Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
A VESSEL DRIVE AND A DRIVE CONTROL METHOD
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/166620
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Vessel with pontoon hulls having a jet propeller installed in a middle pontoon hull, wherein the unit is steered with water jet flows, through pipes installed between a side pontoon hull and the middle pontoon hull, through thrusters, through compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles which compress the water jet with installed movable reverse flaps, installed at the side pontoon hulls on their external side.

More Like This:
WO/2008/108664STERN THRUSTER
WO/1996/005098HYDROJET
Inventors:
FRYJEWICZ PIOTR (PL)
FRYJEWICZ GRZEGORZ (PL)
GALBARCZYK PAWEŁ (PL)
KOBIAŁKA BARTŁOMIEJ (PL)
SEKUŁA MARCIN (PL)
LIGOCKI WIESŁAW (PL)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2016/051429
Publication Date:
October 20, 2016
Filing Date:
March 13, 2016
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
FRYJEWICZ PIOTR (PL)
FRYJEWICZ GRZEGORZ (PL)
GALBARCZYK PAWEŁ (PL)
KOBIAŁKA BARTŁOMIEJ (PL)
SEKUŁA MARCIN (PL)
International Classes:
B63H25/46; B63B1/20; B63H11/08
Foreign References:
US3342032A1967-09-19
US2356301A1944-08-22
US20020046688A12002-04-25
US20090101056A12009-04-23
NL285550A
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
KORGA, Leokadia (44-117 Gliwice, PL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. Vessel drive, using a jet propeller and a stationary engine characterized in that a drive unit is installed in one of the pontoon hulls preferably in the middle pontoon hull (2), preferably in a separate part of the middle pontoon hull (2) which is a separated nacelle (19), preferably placed in the front of the unit, wherein the main drive unit of the nacelle (19) is a drive with a stationary engine (20), not an outboard drive, where by means of main ferrules (31) and ferrules (15) connected to the nacelle (19) a propelling water jet flows, which is used to steer the unit, wherein to the main ferrules (31) there are joined, preferably by means of rubber expansion joints DN150 (13), pipes of a pipeline of the main drive unit (RN), which direct the water jet into the stern area installed preferably between a side pontoon hull (1) and the middle pontoon hull (2) along the unit preferably below water surface , wherein to the ferrules for connecting the front and back thrusters (15) there are connected, preferably by means of rubber expansion joints DN80 (12), at least two thrusters - a front one (SP) and back one (ST), wherein the jet of water directed to pipelines (RN) (RST) (RSP) is steered from an inboard panel and/or remote panel and/or steering wheel, each by means of a butterfly valve of the main drive unit (P2) and a butterfly valve of the thrusters (PI), and the pipeline of the main drive unit (RN) is ended with compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles (18) which compress the water jet with installed movable reverse flaps (17), wherein the pipeline of the back thruster (RST) and the front thruster (RSP) are each ended with at least one left ejector - a nozzle (L) and at least one right ejector - nozzle (P), wherein the left and right ejectors are installed preferably through the side pontoon hulls (1) on their external side.

2. Vessel drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the nacelle (19) is fixed by means of preferred rubber pads (K) which damp vibrations into a traverse reinforcement frame (3) preferred two double pads (K) per frame (3) - six double pads (K) per three frames (3) in total.

3. Vessel drive unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the main drive unit from the nacelle (19) consists of the following consecutively joined elements: a marine stationary engine (20) preferably diesel engine, wherein directly to the flywheel of the engine (20) there is a torsional vibration damper (22) installed, next there is a clutch preferred electromagnetic (SE) joined with a gear (21), wherein the casing of the gear (21) is directly joined with the engine in a rigid manner, in a likewise manner the clutch is joined with the casing as a whole and the gear (21) - with a one-way clutch (23) for uncoupling the gear; there is transmission installed through a Cardan shaft (24) with Birfield style joints or cross-type joints to the jet propeller (25), wherein preferably by the connection between the propeller shaft (24) and the jet propeller (25) there is a belt pulley of the drive (26), preferably sprocket or fan belt; by means of a sprocket belt or a fan belt from an electric engine preferably DC, which is preferably installed over the jet propeller and/or on the side; wherein the jet propeller (25) is used as the element feeding the whole drive unit - the drive/steering system with compressed medium - water.

