U.S. patent application number 15/523799 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-02 for protective device for the sealing of a stern tube of propeller-driven ships.
The applicant listed for this patent is Aktiebolaget SKF, SKF BLOHM + VOSS INDUSTRIES GMBH. Invention is credited to Nils Boettcher, Wolfgang Brandt, Carlos Fangauf, Johannes Goetz, Detlef Hammerschmidt, Andreas Konieczny, Fred Menig, Christian Preissler, Mathias Rusch, Marko Wrage, Lars Ziemen.
Application Number | 20170313398 15/523799 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54541071 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170313398 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goetz; Johannes ; et
al. |
November 2, 2017 |
PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR THE SEALING OF A STERN TUBE OF
PROPELLER-DRIVEN SHIPS
Abstract
A protective device for a stern tube seal of a propeller-driven
vessel, wherein an intermediate space is left open between a stern
tube and a propeller hub, which intermediate space is covered by a
tubular protective cover concentric with the propeller hub, which
protective cover is fixedly anchored to the stern tube and axially
overlies the propeller hub leaving an annular gap, wherein a ring
concentric with the propeller hub and U-shaped in radial section is
disposed inside the protective cover in the intermediate space
between the stern tube and the propeller hub, the U-opening of
which ring is directed radially outward, and wherein the ring is at
least partially formed of a material that has a pourable
consistency at 20.degree. C.
Inventors: |
Goetz; Johannes; (Roethlein,
DE) ; Brandt; Wolfgang; (Norderstedt, DE) ;
Boettcher; Nils; (Daldorf, DE) ; Fangauf; Carlos;
(Hamburg, DE) ; Hammerschmidt; Detlef; (Rostock,
DE) ; Konieczny; Andreas; (Hamburg, DE) ;
Menig; Fred; (Sulzthal, DE) ; Preissler;
Christian; (Hamburg, DE) ; Rusch; Mathias;
(Winsen Luhe, DE) ; Wrage; Marko; (Struvenhuetten,
DE) ; Ziemen; Lars; (Hamburg, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Aktiebolaget SKF
SKF BLOHM + VOSS INDUSTRIES GMBH |
Goteborg
Hamburg |
|
SE
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
54541071 |
Appl. No.: |
15/523799 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
November 12, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/076424 |
371 Date: |
May 2, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63H 23/321 20130101;
B63H 2023/327 20130101; B63H 5/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B63H 23/32 20060101
B63H023/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 12, 2014 |
DE |
10 2014 223 064.0 |
Claims
1. A protective device for a stern tube seal of a propeller-driven
vessel, wherein an intermediate space is left open between a stern
tube and a propeller hub, which intermediate space is covered by a
tubular protective cover concentric with the propeller hub, which
protective cover is fixedly anchored to the stern tube and axially
overlies the propeller hub leaving an annular gap, wherein a ring
concentric with the propeller hub and configured U-shaped in radial
section is disposed inside the protective cover in the intermediate
space between the stern tube and the propeller hub, the U-opening
of which ring is directed radially outward, and wherein the ring
comprises a material that has a pourable consistency at 20.degree.
C.
2. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein the material
is concrete.
3. The protective device according to claim 1 wherein the ring is
comprised of at least two ring sectors, wherein each ring sector
extends over a defined circumferential angle and wherein the ring
sectors are connected to one another.
4. The protective device according to claim 3, wherein two, three,
four, five, or six ring sectors form the ring.
5. The protective device according to claim 3 wherein the ring
sectors are aligned relative to one another by centering elements,
and wherein the centering elements are formed from a complementary
profiling of end regions of the ring sectors lying in a
circumferential direction.
6. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein the ring or
the ring sectors is or are attached to the propeller hub or to the
protective cover using a screw connection.
7. The protective device according to claim 6, wherein insert parts
are disposed in the ring or in the ring sectors, which insert parts
are penetrated by at least one screw.
8. The protective device according to claim 7, wherein the insert
parts are at least partially surrounded by the material of the
ring.
9. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein the material
is comprised of filling materials and binder, wherein the filling
material has a weight proportion between 80% and 95%, wherein the
binder preferably has a weight proportion between 5% and 20%, and
wherein the binder is comprised of a resin and a hardener.
10. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein glass
and/or carbon and/or metallic reinforcing fibers are present in the
material.
11. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein the
material is mineral casting.
12. The protective device according to claim 9, wherein the resin
is an epoxy resin and wherein the hardener is an aminic
hardener.
13. The protective device according to claim 2, wherein the ring
comprises at least two ring sectors, wherein each ring sector
extends over a defined circumferential angle and wherein the ring
sectors are connected to one another, wherein the ring sectors are
aligned relative to one another by centering elements, and wherein
the centering elements are formed from a complementary profiling of
end regions of the ring sectors lying in a circumferential
direction, wherein the ring or the ring sectors is or are attached
to the propeller hub or to the protective cover using a screw
connection, wherein insert parts are disposed in the ring or in the
ring sectors, which insert parts are penetrated by at least one
screw and are at least partially surrounded by the material of the
ring, wherein the material is comprised of filling materials and
binder, wherein the filling material has a weight proportion
between 80% and 95%, wherein the binder has a weight proportion
between 5% and 20%, and wherein the binder is comprised of a resin
and a hardener, and wherein reinforcing fibers are present in the
material.
14. A protective device for protecting a stern tube seal of a
propeller-driven vessel, the protective device being mountable in
an intermediate space between a stern tube and a propeller hub
inside a protective cover adjacent an annular gap between the
propeller hub and the protective cover, the protective device
comprising: a ring concentric with the propeller hub and having an
outwardly facing channel with an outwardly facing opening, the ring
being formed at least partially of a material that is pourable at
20.degree. C.
15. The protective device according to claim 14, wherein the ring
comprises concrete.
16. The protective device according to claim 14, wherein the ring
comprises mineral casting.
17. The protective device according to claim 14, wherein the ring
comprises at least two ring sectors, each ring sector extending
over a defined circumferential angle.
18. The protective device according to claim 14, wherein the ring
sectors are aligned relative to one another by a complementary
profiling of circumferential end regions of the ring sectors.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a protective device for the stern
tube seal of propeller-driven vessels, wherein an intermediate
space is left open between the stern tube and the propeller hub,
which intermediate space is covered by a tubular protective cover
(rope guard) concentric with the propeller hub, which protective
cover is on the one hand fixedly anchored to the stern tube and on
the other hand spreads over the propeller hub leaving an annular
gap, wherein a ring concentric with the propeller hub and
configured U-shaped in radial section is disposed inside the
protective cover in the intermediate space between stern tube and
propeller hub, the U-opening of which ring is directed radially
outward.
[0002] A protective device of the above-described type is known
from DE 37 18 419 C2. According to this, a net guard is installed
on vessels for protection of the stern tube-seal and -bearing. This
net guard is usually flange-mounted directly on the drive
propeller. Should nets and ropes be located in the water, they are
wound up due to the U-shaped geometry of the guard and received in
the U-shaped design until a maintenance, in the context of which a
removing of the nets and ropes is effected.
[0003] Here the ring is disposed and dimensioned in relation to the
annular gap such that ends of fishing lines, fishing nets, or
similar cord-shaped structures possibly entering through the
annular gap are captured by it and wound up.
[0004] Due to the large diameter of the ring in question, of the
material used (aluminum bronze is usually used for this purpose),
of the manufacturing method, and of the processing, relatively high
costs arise that sometimes induce the operators of vessels to omit
the net guard. In addition there is the high weight that
complicates the handling, installation, and maintenance of the
rings. Of course the omission of the net guard, i.e., of said ring,
represents a great danger to the vessel propulsion.
[0005] To attach the rope guard, i.e., the ring, using screws, a
hole pattern is required in the ring for flange mounting, which
hole pattern varies depending on the vessel or on the respective
application. Therefore depending on the application case the bores
are introduced shortly before the delivery or installation of the
net guard.
