Arrangement and method for turning a propulsion unit

• US 6,688,927 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Abb Oy (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Aarnivuo, Jussi
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vasudeva, Ajay
• Application Number:
  US10/192,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20020197918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 114/144.B, 114/144.E, 114/144.RE, 440/6, 440/53, 440/58, 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

The present invention relates to a propeller drive arrangement and a method for moving and steering a vessel. The arrangement comprises an azimuthing propulsion unit and operating equipment for turning said azimuthing propulsion unit to steer the vessel. The operating equipment comprises an electric motor for rotating said propulsion unit by means of a mechanical power transmission machinery connected to said electric motor. A power unit supplies electric power to said electric motor. A control unit controls the operation of said electric motor by controlling said power unit. The arrangement also comprises a sensor device for detecting the rotational position of said azimuthing propulsion unit. A control unit is arranged to process steering command information from a control means and turning position information from said sensor device and to control the operation of said electric motor on the basis of this processing.

Claims

1. A propeller drive arrangement for moving and steering a vessel traveling in water, which arrangement comprises an azimuthing propulsion unit, which comprises a pod positionable outside said vessel, a first electric motor positioned inside said pod, for rotating a propeller connected to said pod, and a shaft means connected to said pod for supporting said pod in a rotatable manner from a hull of said vessel,

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

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

a power supply unit for supplying electric power to said second electric motor

a control unit for controlling the operation of said second electric motor by controlling said power supply unit

a sensor means functionally connected to said control unit for detecting the rotational position of said azimuthing propulsion unit, wherein the sensor means detects the rotational positional position of the azimuthing pod in relation to the hull of the vehicle,

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

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

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

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

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

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, characterized in that said brake means is a friction brake.

7. A propeller drive arrangement as defined in claim 5, characterized in that said brake means is a magnetic brake.

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

said vessel is moved using an azimuthing propulsion unit comprising a pod positionable outside said vessel, and a first electric motor positioned within said pod for rotating a propeller arranged at said pod, and a shaft unit connected to said pod for supporting, in a rotatable manner, said pod from a hull of said vessel

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

detecting the rotational position of the azimuthing propulsion unit in relation to the hull of the vessel by means of a sensor means connected functionally to a control unit, wherein the sensor means detects the rotational positional position of the azimuthing pod in relation to the hull of the vehicle,

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

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

gear rim, a pinion gear or a worm arrangement arranged to co-operate with said gear rim and a gearing arranged between said arrangement and said second electric motor.

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, the turning speed of said azimuthing propulsion unit 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 and maintaining the turning position thereof by means of a brake device controlled by said AC inverter.

12. 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.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, characterized in processing said steering command and said position information in said control unit by means of a microprocessor.

14. A method as defined in claim 12, characterized in processing said steering command and said position information in said control unit by means of a power control unit.

15. 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.

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

an azimuthing propulsion unit, which comprises a pod positionable outside said vessel, a first electric motor positioned inside said pod for rotating a propeller connected to said pod, and a shaft connected to said pod for supporting said pod in a rotatable manner from a hull of said vessel;

an operating unit for turning said azimuthing propulsion unit in relation to said hull of said vessel for steering said vessel in accordance with a steering command originating from the vessel'"'"'s steering control device, characterized in that said operating unit comprises a second electric motor for turning said azimuthing propulsion unit via mechanical power transmission equipment connected to said electric motor;

a power supply unit for supplying electric power to said second electric motor;

a control unit for controlling the operation of said second electric motor by controlling said power supply unit;

a sensor unit functionally connected to said control unit for detecting the rotational position of said azimuthing propulsion unit, wherein the sensor unit detects the rotational positional position of the azimuthing pod in relation to the hull of the vehicle;

said control unit being arranged for both to process a steering command originating from said steering control device and rotational position information originating from said sensor unit, and to control the operation of the second electric motor on the basis of said processing.