4. Vessel drive according to claim 3, characterized in that a hybrid drive is used as a stationary engine (20), which drive consists of the main stationary marine engine preferred diesel and an auxiliary engine - preferred a magnetic wobble plate engine powered by direct current preferred with carbon brushes.

5. Vessel drive according to claim 3, characterized in that the propeller (25) has at least one separating grate (S) preferred in the form of a grid installed at its entrance hole i.e. inlet ports.

6. Vessel drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the front thruster (SP), placed in the front part of the unit consists of the following consecutively joined elements:

- connections for ferrules (here DN80) - screw unions (16)

- three-way cut-off and distribution valve (14) controlled by means of an actuator preferred electric or hydraulic

- rubber expansion joint DN80 (12)

- the pipeline of the front drive unit (RSP)

- left (L) and right (P) ejectors - nozzles.

7. The Vessel drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the back thruster (ST) placed in the back part of the unit consists of the following consecutively joined elements:

- connections for ferrules (here DN80) - screw unions (16)

- three-way cut-off and distribution valve (14) controlled by means of an actuator preferred electric or hydraulic

- rubber expansion joint DN80 (12)

- the pipeline of the back drive unit (RST)

- left (L) and right (P) ejectors - nozzles.

8. Vessel drive according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the stationary engine (20) with the gear (21) is damped by means of vibroisolators for internal longitudinals of the nacelle (19).

9. Vessel drive according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pipes of a pipeline of the main drive unit (RN), which direct the water jet into the stern area, are installed preferably in the middle pontoon hull (2) and the outlets are installed in the side pontoon hulls, wherein the pipes of the pipeline of the drive unit run between the pontoon hulls above the water surface.

10. Vessel drive control method using wired and wireless steering characterized in that the floating unit is steered preferably by means of a control panel preferred a mouse coupled with a steering module (M) which controls the movements of: butterfly valves (PI) and (P2), three-way cut-off and distribution valves (14), and reverse flaps (17), front (SP) and back (ST) thrusters, wherein communication between the control panel preferred a mouse and the steering module (M) takes place by means of a wired and/or wireless signal, and the movements of the mouse correspond to the directions where the boat floats, i.e.:

A - 'forward' direction, the main drive is actuated by means of the pipeline of the main drive unit (RN) to compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles (18);

B - 'backward' direction, the main drive is actuated by means of the pipeline of the main drive unit (RN) to compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles (18) with reverse flaps (17) pulled on;

CI - 'the bow of the unit to the left' direction, the right ejector - nozzle (P) of the front thruster (SP) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster (RSP);

C2 - 'left' direction, the right ejector - nozzle (P) of the back thruster (ST) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster (RST), also the right ejector - nozzle (P) of the front thruster (SP) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster (RSP); C3 - 'the stern of the unit to the left' direction, the right ejector - nozzle (P) of the back thruster (ST) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster (RST)

Dl - 'the bow of the unit to the right' direction, the left ejector - nozzle (L) of the front thruster (SP) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster (RSP);

D2 - 'right' direction, the left ejector - nozzle (L) of the back thruster (ST) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster (RST), also the left ejector - nozzle (L) of the front thruster (SP) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster (RSP);

D3 - 'the stern of the unit to the right' direction, the left ejector - nozzle (L) of the back thruster (ST) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster (RST).

Description:
A vessel drive and a drive control method

The object of the invention is a vessel drive and a drive control method, especially a houseboat, and steering method.

