DRIVE DEVICE AND FIN STABILIZER

Abstract

A drive device of a fin stabilizer is for pivoting a stabilizer fin about its fin shaft axis. The drive device includes a drive motor with an output shaft and a transmission wherein a including an input shaft. A fixing device for fixing the stabilizer fin in a pivot position acts directly on the transmission input shaft. A coupling is for conjoint-rotation connection of the transmission input shaft to the motor output shaft disposed at least sectionally in an interior of the motor output shaft. The coupling is connected to a free end of the transmission input shaft and has a flange connected to an annular end surface of the motor output shaft.

Claims

1. A drive device of a fin stabilizer for pivoting a stabilizer fin about its fin shaft axis, the drive device comprising: a drive motor including an output shaft, and a transmission including an input shaft, the drive motor being coupled to the transmission input shaft by its motor output shaft, and the transmission having a receptacle for receiving the fin shaft such that they rotate together, and including a fixing device for fixing the stabilizer fin in a pivot position, the fixing device acting directly on the transmission input shaft, and a coupling for conjoint-rotation connection of the transmission input shaft to the motor output shaft disposed at least sectionally in an interior of the motor output shaft, the coupling being connected to a free shaft end of the transmission input shaft and having a flange connected to an annular end surface of the motor output shaft.

2. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing device is currentlessly biased in the locking direction, and the cancellation of the locking is affected by an electrically generated release force.

3. Drive The drive device according to patent claim 1, wherein the fixing device has a first toothed ring that is connected to the transmission output shaft such that they rotate together, and includes a second, non-rotatable toothed ring that is aligned with the first toothed ring and is axially displaceable, wherein during locking the toothed rings are in engagement by their facing teeth.

4-5 (canceled).

6. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein a securing element extends along its pivot axis and is connected to the fin shaft by an end section such that the securing element and the fin shaft rotate together.

7. The drive device according to patent claim 6, wherein the securing element includes a receptacle on another end section, the receptacle receiving an indicator element for indicating a pivot angle of the stabilizer fin.

8. The drive device according to claim 6, wherein the securing element is supported in the transmission input shaft.

9. A fin stabilizer including a drive device according to claim 1.

Description

[0020] In this exemplary embodiment the drive motor 4 is an electric motor, preferably a synchronous motor. It has a stator 14 and a rotor rotating in the stator, of which the rotor shaft 18 is shown in FIG. 1. In the following the rotor shaft 18 is also referred to as motor output shaft. The motor output shaft 18 is configured as a hollow shaft, and extends along the pivot axis S.

[0021] In this exemplary embodiment the transmission 6 is an eccentric transmission, and in particular a cycloidal transmission. It serves for changing the drive motor rotational speed, in particular for reducing the motor rotational speed, and for changing the motor torque, in particular for increasing the torque.

[0022] The transmission 6 is fixedly connected to the stator 14 of the drive motor 4 via a housing 20, such as a motor carrier or a motor flange. The transmission 6 includes a transmission input shaft 22 that extends along the pivot axis S and protrudes by its free, according to the illustration left, shaft end 24 into the motor output shaft 18. The transmission input shaft 22 interacts via a plurality of indicated and unnumbered transmission steps with an output-side transmission output shaft or carrier disc or carrier shaft 26 of the transmission 6. The fin shaft opening 26 also extends along the pivot axis S and, being on the output side of the transmission 6, is disposed opposite to the input-side free shaft end 24 of the transmission input shaft 6.

[0023] The coupling 8 serves for connecting the motor output shaft 18 to the transmission input shaft 22. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the coupling is embodied as a metal bellows coupling. A tapered clamping set connects the coupling 8 to the free shaft end 24 in a friction-fit manner. Via a radially outer axially disposed flange 28 and suitable attachment means 30, the coupling is connected to an annular end surface 32 of the motor output shaft 18, in particular screwed.

[0024] The fixing device 10 serves for fixing the stabilizer fin in a pivot position. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the fixing device 10 is a toothed holding brake and 25 shown in its locked position.

[0025] The fixing device 10 is located between the drive motor 4 and the transmission 6 in the interior of the motor flange 20. It is disposed in the region of a shaft section 34 of the transmission input shaft 22, which shaft section 34 is adjacent to the free shaft 24, and thus, 30 viewed axially, directly adjacent to the motor output shaft 18.

[0026] The fixing device 10 includes two toothed rings 36, 38 (first toothed ring 36, second toothed ring 38) that are aligned with one another and engage the transmission input shaft 22.

[0027] The first toothed ring 36 is rotatably connected to the transmission input shaft 22 and thus rotatable. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the connection for conjoint rotation is produced via a tongue and groove connection 40, whose tongue is screwed to the transmission input shaft 22 by a radial screw 42. In the axial direction the first toothed ring is positionally fixed via a spring ring 44 in a circumferential groove of the transmission input shaft 22 against an annular shoulder 45 thereof.