[0006] The object of the invention is to further develop a
protective device of the above-described type for the stern tube
seal of propeller-driven vessels such that the disadvantages
mentioned are avoided. Accordingly an easily handleable and
cost-effective solution is to be provided. Both the manufacture of
the net guard and its installation should thus be able to be
simplified.
[0007] The solution of this object by the invention is
characterized in that the ring is at least partially comprised of a
material that can have a pourable consistency at room temperature
(T=20.degree. C.). Concrete, in particular mineral casting, is
preferably considered here.
[0008] Here the ring is preferably comprised of at least two ring
sectors, wherein each ring sector extends over a defined
circumferential angle and wherein the ring sectors are preferably
connected to one another. Particularly preferably two, three, four,
five, or six ring sectors are provided here that form the ring.
[0009] Here the ring sectors can be oriented relative to one
another using centering elements; the centering elements are
preferably formed from a complementary profiling of the end regions
of the ring sectors, which end regions lie in the circumferential
direction.
[0010] The ring or the ring sectors are preferably attached to the
propeller hub or to the protective cover using a screw connection.
It is then advantageous here if insert parts are disposed in the
ring sectors, which insert parts are penetrated by at least one
screw. The insert parts here are preferably at least partially
surrounded by the material of the ring.
[0011] The material is preferably comprised of filler materials and
binder and optionally of additives, wherein the filler material
preferably has a weight proportion between 80% and 95%, wherein the
binder preferably has a weight proportion between 5% and 20%, and
wherein the binder is preferably comprised of a resin, in
particular of epoxy resin, and a hardener, in particular of an
aminic hardener. All components of the material together have 100
weight-%.
[0012] Furthermore it can be provided that reinforcing fibers are
added to the material, in particular glass fibers, carbon fibers,
or metallic fibers.
[0013] As mentioned reinforcing fibers can be added to the ring. In
addition to the fibers mentioned these are also understood to
include steel bars, meshes, reinforcing iron, cages, steel mesh,
and similar elements, such as are also used with normal concrete. A
mesh can also be incorporated into the material.
[0014] Concrete is a mixture of cement, aggregate, and mixing
water; concrete additives and concrete admixtures are also
optionally included. The cement acts as a binder to hold together
the other components. The strength of the concrete is produced by
crystallization of the clinker particles of the cement under water
absorption.
[0015] Fibers made from steel, plastic, carbon, or glass can be
added to the concrete in order to obtain fiber concrete.
[0016] In contrast to normal concrete, mineral casting (also called
polymer concrete) contains a polymer, i.e., a plastic material, as
binder, that holds together the aggregate. Cement is used in
mineral casting, if at all, only as filler and assumes no binding
effect. The most widely used polymer matrix for mineral casting is
unsaturated polymer resin.
[0017] In its area of application mineral concrete has
significantly better mechanical and chemical properties than
cement-concrete. The setting time of these resins can be set by the
amount of catalysts and hardeners used. Epoxy resin is preferably
used as polymer, i.e., as binder, in order to generate a good
vibration-damping behavior.
[0018] In general all materials can be used for the implementation
of the proposed idea that can be cast "cold," i.e., materials that
can have a pourable consistency at room temperature (20.degree.
C.).
[0019] The invention thus provides an effective net guard for a
vessel drive, in particular made from mineral casting. Here the
ring can be one-part or segmented. Various separation geometries
can be realized with sectors (or segments) in order to facilitate
the exact connecting of sectors into a complete ring; however, the
exact connection is of no great importance for the function.
[0020] The bores for attaching the rings or the sectors of the
rings can be cast together during manufacturing. Inlay parts
(inlays) made from various materials (for example, from stainless
steel, from brass, from bronze, from aluminum, from fiberglass,
from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, or from plastic) can also be
used here. The inlays can be designed differently, serve for force
transmission from the screws, and prevent the spalling of the
mineral casting. In addition, further inlays can be cast together,
for example, threaded-bushings and -bolts.
[0021] In order to take into account varying bore patterns and in
order to cover this to the extent possible with only one mold,
there are the following approaches:
[0022] Firstly slot-inlays have proven successful. These inlays can
be provided straight, or curved kidney-shaped (i.e., with or
without a radius in the circumferential direction). They are
introduced in the mineral casting and can in particular be
cast.