The Polish patent no. P.176208 provides a description of one or a few flow passages in the planking of a ship's hull for traverse thrusters in the form of a traverse tunnel which correct the flow of the water. It also provides a description of cuts in the outer planking of ships in the form of bottom valve boxes and in the form of traverse tunnels with traverse flow. There are suction tubes of cooling water pumps and ballast water pumps are connected to the bottom valve boxes. In the traverse tunnels of thrusters with traverse flow there are built-up propellers which give the feed necessary for ship maneuvering. Thrusters with traverse jet flow are especially used for lower or middle speed of the ship, when the operation of the main steering device is on a reduced level. Already with a decreased speed of a ship in this type of cuts in the outer planking there occur hydrodynamic states which must be energetically powered by the ship's powering device, increasing the power, and also negatively influence on the expected efficiency of tension.

The Polish patent no. P.195544 provides a description of a device for controlling a jet propeller with cross-feed channeling for floating units, especially for regular control of the opening and closing elements in the channels propelled with a jet of water, wherein the control is defined by means of movement of the floating devices, in which the movement process is provided by a unit transmitting the control, an indirect control line, and a controlling unit, by means of which a high control ability of floating units may be achieved in a full and definite manner.

The Polish patent no. P.197751 provides a description of a nozzle regulating the flow of water in the propeller disc of floating units. In the prior solutions of ships' drive unit in the form of propellers installed in the stern part without any additional devices the flow is irregular and depends on how slender the hull is and how far the propeller is placed from the hull. The irregularities in the flow occur especially in the area where the top of the propeller's blade is closes to the hull and increases along with the speed of the unit. In the case of single propeller ships it occurs especially in the upper position of the blades. The phenomenon of an irregular jet flow speed results in cavitation and the propeller's natural vibration, which transfer to the whole unit.

The Polish patent no. P.229842 provides a description of a bow thruster in the form of a tunnel with a propeller installed inside. The tunnel has its inlet and outlet slanting down towards the stern of the ship, in order to divert water flowing from the thruster. Another thruster is in the form of a tunnel with a propeller installed inside. The tunnel has its inlet and outlet slanting down towards the stern of the ship, in order to divert water flowing from the thruster. Inside the tunnel there are moving elements installed which divert the flow, wherein these elements are joined with actuators controlling the diverting elements.

The Polish patent no. P.232876 provides a description of an invention based on the solution that the inner tunnel is installed in an outer tunnel by means of elastic elements clamped between these tunnels, wherein these elements are placed and clamped directly in the ring joints which contain a unit of parts fastened permanently to the outer tunnel and a unit of parts fastened permanently to the inner tunnel, the outer surface of which is covered with a layer of a substance in the form of a noise barrier. Another important aspect of the invention is that the elastic elements are in the form of rubber strings, and their clamping is regulated.

The Polish patent no. P.289556 provides a description of a thruster, especially for floating units with small displacement, which has a nozzle with a vertical axis propeller installed inside and a steering wheel installed above the propeller in the area of a flow passage perpendicular to the nozzle, characterized in that the steering wheel consists of two steering patches preferred in the shape of a section of a cylinder's side, installed on a common immovable axis with one edge each, preferred the generatrix of the cylinder, wherein the axis is perpendicular to the axis of the propeller and the flow passage.

The European patent no. 07023946.2 provides a description of a Kort nozzle which is a conically tapering tube in which the propeller of a ship is disposed. The tube also forms the wall of the Kort nozzle. By tapering the tube to the stern of the ship out the Kort nozzles can transfer an additional boost to the ship without the performance needs to be increased. In addition to increasing propulsion properties of the Kort nozzle, pitching motions are also reduced in the case of big waves, which reduces the speed loss in heavy seas and stability can also be increased. Because of the inherent resistance of the Kort nozzle with increasing vessel speed increases as square, its advantages are especially effective for slow boats, which have a large propeller thrust (e.g. tugs, fishing vessels, etc.).

The European patent no. EP10161060.8 provides a description of a dynamic positioning vessel which is a vessel that has the ability to automatically keep its position and heading, based on input from one or several reference systems.

The measured position and heading is compared to the wanted position and heading, thrust orders are applied to the thrusters to compensate for the drift and rotation of the vessel caused by wind, waves and current. The maximum environmental force the vessel is able to withstand, depends on the total thrust (in various directions) the thrusters are able to create. DP operations are divided into classes according to potential consequences caused by a drift off , and redundancy requirements are included accordingly.