[0028] The second toothed ring 38 is supported on the transmission housing side. It is axially displaceably supported on a further, internal fixing device toothing and is pressed by spring force into the counter toothing of the toothed ring 36a. The fixing device housing is attached via screws 46 that extend by through bores 50 of the motor flange 20 so that the motor flange 20 is clamped between a base body carrying the second toothed ring 38 and the transmission housing 48.

[0029] Both toothed rings 36, 38 have a plurality of radially outer, axially extending teeth 36a, 38a that are matched to one another and can engage one-into-another. In the locked position shown, the toothed rings 36, 38 including their teeth 36a, 38a are in operative engagement, so that the stabilizer fin is fixed in a pivot position. The teeth 36a, 38a of the toothed rings 36, 38 are preferably uniformly distributed, so that a multiple toothing is set 20 with each locking.

[0030] The locking of the fixing device 10 is effected via a mechanical biasing or locking force that is applied via at least one not-shown compression spring. A plurality of compression springs are disposed radially about the pivot axis S, axially in the base body, and acting upon the second toothed ring 38 with an axial locking force toward the first toothed ring 36.

[0031] For releasing the locking, the fixing device 10 includes at least one not-shown electromagnet that is located in or on the base body. When energized, the at least one electromagnet generates an axial magnetic releasing force that is greater than the mechanical locking force (pressure-spring force), so that with energization of the electromagnet the second toothed ring 38 is pushed against the locking force axially away from the first toothed ring 36, and the multiple interlocking is released.

[0032] In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the securing element 12 has two functions. On the one hand it serves for axial securing of the fin shaft 2 in the fin shaft receptacle 26 of the transmission 6. On the other hand it serves for receiving an indicator instrument 49, preferably a mechanical pointer.

[0033] The securing element 12 extends along the pivot axis S and is configured here as a rotationally symmetric rod. The securing element 12 is guided through the motor output shaft 18 and through a longitudinal bore 51 of the transmission input shaft 22. The supporting of the securing element 12 is effected via a bearing 52, preferably a rolling-element bearing, in 10 the longitudinal bore 51 in the region of the free shaft end 24 of the transmission input shaft 22, and in the screwed-in state via the fin shaft 2.

[0034] The securing element 12 penetrates an insert 54 that is disposed between the transmission input shaft 22 and the fin shaft receptacle 26, and protrudes by an external-thread end section for interacting with a corresponding end face internally threaded bore 57 of the fin shaft 2 into the fin shaft receptacle 26. A secure screw connection is achieved via a radial collar 58 of the securing element 12 that abuts axially against an end side 60 of the insert 54, which end side 6o faces away from the received fin shaft 2.

[0035] For receiving the indicator element 49, the securing element 12 includes a suitable receptacle 62 on its end section opposite to the external-thread end section. The indicator element 49 is, for example, a pointer which, in interaction with an angle indicator, allows the respective pivot angle of the stabilizer fin to be visualized.

[0036] Disclosed is a drive device of a fin stabilizer for pivoting a stabilizer fin about its fin shaft axis, including a drive motor and a transmission, wherein a fixing device for fixing the stabilizer fin in a pivot position acts directly on a transmission input shaft, and a fin stabilizer.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

[0037] 1 Drive device [0038] 2 Fin shaft [0039] 4 Drive motor [0040] 6 Transmission [0041] 8 Coupling [0042] 10 Fixing device [0043] 12 Securing element [0044] 14 Stator [0045] 18 Rotor shaft/motor output shaft [0046] 20 Housing/motor carrier/motor flange [0047] 22 Transmission input shaft [0048] 24 Free shaft end [0049] 26 Fin shaft receptacle [0050] 27 Tapered clamping set [0051] 28 Flange [0052] 30 Attachment means [0053] 32 Annular end surface [0054] 34 Shaft section [0055] 36 First toothed ring (rotatable toothed ring) [0056] 36a Tooth [0057] 38 Second toothed ring (non-rotatable toothed ring) [0058] 38a Tooth [0059] 40 Tongue-groove connection [0060] 42 Radial screw [0061] 44 Spring ring [0062] 45 Ring shoulder [0063] 46 Screw [0064] 48 Transmission housing [0065] 49 Indicator element [0066] 50 Bore [0067] 51 Longitudinal bore [0068] 52 Bearing [0069] 54 Insert [0070] 56 External-thread end section [0071] 57 Internal-thread bore [0072] 58 Radial collar [0073] 60 End side [0074] 62 Receptacle [0075] F Fin shaft axis [0076] X Longitudinal axis [0077] S Pivot axis