[0023] Inlays can also be configured as solid-material inlays. In
this case they are manufactured from solid material (e.g., bronze,
brass, stainless steel, plastic); they are cast together during
casting of the ring or of the ring sectors. The hole pattern can
then be directly introduced into the solid-material inlay, after
removal of the ring or of the ring sector from the mold, according
to customer specifications by drilling. Such inlays here must have
an appropriate geometry in order to be securely anchored in the
mineral casting.
[0024] Eccentric inlays are also possible. A bore is eccentrically
introduced into this inlay; the inlay can be constructed in the
manner of a sliding bearing. By turning a part of the inlay the
position of the bore can be changed and thus adapted to the
required connection geometry.
[0025] Mineral casting has only approximately one quarter of the
density of aluminum bronze (which is 8.6 g/cm.sup.3). A significant
weight reduction and thus advantages with the handling and the
installation of the ring or of its sectors thereby result. Combined
with the segmenting the handling- and installation-advantages
increase. Manual installation is now possible. This saves the use
of cranes, lifting- and assembly-tools and reduces the time
consumption.
[0026] The variety of variants for the end user is maintained, but
is significantly reduced for the manufacturer of the rings. By
introducing the above-mentioned inlays it is possible to work with
only one mold and nevertheless replicate the complete range of
different hole patterns. The results are cost- and
time-savings.
[0027] Thus a significant cost advantage results from the use of
mineral casting instead of the material aluminum bronze used to
date.
[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are depicted in the
drawings.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows in radial section a protective device for the
stern tube seal of a vessel drive including a net guard in the
shape of a ring,
[0030] FIG. 2 shows in radial section the ring (net guard)
according to a first embodiment of the invention,
[0031] FIG. 3 shows in radial section and in front view the ring
according to FIG. 2,
[0032] FIG. 4 shows in radial section the ring according to a
further embodiment of the invention,
[0033] FIG. 5 shows in radial section the ring according to a
further embodiment of the invention,
[0034] FIG. 6 shows in front view a ring sector that is a component
of the ring according to a further embodiment of the invention,
[0035] FIG. 7 shows in front view four ring sectors according to
FIG. 6, that together form the ring,
[0036] FIG. 8a, FIG. 8b, and FIG. 8c show as viewed from a radial
perspective the joint of two adjacent ring sectors shortly before
their meeting at a circumferential point of the ring,
[0037] FIG. 9 shows in radial section the ring according to a
further embodiment of the invention,
[0038] FIG. 10 shows in radial section the ring according to a
further embodiment of the invention,
[0039] FIG. 11 shows in front view the ring, wherein an inlay part
is depicted,
[0040] FIG. 12 shows in front view the ring, wherein two slots for
the attaching are depicted, and
[0041] FIG. 13 shows in front view the ring, wherein an eccentric
insert for the attaching is depicted.
[0042] In FIG. 1 a stern tube seal 1 can be seen that is embodied
as a multi-lip seal and includes a plurality of seal lips 13, which
interact with a bush 14 that is mounted on a propeller shaft 15.
The bush 14 is connected by one end via a flange 16 to the
propeller hub 3 and protrudes by the other end into the stern tube
2.
[0043] The intermediate space 17 thereby formed is covered by a
tubular protective cover 4, which on the one hand is fixedly
attached to the stern tube 2 and a piece of which on the other hand
projects over the propeller hub 3 leaving an annular gap 5.
[0044] A ring 6, U-shaped and concentric with the propeller hub 3,
is disposed in the intermediate space 17 formed by the protective
cover 4, which ring 6 is open radially outward, i.e., toward the
protective cover 4, and is attached to the end side of the
propeller hub 3 using an only schematically indicated screw
connection 8. The dimensions of the ring 6 are selected such that
in its receiving space formed by the U-shaped structure a plurality
of winding layers of ends of fishing lines, fishing nets, etc.
possibly penetrated into the annular gap 5 can be received. The
stern tube seal 1 is thereby protected.