The German patent no. WO 91/09773 provides a description of a water-jet drive for water craft with a nozzle whose effective cross-section can be altered depending upon the water flow rate to pump rotation speed = constant ratio, as can its effective direction of propulsion, the effective nozzle cross-section of which can be altered via two mutually independently adjustable flaps, whereby one control flap is curved and arranged to be directly dirigible about a bearing fitted in the nozzle body while the other is straight and adjustable for position via two mutually independent adjusting devices with bearings at each end in such a way that they can free a slot for the emerging water jet at their forward end for the nozzle body or at the rear end for the lower edge of the curved flap or at both ends.

The Japanese patent no. WO 94/16215 provides a description of a method of hydraulic energy production by means of a water jet which comprises the stages of installation of hydraulic pressure pipe containing a water turbine and a tidal stream generator in the streams of rivers, due to which a side inlet is generated for energy feeding the water which turns the turbine, the energy being the overall energy of flowing water.

The French patent no. WO 2006/111643 Al provides a description of a device which comprises a seawater turbine directly driven by a motor inside each of the hulls, the seawater suction means being positioned at the front, outside each hull in an overpressure zone generated by the bow wave and the seawater backflow means being positioned inside each hull, on the rear of the boat pitch pivot pin, said backflow means having an outlet capable of being pivoted and emerging inside the channel defined between two hulls. The German patent no. WO 2009/021559 Al provides a description of a catamaran comprising two side hulls and a stiff construction joining the hulls in a mechanical manner. The passenger section is installed between the abovementioned hulls, and the catamaran is powered by two engines.

The German patent no. WO 2010/031579 A2 provides a description of a drive unit for water craft, comprising a prime mover assembly containing at least one prime mover and a transmission. The drive unit has a common frame, to which the prime mover assembly and the transmission are fixed, said frame being designed to be fixed to the water craft.

The Austrian patent no. WO 2010/054418 Al provides a description of a side thruster with casing for a ship, which comprises at least one electric engine installed in the casing and at least one traverse one, a propeller operating transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ship; moreover, it is equipped with at least one longitudinal propeller operating in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ship.

Solutions presenting thrusters with complicated individual electric or hydraulic drives are also known.

The aim of the invention is to develop a new, uncomplicated type of a drive unit for floating units and a new, easy steering method.

The drive unit according to the solution has the following characteristics: a drive unit is installed in one of the pontoon hulls preferably in the middle pontoon hull, preferably in a separate part of the middle pontoon hull which is a separated nacelle, preferably placed in the front of the unit, wherein the main drive unit of the nacelle is a drive with a stationary engine, not an outboard drive, where by means of main ferrules and ferrules connected to the nacelle a propelling water jet flows, which is used to steer the unit, wherein to the main ferrules there are joined, preferably by means of rubber expansion joints DN150, pipes of a pipeline of the main drive unit, which direct the water jet into the stern area installed preferably between a side pontoon hull and the middle pontoon hull along the unit preferably below water surface , wherein to the ferrules for connecting the front and back thrusters there are connected, preferably by means of rubber expansion joints DN80, at least two thrusters - a front one and back one, wherein the jet of water directed to pipelines is steered from an inboard panel and/or remote panel and/or steering wheel, each by means of a butterfly valve of the main drive unit and a butterfly valve of the thrusters, and the pipeline of the main drive unit is ended with compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles which compress the water jet with installed movable reverse flaps, wherein the pipeline of the back thruster and the front thruster are each ended with at least one left ejector - a nozzle and at least one right ejector - nozzle, wherein the left and right ejectors are installed preferably through the side pontoon hulls on their external side.

The nacelle is fixed by means of preferred rubber pads which damp vibrations into a traverse reinforcement frame preferably two double pads per frame - six double pads per three frames in total.

