point (30), and The third valve (20) is functionally connected to the valve control device (29), which is configured to switch the pneumatic circuit (14) between the vacuum mode and the pressure mode.

7. The discharge device according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that The valve device (26) comprises a first valve (18) in the second gas line (27) of the pneumatic circuit (14), the first valve (18) being located between the pneumatic system (15) and the suction pump (16) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2), The valve arrangement (26) comprises a fourth valve (21) in the third gas line (28) of the pneumatic circuit (14), the fourth valve being located between the pneumatic system (15) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) and the intermediate storage tank (8) in the shell structure (3), and The first valve (18) and the fourth valve (21) are functionally connected to the valve control device (29), which is configured to switch the pneumatic circuit (14) between the vacuum mode and the pressure mode.

8. The discharge device according to claim 7, characterized in that The valve control device (29) is configured to switch the vacuum mode by closing the fourth valve (21) and by opening the first valve (18) to supply pressurized fluid from the pneumatic system (15) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) to the suction pump (16), thereby generating a vacuum in the collector tank (17) of the collector device (7) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) and in the intermediate tank (8) in the shell structure (3), so as to achieve the suction of liquid from the at least one bottom section (5) into the first liquid pipeline (10) of the intermediate tank (8).

9. The discharge device according to claim 7, characterized in that The valve control device (29) is configured to switch the pressure mode by closing the first valve (18) and by opening the fourth valve (21) to supply pressurized fluid from the pneumatic system (15) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) to the intermediate tank (8) in the shell structure (3), thereby realizing in the second liquid pipeline (12) that the liquid is pressed from at least one bottom section (5) of the intermediate tank (8) in the shell structure (3) to the collector tank (17) of the collector device (7) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2).

10. The discharge device according to any one of claims 5 to 6, 8 to 9, characterized in that: A second valve (19) in the pneumatic circuit (14) is located between the suction pump (16) and the collector tank (17) of the collector device (7) provided in the hull (4) of the vessel (2), and The valve control device (29) is configured to open the second valve (19) when the vacuum mode is turned on, and The valve control device (29) is configured to close the second valve (19) when the pressure mode is turned on.

11. The discharge device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 and 8 to 9, characterized in that: The pressure regulating valve (22) in the pneumatic circuit (14) is located between the pneumatic system (15) arranged in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) and the intermediate storage tank (8) in the shell structure (3).

12. The discharge device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 and 8 to 9, characterized in that: A fifth valve (23) is provided in the second liquid pipeline (12). The valve control device (29) is configured to close the fifth valve (23) when the vacuum mode is turned on, and The valve control device (29) is configured to open the fifth valve (23) when the pressure mode is turned on.

13. The discharge device according to any one of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that A collector tank (17) of a collector device (7) provided in the hull (4) of the vessel (2) is provided with a check valve (24) configured to regulate the pressure inside the collector tank (17).

14. The discharge device according to any one of claims 1-2, 4-6 and 8-9, characterized in that: The propulsion unit (1) is an omnidirectional propulsion unit.

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