High efficiency locking device for propeller of very large container ship

Abstract

The utility model relates to ship propeller assembly technical field, concretely for the high -efficient locking device of super large container ship propeller, including centring subassembly, locking assembly and connecting seat, connecting seat is annular structure, inside is equipped with internal spline, outside symmetrical distribution pivot locking hole and hub locking hole, centring subassembly adopts conical centring sleeve and spherical locating pin, ensure propeller and axle centering precision, locking assembly realizes multistage anti -looseness through anti -looseness groove and spring type elastic sleeve, effectively restrain the bolt loosening caused by ship vibration, the connecting seat inside side pastes polyamine acid ester buffer pad, absorbs the shafting vibration energy, the both ends sealing groove inlay rubber sealing cap, provide waterproof seal, the device installation is convenient, and the reliability is high, under the typical working condition of super large container ship continuous operation 10000 hours without loosening, no leakage, vibration amplitude attenuation 40%, significantly improve the navigation safety and economy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of ship propeller assembly technology, specifically a high-efficiency locking device for propellers of ultra-large container ships. Background Technology

[0002] The installation and locking of propellers for ultra-large container ships are crucial to the ship's navigation safety, energy efficiency, and lifespan. Traditional locking devices mostly use a single bolt fastening method, which has significant drawbacks: during long-term voyages, the propeller shaft system is subjected to high-frequency vibration, impact loads, and seawater corrosion, which can easily lead to bolt loosening, eccentric installation, propeller imbalance, increased vibration, and shaft wear. While some existing devices incorporate anti-loosening nuts or spring washers, the anti-loosening mechanism is singular and cannot effectively suppress vibration transmission, resulting in bolt loosening rates exceeding 15%. Furthermore, insufficient installation precision causes propeller misalignment with the shaft, reducing propulsion efficiency by 5%–10% and accelerating blade fatigue damage. In addition, traditional locking structures lack vibration buffering and sealing designs, allowing seawater to easily seep into the connection points, accelerating corrosion, increasing maintenance frequency, and significantly raising operating costs.

[0003] More importantly, existing devices do not take into account the special working conditions of ultra-large propellers, such as large propeller diameter, high torque, and complex vibration modes, which leads to a significant increase in the risk of locking failure. For example, ordinary conical centering sleeves and planar positioning pins cannot adapt to dynamic offset, the bolt anti-loosening groove design is rough, and elastic elements are prone to failure. Utility Model Content

[0004] (a) Technical problems to be solved To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides a highly efficient locking device for the propellers of ultra-large container ships.

[0005] (II) Technical Solution To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: A high-efficiency locking device for ultra-large container ship propellers, comprising a centering component, a locking component, and a connecting seat; both the centering component and the locking component are mounted on the connecting seat, the inner side of which is provided with an internal spline, the connecting seat having an annular structure, and the outer side of which is uniformly provided with several shaft locking holes and several propeller hub locking holes along the circumference, the shaft locking holes and propeller hub locking holes being symmetrically arranged at both ends of the connecting seat; the centering component includes a conical centering sleeve and several positioning pins; the locking component includes locking bolts, elastic sleeves, and washers; the locking component is adapted to the shaft locking holes and the propeller hub locking holes.

[0006] Preferably, the conical centering sleeve is fixed to one end of the connecting seat, the outer surface of which is a conical surface, the positioning pins are evenly distributed along the radial direction of the connecting seat, and the top of the positioning pin is a spherical structure.

[0007] More preferably, both the shaft locking hole and the propeller hub locking hole are provided with anti-loosening grooves, the elastic sleeve and the washer are sleeved on the locking bolt, and the elastic sleeve is located in the anti-loosening groove. The locking bolt passes through the shaft locking hole and the propeller hub locking hole through the threaded structure.

[0008] Preferably, the elastic sleeve is a spring structure.

[0009] Preferably, buffer pads are attached to both ends of the inner side of the connector, and the buffer pads are made of polyurethane.

[0010] More preferably, the two ends of the connector are provided with a number of sealing grooves, and a sealing cap is rotated in the sealing groove through a threaded structure. The inner side of the sealing cap is provided with a rubber gasket.

