Propulsion Unit Mounting Structure for Tilted Watertight Hull Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for mounting propulsion units to floating structures, such as ships and drilling platforms, face challenges including the need for complex and costly docking operations, risk of damaging seals during tilted mounting, and increased manufacturing complexity due to varied propulsion unit designs.
Innovation Solution
A mounting structure with guiding protrusions and cylindrical cavities that allow the propulsion unit and hull to tilt about a pivot point, aligning mounting surfaces in a parallel position to facilitate secure and watertight mounting without damaging seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the propulsion unit is mounted on a tilted mounting surface, then the propulsion member can be positioned at a tilted angle, but the sealing may be damaged due to misalignment during mounting
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of tilting the mounting surface on the hull, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the hull mounting surface horizontal and tilting the propulsion unit's mounting surface. This allows the propulsion unit to achieve the required tilted angle while the hull maintains a stable, horizontal sealing surface, preventing seal damage during mounting operations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a mounting structure with tilted mounting surfaces as an intermediary between the horizontal hull and the propulsion unit. This mounting structure includes guiding protrusions and cavities that control the tilting motion, ensuring proper alignment is achieved before final sealing, thus protecting the sealing from damage
2Reliability
If the mounting surfaces are provided in horizontal position, then the sealing is protected from damage, but the number of propulsion unit variants increases and mounting becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the propulsion unit's mounting structure universal by providing it with a tilted mounting surface that can adapt to different hull configurations. The mounting structure with guiding protrusions and cavities serves multiple functions: it provides the necessary tilt angle, guides the alignment during mounting, and protects the seal, thereby reducing the need for multiple specialized propulsion unit variants
3Ease of operation
If conventional lifting means are used for vertical mounting, then the mounting process is simple, but tilted mounting positions cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic elements to the mounting process through the tilting mounting surface and guiding protrusions that rotate about a pivot point. This allows the system to transition from a simple vertical lifting action to a controlled tilting motion, achieving both ease of operation and the required tilted mounting angle
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting structure for mounting a propulsion unit to a hull of a floating structure includes a first mounting surface and a sealed portion provided on the first mounting surface for sealing the propulsion unit to the hull. The first mounting surface is further provided with a pivot point provided at an edge or in the vicinity of an edge of the first mounting surface and outside the sealed portion, and at least two first protrusions spaced from each other on the first mounting surface. Each of the first protrusions includes a surface at least on a side of the first protrusion facing away from the pivot point, which surface is formed at least in a direction perpendicular to the first mounting surface in a manner dependent of a distance between the pivot point and the surface in such a manner that the first protrusion provided in a cylindrical cavity formed in a counterpart is configured to guide a mutual tilting movement of the cylindrical cavity and the first protrusion, when the mounting structure and, thus, the first protrusions are tilted with respect to the cylindrical cavities about the pivot point.