[0045] For details explicit reference is made to the
above-mentioned DE 37 18 419 C2.
[0046] It is essential that according to the invention the ring 6
is at least partially comprised of a material B that can have a
pourable consistency at room temperature (T=20.degree. C.). Mineral
casting is considered here in particular.
[0047] In FIG. 2 the radial section of the ring 6 can be seen. From
this it follows that bores 10 are introduced in the ring 6 in order
to be able to attach the ring 6 to the propeller hub 3 using screws
8. For the purpose of assembly a mounting bore 18 flush with the
bore 10 is available that is provided for the passage of an
appropriate tool.
[0048] It follows from FIG. 3 that the ring 6 can be configured as
a one-piece part.
[0049] Insert parts 9, preferably made from metal, can be
introduced into the bores or inserted into the mold during casting
of the ring 6 in order to ensure stable support for the attaching
of the ring 6. In particular a spalling of material of the ring 6
can thus be avoided. FIGS. 4 and 5 here show two different
solutions.
[0050] In FIGS. 6 and 7 it can be seen that the ring 6 can also be
comprised of a plurality of sectors 6', 6'', 6''', and 6'''', which
each cover a circumferential section.
[0051] In order that the individual sectors accurately abut on one
another in the circumferential direction and are accurately
positioned in the axial direction a (see FIG. 1), centering
elements 7 can be provided as are shown in FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c for
three different variants. Accordingly the precise axial assembly of
the ring sectors 6', 6'' can be improved by the measures depicted
here.
[0052] Here the transition region between two ring sectors 6', 6''
is depicted, wherein the view from the radial direction is
outlined. As can be seen from the three views according to FIGS.
8a, 8b, and 8c, the joints are not configured flat, but rather
crosswise or angled (see FIG. 8a) or in the manner of an arrow
design (see FIG. 8b and FIG. 8c). The last two possibilities
mentioned ensure the precise axial assembly of the two abutting
ring sectors 6' and 6'' so that with the assembling of the ring
sectors the individual parts are arranged precisely with respect to
each other.
[0053] A better installability thus results, in particular with
only two segments or sectors. Furthermore, there is a simple
possibility of a centering of the sectors relative to one
another.
[0054] In FIG. 9 an insert part 9 is outlined again that has been
cast together with the casting of the ring 6 or of its sectors. In
FIG. 10 it can be seen how said insert part 9 has then been pierced
in order to be able to attach the ring 6 according to a desired
hole pattern.
[0055] For this purpose it can be seen in FIG. 11 that an insert
part 9 can be provided that includes different bores and thus makes
possible the screwing-on of the ring 6 in the context of a certain
variability.
[0056] The variability is increased more if--as can be seen in FIG.
12--slots 11 are provided that are configured kidney-shaped here
and thus make it possible that the ring 6 can be fixedly screwed in
a simpler manner
[0057] For this purpose FIG. 13 shows a still further possibility:
here an insert part is provided in the form of an eccentric insert
12. This insert is formed in the manner of a sliding bearing and
has two rings that can be rotated relative to each other (see arrow
in FIG. 13). By turning the inner ring of the eccentric insert 12
the position of the passage bore for the screw can thus be changed
and adapted to a threaded bore in the propeller hub.
REFERENCE NUMBER LIST
[0058] 1 Stern tube seal
[0059] 2 Stern tube
[0060] 3 Propeller hub
[0061] 4 Protective cover (rope guard)
[0062] 5 Annular gap
[0063] 6 Ring
[0064] 6' Ring sector
[0065] 6'' Ring sector
[0066] 6''' Ring sector
[0067] 6'''' Ring sector
[0068] 7 Centering element
[0069] 8 Screw connection
[0070] 9 Insert part
[0071] 10 Bore
[0072] 11 Slot
[0073] 12 Eccentric insert
[0074] 13 Seal lip
[0075] 14 Bush
[0076] 15 Propeller shaft
[0077] 16 Flange
[0078] 17 Intermediate space
[0079] 18 Mounting bore
[0080] B Material (mineral casting/polymer concrete)
[0081] a Axial direction
* * * * *