Arrangement and method for turning a propulsion unit

• US 6,431,928 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abb Oy (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Azipod OY (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Aarnivuo, Jussi
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vasudeva, Ajay
• Application Number:
  US09/786,356
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 114/144.B, 114/144.E, 114/144.RE, 140/6, 140/53, 140/58, 701/21
• US Class Current: 440/58
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2005/1258 with electric power transmission to propellers, i.e. with integrated electric propeller motors
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/17 by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/24 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 5/125 movably mounted with respect to hull, e.g. adjustable in direction , e.g. podded azimuthing thrustersoutboard units or Z-drives B63H20/00; movably mounted for steering purposes only, rudders carrying propellers B63H25/42
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles

Abstract

A propeller drive arrangement for moving and steering a vessel traveling in water. The propeller drive arrangement includes an azimuthing propulsion unit, a power supply, a control unit, and a sensor means. An operating means is provided for turning the azimuthing propulsion unit it relation to the hull of the vessel for steering the vessel in accordance with a steering command controlled by the vessel'"'"'s steering control device. The operating means also includes a second electric motor for turning the azimuthing propulsion unit via a mechanical power transmission that is connected to the second electric motor. The sensor means is connected to the control unit and used for detecting the rotational position of the azimuthing propulsion unit. The control unit is configured so that both the steering command information originating from the steering control device and the rotational position information originating from the sensor means can be processed.

Claims

1. A propeller drive arrangement for moving and steering a vessel traveling in water, which arrangement comprises:

an azimuthing propulsion unit (6), which comprises a pod (1) positionable outside said vessel below sea level, a first electric motor (2) positioned inside said pod, for rotating a propeller (5) connected to said pod, and a shaft means (8) connected to said pod for supporting said pod in a rotatable manner from a hull of said vessel (9),

operating means for turning said azimuthing propulsion unit (6) in relation to said hull of said vessel (9) for steering said vessel in accordance with a steering command originating from a vessel'"'"'s steering control device (38),

characterized in that said operating means comprises a second electric motor (20) for turning said azimuthing propulsion unit (6) via a mechanical power transmission equipment (40) connected to said second electric motor, the arrangement further comprising

a power supply unit (30) for supplying electric power to said second electric motor (20),

a control unit (34) for controlling the operation of said second electric motor by controlling said power supply unit (30),

a sensor means (16) functionally connected (18) to said control unit (34) for detecting the rotational position of said azimuthing propulsion unit (6),

said control unit (34) being, arranged for processing both a steering command information originating from said steering control device (38) and rotational position information originating from said sensor means (16) and to control the operation of the second electric motor (2) on the basis of said processing.

2. A propeller drive arrangement as defined in claim 1, characterized in that a power transmission equipment comprises a 360°

gear rim (10) arranged at said shaft means, a pinion gear or worm arrangement (12) arranged for co-operation with said gear rim, and a gearing (22) arranged between said arrangement and said second electric motor (20).

3. A propeller drive arrangement as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said power supply unit (30) comprises an AC inverter.

4. A propeller drive arrangement as defined in claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a brake means (26), and a functional connection between said brake means and said AC inverter for transferring control commands to the brake means (26).

5. A propeller drive arrangement as defined in claim 4, characterized in that said brake means is a brake distinct from said second electric motor.

6. A propeller drive arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein the brake means is a friction brake.

7. A propeller drive arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein the brake means is a magnetic brake.

8. A method for moving and steering a vessel traveling in water, in which method

said vessel (9) is moved using an azimuthing propulsion unit (6) comprising a pod (1) positioned outside said vessel below sea level, a first electric motor (2) positioned within said pod for rotating a propeller (4) arranged at said pod, and a shaft unit (8) connected to said pod for supporting, in a rotatable manner, said pod to the hull of said vessel (9),

said azimuthing propulsion unit (6) is turned in relation to said hull of said vessel (9) for steering the vessel in accordance with a steering command given by the vessel'"'"'s steering control device (38), characterized in

detecting a rotational position of the azimuthing propulsion unit (6) by means of a sensor means (16) connected functionally (18) to a control unit (34),

processing, in said control unit (34), steering command information from said control device (38) and rotational position information from said sensor means (16), turning said azimuthing propulsion unit (6) by means of a mechanical power transmission machinery connected to a second electric motor (20) on the basis of said processing performed in said control unit (34), and supplying electric power to said second electric motor (20) in response to said processing performed by said control unit (34).

9. A method as defined in patent claim 8, characterized in turning said azimuthing propulsion unit (6) by means of a joint operation of a 360°

gear rim (10), a pinion gear or a worm arrangement (12) arranged to co-operate with said gear rim and a gearing (22) arranged between said arrangement and said second electric motor (20).

10. A method as defined in claim 8, characterized in supplying electric power for said second electric motor via an AC inverter, and regulating, in a required manner, a turning speed of said azimuthing propulsion unit (6) by a corresponding regulation of the electric supply provided by said AC inverter.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, characterized in halting the rotation of said azimuthing propulsion unit (6) by means of a brake device (26) controlled by said AC inverter (30).

12. A method as defined in claim 10, characterized in maintaining the turning position of said azimuthing propulsion unit (6) by means of a brake device (26) controlled by an AC inverter (30).

13. A method as defined in claim 8, characterized in processing said steering command and said position information in said control unit by means of a data-processing device.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the data-processing device is a microprocessor.

15. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the data-processing device is a power control unit.

16. A method as defined in claim 8, characterized in braking the rotation of said azimuthing unit by means of an electric generator, and feeding the electric energy generated into the electricity network.