A vessel equipped with at least one sailing propulsion unit

Abstract

The vessel comprises at least one sailing propulsion unit (100) which extends generally vertically in a position of use and comprises one or more propulsion elements (111, 112) and a mast (121). According to the invention, the structure of the vessel essentially comprises transverse structural elements (T, 300) which at least partially define at least one respective cavity, while the vessel comprises at least one sailing propulsion unit (100) situated generally above the cavity. The vessel additionally comprises a support (210) for the sailing propulsion unit, the support (210) being generally vertically movable within the cavity (CA), and drive means for selectively moving the support between a raised position in use and a retracted position in storage.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to sailing propulsion of watercraft, and more particularly to assisted propulsion of merchant vessels. [Background technology]

[0002] prior art In particular, documents WO 2018087649(A1) and WO 2020115717(A1) describe a twin-wing propulsion unit with double wings mounted on a structure that is angularly controlled around a generally vertical axis depending on the circumstances, the double wings comprising a front flap and an aft flap connected by a boom member and a gaff member, a front mast and an aft mast, the front flap being traversed by the front mast and rotatable around an axis defined thereby, and the aft flap being traversed by the aft mast and rotatable around an axis defined thereby.

[0003] This structure is capable of rotating about an axis of rotation that coincides with the axis of rotation of the foremast.

[0004] Rotor-based sailing propulsion units (ie, Flettner rotor or suction rotor types) are also known and are beginning to be fitted to commercial ships.

[0005] In the current state of the art, there are various approaches available to retract a sailing propulsion system during the non-sailing phase.

[0006] First, US Patent Publication No. 2014144362(A1) describes an approach in which the wings can be angled into specially designed containers, with these cavities oriented transversely or parallel to the vessel's main axis. In one variation, the wings can be stored in the specific container by translational motion.

[0007] This approach requires significant modification of the vessel structure to accommodate the containers associated with the various sailing propulsion units.

[0008] Document JPS57178994A describes a vessel having recesses in its sides for vertically moving and storing sail propulsion units.

[0009] Again, this approach requires the vessel to be specially designed to accommodate these recesses. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, economical and reliable solution for reducing the space requirements or exposure of a hard wing or other type of sailing propulsion unit on a ship, in particular during wharf loading and unloading operations and during seagoing maneuvers when passing under bridges. More specifically, the present invention aims to consolidate, in a particularly practical way, the storage space for a sailing propulsion unit in a non-used position, making use of the existing structure of the ship, in particular the transverse bulkheads of the hull of a merchant ship.

[0011] For this purpose, a watercraft is proposed comprising at least one sailing propulsion unit extending generally vertically in a position of use and comprising one or more propulsion elements and a mast, the structure of the watercraft essentially comprising transverse structural elements which at least partially define at least one respective cavity for the sailing propulsion unit, at least one sailing propulsion unit located generally above the cavity, a support for said sailing propulsion unit movable generally vertically within the cavity, and drive means for selectively moving said support between a raised position in use and a retracted position in storage.

[0012] The method optionally includes the following additional features, either individually or in any combination that a person skilled in the art would understand to be technically compatible: * In each cavity designed to receive a sail propulsion unit, the vessel is provided with a guide hoistway adapted to closely receive said support and oriented generally vertically. *The or each hoistway has a generally U-shaped cross-section, the opening of which is wider than the width of the propulsion unit in the propulsion orientation adopted for retraction of the propulsion unit. * Limited friction guide means are provided between each support and the associated hoistway. * Each retractable propulsion unit has a major cross-sectional dimension and a minor cross-sectional dimension, and the marine vessel further includes a propulsion unit orientation control device for bringing the propulsion units into a retractable orientation so that retraction is possible. * The retracted orientation is one in which the large cross-sectional dimension of the propulsion unit is oriented transverse to the vessel's main axis. * The structural element comprises a pair of structural panels that extend both below and above the deck of the vessel to delimit the container loading space. * The structural element comprises a separate structural panel and the vessel comprises at least one additional panel assembled to the vessel structure to form, together with the separate structural panel, a cavity for the sail propulsion unit. * The drive means comprises one or more cylinders for each support. * The drive means comprises one or more rack and pinion assemblies for each support. * For each support, the drive means comprises one or more suspension cables which may be wound around a drum. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent on reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vessel equipped with a series of mast wing type sail propulsion system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a drive device of the propulsion unit. [Diagram 3] 3 is a partial top view and a partial horizontal cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4A] 4A is a perspective view of the drive device shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, FIG. 4A corresponding to FIG. 2. [Figure 4B] 4A is a perspective view of the drive device shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, FIG. 4A corresponding to FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] 11A-11C are perspective views illustrating two alternative versions of a cavity that houses the drive device. [Figure 6] 11A-11C are perspective views illustrating two alternative versions of a cavity that houses the drive device. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view along the axis of the vessel showing two side-by-side drive devices. [Figure 8] [Figure 9] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Described herein are structures and mechanisms that can be used to reel in one or more sailing propulsion units on a commercial vessel.

