Counter-Rotating Ship Propulsion Drivetrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ship propelling apparatuses with a single propeller suffer from high energy loss due to unused rotational energy, and counter-rotating propeller systems are complex to manufacture, install, maintain, and repair due to their intricate drivetrain and hollow shaft requirements.
Innovation Solution
A ship propelling apparatus with a simpler drivetrain system featuring a counter-rotating device that includes a gear box with bevel gears to reverse the rotation of a front propeller, allowing for efficient energy collection from a rear propeller, and a sealing device to enhance reliability and ease of maintenance, with a bolt mechanism for easy separation and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a counter-rotating propeller system is used to reduce energy loss, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for counter-rotating devices and hollow shafts
Solution Approach 1:
The counter-rotating device is divided into separate modules: a first counter-rotating device for the front propeller and a second counter-rotating device for the rear propeller. Each module operates independently, allowing for simplified manufacturing and maintenance while achieving the energy recovery benefit of counter-rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex hollow shaft to transmit rotation from a single propeller, the invention inverts the approach by using solid shafts with separate counter-rotating devices at each propeller. This reversal of the traditional design simplifies the drivetrain while maintaining the energy efficiency benefits.
2Power
If a counter-rotating device with hollow shaft is used, then propelling performance is improved, but ease of manufacture and installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drivetrain is segmented into multiple independent counter-rotating devices, each handling one propeller. This eliminates the need for complex hollow shaft manufacturing while maintaining the propelling performance benefits of counter-rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses simpler, more easily manufactured solid shafts and modular counter-rotating devices that can be easily replaced if needed, rather than investing in complex hollow shaft construction that is difficult to manufacture and replace.
3Loss of energy
If a complex drivetrain system is used, then energy efficiency is improved, but ease of repair and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the counter-rotating system into separate modular devices for each propeller, maintenance can be performed on one device without affecting the other. This segmentation dramatically simplifies repair operations compared to a integrated hollow shaft system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each counter-rotating device can be extracted and removed independently from the drivetrain for maintenance or replacement. This extraction capability simplifies repair operations while the system remains operational with one propeller if needed.
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 solution reduces energy loss by utilizing counter-rotating propellers, simplifies the drivetrain system, and enhances maintenance by allowing easy separation and installation, while improving sealing performance and reducing the complexity of the propelling apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a gear box including therein a plurality of gears configured to reverse rotation of the rotation shaft and transfer the reversed rotation to the front propeller
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a ship propelling apparatus including a rotation shaft on which a rear propeller is fixed; a front propeller rotatably supported on the rotation shaft in front of the rear propeller; and a counter-rotating device through which the rotation shaft passes, which includes a gear box including therein a plurality of gears configured to reverse rotation of the rotation shaft and transfer the reversed rotation to the front propeller, and which is installed in an installation space formed at the rear of a ship. The rotation shaft includes a measurement hole formed to pass through a center of the rotation shaft for centering of the counter-rotating device installed in the installation space; and an individual lubricant path separated from the measurement hole.