Cyclorotor Blade Module Replacement Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cyclorotors for marine vessels face challenges in blade module replacement and maintenance, particularly in maintaining a watertight seal and efficiently reconfiguring drivetrains to facilitate easy replacement without compromising operational integrity.
Innovation Solution
The cyclorotor design includes a rotary housing with radially extending blade modules, each equipped with a blade actuator comprising an electric motor, driving gear, and driven gear, allowing for independent removal and replacement of blade modules while maintaining a watertight seal and reconfiguring drivetrains to avoid obstruction during replacement, using panels and seals to ensure watertightness and drivetrain reconnection for operational readiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If blade modules are made independently removable for easy replacement, then ease of repair is improved, but maintaining a watertight seal becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclorotor is divided into separate blade modules that can be independently removed and replaced. Each blade module contains a blade assembly and associated actuators, allowing targeted replacement without affecting other modules. This segmentation enables easy repair while the patent addresses the sealing challenge through specialized connection interfaces between modules and the main body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate sealing structures and connection interfaces between the removable blade modules and the main body. These intermediary components facilitate both the mechanical connection for easy replacement and the creation of watertight seals, resolving the contradiction between ease of repair and seal integrity.
2Strength
If drivetrain components are permanently fixed for structural stability, then strength is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in reconfiguring during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The drivetrain connection system is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable rather than permanently fixed. Connection elements allow the drivetrain to be easily reconfigured or disconnected during maintenance operations, then securely reconnected for normal operation. This dynamic capability provides both structural stability during operation and ease of reconfiguration during maintenance.
3Device complexity
If blade actuators are integrated within blade modules for compact design, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of repair worsens due to difficulty in isolating faulty components
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating actuators within self-contained blade modules, the patent creates segmented functional units. While this maintains compact overall design, each module becomes an independent repairable unit. If a fault is detected, the entire module can be quickly removed and replaced without needing to isolate or repair individual actuator components, thus maintaining ease of repair through module-level replacement.
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
This design enables efficient and watertight blade module replacement without the need for dry dock facilities, allowing for continuous operation and reducing maintenance downtime, while ensuring the cyclorotor remains operational and watertight, even when immersed in water.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor having a drive shaft
Implementation Method 2
a driving gear mechanically connected to the drive shaft; and a driven gear mechanically connected to the driving gear and to the respective blade assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A cyclorotor is described that can be used as a propulsor for a marine vessel. The cyclorotor includes a rotary housing comprising a main body and a plurality of blade modules arranged circumferentially around the main body. The cyclorotor also includes a plurality of blade assemblies, each blade assembly being located in a respective blade module and having a blade extending from the rotary housing with a blade axis about which it can be pivoted relative to the rotary housing. Each blade assembly is associated with a blade actuator comprising an electric motor and having a drive shaft, a driving gear mechanically connected to the drive shaft and a driven gear mechanically connected to the respective blade assembly for pivoting the respective blade about its blade axis. Each blade module is preferably adapted to be detached and removed from the main body.