[0011] (III) Beneficial Effects Compared with the prior art, this utility model provides a highly efficient locking device for the propeller of ultra-large container ships, which has the following advantages: The centering assembly of this technical solution employs a conical centering sleeve and a spherical locating pin to ensure precise alignment between the propeller and the shaft. The locking assembly, through the synergistic action of an anti-loosening groove and a spring-loaded elastic sleeve, keeps the locking bolts stable under the high-frequency vibration environment of the ship, improving anti-loosening performance and eliminating the risk of propeller detachment due to bolt loosening. The polyurethane buffer pad adhered to the inner side of the connecting seat effectively absorbs shaft vibration energy, reduces impact stress, and extends the service life of the propeller and shaft. The rubber sealing cap embedded in the sealing groove provides an IP68-level waterproof seal, preventing seawater infiltration and corrosion, and ensuring long-term operational reliability. The overall structure is easy and efficient to install, requiring no special tools and shortening maintenance time. Under typical operating conditions on ultra-large container ships, the device has operated continuously for 10,000 hours without loosening or leakage, with a 40% reduction in vibration amplitude, significantly reducing downtime maintenance costs and improving ship navigation safety and economy. It is suitable for efficient locking and intelligent maintenance of propellers on mainstream ultra-large container ships worldwide. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly end structure of the connecting seat and the conical centering sleeve of this utility model; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the internal spline end structure of the connector of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the locking assembly structure of this utility model; In the diagram: 1. Connecting seat; 2. Tapered centering sleeve; 3. Internal spline; 4. Shaft locking hole; 5. Anti-loosening groove; 6. Sealing groove; 7. Positioning pin; 8. Locking bolt; 9. Buffer pad; 10. Sealing cap; 11. Elastic sleeve; 12. Washer; 13. Rubber sleeve; 14. Propeller hub bolt hole. Detailed Implementation

[0013] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0014] Please see Figure 1-3 This utility model discloses a high-efficiency locking device for a propeller of an ultra-large container ship, comprising a centering component, a locking component, and a connecting seat 1. The centering component and the locking component are both installed on the connecting seat 1. The inner side of the connecting seat 1 is provided with an internal spline 3. The connecting seat 1 has an annular structure. The outer side of the connecting seat 1 has several shaft locking holes 4 and several propeller hub locking holes 14 evenly opened along the circumference. The shaft locking holes 4 and the propeller hub locking holes 14 are symmetrically arranged at both ends of the connecting seat 1. The centering component includes a conical centering sleeve 2 and several positioning pins 7. The locking component includes a locking bolt 8, an elastic sleeve 11, and a washer 12. The locking component is adapted to the shaft locking holes 4 and the propeller hub locking holes.

[0015] This technical solution is based on the core logic of conical centering, double locking, anti-loosening buffering, and sealing protection. The spline 3 inside the connecting seat 1 precisely meshes with the drive shaft, the centering component achieves coaxial positioning of the propeller and the drive shaft, and the locking component passes through the shaft locking hole 4 and the hub locking hole 14 to lock and fix the drive shaft, connecting seat 1 and propeller hub in a three-in-one manner. The elastic sleeve 11 and the anti-loosening groove 5 cooperate to prevent loosening, the buffer pad 9 absorbs the impact load, and the sealing cap 10 ensures sealing protection. Finally, it achieves accurate positioning, reliable locking and long-term stable operation of ultra-large propellers under heavy load conditions, solving the pain points of traditional devices such as large positioning deviation, easy loosening and poor impact resistance.

[0016] The connecting seat 1 is a ring structure with an inner spline 3 on the inner side and several shaft locking holes 4 and propeller hub locking holes 14 symmetrically opened at both ends on the outer side; polyurethane buffer pads 9 are pasted on both ends on the inner side, and sealing grooves 6 are arranged around both ends. A sealing cap 10 with a rubber pad is screwed into the sealing groove 6.

[0017] In actual use, the connecting seat 1 engages with the external spline of the drive shaft of the conventional propeller drive device through the internal spline 3, so as to achieve circumferential fixation and power transmission. The spline connection has a large torque capacity and high positioning accuracy, and avoids relative rotation between the drive shaft and the connecting seat 1. The ring structure is adapted to the installation space of ultra-large propellers, and the evenly distributed locking holes ensure circumferential balance of locking force.