[0015] 1 illustrates a container ship type vessel N, on whose deck P six mobile sailing propulsion units 100 according to the invention are mounted, two rows of three propulsion units arranged along the port and starboard sides of the vessel. The vessel, per se, has a hull C, a deck P and a superstructure S, which are conventional.

[0016] Here, each propulsion unit has two flaps 111, 112, the front flap is traversed by a main mast 121 and the rear flap is traversed by a secondary mast 122, the two masts being connected at the bottom and top by boom members 130 and gaff members 140.

[0017] The main mast 121 projects below the member 130 and forms the main support for the wing mast. The wing mast can be designed, for example, according to the teachings of patent applications WO2018087649(A1) and WO2020115717(A1).

[0018] It can be seen that the ship N essentially has transverse structural elements T extending downwards and upwards with respect to the deck P and delimiting in pairs spaces intended to receive stacks of containers CO of standardized dimensions, for example ISO standardized 20, 30 or 40 foot containers.

[0019] These structural elements T are generally designated by the reference number 300 and each consist of a pair of metal panels 301, 302 extending transversely to the vessel's main axis X between the port and starboard sides of the hull, these panels being fixed by welded connecting and reinforcing elements, not shown, which are themselves welded to the hull.

[0020] Near the hull, each pair of panels 301, 302 together with the corresponding hull side C (below deck P) on the one hand and with the side walls 311 (port) and 312 (starboard) (above deck P) on the other hand form a vertically oriented cavity CA over a height determined by the vertical extension of these structural elements 301, 302, 311, 312 above the deck on the one hand (as shown in Figure 1), and by the vertical extension of the structural elements 301, 302 below the deck, which typically extends down to the bilge, on the other hand.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, at least some of these cavities CA, distributed evenly to port and starboard along the length of the vessel as shown in FIG. 1, are associated with respective sailing propulsion units 100, and each cavity CA can be used to retract the associated propulsion unit therein into a stowed or non-use position by moving the propulsion unit generally vertically.

[0022] The propulsion units can be retracted when the ship is docked to allow cargo loading / unloading operations, or during navigational maneuvers in case of high winds while underway, or when passing under a bridge.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 to 7, the base of the main mast 121 of the sail propulsion unit is rigidly attached to a drive device 200, which comprises the base 201 on which the mast 121 rests and a moving support 210 designed to move vertically in a hoistway 310 arranged in an associated cavity. As shown in Figure 3, the hoistway has a generally U-shaped cross section and defines, on the one hand, a housing for closely receiving the moving support 210 and, on the other hand, an opening 311 for receiving the longitudinal extension of the sail propulsion unit 100 when oriented transversely of the vessel.

[0024] It is advantageous to provide arrangements to guide the support 210 in the hoistway 310 and / or to limit friction between these two elements during movement. These means may include coatings, guide rollers, or rollers with a limited coefficient of friction, etc.

[0025] To move the support 210 and the propulsion units it carries within the hoistway 310, different techniques are possible.

[0026] In a first embodiment, a cable mechanism may be provided, comprising a drum on which the cable is wound, the drum being driven by a motor, such as an electric motor. The cable passes through a pulley at the top of the cavity CA, and the support 210 is suspended from the end of the cable on the opposite side of the drum. The number of cables may be increased depending on the available space, the weight of the mobile device, and the need to balance the suspension forces applied to the support 210.

[0027] In a second embodiment, a system can be provided comprising one or more hydraulic cylinders arranged vertically in the cavity CA and capable of exerting an upward thrust on the support and ensuring its gradual descent in the opposite direction.

[0028] In a third embodiment, a rack and pinion system may be used, where one or more racks are mounted vertically within the cavity CA and cooperate with one or more homologous motorized pinions mounted on a support.

[0029] These means are not shown, but a person skilled in the art will know how to implement them without any special effort.

