Portable dynamic positioning system with self-contained electric thrusters

• US 6,848,382 B1
• Filed: 10/28/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joannes Raymond Mari Bekker
• Original Assignee: Joannes Raymond Mari Bekker
• Inventors: Bekker, Joannes Raymond Mari
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Andrew D.
• Application Number:
  US10/695,098
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 114/150, 114/151, 114/144.B, 114/264, 440/1, 440/6, 701/21, 701/116, 405/201, 405/209
• US Class Current: 114/144.00B
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/15 for monitoring environmental variables, e.g. wave height or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/00 Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2020/003 Arrangements of two, or more outboard propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/045 making use of satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/17 by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 23/24 electric dynamo-electric machines H02K
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/04 automatic, e.g. reacting to compass
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/42 Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements by jets B63H25/46; Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers

Abstract

The system is an integrated and self contained electric thruster system integral with a dynamic positioning control system for dynamic positioning of any waterborne vessel having a hull with at least two sides and a deck connecting the sides, at least two azimuthing thrusters, each removably mounted to the vessel, at least two self-contained electric power units removably secured to the deck, one for each thruster, at least one dynamic positioning computer connected to each of the self contained electric power units, at least one motion reference sensor connected to the dynamic positioning computer to correct reference position signals for motion of the vessel, at least one heading sensor, and at least one sensor that is either a position reference sensor connected to the dynamic positioning computer, environmental sensors connected to the dynamic positioning computer, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. An integrated and self contained diesel electric thruster system integral with a dynamic positioning control system for dynamic positioning of any waterborne vessel having a hull with at least two sides and a deck connecting the sides, comprising:

a. at least two azimuthing thrusters, each removably mounted to the vessel, comprising;

i. a skid removably secured to the deck;

ii. an upper thruster housing, removably connected to the skid, containing steering gear with electric slewing drive and electrical steering angle feedback sensors and a multi-conductor slip ring assembly;

iii. a stern moveably connected with a connector to the skid;

iv. a strut connected to the stem;

v. an electric pod connected to the strut;

vi. wherein the pod comprises a housing and an electric motor contained within the housing, a drive shaft connected to the electric motor on one end, at least one propeller with nozzle connected to the drive shaft; and

an electric power cable connecting on one end to the multi-conductor slip ring assembly and on the other end to the electric motor;

b. at least two self-contained diesel electric power units removably secured to the deck, one for each thruster, comprising;

i. a housing comprising a diesel engine with a fuel day tank, a cooling system for the engine, an exhaust system for the engine, an alternator for the engine, electrical control system, an electric starter, a battery, and the diesel engine is connected to an electrical generator with a frequency converter drive;

ii an electric power cable and an electrical control cable, each having a first and second end, wherein each the first ends are secured to the diesel electric power unit and the other ends are secured to the thruster skid;

c. at least one dynamic positioning computer connected to each of the self contained diesel electric power units;

d. at least one motion reference sensor connected to the dynamic positioning computer to correct reference position signals for motion of the vessel; and

e. at least one heading sensor connected to the dynamic positioning computer and at least one sensor selected from group consisting of position reference sensors connected to the dynamic positioning computer;

environmental sensors connected to the dynamic positioning computer; and

combinations thereof.

2. The systems of claim 1, wherein one or more hydraulic cylinders at the connector are used to tilt the stern upwards to a stowed position of the thruster, whereby the thruster is completely out of the water.

3. The systems of claim 1, wherein the slewing drive for azimuthing is a hydraulic slewing drive.

4. The systems of claim 1, wherein the position reference sensors are selected from the group consisting of global positioning system (GPS) sensors;

hydro-acoustic sensors;

fan beam laser sensors;

Artimis system signal sensors;

vertical taut wire system sensors, horizontal taut wire system sensors;

differential and absolute reference positioning system (DARPS) sensors.

5. The systems of claim 1, wherein the environmental sensors are selected from the group consisting of wind sensors, current sensor and combinations thereof.

6. The systems of claim 1, wherein the dynamic positioning computer further comprises at least one uninterruptible power source connected to the computer.

7. The systems of claim 1, wherein the diesel engine ranges from 500 horsepower to 3000 horsepower.

8. The systems of claim 1, wherein the motor is a variable speed AC electric motor.

9. The systems of claim 1, wherein the motor is a variable speed DC electric motor and the motor is driven by a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) drive.

