A TUGBOAT HYDRAULIC GENSET

Abstract

A sea vessel (1), such as a tugboat or a fishing vessel, including a hydraulic winch (10) connected to a hydraulic system (100), and at least one main engine with a main engine crankshaft (22) connected to a propeller or a thruster. The hydraulic system (100) comprising: a first, hydraulically powered genset (106) including a hydraulic motor and a generator, at least one hydraulic pump (105) connected to said crankshaft (22). The hydraulic pump (105) is configured for driving said first genset (106) to generate electricity, and the hydraulic pump (105) is configured for driving said hydraulic winch (10), and first valve element (102) are used for selectively directing hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic winch (10) or to said first genset (106) of said hydraulic system.

Claims

1. A sea vessel comprising: a hydraulic winch connected to a hydraulic system, and at least one main engine with a main engine crankshaft connected to a propeller or a thruster, said hydraulic system comprising: a first, hydraulically powered genset including a hydraulic motor and a generator; at least one hydraulic pump connected to said crankshaft, said hydraulic pump being configured for driving said first genset to generate electricity; and said hydraulic pump being configured for driving said hydraulic winch; and a first valve element for selectively directing hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic winch or to said first genset of said hydraulic system.

2. A sea vessel according to claim 1, the sea vessel further comprising a second genset including a diesel motor and a generator, for delivering electricity to the sea vessel.

3. A sea vessel according to claim 2, wherein the first genset is configured for generating power up to 100 kW.

4. A sea vessel according to claim 1, wherein the first genset is the only genset on the sea vessel.

5. A sea vessel according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic system comprises a number of fluid connecting pipes connected to said hydraulic pump, one pipe being connected to a hydraulic winch located near the bow of said sea vessel.

6. A sea vessel according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic winch operates an anchor or a tug line.

7. A sea vessel according to claim 1, including additional hydraulic motors, wherein the hydraulic pump is disconnectable from said hydraulic winch and connectable to one or more of said additional hydraulic motors, such as by further valve element(s).

8. A method of operating the sea vessel according to claim 1, comprising: changing the position of said first valve element(s) between a first operation mode and a second operation mode, wherein said first operation mode includes directing said hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to said hydraulic winch; and wherein said second operation mode includes directing said hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to said first genset.

9. A method of operating the vessel according to claim 6, comprising: directing said hydraulic fluid to said one or more additional hydraulic motors after operation of said hydraulic winch is halted.

10. A sea vessel hydraulic system connectable to a hydraulic winch of a sea vessel, where the sea vessel comprises at least one main engine with a main engine crankshaft connected to a propeller or a thruster, said hydraulic system comprising: a first, hydraulically powered genset for generating electricity and connectable to an electrical power distributor of the sea vessel; said first genset including a hydraulic motor and a generator, at least one hydraulic pump connectable to said crankshaft; a hydraulic fluid piping connecting said hydraulic pump with said first genset; said hydraulic pump being connectable to said hydraulic winch for driving the hydraulic winch; and one or more first valve element(s) for selectively directing hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic pump to said hydraulic winch for said driving of the winch or to said first genset of said hydraulic system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art by the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a sea vessel according to the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a partial view of the hydraulic system of the sea vessel.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a partial view of the hydraulic system of the sea vessel.

[0047] Various embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to the figures. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Like elements will, thus, not be described in detail with respect to the description of each figure. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments.

[0048] An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other embodiments even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitly described. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts.

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of a sea vessel of the invention, more specifically a tugboat 1. The tugboat 1 includes a hydraulic winch 10 connected to a hydraulic system 100 (shown in FIG. 2), and one main engine 20 with a main engine crankshaft 22 connected to a propeller or a thruster (not shown in the figure). The sea vessel includes a first genset 106 and second genset 50, such as a diesel genset, including a diesel motor and a generator, for delivering electricity to the sea vessel. The hydraulic winch 10 located on the deck of the sea vessel may be used for operating an anchor or a tug line.

