PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR THE SEALING OF A STERN TUBE OF PROPELLER-DRIVEN SHIPS

Abstract

A protective device for a stern tube seal of a propeller-driven vessel, wherein an intermediate space is left open between a stern tube and a propeller hub, which intermediate space is covered by a tubular protective cover concentric with the propeller hub, which protective cover is fixedly anchored to the stern tube and axially overlies the propeller hub leaving an annular gap, wherein a ring concentric with the propeller hub and U-shaped in radial section is disposed inside the protective cover in the intermediate space between the stern tube and the propeller hub, the U-opening of which ring is directed radially outward, and wherein the ring is at least partially formed of a material that has a pourable consistency at 20° C.

Claims

1. A protective device for a stern tube seal of a propeller-driven vessel, wherein an intermediate space is left open between a stern tube and a propeller hub, which intermediate space is covered by a tubular protective cover concentric with the propeller hub, which protective cover is fixedly anchored to the stern tube and axially overlies the propeller hub leaving an annular gap, wherein a ring concentric with the propeller hub and configured U-shaped in radial section is disposed inside the protective cover in the intermediate space between the stern tube and the propeller hub, the U-opening of which ring is directed radially outward, and wherein the ring comprises a material that has a pourable consistency at 20° C.

2. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein the material is concrete.

3. The protective device according to claim 1 wherein the ring is comprised of at least two ring sectors, wherein each ring sector extends over a defined circumferential angle and wherein the ring sectors are connected to one another.

4. The protective device according to claim 3, wherein two, three, four, five, or six ring sectors form the ring.

5. The protective device according to claim 3 wherein the ring sectors are aligned relative to one another by centering elements, and wherein the centering elements are formed from a complementary profiling of end regions of the ring sectors lying in a circumferential direction.

6. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein the ring or the ring sectors is or are attached to the propeller hub or to the protective cover using a screw connection.

7. The protective device according to claim 6, wherein insert parts are disposed in the ring or in the ring sectors, which insert parts are penetrated by at least one screw.

8. The protective device according to claim 7, wherein the insert parts are at least partially surrounded by the material of the ring.

9. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein the material is comprised of filling materials and binder, wherein the filling material has a weight proportion between 80% and 95%, wherein the binder preferably has a weight proportion between 5% and 20%, and wherein the binder is comprised of a resin and a hardener.

10. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein glass and/or carbon and/or metallic reinforcing fibers are present in the material.

11. The protective device according to claim 1, wherein the material is mineral casting.

12. The protective device according to claim 9, wherein the resin is an epoxy resin and wherein the hardener is an aminic hardener.

13. The protective device according to claim 2, wherein the ring comprises at least two ring sectors, wherein each ring sector extends over a defined circumferential angle and wherein the ring sectors are connected to one another, wherein the ring sectors are aligned relative to one another by centering elements, and wherein the centering elements are formed from a complementary profiling of end regions of the ring sectors lying in a circumferential direction, wherein the ring or the ring sectors is or are attached to the propeller hub or to the protective cover using a screw connection, wherein insert parts are disposed in the ring or in the ring sectors, which insert parts are penetrated by at least one screw and are at least partially surrounded by the material of the ring, wherein the material is comprised of filling materials and binder, wherein the filling material has a weight proportion between 80% and 95%, wherein the binder has a weight proportion between 5% and 20%, and wherein the binder is comprised of a resin and a hardener, and wherein reinforcing fibers are present in the material.

14. A protective device for protecting a stern tube seal of a propeller-driven vessel, the protective device being mountable in an intermediate space between a stern tube and a propeller hub inside a protective cover adjacent an annular gap between the propeller hub and the protective cover, the protective device comprising: a ring concentric with the propeller hub and having an outwardly facing channel with an outwardly facing opening, the ring being formed at least partially of a material that is pourable at 20° C.

15. The protective device according to claim 14, wherein the ring comprises concrete.

16. The protective device according to claim 14, wherein the ring comprises mineral casting.

17. The protective device according to claim 14, wherein the ring comprises at least two ring sectors, each ring sector extending over a defined circumferential angle.

18. The protective device according to claim 14, wherein the ring sectors are aligned relative to one another by a complementary profiling of circumferential end regions of the ring sectors.

Description

[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are depicted in the drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows in radial section a protective device for the stern tube seal of a vessel drive including a net guard in the shape of a ring,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows in radial section the ring (net guard) according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows in radial section and in front view the ring according to FIG. 2,

[0032] FIG. 4 shows in radial section the ring according to a further embodiment of the invention,

[0033] FIG. 5 shows in radial section the ring according to a further embodiment of the invention,

[0034] FIG. 6 shows in front view a ring sector that is a component of the ring according to a further embodiment of the invention,

[0035] FIG. 7 shows in front view four ring sectors according to FIG. 6, that together form the ring,

[0036] FIG. 8a, FIG. 8b, and FIG. 8c show as viewed from a radial perspective the joint of two adjacent ring sectors shortly before their meeting at a circumferential point of the ring,

[0037] FIG. 9 shows in radial section the ring according to a further embodiment of the invention,

[0038] FIG. 10 shows in radial section the ring according to a further embodiment of the invention,

[0039] FIG. 11 shows in front view the ring, wherein an inlay part is depicted,

[0040] FIG. 12 shows in front view the ring, wherein two slots for the attaching are depicted, and

[0041] FIG. 13 shows in front view the ring, wherein an eccentric insert for the attaching is depicted.