10. The systems of claim 1, wherein the motor is reversible.

11. The systems of claim 1, wherein the connector is a hinge.

12. The systems of claim 1, wherein the stern is bolted to the skid.

13. The systems of claim 1, wherein the stern further comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder connected to the stern to raise or lower the stem.

14. The systems of claim 1, wherein the thruster is mounted to the deck of the vessel.

15. The systems of claim 1, wherein the thruster is mounted to the side of the hull above the water line of the vessel.

16. The systems of claim 1, comprising at least two thrusters.

17. A waterborne vessel comprising an integrated and self contained diesel electric thruster system integral with a dynamic position control system for dynamic positioning of any waterborne vessel having a hull with at least two sides and a deck connect the sides, comprising:

a. at least two azimuthing thrusters, each removably mounted to the vessel, comprising;

i. a skid removably secured to the deck;

ii. an upper thruster housing, removably connected to the skid, containing steering gear with electric slewing drive and electrical steering angle feedback sensors and a multi-conductor slip ring assembly;

iii. a stern moveably connected with a connector to the skid;

iv. a strut connected to the stem;

v. an electric pod connected to the strut;

vi. wherein the pod comprises a housing and an electric motor contained within the housing;

a drive shaft connected to the electric motor on one end, at least one propeller with nozzle connected to the drive shaft; and

an electric power cable connecting on one end to the multi-conductor slip ring assembly and on the other end to the electric motor;

b. at least two self-contained diesel electric power units removably secured to the deck, one for each thruster, comprising;

i. a housing comprising a diesel engine with a fuel day tank, a cooling system for the engine, an exhaust system for the engine, an alternator for the engine, electrical control system, an electric starter, a battery, and the diesel engine is connected to an electrical generator with a frequency converter drive;

ii. an electric power cable and an electrical control cable, each having a first and second end, wherein each the first ends are secured to the diesel electric power unit and the other ends are secured to the thruster skid;

c. at least dynamic positioning computer connected to each of the self contained diesel electric power units;

d. at least one motion reference sensor connected to the dynamic positioning computer to correct reference position signals for motion of the vessel; and

e. at least one heading sensor connected to the dynamic positioning computer and at least one sensor selected from group consisting of position reference sensors connected to the dynamic positioning computer;

environmental sensors connected to the dynamic positioning computer; and

combinations thereof.

18. An integrated and self contained gas turbine electric thruster system integral with a dynamic positioning control system for dynamic positioning of any waterborne vessel having a hull with at least two sides and a deck connecting the sides, comprising:

a. at least two azimuthing thrusters, each removably mounted to the vessel, comprising;

i. a skid removably secured to the deck;

ii. an upper thruster housing, removably connected to the skid, containing steering gear with electric slewing drive and electrical steering angle feedback sensors and a multi-conductor slip ring assembly;

iii. a stern moveably connected with a connector to th skid;

iv. a strut connected to the stem;

v. an electric pod connected to the strut;

vi. wherein the pod comprises a housing and an electric motor contained within the housing;

a drive shaft connected to the electric motor on one end, at least one propeller with nozzle connected to the drive shaft; and

an electric power cable connecting on one end to the multi-conductor slip ring assembly and on the other end to the electric motor;

b. at least two self-contained gas turbine electric power units removably secured to the deck, one for each thruster, comprising;

i. a housing comprising a gas turbine with a fuel day tank, a cooling system for the gas turbine, an exhaust system for the gas turbine, an alternator for the gas turbine, electrical control system, an electric starter, a battery, and the gas turbine is connected to an electrical generator with a frequency converter drive;

ii. an electric power cable and an electrical control cable, each having a first and second end, wherein each the first ends are secured to the gas turbine electric power unit and the other ends are secured to the thruster skid;

c. at least one dynamic positioning computer connected to each of the self contained gas turbine electric power units;

d. at least one motion reference sensor connected to the dynamic positioning computer to correct reference position signals for motion of the vessel; and

c. at least one heading sensor connected to the dynamic positioning computer and at least one sensor selected from each group consisting of position reference sensors connected to the dynamic positioning computer;

environmental sensors connected to the dynamic positioning computer; and

combinations thereof.