Arrangement and method for installing propulsion unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10144494-B2
Application number	US-201715714793-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2017
Priority date	Mar 25, 2015
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

An arrangement and a method for installing a propulsion unit to a hull of a ship. The propulsion unit comprises an upper part of the propulsion unit attachable to the hull of the ship and a lower part of the propulsion unit where to a propeller shaft is rotatably supported, and the upper part of the propulsion unit having flanges to attach the flanges tightly to the hull, and wherein there is an aperture in the bottom of the hull where to the propulsion unit is to be installed. The arrangement comprises a plurality of watertight covers covering openings in the bottom of the hull and a plurality of watertight covers covering openings in the top of the upper part of the propulsion unit, wherein the arrangement comprises a removable hull-side cover covering at least the opening under it, and at least one removable propulsion unit side cover covering the opening under it and facing the opening, and the removable covers are bolted from the hull-side.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An arrangement for installing a propulsion unit to a hull of a ship, wherein the propulsion unit comprises an upper part of the propulsion unit attachable to the hull of the ship and a lower part of the propulsion unit where to a propeller shaft is rotatably supported, and the upper part of the propulsion unit having flanges to attach the flanges tightly to the hull, and wherein there is an aperture in a bottom of the hull where to the propulsion unit is installed, wherein that the arrangement comprises a frame plate with openings attached to the hull to cover the aperture, a plurality of watertight covers covering openings in the frame plate and a plurality of watertight covers attachable to the top of the upper part of the propulsion unit to cover openings on the top of the upper part of the propulsion unit, wherein the arrangement comprises a removable hull-side cover covering at least one opening in the frame plate under it, and at least one removable cover attachable to the propulsion unit covering one opening under the at least one removable cover and facing the opening in the frame plate, and wherein the removable hull-side cover and the at least one removable cover are bolted from a hull-side.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the arrangement comprises
the frame plate watertightly attached to the hull covering the aperture,
a first cover is attached to the frame plate covering a first opening therein,
second covers are attached to the frame plate covering second openings therein,
a flange plate is attachable to the top of upper part of the propulsion unit,
a third cover is attached to the flange plate covering to a third opening therein,
fourth covers are attached to the flange plate covering fourth openings therein.

3. The arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the first cover, the second covers, the third cover and the fourth covers are removable and transportable to a space inside the hull.

4. The arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the propulsion unit further comprises an electric motor rotating a propeller.

5. The arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein the propulsion unit further comprises a lower part of steering module and an upper part of the steering module is installed inside the hull.

6. The arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein the propulsion unit further comprises an electric motor rotating a propeller.

7. The arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein the arrangement further comprises a pinion to lock the lower part of the steering module.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the propulsion unit further comprises an electric motor rotating a propeller.

9. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the propulsion unit further comprises a lower part of steering module and an upper part of the steering module is installed inside the hull.

10. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the propulsion unit further comprises a vertical shaft rotated by a motor above the vertical shaft and a first bevel gear and horizontal shaft locating in the lower part of the propulsion unit.

11. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the propulsion unit further comprises a vertical shaft rotated by a second bevel gear above the vertical shaft and a first bevel gear and horizontal shaft locating in the lower part of the propulsion unit.

12. An arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first opening is in a midpoint of the frame plate.

13. A method for installing a propulsion unit to a hull of a ship, wherein the propulsion unit comprises an upper part of the propulsion unit attachable to the hull of the ship and a lower part of the propulsion unit where to a propeller shaft is rotatably supported, and the upper part of the propulsion unit having flanges to attach the flanges tightly to the hull, and wherein there is an aperture in a bottom of the hull where to the propulsion unit is installed, wherein the method comprises a step of attaching a frame plate with openings to the hull to cover the aperture, steps of installing a plurality of watertight covers covering openings in the frame plate and of installing a plurality of watertight covers covering openings on the top of the upper part of the propulsion unit, wherein at least one removable hull-side cover covering at least one opening in the frame plate is faced to at least one removable propulsion unit side cover covering the opening under it, and wherein the at least one removable hull-side cover and the at least one removable propulsion unit side cover are bolted from a hull-side.

14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises steps
attaching the frame plate is attached to the hull covering the aperture,
attaching a first cover to the frame plate covering a first opening therein,
attaching second covers to the frame plate covering second openings therein,
attaching a flange plate to the top of upper part of the propulsion unit,
attaching a third cover to the flange plate covering a third opening therein,
attaching fourth covers to the flange plate covering fourth openings therein,
transporting and lifting the propulsion unit to close the hull
fixing the propulsion unit to the hull,
removing the first cover and the second covers,
removing the third cover and the fourth covers,
installing a steering motor and gear,
connecting a slip ring unit and a torque tube.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises a step of transporting the removed covers to a space inside the hull.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein that the method further comprises a step of transporting the removed covers to a space inside the hull.

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Hakala Jani
• Kokkila Kimmo
• Säkkinen Petri

Classifications

• B63B71/00 Primary

  Designing vessels; Predicting their performance · CPC title

• B63B85/00

  Dismantling or scrapping vessels · CPC title

• B63H21/30 Primary

  Mounting of propulsion plant or unit, e.g. for anti-vibration purposes (hull reinforcements therefor B63B3/70) · CPC title

• B63H5/125

  movably mounted with respect to hull, e.g. adjustable in direction {, e.g. podded azimuthing thrusters}({outboard units or Z-drives B63H20/00; } movably mounted for steering purposes only, {rudders carrying propellers} B63H25/42) · CPC title

• B63H21/36

  Covers or casing arranged to protect plant or unit from marine environment · CPC title