Rudder bearing

Abstract

A bearing element is provided which has at least three individual annular segments which are each combined to form a homogeneous, inherently fixed bearing element. The individual annular segments each abut against at least two further annular segments and are interconnected by connecting means.

Claims

1. A rudder bearing for mounting a rudder stock or a rudder trunk of a rudder of a watercraft, wherein the rudder bearing is configured as a radial bearing or as an axial bearing, comprising: a ring-shaped, segmented bearing element having at least three separate annular segments, each annular segment having two lateral surfaces, an inner arcuate surface configured for sliding contact with a rotating element, and at least one recess in each of the two lateral surfaces; each lateral surface abuts a respective adjacent one of the at least three annular segments; wherein the ring-shaped, segmented bearing element further comprises separate elastically compressible counterparts; wherein the at least three annular segments are detachably interconnected by the counterparts to form a homogeneous, inherently fixed bearing element; wherein each counterpart has a central web and two end heads, one end head at a respective one of opposing ends of the central web, wherein the end heads have a greater width compared with the central web; wherein the counterparts are configured to produce a connection between the at least three annular segments due to the elasticity of the counterparts; wherein a first one of the two end heads of each counterpart is configured for engagement with one of the at least one recesses of a respective first annular segment of the at least three annular segments and wherein a second one of the two end heads of each counterpart is configured for engagement with one of the at least one recesses of a respective second annular segment of the at least three annular segments, wherein the respective first annular segment and the respective second annular segment abut against each other; wherein the at least one recess of each lateral surface extends in a respective inward circumferential direction and entirely through a respective radial thickness of each lateral surface, the at least one recess of each lateral surface having, in a respective area adjacent to each lateral surface, a respective narrow section which broadens in the respective inward circumferential direction to a respective broadening section which forms a respective end region of the at least one recess of each lateral surface, a respective groove or indentation extending away from each narrow section; wherein a cavity or an aperture is provided in the central web and/or in the end heads of each counterpart to increase the elasticity of each counterpart so that each counterpart can be compressed during insertion into a respective corresponding one of the at least one recesses of the respective first annular segment or of the respective second annular segment; and wherein in an interconnected state, movement of any one of the at least three annular-segments in a radial direction of the bearing element is prevented by the connection between the at least three annular segments produced by the counterparts.

2. The rudder bearing according to claim 1, wherein the bearing element comprises 5 to 100 annular segments.

3. The rudder bearing according to claim 1, wherein the connection is a latching connection.

4. The rudder bearing according to claim 1, wherein each annular segment has an outer arcuate surface.

5. The rudder bearing according to claim 4, wherein the two lateral surfaces of each annular segment run at an angle with respect to one another in such a manner that the inner arcuate surface is shorter than the outer arcuate surface, and wherein one of the two lateral surfaces runs approximately at a right angle to the inner and outer arcuate surfaces.

6. The rudder bearing according to claim 1, wherein one or several of the at least three annular segments of the bearing element comprise a material which comprises a solid lubricant or a non-metallic material having elastic properties.

7. The rudder bearing according to claim 1 wherein the rotating element is a second bearing element which is movable relative to the first bearing element.

8. The rudder bearing according to claim 1, wherein the rudder bearing is configured as a self-lubricating bearing.

9. The rudder bearing according to claim 1, wherein the bearing element comprises 10 to 65 annular segments.

10. The rudder bearing according to claim 1, wherein the bearing element comprises 15 to 40 annular segments.

11. The rudder bearing according to claim 1, wherein the bearing element has a high permissible surface pressure of at least 75 N/mm.sup.2.

12. The rudder bearing according to claim 1, wherein the bearing element has a high permissible surface pressure of at least 90 N/mm.sup.2.

