Lateral Thrust Arrangement for Large Displacement Hull Ships

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large displacement hull ships face limitations in speed and cargo capacity due to the design of their thrusting and governing systems, which restrict hydrodynamic performance and require extensive length at the stern to accommodate machinery and cargo, leading to inefficient propulsion and limited displacement.

Innovation Solution

The arrangement of thrusting and governing means on the port and starboard sides of the hull, outside the surface of flotation, allows for a full stern shape without bulbs or rudders, increasing displacement and hydrodynamic efficiency, and enabling modular shipbuilding by constructing modules separately and assembling them at a specific destination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If thrusting and governing means are arranged in the lower submerged area of the hull (ventral type), then propulsion is achieved, but the stern shape is restricted and cargo carrying capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepropulsion capabilityVSAvoidcargo carrying capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The thrusting and governing means are relocated from the vertical dimension (lower submerged area) to the horizontal dimension (port and starboard sides outside the surface of flotation). This dimensional change allows the stern to achieve a full shape optimized for cargo capacity while maintaining propulsion capability through lateral placement of propellers and rudders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If a long portion of length is allocated at the stern to support machinery and accommodation, then ventral thrusting systems can be accommodated, but the displacement to hydrodynamic goodness ratio deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of thrusting systemVSAvoiddisplacement to hydrodynamic goodness ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The thrusting and governing means are extracted from the internal stern structure and relocated to the external port and starboard sides. This extraction eliminates the need for a long stern portion dedicated to housing ventral systems, allowing optimization of the hull form for better displacement to hydrodynamic goodness ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Power

If bulbs are added to the stern for ventral thrusting systems, then propulsion is enabled, but the hull shape is restricted and displacement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepropulsion capabilityVSAvoidhull shape freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding bulbs to the stern (modifying the hull in the vertical dimension), the thrusting and governing means are placed in the horizontal dimension at the port and starboard sides outside the surface of flotation. This allows the hull to maintain its full, unrestricted shape optimized for displacement and hydrodynamic performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3424809B1Large displacement hull ship
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 MENDIGUREN AYERDI VICTOR MANUEL
  • EP3424809B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2b
  • EP3424809B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3424809B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Large displacement hull ship comprising a hull (10) and thrusting and governing means (100), arranged on each side of the center line of the ship (400), comprising at least one propeller (152), providing a thrust parallel to the center line for the propulsion of the ship (400). The means (100) are arranged on the port and starboard sides (11, 12) of the hull (10), the orthogonal projection onto the plane of the water being outside the surface of flotation of the ship (400), said means (100) being maintained within of the main beam, the length and the draught of the ship (400), the shape of the hull (10) being configured such that, the lower bound of the bottom of the hull (10), in the propeller (152) position, is below the upper bound of said propeller (152).