[0042] In FIG. 1 a stern tube seal 1 can be seen that is embodied as a multi-lip seal and includes a plurality of seal lips 13, which interact with a bush 14 that is mounted on a propeller shaft 15. The bush 14 is connected by one end via a flange 16 to the propeller hub 3 and protrudes by the other end into the stern tube 2.

[0043] The intermediate space 17 thereby formed is covered by a tubular protective cover 4, which on the one hand is fixedly attached to the stern tube 2 and a piece of which on the other hand projects over the propeller hub 3 leaving an annular gap 5.

[0044] A ring 6, U-shaped and concentric with the propeller hub 3, is disposed in the intermediate space 17 formed by the protective cover 4, which ring 6 is open radially outward, i.e., toward the protective cover 4, and is attached to the end side of the propeller hub 3 using an only schematically indicated screw connection 8. The dimensions of the ring 6 are selected such that in its receiving space formed by the U-shaped structure a plurality of winding layers of ends of fishing lines, fishing nets, etc. possibly penetrated into the annular gap 5 can be received. The stern tube seal 1 is thereby protected.

[0045] For details explicit reference is made to the above-mentioned DE 37 18 419 C2.

[0046] It is essential that according to the invention the ring 6 is at least partially comprised of a material B that can have a pourable consistency at room temperature (T=20° C.). Mineral casting is considered here in particular.

[0047] In FIG. 2 the radial section of the ring 6 can be seen. From this it follows that bores 10 are introduced in the ring 6 in order to be able to attach the ring 6 to the propeller hub 3 using screws 8. For the purpose of assembly a mounting bore 18 flush with the bore 10 is available that is provided for the passage of an appropriate tool.

[0048] It follows from FIG. 3 that the ring 6 can be configured as a one-piece part.

[0049] Insert parts 9, preferably made from metal, can be introduced into the bores or inserted into the mold during casting of the ring 6 in order to ensure stable support for the attaching of the ring 6. In particular a spalling of material of the ring 6 can thus be avoided. FIGS. 4 and 5 here show two different solutions.

[0050] In FIGS. 6 and 7 it can be seen that the ring 6 can also be comprised of a plurality of sectors 6′, 6″, 6′″, and 6″″, which each cover a circumferential section.

[0051] In order that the individual sectors accurately abut on one another in the circumferential direction and are accurately positioned in the axial direction a (see FIG. 1), centering elements 7 can be provided as are shown in FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c for three different variants. Accordingly the precise axial assembly of the ring sectors 6′, 6″ can be improved by the measures depicted here.

[0052] Here the transition region between two ring sectors 6′, 6″ is depicted, wherein the view from the radial direction is outlined. As can be seen from the three views according to FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c, the joints are not configured flat, but rather crosswise or angled (see FIG. 8a) or in the manner of an arrow design (see FIG. 8b and FIG. 8c). The last two possibilities mentioned ensure the precise axial assembly of the two abutting ring sectors 6′ and 6″ so that with the assembling of the ring sectors the individual parts are arranged precisely with respect to each other.

[0053] A better installability thus results, in particular with only two segments or sectors. Furthermore, there is a simple possibility of a centering of the sectors relative to one another.

[0054] In FIG. 9 an insert part 9 is outlined again that has been cast together with the casting of the ring 6 or of its sectors. In FIG. 10 it can be seen how said insert part 9 has then been pierced in order to be able to attach the ring 6 according to a desired hole pattern.

[0055] For this purpose it can be seen in FIG. 11 that an insert part 9 can be provided that includes different bores and thus makes possible the screwing-on of the ring 6 in the context of a certain variability.

[0056] The variability is increased more if—as can be seen in FIG. 12—slots 11 are provided that are configured kidney-shaped here and thus make it possible that the ring 6 can be fixedly screwed in a simpler manner

[0057] For this purpose FIG. 13 shows a still further possibility: here an insert part is provided in the form of an eccentric insert 12. This insert is formed in the manner of a sliding bearing and has two rings that can be rotated relative to each other (see arrow in FIG. 13). By turning the inner ring of the eccentric insert 12 the position of the passage bore for the screw can thus be changed and adapted to a threaded bore in the propeller hub.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

[0058] 1 Stern tube seal

[0059] 2 Stern tube

[0060] 3 Propeller hub

[0061] 4 Protective cover (rope guard)

[0062] 5 Annular gap

[0063] 6 Ring

[0064] 6′ Ring sector

[0065] 6″ Ring sector

[0066] 6′″ Ring sector

[0067] 6″″ Ring sector

[0068] 7 Centering element

[0069] 8 Screw connection

[0070] 9 Insert part

[0071] 10 Bore

[0072] 11 Slot

[0073] 12 Eccentric insert

[0074] 13 Seal lip

[0075] 14 Bush

[0076] 15 Propeller shaft

[0077] 16 Flange

[0078] 17 Intermediate space

[0079] 18 Mounting bore

[0080] B Material (mineral casting/polymer concrete)

[0081] a Axial direction