[0030] The movement cable, when attached to the support 210, can be used to power the drive motor.

[0031] FIG. 4A is a partial view of the sailing propulsion unit 100 in the position of use, with the supports 210 in a raised position and the propulsion units deployed on their respective penetration structures T along the side of the vessel.

[0032] To move from the position of FIG. 4A to the retracted position of FIG. 4B, the sail propulsion unit is first oriented generally in alignment with the vessel's transverse direction, with its leading edge outboard of the vessel and its trailing edge inboard of the vessel, and with its overall width (typically the width of the boom portion 130) smaller than the width of the opening 311 of the generally U-shaped hoistway 310.

[0033] Once this position is reached, the displacement means can be activated to drive the support 210 downwards, moving the sail propulsion unit 100 with it, so that the support 210 or most of it is brought inside the cavity CA, as shown in FIG. 4B.

[0034] It will be appreciated that the extent to which the propulsion unit 100 is retracted into the cavity will depend on the height of the propulsion unit and the available height within the cavity CA, taking into account the space required for the movement control means.

[0035] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate, by way of example, two possible embodiments of the T-transverse structure. The embodiment shown in Figure 5 (hoistway 310 not shown for simplicity) is substantially identical to the embodiment shown in Figures 2, 3, 4A-4B and 7, i.e. the cavity CA is open towards the central axis of the ship.

[0036] In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, each cavity CA is closed internally by a panel 303 extending between panels 301 and 302, also constituting a structural element. The lateral free dimension of the cavity CA is then determined to accommodate the dimension of the sail propulsion unit 100 in this same direction in the retracted orientation.

[0037] According to another embodiment, the vessel is of the type which does not include transverse panels arranged in pairs but rather individually arranged transverse panels. In this case, several approaches are conceivable to create the cavity intended to receive the sail propulsion unit, in particular: in vessels having essentially separate panels, additional panels are installed across the full width of the vessel at a predetermined distance from the existing panels in order to achieve the underside condition of the panels 301, 302 as described above; Near the sides of the vessel, partial complementary walls are added to existing individual panels so as to form, together with the associated individual panels and the sides of the vessel, closed or partially open cavities suitable for receiving respective sail propulsion units.

[0038] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but those skilled in the art will know how to make numerous variations or modifications.

[0039] In particular, the invention applies equally to propulsion units of the mast wing type or rigid wing type, as well as to propulsion units based on different principles such as Magnus effect rotors, suction rotors, etc.

Claims

1. 1. A watercraft (N) comprising at least one sail propulsion unit (100) extending generally vertically in a position of use and comprising one or more propulsion elements (111, 112) and a mast (121), said watercraft structure essentially comprising transverse structural elements (T, 300, 301, 302) at least partially defining at least one respective cavity (CA), said watercraft (N) further comprising a support (210) for said sail propulsion unit, said support (210) being movable generally vertically within said cavity (CA), and drive means for selectively moving said support between a raised position in use and a retracted position in storage.

2. 2. The ship (N) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, in each cavity intended to receive a sail propulsion unit, a guide hoistway (310) adapted to closely receive said support (210) and oriented generally vertically.

3. 3. The ship (N) according to claim 2, characterized in that the or each hoistway (310) has a generally U-shaped cross section, the width of the opening (311) being greater than the width of the sailing propulsion unit in the orientation in which the propulsion unit is adopted for retraction.

4. Ship (N) according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that friction-limited guide means are provided between each support and the associated hoistway.

5. A vessel (N) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each sail propulsion unit (100) has a major dimension and a minor dimension in cross section, and further comprises a device for controlling the orientation of the sail propulsion unit to bring it into an orientation in which it can be retracted.

6. 6. The vessel (N) according to claim 5, characterized in that the retracted orientation is such that the large dimension of the cross section of the sail propulsion unit is oriented transversely to the vessel's main axis.

7. Ship (N) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the structural elements comprise a pair of structural panels (301, 302) extending both downwards and upwards with respect to the deck (P) of the ship and delimiting a container (CO) loading space.

8. 7. A watercraft according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the structural elements comprise individual structural panels and at least one additional panel assembled to the ship structure to form, together with the individual structural panel, a cavity for a sail propulsion unit.

9. Ship (N) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drive means comprise one or more cylinders for each support.

10. Ship (N) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drive means comprise one or more rack and pinion assemblies for each support.

11. Ship (N) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drive means comprise, for each support, one or more suspension cables which may be wound on a drum.

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