[0050] A tugboat will typically have a main winch on the foredeck (bow) and a secondary winch on the aft deck to enable to carry out its main tasks efficiently: braking or steering the tugboat. The towing winches are adapted to pull between 1 to 300 tonnes. The main winch on the foredeck and a towing winch on the aft deck would be a hydraulic winch having a single drum or two drums dependent the towing requirement.

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the hydraulic system 100 comprises a number of fluid connecting pipes 101, 103, 104, 107. One fluid connecting pipe 104 is connected to said hydraulic pump 105, one pipe 107 being connected with to a hydraulic winch 10 located near the bow 8 of said vessel 1.

[0052] The first genset 106 is in the shown embodiment configured for generating power up to 100 kW and in the shown embodiment of the invention, the first genset 106 is the only hydraulic genset on the sea vessel. The hydraulic genset can provide 80 kW of power (electricity). This replaces one of the existing auxiliary genset. The hydraulic genset will power the hotel load of the tugboat. It will be connected to an energy management system 16 of the sea vessel. The hydraulic genset can also charge batteries of the sea vessel as required.

[0053] Referring now to FIG. 2, a view of the first hydraulic winch system is shown, where the hydraulic system 100 comprises a first genset, such as a hydraulically powered genset 106, including a hydraulic motor and a generator. A hydraulic pump 105 is connected to the crankshaft 22 and the hydraulic pump 105 is configured for driving said first genset 106 to generate electricity to power the sea vessel with electricity. Furthermore, the hydraulic pump 105 is configured for driving said hydraulic winch 10 located on the sea vessel, preferably on the deck of the sea vessel as shown in FIG. 1.

[0054] Hydraulic fluid from the winch hydraulic pumps are diverted to a hydraulic motor of the hydraulic genset to turn the generator of the hydraulic genset. The advantage is that the hydraulic system typically is dimensioned due to safe requirements specified by official authority. This means that adding a hydraulic genset to the hydraulic system does not affect the performance of the hydraulic system.

[0055] A first valve element 102 is used for selectively directing the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic winch 10 or to the first genset 106 of said hydraulic system. The first valve element 102 is depicted as a three-way valve being operable either remotely by an energy management system 16 of the sea vessel or by an operator. The hydraulic genset can also charge batteries of the sea vessel as required. The hydraulic pump 105 is connectable to one or more of additional hydraulic motors 70, such as by further valve element(s) 108.

[0056] A second valve element 108 is used for selectively directing the hydraulic fluid to the other hydraulic mechanisms 70 of the hydraulic system. The second valve element 108 is depicted as a three-way valve.

[0057] The operator of the sea vessel is able to switch from operating the hydraulic winch 10 to operating the hydraulic powered genset 106. The first step involves changing the position of the first valve element 102 between a first operation mode and a second operation mode. The first operation mode includes directing the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump 105 to said hydraulic winch 10 and the second operation mode includes directing the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump 105 to the first genset 106.

[0058] It is possible for the operator of the sea vessel to direct the hydraulic fluid to said one or more additional hydraulic motors 70 after operation of the hydraulic winch 10 is halted.

[0059] Referring now to FIG. 3, a view of the hydraulic winch system 100′ is shown similar to the hydraulic winch system 100 shown in FIG. 2. The hydraulic system 100′ comprises a first genset 106, such as a hydraulically powered genset 106, including a hydraulic motor and a generator. A hydraulic pump 105 is connected to the crankshaft 22 and the hydraulic pump 105 is configured for driving the first genset 106 to generate electricity to power the sea vessel with electricity.

[0060] A first valve element 102 is used for selectively directing the hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic winch 10 and another first valve element 102 is used for selectively directing the hydraulic fluid to the first genset 106 of said hydraulic system 100′. Each of the first valve elements 102 is depicted as a two-way valve being operable either remotely by an energy management system 16 of the sea vessel or manually by an operator. The hydraulic pump 105 may be connectable to one or more of additional hydraulic motors 70 by using the further valve element(s) (not shown).