WATERCRAFT WITH A HULL AND A TRANSVERSE THRUST SYSTEM MOUNTED IN THE HULL

Abstract

A watercraft having a hull (10) and a transverse thruster provided in the hull (10), which has a tunnel with an inlet (20) opening onto the surface of the hull and an outlet (20) opening onto the surface of the hull transversely to the longitudinal axis of the watercraft, a propeller arranged in the tunnel, a closure (40) formed in front of the inlet (20) and / or outlet (20) of the transverse thruster from a plurality of rotatably mounted slats (30), and a drive arranged by rotating the slats to move the slats (30) from a first position closing the inlet (20) or outlet (20) into a second position opening the inlet (20) or outlet (20), characterized in that the rotatably mounted slats (30) are displaceably mounted,wherein the drive is arranged to rotate the slats (30) into the second position and to translate the slats (30) into a third position completely exposing the inlet (20) or outlet (30) outside the outline of the inlet (20) or outlet (20).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a watercraft. In particular, the invention relates to a watercraft having a hull and a transverse thruster arranged in the hull, which has a tunnel with an inlet opening onto the surface of the hull and an outlet opening onto the surface of the hull transversely to the longitudinal axis of the watercraft, a propeller arranged in the tunnel, a closure formed in front of the inlet and / or outlet of the transverse thruster from a plurality of rotatably mounted slats, and a drive configured by rotating the slats to move the slats from a first position closing the inlet or outlet to a second position opening the inlet or outlet.

[0002] A transverse thruster, as disclosed, for example, in WO 2022 / 079655 A1, is a propulsion system specifically designed for ferries and passenger ships that enables sideways turns and movements, thereby reducing the turning circle in particular. The transverse thruster usually has (at least) one tubular passage (also called a tunnel) extending below the waterline across the entire width of the hull of the vessel, with a propeller located therein that can pump water through the tube from one side of the vessel to the other. The thrust generated by the propeller enables - depending on the arrangement of the transverse thruster - the bow or stern of the vessel to be moved abeam by forward travel even without rudder action. The respective direction of the maneuver to port or starboard is determined by the selectable direction of rotation of the propeller or by adjusting the propeller blades.

[0003] To protect the transverse thruster system from potential collisions or damage, it is already known to equip the openings leading to the surface of the hull with a grating or a closure formed by a plurality of rotatably mounted slats. The advantage of using rotatably mounted slats arranged in front of the openings over simple gratings is that the openings are only open when the transverse thruster system is in operation and can be closed when the transverse thruster system is not in operation, thus minimizing the turbulence otherwise generated by the openings during normal operation.

[0004] However, the disadvantage of the known closures arranged in front of the openings and formed from pivoting slats is that, when open, they remain in front of the openings of the transverse thruster control system during operation. This reduces the efficiency of the transverse thruster control system. On the other hand, a material-intensive design of the closure slats is required to withstand the high pressure in the flow channel.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a watercraft with a transverse thruster steering system with a simple and at the same time secure closure which can be manufactured with little material expenditure.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by the watercraft having the features of claim 1. The subclaims reflect advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0007] The basic idea of ​​the invention is to further develop the known slatted closure in such a way that the individual slats can not only be rotated but also moved along the hull, thus completely exposing the cross-section of the transverse thruster tunnel. This design enables a secure construction with minimal material consumption, which is space-saving and hydrodynamically advantageous.

[0008] According to the invention, a watercraft is proposed with a hull and a transverse thruster provided in the hull, wherein the transverse thruster has a tunnel with an inlet opening onto the surface of the hull and an outlet opening onto the surface of the hull transversely to the longitudinal axis of the watercraft, a propeller arranged in the tunnel, a closure formed in front of the inlet and / or outlet of the transverse thruster from a plurality of rotatably mounted slats, and a drive arranged by rotating the slats to move the slats from a first position closing the inlet or outlet to a second position opening the inlet or outlet,wherein the rotatably mounted slats are displaceably mounted and the drive is arranged to rotate the slats into the second position and to translate the slats into a third position completely exposing the inlet or outlet outside the outline of the inlet or outlet.

[0009] The inventive design ensures that the slats are rotated by a single drive and removed from the area of ​​the outlet or inlet directly exposed to the flow, allowing water to enter or exit the tunnel unhindered. This design, in particular, enables a design with slats constructed as plastic slats, which, especially when in the first position, also have a surface that continues the hull contour in the area of ​​the inlet or outlet, thus providing a particularly hydrodynamically advantageous design.

[0010] To execute the movement from the first through the second to the third position (and vice versa), the slats are preferably each rotatably and displaceably mounted on their end faces by means of at least one shaft in a rail. Specifically, the drive comprises at least one winch with a cable that effects the rotation and translation of the slats, one end of which is connected to the winch and the other end to at least one slat. The cable used for this purpose is preferably a plastic-coated wire cable.

[0011] A particularly advantageous embodiment is further achieved when the slats are interconnected by means of at least one connecting means that synchronizes the simultaneous rotation of the slats. This embodiment reduces the design complexity and ensures a simple process for opening and closing the inlet or outlet of the transverse thrust control system.

[0012] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the slats are configured to execute a translational movement relative to one another when moving from the second position to the third position. In particular, the slats are configured to be movable relative to one another in such a way that they are pushed together when transferred to the third position and therefore require very little space in the third position.

[0013] It is also advantageous that the slats have a fold on their longitudinal side adjacent to a slat and, in the first position, form a closed surface formed by overlapping, completely closing the outlet. The provision of the fold enabling the overlapping ensures that the slats form a closed surface in the first position, which does not generate any additional hydrodynamic resistance.