Description

(1) The invention is explained further with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. In the figures, schematically:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a rudder stock with rudder trunk and an upper carrier bearing,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the carrier bearing from FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a plan viewed of a segmented bearing ring of the carrier bearing from FIGS. 1 and 2,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of an annular segment of the bearing ring from FIG. 3,

(6) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a segmented bearing bush of the carrier bearing from FIGS. 1 and 2,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a side view of the bearing bush from FIG. 5,

(8) FIG. 6A shows a detailed view of the bearing bush from FIG. 6,

(9) FIG. 7 shows a perspective individual view of an annular segment of the bearing bush from FIGS. 5 and 6 and

(10) FIG. 8 shows a perspective individual view of the counterpart of the bearing bush from FIGS. 5 and 6.

(11) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a rudder stock 50 around which a rudder trunk 51 is arranged. In the mounted state the lower rudder stock end 50a and the lower trunk end 51a are inserted in a rudder blade (not shown here) and the lower rudder stock end 50a is connected to the rudder blade. A carrier bearing 10 is arranged on the upper rudder stock end 50b located in the hull in the area of the steering engine (not shown here). In principle, rudder arrangements without rudder trunks can also have carrier bearings.

(12) FIG. 2 shows the carrier bearing 10 from FIG. 1 in a detailed sectional view. The carrier bearing 10 comprises a bearing housing 11, which in turn consists of an upper housing cover 11a and a lower housing base body 11b. The housing cover 11a and the housing base body 11b can, for example, be made of steel. The housing base body 11b is configured in the manner of a cylindrical sleeve, on the upper outer edge zone whereof there is provided a peripheral fastening section 111b protruding outwards by approximately 90°, which is configured as a flange. Holes or through-holes are provided at regular intervals in the fastening section 111b, through which the housing base body 11b is connected to the hull 52 by means of bolts 12. A radial bearing 13 is provided in the interior of the housing base body 11b, which bearing comprises a bearing bush 13a and a rudder stock sleeve or a rudder stock cover 13b. The bearing bush 13a and the rudder stock sleeve 13b sitting firmly on the rudder stock 50 form the two bearing partners (bearing elements) of the radial bearing 13 which are movable relative to one another. The cylindrical bearing bush 13a abuts with its outer jacket on the inner jacket of the housing base body 11b and can be connected to the housing base body 11b, for example, by means of thermal expansion, also called “freezing”. A peripheral groove 14 is provided on the upper side of the fastening section 111b of the housing base body 11b and adjoining the housing cover 11a, inside which groove a shaft sealing ring 14a is arranged. The shaft sealing ring 14a or the groove 14 are sealed towards the top by an annular cover 14b which is connected to the fastening section 111b by means of bolts or screws 14c.

(13) Furthermore, the carrier bearing 10 comprises an axial bearing 15 that comprises a first annular disk 15a and a second annular disk 15b abutting against the first annular disk 15a. The first and the second annular disk 15a, 15b thus form a bearing pair of two bearing elements of the axial bearing 15 which can be moved with respect to one another. The first annular disk 15a is connected to the housing base body 11b by means of a plurality of peripherally arranged screws 16a whereas the second annular disk 15b is connected to the housing cover 11a by means of a plurality of screws 16b arranged in a peripherally distributed manner. Since the housing cover 11a is firmly connected to the rudder stock 50, this co-rotates with the rudder stock 50. Accordingly, the second annular disk 15b also co-rotates upon rotation of the rudder stock 50 and said disk also rotates relative to the first fixed annular disk 15a. The housing cover 11a, the housing base body 11b, the two annular disks 15a, 15b, the bearing bush 13a and also the rudder stock sleeve 13b are all arranged coaxially to the rudder stock 50.

