PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR AQUATIC VESSELS

• US 20160280347A1
• Filed: 11/11/2014
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norsepower Oy Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Norsepower Oy Ltd.
• Inventors: Huhtinen, Heikki Juhani, Levander, Kai, Riski, Tuomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,227,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 3/70 Reinforcements for carrying localised loads, e.g. propulsion plant, guns
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2023/0216 by means of belts, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/02 using Magnus effect
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/38 with two or more rows of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 23/08 self-adjusting
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/30 Ships, e.g. propelling shafts and bearings therefor in general B63H
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions

Abstract

A propulsion system (102) for an aquatic vessel (100) is provided. The propulsion system includes a plurality of Magnus-type rotors (108) and a drive arrangement (147) for rotating the plurality of Magnus-type rotors. The plurality of Magnus-type rotors are operable to rotate about corresponding substantially upright axes. The propulsion system also includes a control arrangement (150) for controlling the drive arrangement to vary rates of rotations of the plurality of Magnus-type rotors. Each of the plurality of Magnus-type rotors includes a hollow region (116) therein. Each of the Magnus-type rotors is rotationally supported onto a support arrangement (118) which extends into the hollow region. The drive arrangement includes at least one motor (148) disposed in the hollow region and located outside the support arrangement such that the at least one motor is accessible for maintenance. Furthermore, the at least one Magnus-type rotor includes a ventilation aperture arrangement (132) for enabling an upward movement of air to occur in operation within the at least one Magnus-type rotor for ventilating and cooling the drive arrangement and/or other internal components.

Claims

1. A propulsion system (102) for an aquatic vessel (100), wherein the propulsion system includes at least one Magnus-type rotor (108) including a cylindrical body (114), which Magnus-type rotor is operable to rotate about a corresponding substantially upright axis, a drive arrangement (147) for rotating the at least one Magnus-type rotor, and a control arrangement (150) for controlling the drive arrangement for varying rates of rotation and/or direction of the at least one Magnus-type rotor,

characterized in that the at least one Magnus-type rotor includes a hollow region (116) therein, and is rotationally supported onto a support arrangement (118) which extends into the hollow region, and at least one motor (148) of the drive arrangement for rotating the at least one Magnus-type rotor is included in the hollow region and lies outside the support arrangement, and the at least one motor is accessible for maintenance, and the at least one Magnus-type rotor includes a ventilation aperture arrangement (132) in the upper region of the rotor for enabling an upward movement of air into and out of the cylindrical body (114) to occur in operation within the at least one Magnus-type rotor for ventilating and cooling the drive arrangement and/or other internal components.

2. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one motor is coupled via a belt drive (152), chain drive or a gear arrangement to the at least one Magnus-type rotor for rotating the at least one Magnus-type rotor in operation to propel the aquatic vessel.

3. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one Magnus-type rotor is elongate and includes an upper portion which is supported onto a first bearing arrangement (172) disposed between the at least one Magnus-type rotor and the support arrangement, and a lower end of the support arrangement is connected to a foundation (112) installed on a deck region (110) of the aquatic vessel.

4. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first bearing arrangement is operable to bear a majority of a weight of the at least one Magnus-type rotor, and a second bearing arrangement (176) is operable to restrain lateral movement of a lower end of the Magnus-type rotor, such that the at least one Magnus-type rotor is operable to be able to pivot about the first bearing arrangement.

5. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the second bearing arrangement includes a configuration of resiliently-mounted bearing wheels (186) which are retractable for enabling the Magnus-type rotor to be installed onto and removed from the support arrangement.

6. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one Magnus-type rotor has a diameter in a range of 2.5 metres to 7.0 metres, and a height in a range of 15 metres to 40 metres.

7. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one motor of the drive arrangement is operable to supply in a range of 50 kW to 300 kW mechanical drive power to the at least one Magnus-type rotor when the propulsion system is employed to propel the aquatic vessel.

8. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one Magnus-type rotor includes one or more ventilation blades (136) and/or plurality of apertures (134) allowing exchange of the upward movement of air and/or at least one service opening at an upper region (140) thereof.

9. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first bearing arrangement includes at least two sets of roller bearings (172a) wherein the sets of roller bearings have their axes of rotation angularly disposed so as to enable pivoting of the at least one Magnus-type rotor in operation about the first bearing arrangement, but substantially hindering lateral movement of the at least one Magnus-type rotor relative to the support arrangement.

10. A method of installing a propulsion system according to claim 1 into an aquatic vessel, characterized in that the propulsion system includes at least one Magnus-type rotor including a cylindrical body, which Magnus-type rotor includes a ventilation arrangement (132) in the upper region of the rotor for enabling an within the at least one Magnus-type rotor for ventilating and cooling the drive arrangement and/or other internal components and which rotor is operable to rotate about a corresponding substantially upright axis, a drive arrangement for rotating the at least one Magnus-type rotor, and a control arrangement for controlling the drive arrangement for varying rates of rotation of the at least one Magnus-type rotor, wherein the method includes:

(i) installing or retrofitting a foundation onto a deck region of the aquatic vessel;

(ii) installing or retrofitting onto the foundation a support structure including a first bearing arrangement above a second bearing arrangement, wherein the first bearing arrangement is operable to accommodate pivotal motion, and the second bearing arrangement is operable to accommodate lateral motion, and wherein the first bearing arrangement is operable substantially to bear downwardly-directed forces and the second bearing arrangement is operable substantially to bear lateral forces;

(iii) arranging lateral-restraining components of the second bearing arrangement to be in a retracted state;

(iv) lowering the at least one Magnus-type rotor onto the first and second bearing arrangements disposed in association with the support arrangement, so that the at least one Magnus-type rotor is operable to rotate about the support arrangement; and

(v) arranging for the second bearing arrangement to be in a non-retracted state so as to engage onto a lower end of the Magnus-type rotor.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the method includes coupling at least one motor of the drive arrangement between the at least one Magnus-type rotor and the support arrangement for rotating in operation at least one Magnus-type rotor relative to the support arrangement, wherein the at least one Magnus-type rotor includes a hollow region therein, and is rotationally supported onto a support arrangement which extends into the hollow region, and at least one motor of the drive arrangement for rotating the at least one Magnus-type rotor is included in the hollow region and lies outside the support arrangement, wherein the at least one motor is accessible for maintenance.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the method includes engaging the second bearing arrangement by pivotally and/or laterally and/or radially moving a configuration of bearing wheels from a retracted state to an engaged state, wherein the bearing wheels engage onto a lower end of the at least one Magnus-type rotor.

13. A propulsion system (102) according to claim 1 for an aquatic vessel (100), wherein the propulsion system includes at least one Magnus-type rotor (108) which is operable to rotate about a corresponding substantially upright axis, a drive arrangement (147) for rotating the at least one Magnus-type rotor, and a control arrangement (150) for controlling the drive arrangement for varying rates of rotation of the at least one Magnus-type rotor, characterized in that a support arrangement (118) is elongate and includes a lower portion which is supported onto a foundation (112) on a deck region (110) of the aquatic vessel.

14. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that a first bearing arrangement (172) is operable to bear a majority of a weight of the at least one Magnus-type rotor, and a second bearing arrangement (176) is operable to restrain lateral movement of the lower end of the support arrangement, such that the at least one Magnus-type rotor is operable to be able to pivot about the first bearing arrangement.

15. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the at least one Magnus-type rotor includes a hollow region (116) therein, and is rotationally supported onto the support arrangement which extends into the hollow region, and at least one motor (148) of the drive arrangement for rotating the at least one Magnus-type rotor is included in the hollow region and lies outside the support arrangement, wherein the at least one motor is accessible for maintenance.

16. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the second bearing arrangement includes a configuration of resiliently-mounted bearing wheels (186) which are retractable for enabling the Magnus-type rotor to be installed onto and removed from the support arrangement.

17. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the configuration of resiliently-mounted bearing wheels includes one or more wheels or rollers which are rotatably mounted onto adjustable arms (188).

18. A propulsion system as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the first bearing arrangement includes two sets of roller bearings (172a) wherein the sets of roller bearings have their axes of rotation angularly disposed so as to enable pivoting of the at least one Magnus-type rotor in operation about the first bearing arrangement, but substantially hindering lateral movement of the at least one Magnus-type rotor relative to the support arrangement.