U.S. patent number 3,874,316 [Application Number 05/386,162] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-01 for cross jet rudder for watercraft.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Orenstein & Koppel AG. Invention is credited to Otto Lorenz.
United States Patent |
3,874,316 |
Lorenz |
April 1, 1975 |
CROSS JET RUDDER FOR WATERCRAFT
Abstract
A watercraft comprises a hull having an outer surface below
water-line with an inwardly indented cross-channel extending from
one side to the other of the hull. A propeller is rotatably mounted
within the cross-channel and oriented to direct a flow through the
channel from one side of the hull to the other. In addition a
conduit which defines a pressure equalizing passage extends through
the hull from the outer skin on one side thereof to the
cross-channel and advantageously another pressure equalizing
passage extends through the hull from the exterior on the opposite
side to the cross-channel.
Inventors: |
Lorenz; Otto (Lubeck,
DT) |
Assignee: |
Orenstein & Koppel AG
(Lubeck, DT)
|
Family
ID: |
5853989 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/386,162 |
Filed: |
August 6, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 19, 1972 [DT] |
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2240842 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
114/151;
440/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63H
25/46 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B63H
25/46 (20060101); B63H 25/00 (20060101); B63h
025/46 () |
Field of
Search: |
;114/148,151
;115/39,16 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1,177,966 |
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Sep 1964 |
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DT |
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650,590 |
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Mar 1935 |
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DD |
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Primary Examiner: Blix; Trygve M.
Assistant Examiner: Sotelo; Jesus D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McGlew and Tuttle
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cross jet rudder for watercraft, comprising a watercraft hull
having a steering water channel defined in said hull extending
transversely from side to side below the water line thereof, a
water pressure equalizing channel extending entirely below the
water line and from the outer surface of said hull on one side of
the watercraft directly adjacent the steering water channel and
directly into the steering water channel at a spaced location from
at least one end thereof and being normally filled with sea water,
and propulsion means in said steering water channel for moving
water through said steering water channel.
2. A cross jet rudder according to claim 1, wherein said water
pressure equalizing channel is located on one side of said hull,
and including an additional water pressure equalizing channel on
the opposite side of said hull, extending from the exterior surface
of said hull into said steering water channel at a spaced location
from its opposite end.
3. A watercraft comprising a hull having an exterior surface, a
cross water channel extending transversely through said hull,
propulsion means in said cross water channel oriented between the
ends thereof in a position to direct flow through said channel from
one end to the other, said crosswater channel terminating in an
opening on each side of said hull, and a water pressure equalizing
conduit located entirely below water level and extending through
said hull directly adjacent said cross water channel from the
exterior surface thereof, into said crosswater channel, said water
pressure equalizing conduit having an open sea water receiving end
below water level at the end thereof extending through the surface
of said hull.
4. A watercraft according to claim 3, wherein said crosswater
channel is opened downwardly through said hull bottom.
5. A watercraft according to claim 3, wherein there is a water
pressure equalizing conduit on each side of the hull each having an
opening below water level on the respective side of the hull and
each being connected into said cross water channel at a spaced
location from its associated end.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invetion relates in general to the construction of watercraft
or vessels and, in particular, to a new and useful watercraft
having a hull with a channel extending transversely across the
underside thereof with a propeller therein arranged to direct a
flow current from one side to the other and which also includes at
least one pressure equalizing passage extending from the
cross-channel to the outer skin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An arrangement of one or more pressure equalizing channels for
cross jet steering gears in watergraft is known where the pressure
equalizing channels are arranged in the immediate proximity of the
jet inlet and the jet outlet of a cross steering gear leading from
one board wall to the opposite board wall. Such arrangements are
said to increase the efficiency of cross jet steering gears
particularly with increasing traveling speed, since the local
overpressure and underpressure fields which consume energy and
reduce the steering action, are balanced by the pressure equalizing
channels. The cross jet steering gear can also be used for
maneuvering when the ship moves. In order to be able to use these
pressure equalizing channels for forward and backward travel, two
pressure equalizing chambers with remote controlled closing
mechanisms can be provided of which the pressure equalizing system
for the respective direction of travel is opened. In the known
arrangement it is necessary to install a channel which traverses
the entire ship width and which requires much space particularly in
wide broad ships. In addition, it has been attempted to keep the
velocity of flow in the pressure equalizing channel as low as
possible in order to reduce corrosion. This requires relatively
large cross sections. The additional space requirement produces an
increase not only in the cost of the steering gear but it also
reduces the carrying capacity of the craft or vessel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention avoids the disadvantages of the prior art
particularly by reducing the costs for the installation of cross
jet rudders provided with pressure equalizing channels so that the
carrying capacity of the ship is not impaired. In accordance with
the invention the pressure equalizing channels are arranged between
the outer skin of the ship and the steering water channel of the
cross jet rudder. The invention has the advantage that the
installation cost is substantially reduced and the requirements
that the channels traverse the entire hull are avoided. By reducing
the length of the pressure equalizing channels, the danger of
corrosion is also reduced. In addition, the carrying capacity of
the ship is not impaired.
In an advantageous embodiment, the pressure equalizing channels
terminate in the steering water channel in the range between the
propeller and/or the propellent water nozzle and the side of the
ship where it opens to the outer skin.
In accordance with another solution of the problem, the pressure
equalizing channels are arranged between the outer skin and the
ship bottom so that pressure equalization can take place. This
embodiment has the same advantage as the other and it is
particularly suitable for ships with a flat bottom.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a
watercraft which comprises a hull having an outer surface below
water-line with a cross-channel with propeller means therein for
propelling water through the channel and which includes a conduit
defining a pressure equalizing passage through said hull extending
from the outer skin of the hull to the cross-channel on the same
side of the vessel.
A further object of the invention is to provide a cross jet rudder
for watercraft which is simple in design, rugged in construction
and economical to manufacture.
For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference
is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof
as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the Drawings:
FIG. 1 is a partial horizontal cross sectional view of a ship
having a cross jet rudder constructed in accordance with the
invention; and
FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of a hull of a ship of
another embodiment of the invention.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied
therein comprises a vessel or ship generally designated 10 in the
embodiment of FIG. 1, which includes an outer skin or surface 1 of
a hull generally designated 12 with a steering water channel 2
defined through the hull. Water movement or propulsion means
includes a rotatable propeller 3 oriented in the channel to move
the water stream from one end to the other end of the channel and
from side of the ship to the other. In this embodiment the channel
is connected in accordance with the invention, with a pressure
equalizing channel 4 and 4' on respective sides of the vessel which
extend from the outer skin 1 to the channel at a location between
the water movement means and the associated side of the ship or end
of the channel.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 there is disclosed a vessel
generally designated 10' which includes a cross-channel 2' defined
across the ship bottom 6. In this embodiment pressure equalizing or
steering water channels 5 and 5' extend from the outer skin side
surface 1' directly into the water channel 2'.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles
of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be
embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
* * * * *