(14) FIGS. 3 and 4 show the first annular disk 15a of the axial bearing 15 of the carrier bearing 10 in plan view. It can be seen that the bearing element (first annular disk) 15a is composed of a plurality of individual annular segments 17. The annular segments 17 are configured as annular segments. The annular segments 17 are formed from a plastic, which comprises a solid lubricant. The other corresponding bearing element 15b (second annular disk) of the axial bearing 15 is preferably formed from stainless steel. A particularly good material combination is thus obtained for a self-lubricating bearing. The bearing ring 15a shown in FIG. 3 is composed overall of sixty individual annular segments 17 which are joined together to form a homogeneous bearing ring. The individual annular segments 17 have an outer edge 171, an inner edge 172 and two lateral edges 173, 174. Further outer edges are not provided. The inner and outer edge 172, 171 are configured to be slightly arcuate, although in other embodiments these can also run rectilinearly. The lateral edges 173, 174 run substantially rectilinearly or are aligned rectilinearly. The lateral edges 173, 174 of the annular segments 17 do not run parallel to one another but at an angle α. In the bearing ring 15a shown in FIG. 3 all the annular segments 17 are configured identically. However, in particular in a different embodiment the angle α between the individual annular segments of a bearing ring or a bearing element can be varied. In particular, such annular segments having substantially parallel running lateral edges can be used. The annular segments 17 are arranged in such a manner that their inner and outer edges 171, 172 end substantially flush at respectively adjacent annular segments. The length of the individual annular segments 17 is identical in each case.

(15) On their lateral edge 174 the annular segments 17 each have two counterparts 175 which are T-shaped. Two corresponding recesses 176 are provided opposite on the other lateral edge 173, which recesses can each receive a T-shaped counterpart 175. In relation to the longitudinal direction, respectively one recess 176 and one counterpart 175 are arranged at the same height. The counterparts 175 and the recess 176 are arranged distributed uniformly over their respective lateral edge 173, 174 with regard to their distance from one another and their distance to the outer edges 172, 173. The annular segments 17 adjoin another annular segment 17, therefore two in total, with their lateral edges 173, 174, with the counterparts 175 of a first annular segment each engaging in corresponding recesses 176 of a second annular segment, whereas counterparts 175 of a third annular segment engage in the recesses 176 of the first annular segment. Due to the T-shaped formation of the counterparts 175, these have a narrow web 1751 protruding from the lateral edge 174, which is adjoined by a wider transverse web 1752. Due to the broadening the regions of the transverse web 1752 facing the lateral edge 174 form undercuts 1753. The recesses 176 accordingly have a narrow point 1761 running inwardly from the lateral edge 173 and an adjoining broadening 1762. The counterparts 175 and the indentations or recesses 176 can be formed as fitting exactly or as an interference fit. In principle, a clearance fit would also be possible although this is rather not advantageous in the present case. In the annular segments 17 of the bearing ring 15a shown in FIG. 3, respectively one recess 177 or inwardly drawn section is provided on the lateral edge 173 between the two recesses 176, which recess runs parallel to the lateral edge 173. The recess 177 can run downwards through the entire annular segment or only in partial regions. In particular, the recess 177 is suitable for inserting a tool therein so that a segmented bearing ring 15a can possibly be dismantled more easily. Thus, individual annular segments 17 can be inserted into other annular segments relatively easily from above or removed from these again upwards.

(16) FIGS. 5, 6 and 6A each show the bearing bush 13a of the radial bearing 13 of the carrier bearing 10. The bearing bush 13a consists of forty individual annular segments 18, where each individual segment each abuts directly against two further annular segments 18 and are each firmly connected to this segment by means of connecting means consisting of counterparts 185 and corresponding recesses 186. Overall an inherently closed, fixed and homogeneous bearing bush is obtained, which fundamentally corresponds in its functions to those of a one-piece bearing bush. In principle, it would also be possible, alternatively or additionally, to configure the rudder stock sleeve 13b as a segmented bearing bush. Similarly to the segmented bearing ring or the annular disk from FIGS. 3 and 4, here also the annular segments 18 are formed from a plastic which comprises a solid lubricant. The rudder stock sleeve 13b with respect to which the bearing bush 13a moves relatively or conversely, is preferably formed from stainless steel. Two counterparts 185, disposed at a distance from one another, are disposed in each case between two annular segments 18, which counterparts each engage in two recesses 186, where the two recesses 186 are provided on different, i.e. adjacent annular segments 18.