[0018] The polyurethane buffer pad 9 is located on the contact surface between the connecting seat 1 and the drive shaft and propeller hub. Utilizing the high elasticity of polyurethane, it absorbs the impact load and vibration of the propeller during navigation, reducing the damage to the locking structure caused by rigid collisions. The sealing cap 10 is screwed into the sealing groove 6 by threads, and the inner rubber pad is pressed to seal, preventing seawater and moisture from entering the device, avoiding corrosion of structures such as splines and locking holes, and extending service life.

[0019] The conical centering sleeve 2 is fixed to one end of the connecting seat 1, and its outer surface is a conical surface; the positioning pins 7 are evenly distributed along the radial direction of the connecting seat 1, and the top end is a spherical structure that is adapted to the positioning hole of the propeller hub.

[0020] The conical surface of the conical centering sleeve 2 fits into the conical inner hole of the propeller hub, and the conical surface guides the initial centering to ensure that the center of the propeller and the connecting seat 1 are roughly aligned. The evenly distributed positioning pins 7 extend radially, and the spherical structure at the top of the pins is inserted into the corresponding positioning hole of the propeller hub to complete the precise positioning, so that the center of the propeller coincides with the rotation center of the drive shaft, and avoids excessive vibration during operation.

[0021] The spherical top design reduces the contact stress between the positioning pin 7 and the positioning hole, making it easier to quickly align and snap together during installation; the conical surface fit can accommodate a certain range of dimensional deviations, improving the positioning error tolerance.

[0022] The locking bolt 8 passes through the shaft locking hole 4 and the propeller hub locking hole 14 via a thread. The spring-type elastic sleeve 11 and the washer 12 are sleeved on the locking bolt 8. The elastic sleeve 11 is embedded in the anti-loosening groove 5 of the locking hole.

[0023] The locking bolt 8 passes through the shaft locking hole 4 and the propeller hub locking hole 14, and the drive shaft, connecting seat 1 and propeller hub are tightly fixed by the threaded connection, realizing dual constraints in the axial and circumferential directions; the washer 12 increases the contact area between the locking bolt 8 and the contact surface, disperses the pressure, and avoids structural damage caused by excessive local stress.

[0024] The spring-type elastic sleeve 11 is embedded in the anti-loosening groove 5. After the locking bolt 8 is tightened, the elastic sleeve 11 is compressed to generate a continuous elastic preload force, which counteracts the loosening tendency caused by navigation vibration. The snap-fit ​​between the elastic sleeve 11 and the anti-loosening groove 5 further restricts the circumferential rotation of the locking bolt 8, forming a dual anti-loosening mechanism of threaded locking and elastic anti-loosening, which completely avoids locking failure under heavy load and vibration.

[0025] Detailed Workflow Step 1: Equipment Pre-installation and Preparation Check the condition of each component: confirm that the spline 3 and locking hole inside the connector 1 are free from rust and damage, the buffer pad 9 is firmly attached, the elastic sleeve 11 and washer 12 are intact, and the rubber gasket of the sealing cap 10 is undamaged; Component pre-installation: Place the spring-type elastic sleeve 11 and the washer 12 onto the locking bolt 8 in sequence, ensuring that the position of the elastic sleeve 11 corresponds to the anti-loosening groove 5 of the locking hole; screw the sealing cap 10 into the sealing groove 6, but do not tighten it yet, leaving room for installation.

[0026] Step 2: Assemble the connecting seat 1 with the drive shaft Positioning and installation: Align the inner spline 3 of the connector 1 with the outer spline of the drive shaft, slowly insert and push it into the preset position to ensure that the spline is fully engaged and without jamming; Preliminary fixing: By passing some of the locking bolts 8 through the locking holes 4 of the rotating shaft, the connecting seat 1 and the drive shaft are initially locked to prevent the connecting seat 1 from shifting during the assembly process.

[0027] Step 3: Centering component positions the propeller Conical surface guiding fit: Align the conical inner hole of the propeller hub with the conical centering sleeve 2 on the connecting seat 1, and slowly fit it in to make the conical surface fit completely and achieve initial centering; Positioning pin 7 engagement: Adjust the propeller position so that the spherical structure at the top of the positioning pin 7 on the connecting seat 1 is precisely engaged into the positioning hole of the propeller hub, completing coaxial positioning and ensuring that the center of the propeller coincides with that of the drive shaft.

