Marine Propulsor Pivot Gearset for Trailer Clearance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable bow thrusters on marine vessels face clearance issues when using scissor lift trailers, leading to potential damage during transportation, and require additional actuators for rotation, increasing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A propulsion device with a rotatable propulsor that pivots 90 degrees from a stowed fore-aft orientation to a deployed port-starboard orientation, using a gearset to automatically rotate the shaft without additional actuators, and a manual locking mechanism to allow stowing even when the actuator is inoperable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retractable bow thruster is used on marine vessels, then propulsion functionality is provided, but clearance issues occur with scissor lift trailers causing potential damage during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsor is designed to be movable between a deployed position (port-starboard orientation) and a stowed position (fore-aft orientation), allowing it to adapt its configuration based on operational needs. This dynamic repositioning enables the vessel to use scissor lift trailers during transportation while maintaining full propulsion capability when in water.
Solution Approach 2:
The propulsor rotates 90 degrees from a horizontal port-starboard orientation during operation to a vertical fore-aft orientation during stowing. This dimensional change in orientation allows the propulsor to fit within the clearance constraints of scissor lift trailers while maintaining its propulsion function when deployed.
2Ease of operation
If additional actuators are added to rotate the shaft, then the propulsor can be positioned accurately, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the actuator's own motion to automatically rotate the shaft through a gearset mechanism. When the actuator moves, the gearset converts this motion to rotate the shaft 90 degrees, eliminating the need for separate rotation actuators and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the positioning function and the rotation function into a single integrated mechanism. The gearset merges the actuator's linear motion with the shaft's rotational motion, allowing one component to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate actuators.
3Reliability
If the actuator becomes inoperable, then the propulsor cannot be manually stowed, but the system loses redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The gearset acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates the actuator's motion into shaft rotation. When the actuator fails, the gearset can still be manually operated to rotate the shaft, providing a backup mechanism that maintains system functionality without requiring additional actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system design allows the shaft to be manually rotated back to its operational position even if the actuator fails. The gearset can be manually engaged to recover the propulsor's positioning capability, ensuring the system can adapt to actuator failure and maintain operational versatility.
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 provides sufficient clearance for scissor lift trailers, minimizes damage risk during transportation, and eliminates the need for additional actuators, reducing complexity and cost while ensuring the propulsor can still be manually stowed in case of actuator failure.
Implementation Method 1
A gearset is provided for automatically rotating the shaft without requiring additional actuators
Implementation Method 2
A shaft is pivotally coupled to the marine vessel... configured to pivot the shaft relative to the marine vessel to thereby move the propulsor into and between stowed and deployed positions
Data Source
AI summary
A device for coupling a propulsor to a marine vessel. A rail is configured for attachment to the marine vessel. A carriage is moveable relative to the rail into first and second positions. A shaft has a first end pivotally coupled to the marine vessel and a second end for coupling to the propulsor. An actuator is configured to pivot the shaft relative to the marine vessel to thereby move the propulsor into and between stowed and deployed positions. A lock is manually operable to fix the carriage in the first position in which the actuator prevents manual pivoting of the shaft and alternatively in the second position in which the shaft is permitted to be manually pivoted.