(17) FIG. 7 shows a perspective individual view of an annular segment 18 and FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an individual counterpart 185. The annular segment 18 has a front outer surface 181, a front inner surface 182 and two lateral surfaces 183, 184 disposed on the narrow sides. All the surfaces 181, 182, 183, 184 are configured to be flat and are each at an angle of about 90° to their two adjacent surfaces. In this respect, the two lateral surfaces 183, 184 and the two inner or outer surfaces 181, 182 are each aligned parallel to one another. In the bearing bush 13a shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, all the annular segments 18 are formed identically. The individual annular segments 18 each abut with their lateral surfaces 183, 184 against adjacent annular segments over the entire surface. The longitudinal edges 1811, 1821 of the inner and outer front surface 181, 182 are each formed to be slightly arcuate so that all the annular segments 18 can be joined together to form a closed, circular or cylindrical bush 13a in plan view. Two recesses 186 each are provided in the lateral surfaces 183, 184, which are all four configured identically. The individual recesses 186 are each disposed at the same distance from their partner recess on both sides and are each located at about one third or two thirds of the total height of the annular segment 18. With regard to their form, they run from the lateral surface 183, 184 inwards, initially with a narrow point 1861, which broadens in the further course to a broadening 1862 which at the same time forms the end region of the recess 186. In the side views the broadening 1862 has an approximately pinhead-like shape. A groove or indentation 1863 is provided at the narrow point 1861 approximately centrally and parallel to the transverse direction of the annular segment 18. This groove 1863 is provided both in the lower and in the upper edge zone of the narrow point 1861.

(18) The counterpart 185 has a central web 1851. Adjoining both end regions of the central web 1851 when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the counterpart 185 is respectively one end head 1852 terminating the counterpart 185, which is broadened compared with the web 1851 or has a greater width. The end heads 1862 are configured in such a manner that they can each engage positively in a broadening 1862 of a recess 186. Thus, a counterpart 185 can engage in two contiguous recesses 186 of two different but adjacently disposed or contiguously disposed annular segments 18. The central web 1851 then engages in the two narrow points 1861 of the recesses 186 and in its central region in the longitudinal direction of the counterpart 185, has respectively one outwardly projecting protuberance 1853, running parallel to the outer edges, on each side. These protuberances 1853 are configured for engagement in the grooves 1863 of the recess 186. The central web 1851 consists of two parallel outer walls, between which a cavity 1854 is provided. Two further channel-shaped cavities 1855, continuous from one front side to the other, are provided inside each of the end heads 1852. As a result of forming the counterpart 185 from a material having elastic properties and/or providing the cavities 1854, 1855, the counterpart 185 has slightly elastic or resilient properties. Thus, for example, when inserting the counterpart 185 into a recess 186, the two outer side walls of the central web 1851 can be slightly compressed so that the protuberance 1853 can engage in the groove 1863. The protuberance 1853 and the groove 1863 thus together form a detachable latching connection.

REFERENCE LIST

(19) 10 Carrier bearing 11 Bearing housing 11a Housing cover 11b Housing base body 111b Fastening section 12 Bolt 13 Radial bearing 13a Bearing bush 13b Rudder stock sleeve 14 Groove 14a Shaft seal 14b Annular cover 14c Screw 15 Axial bearing 15a First annular disk 15b Second annular disk 16a, 16b Screws 17 Annular segment/bearing ring 171 Outer surface 172 Inner surface 173 Lateral surface 174 Lateral surface 175 Counterparts 1751 Web 1752 Transverse web 1753 Undercuts 176, 179 Recess 1761 Narrow point 1762 Broadening 177 Recess 18 Annular segment/bearing bush 181 Outer surface 1811 Longitudinal edge 182 Inner surface 1821 Longitudinal edge 183 Lateral surface 184 Lateral surface 185 Counterpart 1851 Central web 1852 End head 1853 Protuberance 1854, 1855 Cavity 186 Recess 1861 Narrow point 1862 Broadening 1863 Groove 50 Rudder stock 50a Lower stock end 50b Upper stock end 51 Rudder trunk 51a Lower trunk end 52 Hull