Ships – Towing or pushing – Coupling means
Patent
1991-02-11
1993-02-09
Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
Ships
Towing or pushing
Coupling means
114249, B63B 2156
Patent
active
051845636
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application corresponds to the Australian application PCT/AU89/00327 which is pending.
This invention relates to marine propulsion apparatus and methods.
This invention has particular but not exclusive application to the propulsion of boats and barges, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as ships and hovercraft. For the purposes of this specification, the term "boat" is to be taken to refer to any marine craft of any type, including the abovementioned marine craft.
Marine propulsion is normally accomplished by driving a fully-submerged horizontal-axis propeller by a prime mover such as an internal combustion engine, a steam engine or an electric motor. If the prime mover or engine is mounted within the boat, it is usually mounted in line with the propeller axis, and the boat must be tapered inward at the rear to allow water to flow into the propeller. As a consequence of these requirements, considerable space within the boat can be lost to the prime mover, and access to the engine for removal or maintenance is frequently limited. Separate steering means must also be provided, usually in the form of a rudder.
An alternative propulsion concept is the outboard motor, in which a high-mounted engine and a low-mounted propeller are mounted on a common frame which swings about a vertical pivot on the rear of a boat to provide steering. The engine and the propeller must be coupled by a transmission system, and such transmission systems can be complex, expensive and difficult to maintain. As the outboard motor has minimal self-buoyancy and is overhung on the rear of the boat, it can seriously compromise the trim of a boat to which it is fitted. High-powered outboard motors of the type which may be used to propel heavy barges and the like are very heavy and require the application of cranes for their attachment or removal.
In the case of marine vessels such as barges, which may spend a considerable portion of their time stationary, tugs may be utilised to move them as necessary. While such a process is less wasteful in terms of the numbers of prime movers necessary for a fleet of barges, there are also problems with them. A tug must be built as a stand-alone boat with crew accommodation and must be large enough to possess sea-keeping capabilities consistent with its operating environment. Thus the cost per prime mover for tug power is quite high.
There are also frequently problems coupling tugs to barges. If a tug is coupled to a barge with ropes, both vessels can respond individually to wave action, but the ability of the tug to steer the barge is low. If a tug is coupled to a barge by a vertical pivot or a rigid coupling, the steering performance is greatly enhanced, but wave action on the tug hull loads the interface to a high degree.
The present invention aims to alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide propulsion apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in unmanned marine propulsion apparatus adapted for outboard connection to a vessel whereby the vessel may be propelled along a body of water, said unmanned marine propulsion apparatus including:
marine propulsion means;
a prime mover for driving said propulsion means;
drive means connecting said prime mover to said propulsion means;
a buoyant enclosure capable of supporting said prime mover and said propulsion means with the latter disposed in driving engagement with the body of water, said enclosure having an underwater portion in which said prime mover and said drive means are located and an upwardly extending above-water portion having a relatively small water plane sectional area, and
connecting means on said enclosure for connecting said unmanned marine propulsion apparatus to a vessel.
Preferably, the connecting means restrains th
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Bartz Clifford T.
Peters Jr. Joseph F.
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