[0028] Step 4: Fully tighten the locking components. Insert locking bolts 8: Pass the pre-installed locking bolts 8 through the corresponding propeller hub locking holes 14 and shaft locking holes 4 in sequence to ensure that the elastic sleeve 11 is embedded in the anti-loosening groove 5; Uniform tightening: Use a torque wrench to tighten the locking bolts 8 in a circumferentially evenly distributed sequence, controlling the tightening torque to be consistent, such as 500-800 N·m, to ensure that the tightening force is circumferentially balanced, and to achieve the three-in-one fixation of the drive shaft, connecting seat 1 and propeller hub.

[0029] Step 5: Sealing and Final Inspection Sealing and tightening: Tighten the sealing cap 10 inside the sealing groove 6 to press the inner rubber gasket tightly against the cover, ensuring a waterproof and corrosion-resistant sealing effect; Comprehensive inspection: Check the engagement status of the positioning pin 7, the tightness of the locking bolt 8, and the fit between the elastic sleeve 11 and the anti-loosening groove 5. Start the no-load test and monitor the propeller vibration amplitude. If the qualified standard is ≤0.05mm, and there is no looseness or offset, the assembly is completed.

[0030] Step 6: Disassembly and Maintenance Process Disassembly preparation: First, loosen the sealing cap 10 and remove the sealing protection; Loosen the locking bolts 8: Using a torque wrench, loosen all the locking bolts 8 in the reverse order of tightening, and remove the elastic sleeve 11 and washer 12; Separate components: Pull the propeller hub out along the conical centering sleeve 2 to disengage the positioning pin 7 from the positioning hole; then loosen the initial fixing bolts between the connecting seat 1 and the drive shaft, and remove the connecting seat 1 from the drive shaft; Maintenance: Clean impurities and rust from the surface of each component, check the wear of the buffer pad 9 and rubber pad, replace damaged parts, and wait for the next assembly.

[0031] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A high-efficiency locking device for the propeller of an ultra-large container ship, characterized in that, The device includes a centering component, a locking component, and a connecting seat (1). The centering component and the locking component are both installed on the connecting seat (1). The inner side of the connecting seat (1) is provided with an internal spline (3). The connecting seat (1) has an annular structure. The outer side of the connecting seat (1) is evenly provided with several shaft locking holes (4) and several propeller hub locking holes (14) along the circumference. The shaft locking holes (4) and the propeller hub locking holes (14) are symmetrically arranged at both ends of the connecting seat (1). The centering component includes a conical centering sleeve (2) and several positioning pins (7). The locking component includes a locking bolt (8), an elastic sleeve (11), and a washer (12). The locking component is adapted to the shaft locking holes (4) and the propeller hub locking holes.

2. The high-efficiency locking device for ultra-large container ship propellers according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conical centering sleeve (2) is fixed to one end of the connecting seat (1), and its outer surface is a conical surface. The positioning pins (7) are evenly distributed radially along the connecting seat (1), and the top of the positioning pins (7) is a spherical structure.

3. The high-efficiency locking device for ultra-large container ship propellers according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shaft locking hole (4) and the propeller hub locking hole (14) are both provided with anti-loosening grooves (5). The elastic sleeve (11) and the washer (12) are sleeved on the locking bolt (8), and the elastic sleeve (11) is located in the anti-loosening groove (5). The locking bolt (8) passes through the shaft locking hole (4) and the propeller hub locking hole (14) through the thread structure.

4. The high-efficiency locking device for ultra-large container ship propellers according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic sleeve (11) is a spring structure.

5. The high-efficiency locking device for ultra-large container ship propellers according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner ends of the connector (1) are attached with cushioning pads (9), which are made of polyurethane.

6. The high-efficiency locking device for ultra-large container ship propellers according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting seat (1) has several sealing grooves (6) around its two ends. A sealing cap (10) is rotated in the sealing groove (6) through a threaded structure. A rubber pad is provided on the inner side of the sealing cap (10).

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