Ship Propulsion Cooling Collector With Flexible Lower Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing cooling devices for ship propulsion machines face challenges in maintaining a filter device that collects fine objects while preventing pressure loss in the flow path of cooling water, as the filter device is difficult to remove due to its coaxial placement with rigid drain passages, making maintenance cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A cooling device design featuring a collector with a flexible lower connection pipe that includes bent portions to facilitate easy removal, allowing the collector to be separated from the drain passages without increasing pressure loss, thereby improving maintenance accessibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the filter device is disposed coaxially with the upper and lower drain passage portions, then the pressure loss in the cooling water flow path is prevented from increasing, but the filter device becomes difficult to remove for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure lossVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The drain passage is segmented into an upper drain passage portion and a lower drain passage portion that are separable from each other. The filter device is disposed between these two portions, allowing the upper and lower portions to be separated for maintenance access while maintaining the coaxial arrangement during operation to prevent pressure loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drain passage configuration transitions from a static coaxial arrangement during operation to a separable dynamic structure during maintenance. The upper and lower drain passage portions can be separated when needed, enabling the filter device to be removed for maintenance while maintaining the beneficial coaxial flow path during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of repair

If the cooling water flow path is divided into upper and lower drain passage portions with the filter device disposed between them, then maintenance becomes easier, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoiddrain passage structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drain passage is divided into separable upper and lower portions with the filter device positioned between them. This segmentation allows independent removal of the filter device for maintenance while keeping the overall structure relatively simple through the use of standard connection interfaces between the upper and lower portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 design enables efficient collection of fine objects while maintaining smooth water flow, facilitating easy maintenance of the collector by allowing it to be easily detached from the drain passages.

Implementation Method 1

a lower connection pipe (54) having flexibility, whose upper end portion is connected to a lower portion of the case (41), whose lower end portion is connected to the downstream portion (27B) of the drain passage (27)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlexibility: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

cooling a power source (2) of the ship propulsion machine by flowing the taken water around or inside the power source as cooling water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Convection

Implementation Method 3

a collector (31) provided between an upstream portion (27A) and a downstream portion (27B) of the drain passage (27) and configured to collect a fine object contained in the cooling water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4212427B1Cooling device for ship propulsion machine
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP
  • EP4212427B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4212427B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4212427B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cooling device for a ship propulsion machine includes a drain passage and a collector. The collector includes a collector main body, a case, an upper connection pipe, and a lower connection pipe having flexibility. A first bent portion is provided between an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the lower connection pipe. A second bent portion is provided between the first bent portion and the lower end portion of the lower connection pipe. The lower connection pipe extends downward from the upper end portion thereof along an axis of the case, bends at the first bent portion, extends downward while being inclined with respect to the axis so as to be separated from the axis, bends at the second bent portion, and extends downward while being inclined with respect to the axis so as to be close to the axis.