[0014] Furthermore, a control system acting on the drive is preferably provided, which, when the watercraft exceeds a predetermined speed, causes the slats to move from the third position via the second position to the first position. Should the speed of the watercraft cause damage to the slats, the transverse thruster control system is deactivated—if this has not already occurred—and the inlet or outlet of the transverse thruster control system is closed off with the slats.

[0015] Finally, it is preferred that the vessel be a ferry, a passenger ship or a freighter.

[0016] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a particularly preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a hull section in the area of ​​the transverse thruster system of a watercraft particularly advantageously designed according to the invention; Fig. 2 a plan view of the shutter slats in a first position closing the outlet of the transverse jet control system; and Fig. 3 a plan view of the shutter slats in a third position fully exposing the outlet of the transverse thrust control system.

[0017] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a hull section in the area of ​​the transverse thruster system of a watercraft particularly advantageously designed according to the invention, which is, for example, a ferry, a passenger ship or a freighter. In particular, Fig. 1 shows the hull 10 of a watercraft particularly preferably configured according to the invention, with a transverse thruster system provided in the hull 10. The transverse thruster system has a tunnel with an inlet 20 opening onto the surface of the hull and an outlet 20 opening onto the surface of the hull transversely to the longitudinal axis of the watercraft, a propeller arranged in the tunnel, a closure 40 formed in front of the inlet 20 and / or outlet 20 of the transverse thruster system from a plurality of rotatably mounted slats 30, preferably made of plastic, and a drive configured by rotating the slats to move the slats 30 from a first position closing the inlet 20 or outlet 20 to a second position opening the inlet 20 or outlet 20.

[0018] In the example, the slats 30 of the closure 40 are mounted on the one hand rotatably and on the other hand displaceably by means of the shafts 32 provided on their end faces and arranged in a rail (not shown), wherein the drive is set up to rotate the slats 30 into the second position and to translate the slats 30 into a third position outside the outline of the inlet 20 or outlet 20 completely exposing the inlet 20 or outlet 20.

[0019] For this purpose, a cable 50a, 50b is provided, which effects the rotation and translation of the slats 30 and is specifically designed as a plastic-coated wire rope. One end of the cable is connected to the drive, which is particularly designed as a winch, and the other end is connected to at least one slat 30. The slats 30 are connected to one another by means of at least one connecting means that synchronizes a simultaneous rotation of the slats 30.

[0020] In Fig. 2, which shows a plan view of the slats of the closure in a first position closing the outlet of the transverse jet control system, it can be seen that the slats 30 have a fold on their longitudinal side adjacent to a slat 30 and, in the first position, form a closed surface formed by overlapping and completely closing the outlet 20.

[0021] From this in Fig. In the first position shown in Figure 2, the slats are moved into the Fig. 3, in which the outlet of the transverse jet control system is completely open. This is achieved by the fact that the slats 30 are configured to perform a translational movement relative to one another when moving from the second position to the third position.

[0022] Since the arrangement of the slats 30 can lead to damage to the slats 30, which are made of plastic in particular, if the speed of the watercraft is too high, a control acting on the drive is provided which is designed to move the slats 30 from the third position via the second position into the first position if a predetermined speed of the watercraft is exceeded. List of reference symbols: 10 Hull 20 Inlet, outlet 30 slats 32 Wave 40 closure 50a rope 50b rope

Claims

[1] Watercraft with - a hull (10) and - a transverse thruster system arranged in the hull (10), which ◯ a tunnel with an inlet (20) opening onto the surface of the hull (10) and an outlet (20) opening onto the surface of the hull (10) transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, ◯ a propeller arranged in the tunnel, ◯ a closure (40) formed in front of the inlet (20) and / or outlet (20) of the transverse jet control system from a plurality of rotatably mounted slats (30) and ◯ a drive arranged by rotation of the slats (30) for moving the slats (30) from a first position closing the inlet (20) or outlet (20) to a second position opening the inlet (20) or outlet (20) has, characterized by , that the rotatably mounted slats (30) are displaceably mounted, wherein the drive is arranged to rotate the slats (30) into the second position and to translate the slats (30) into a third position completely exposing the inlet (20) or outlet (20) outside the outline of the inlet (20) or outlet (20). [2] Watercraft according to claim 1, characterized by that the slats (30) are each rotatably and displaceably mounted on their end faces in a rail by means of at least one shaft (32). [3] Watercraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive has at least one winch with a cable (50a 50b) which effects the rotation and translation of the slats (30), one end of which is connected to the winch and the other end of which is connected to at least one slat (30). [4] Watercraft according to claim 3, characterized bythat the rope (50a, 50b) is a plastic-coated wire rope. [5] Watercraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the slats (30) are connected to one another by means of at least one connecting means synchronizing a simultaneous rotation of the slats (30). [6] Watercraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the slats (30) are arranged to perform a translational movement relative to one another when moving from the second position to the third position. [7] Watercraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the slats (30) have a fold on their longitudinal side adjacent to a slat (30) and, in the first position, form a closed surface formed by overlapping and completely closing the outlet (20). [8] Watercraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bya control acting on the drive, which is arranged to cause the slats (30) to move from the third position via the second position into the first position when a predetermined speed of the watercraft is exceeded. [9] Watercraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the slats (30) are plastic slats. [10] Watercraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the slats (30) have a surface which continues the fuselage contour in the region of the inlet (20) or outlet (30) when assuming the first position. [11] Watercraft according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the vessel is a ferry, a passenger ship or a freighter.

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