Pivoting Thrust Unit for Ship Propulsion Reversal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sailing ship propulsion systems face inefficiencies and complexity in reversing propeller thrust direction, particularly during maneuvering, due to the need for additional clutches and propeller rotation reversal, which results in torque surges, noise, and reduced energy conversion efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A pivoting thrust unit, or rudder propeller, is used to change the thrust direction by pivoting the propeller about a vertical axis, eliminating the need for a reversing clutch and allowing thrust direction to be reversed without changing propeller rotation, enabling efficient and directional thrust control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the propeller rotation direction is reversed to change thrust direction, then the direction of travel can be reversed, but torque shocks and material stress occur during switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrust direction reversal capabilityVSAvoidswitching behavior stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of reversing the propeller rotation direction to change thrust direction, the invention reverses the approach by keeping the propeller rotation direction constant and changing the thrust direction through rudder blade deflection. The propeller continues rotating in the same direction, but the rudder blade is deflected to redirect the thrust vector, thereby reversing the ship's direction of travel without causing torque shocks or material stress associated with clutch switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a double-cone clutch is used to reverse propeller rotation, then thrust direction can be changed, but the construction becomes complex and assembly difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrust reversal capabilityVSAvoiddrive device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the complex double-cone clutch mechanism from the drive device. Instead of using a reversing clutch to change propeller rotation direction, the system uses the existing rudder blade deflection mechanism to achieve thrust direction reversal. This removes the need for additional complex components while maintaining the thrust reversal capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the propeller rotation direction is reversed to achieve thrust reversal, then maneuvering is possible, but noise increases during switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaneuvering capabilityVSAvoidnoise during switching

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the conventional approach by not reversing propeller rotation but instead utilizing rudder blade deflection to change thrust direction. Since the propeller maintains constant rotation direction, the noisy clutch switching process is eliminated entirely, resulting in quieter operation during maneuvering while still achieving the desired thrust reversal and maneuvering capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the propeller rotation direction is reversed to change thrust direction, then travel direction can be reversed, but energy conversion efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrust direction controlVSAvoidmechanical energy to fluid energy conversion efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention reverses the conventional approach by keeping the propeller rotation direction constant and using rudder blade deflection to achieve thrust direction control. This ensures that the propeller always operates in its optimized rotation direction, maximizing the conversion efficiency of mechanical energy to fluid energy, while still providing full thrust direction control capability for maneuvering and travel direction reversal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP2417019B1Ship propulsion system

Publication Date: 2016.05.04 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG

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AI summary

In a method for operating a ship propulsion system, in particular a sailing ship propulsion system, comprising a combustion engine (303), at least one clutch (319) and a propulsion device (309) for transmitting the driving power to at least one propeller (308), the direction of thrust of the propeller (308) is changed by way of the propulsion device (309) which is designed as a ship propulsion system which can be pivoted about a substantially perpendicular control axis (320) by pivoting a thrust unit (321) associated with the propulsion device (309). For this purpose, the pivotable thrust unit (321) is pivoted about 180° in the opposite direction to reverse the direction of thrust of the propeller (108).