Angled Transverse Plate Rudder for Shallow Water Maneuvering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rudders face challenges in providing sufficient directional stability and side force for maneuvering in shallow water, leading to increased flow resistance and reduced effectiveness in changing a ship-like object's heading.
Innovation Solution
A rudder design featuring a main blade with two auxiliary blades connected by transverse plates, where the upper plate is angled obliquely upward and the lower plate is positioned at a smaller angle or horizontally, creating a box-like structure that enhances structural integrity and reduces flow resistance while increasing side force, particularly when positioned in the propeller slipstream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a conventional rudder design is used, then the structure is simple, but the side force is insufficient for maneuvering in shallow water
Solution Approach 1:
The rudder is divided into multiple auxiliary blades (first, second, and third auxiliary blades) connected to the main blade by transverse plates, creating a segmented structure that increases side force generation capability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse plates are inclined at an angle to the horizontal plane, introducing a dimensional change from conventional horizontal arrangements. This inclination allows the plates to interact more effectively with the upward-flowing water near the stern, generating additional side force component
2Stability of the object's composition
If the rudder is positioned in shallow water, then directional stability increases, but the ability to generate sufficient side force for heading change decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rudder design incorporates multiple movable auxiliary blades that can work in conjunction with the main blade, allowing dynamic adjustment of the effective rudder area and side force generation while maintaining directional stability through the coordinated arrangement of all blades
Solution Approach 2:
The rudder employs a composite structure combining a main blade with multiple auxiliary blades and transverse plates, creating a composite hydrodynamic surface that generates enhanced side force while preserving directional stability through the integrated design
3Ease of manufacture
If the transverse plate is positioned horizontally, then the structure is simple, but the flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse plates are inclined at a specific angle to the horizontal plane, changing the geometric parameter of the plate orientation to match the local flow direction. This parameter change reduces flow resistance by allowing water to flow more smoothly over the plate surface
4Force
If the angle of attack of the top transverse plate is increased, then the side force increases, but the flow resistance also increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different transverse plates (top and bottom) are positioned at different angles to optimize their respective functions. The top plate angle is specifically optimized to generate side force while minimizing resistance, demonstrating local quality optimization where each component is tuned for its specific hydrodynamic conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances side force generation and reduces flow resistance, allowing for improved maneuverability in shallow water by optimizing the angle and orientation of transverse plates to align with water flow patterns, resulting in a more efficient and stable rudder performance.
Implementation Method 1
Water flow toward the stern therefore has an oblique-upward direction. According to the invention the top transverse plate is oriented to follow this line of water flow such that the downstream side is located higher than the upstream side. This will lower the flow resistance force on the rudder.
Implementation Method 2
The triple (at least one main and two auxiliary) rudder blades will result in an increased side force during rotation of the rudder, in particular when the rudder is positioned in the slipstream of the operating propeller of the ship-like object.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a rudder for maneuvering a ship-like object, the rudder comprising a main rudder blade having an upstream end and a downstream end, the rudder being rotatably mountable to the ship-like object around a rotation axis that generally extends in a vertical plane. The main rudder blade extends generally upright. The rudder comprises two generally upright extending auxiliary rudder blades connected to the main rudder blade by transverse plates. At least one of the transverse plates is oriented generally obliquely upwards towards a downstream end. The transverse plates thereby follow the orientation of the flow of water below the upwards receding aft body of the ship.