DRIVE-UNIT, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR SHIPS

SYSTEME PROPULSEUR, NOTAMMENT POUR NAVIRES

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In the case of drive units, more particularly for ships, comprising a
hollow driving pinion located axially between a hydraulic coupling and a con-
trollable bypass coupling for selectively bypassing the hydraulic coupling,
stresses may arise, for example as a result of misalignment, but also as a re-
sult of changes in the foundations arising during operation. Such stresses are
difficult to avoid because appropriate bearing locations are required to support
individual components of the drive, for example the actual transmission, but also
the drive shaft between the hydraulic coupling and the power plant. According
to the invention, these stresses may be eliminated simultaneously, in all types
of transmission, by arranging, between the power plant and a support bearing in
front of the hydraulic coupling, a universal coupling designed to permit radial,
axial and angular misalignment between the drive shaft and the power plant drive
shaft.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A drive unit, more particularly for ships, comprising a hollow
driving pinion mounted at both sides and located axially between a
hydraulic coupling and a controllable bypass coupling for selectively
bypassing the said hydraulic coupling, the said driving pinion being
connected to the secondary parts of the two couplings; and having a drive
shaft passing through the hollow pinion and connected to the primary parts
of the said two couplings, the said shaft being mounted, on the side of the
hydraulic coupling remote from the said pinion, in a support bearing, and
being connected, through an additional coupling to a power plant; and
comprising a universal coupling, on the side of the pinion remote from the
said hydraulic coupling, by means of which the said drive shaft can execute
angular movements in relation to the said pinion, characterized in that the
said additional drive shaft coupling, located between the support bearing
and the power plant, is designed in such a manner as to permit radial,
axial and angular misalignment between the said drive shaft and the power
plant drive shaft.
2. A drive unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the said
additional coupling is torsionally resilient.
3. A drive unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the said
additional coupling is adapted to damp torsional vibration.
4. A drive unit according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that
the support bearing is in the form of a self-aligning bearing.

Description

~ ~677~
This invention re]a-tes to a drive unit, more particularly for ships, com-
prising a hollow driving pinion mounted at both sides and located axially between
a hydraulic coupling and a controllable bypass coupling for selectively bypassing
the said hydraulic couplingJ the said dr:iving pinion being connected to the secon-
dary parts of the said two couplings; and a drive shaft passing -through the said
hollow pinion and connected to the primary parts of the said two couplings, the
said shaft being mounted, on the side of the hydraulic collpling remote from the
said pinion, in a supporting bearing and being connected, through an additional
coupling, to a power plant; and a universal Oll the side of the pinion remote
from the said hydraulic coupling, by means of which the said drive shaft can
execute angular movements in relation to the said pinion.
A drive unit of this kind is known from German AS 29 06 368.
It is the purpose of the present invention to eliminate stresses in the
drive unit resulting from varying bearing play and deformation in the foundation.
According to the invention, this purpose is achieved in that the said
additional drive shaft coupling, between the support bearing and the power plant,
is designed to permit radial, axial and angular misalignment between the said
drive shaft and the power plant drive shaft.
The use of a coupling of this design, in the location selected~ is a
relatively simple way of eliminating, in all transmissions, stresses between
the power-plant and the driving pinion.
Without the invention, stresses of this kind may arise from misalignment
of shafts and bearing as a result of manufacturing ~olerances~ of differential
heating, and of foundation movement.
- An embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter in conjunction
with the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatical, broken-away plan view of a drive unit ac-
cording to the invention;
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Figure 2 is a diagrammatical longitudinal section along the plane II-II
in the direction of the arrows, showing possible radial and angular displacements
between the power plant and the transmission;
Figure 3 is a diagrammatical section similar to Figure 2, showing *ur~her
possible radial displacement between the power plant and the transmi.ssion.
Figure 1 shows a drive unit for the propulsion of ships, comprising a
power plant 1 and a transmission 2. A double-helical driving pinion 3 is
arranged axially between a hydraulic coupling 4 and a controllable bypass COllp-
ling 5 used for selective bypassing of hydraulic coupling 4. Driving pinion 3
has an axial bore and a hollow shaft 6 by means of which it is connected to
secondary parts 7, 8 of hydraulic coupling 4 and bypass coupling 5. Located be-
tween hollow shaft 6 and secondary part 8 of bypass coupling 5 is a toothed uni-
versal coupling 9. Driving pinion 3 is mounted at both sides in bearings 10.
Passing through hollow pinion 3 and hollow shaft 6 is a drive shaft 11
which is mounted, on the side of hydraulic coupling 4 remote from pinion 3, in a
support bearing 12 separat0 from transmission 2, and is connected, through an
additional coupling 13, to the power plant or engine 1. Support bearing 12 is
preferably in the form of a self-aligning bearing within which drive shaft 11
can carry out angular movements. Drive shaft 11 is connected to primary parts
16 and 15 of hydraulic coupling 4 and bypass coupling 5.
Additional coupling 13 in drive shaft 11, located between support hearing
12 and power plant 1, is designed in such a manner as to permit radial, axial
and angular displacement of drive shaft 11 in relation to power plant drive
shaft 14. Universal couplings of this kind are know per se and are described
in greater detail, for example, in the right-hand column on page 270, with re-
ferences to Figures 1 and 2, of the "Lueger Lixikon der Technik, Grundlagen des
Maschinenbaues, A-Z", Volume 1, 1960 edition, Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, Stuttgart.
This coupling is preferably also torsionally resilient and damps out torsional
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1 3 fi77~ ~
vibration. In couplings of this kind, this is achieved in known fashion by meansof appropriate damping elements.
Universal coupling 9 in bypass coupling 5 acts as a pivot about which
drive shaft ll can carry out angular movements in relation to plnion 3. In
another design, not shown, bypass coupling 5 may be designed in such a manner
that secondary part 8 thereof can carry out angular movements in relation to pri-
mary part 15. In this case, bypass coupling 5 itself acts as a pivot and the
toothed universal coupling may be dispensed with. According to still another
design, the joint could also be located in drive shaft 11 in the vicini~y of
bypass coupling 5.
Driving pinion 3 drives a gearwheel 21~ shaft 22 of which drives the
ship's propellor 23.
Transmission 2 is supported, for exampleg at four locations, of which
three, 24, 25, 26, are shown, upon a foundation 27.
Figure 2 illustrates radial and angular displacement of power plant 1
in relation to transmission 2, brought about by corresponding deformation of
foundation 27. ~r represents the radial displacement of the power plant in rela-tion to the transmission. ~ ~ represents the possible angular displacement, in-
dependent of ~r, between the said power plant and transmission.
Figure 3 shows possible further radial displacement ~r between power
plant or engine 1 and transmission 2, brought about by corresponding deformationof foundation 27.