The main drive unit from the nacelle consists of the following consecutively joined elements: a marine stationary engine preferably diesel engine, wherein directly to the flywheel of the engine there is a torsional vibration damper installed, next there is a clutch preferred electromagnetic joined with a gear, wherein the casing of the gear is directly joined with the engine in a rigid manner, in a likewise manner the clutch is joined with the case as a whole and the gear - with a one-way clutch for uncoupling the gear there; is transmission installed through a Cardan shaft with Birfield style joints or cross-type joints to the jet propeller, wherein preferably by the connection between the propeller shaft and the jet propeller there is a belt pulley of the drive, preferably sprocket or fan belt; by means of a sprocket belt or a fan belt from an electric engine preferably DC, which is preferably installed over the jet propeller and/or on the side; wherein the jet propeller is used as the element feeding the whole drive unit - the drive/steering system with compressed medium - water.

A hybrid drive is used as a stationary engine; the drive consists of the main stationary marine engine preferred diesel and an auxiliary engine - preferred a magnetic wobble plate engine powered by direct current preferred with carbon brushes.

The propeller has at least one separating grate, preferred in the form of a grid, installed at its entrance hole i.e. inlet ports.

The front thruster, placed in the front part of the unit consists of the following consecutively joined elements:

- connections for ferrules (here DN80) - screw unions

. - three-way cut-off and distribution valve controlled by means of an actuator preferred electric or hydraulic

- rubber expansion joint DN80

- the pipeline of the front drive unit

- left and right ejectors - nozzles The back thruster placed in the back part of the unit consists of the following consecutively joined elements:

- connections for ferrules (here DN80) - screw unions

- three-way cut-off and distribution valve controlled by means of an actuator preferred electric or hydraulic

- rubber expansion joint DN80

- the pipeline of the back drive unit

- left and right ejectors - nozzles.

The stationary engine with the gear is damped by means of vibroisolators for internal longitudinals of the nacelle.

A method of steering according to the invention is such that the floating unit is steered preferably by means of a control panel preferred a mouse coupled with a steering module which controls the movements of: butterfly valves and, three-way cut-off and distribution valves, and reverse flaps, front and back thrusters, wherein communication between the control panel preferred a mouse and the steering module takes place by means of a wired and/or wireless signal, and the movements of the mouse correspond to the directions where the boat floats, i.e.:

A - 'forward' direction, the main drive is actuated by means of the pipeline of the main drive unit to compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles;

B - 'backward' direction, the main drive is actuated by means of the pipeline of the main drive unit to compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles with reverse flaps pulled on;

CI - 'the bow of the unit to the left' direction, the right ejector - nozzle of the front thruster is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster;

C2 - 'left' direction, the right ejector - nozzle of the back thruster is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster, also the right ejector - nozzle of the front thruster is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster;

C3 - 'the stern of the unit to the left' direction, the right ejector - nozzle of the back thruster is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster;

Dl - 'the bow of the unit to the right' direction, the left ejector - nozzle of the front thruster is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster; D2 - 'right' direction, the left ejector - nozzle of the back thruster is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster, also the left ejector - nozzle of the front thruster is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster;

D3 - 'the stern of the unit to the right' direction, the left ejector - nozzle of the back thruster is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster.

The solution according to the invention uses a thruster as the element feeding the whole drive unit - the drive/steering system with compressed medium - water.

The compressed water directed by a system of special pipelines, cut-off and distribution valves and exhaust nozzles causes movement of the boat in a given direction.

This gives an opportunity to move the boat in all directions on the horizontal plane of the water surface, as well as to turn a houseboat can in both directions around the vertical axis.

Due to the use of a hybrid drive in the solution sailing in silent zones and silent harbour manoeuvring are made possible. The electric engine can be used as an alternate engine in case of the main Diesel engine failure.

Using the same driving element enables cost reduction. The electric engine can serve as an additional electric power generator while the Diesel engine is running. Advantages of using a jet propeller are: a simple system, towing power larger than in the case of a screw propeller, failure-free operation, no spinning elements exposed, no possibility of mechanical damages that often happen in the case of a screw propeller (e.g. breaking it off at touching the bottom in the shallows), sailing on very shallow waters is possible - displacement is smaller than in the case of a screw propeller.

The water jet is used to feed the thrusters.

The thrusters are fed by means of a water jet from the propeller of the main drive unit, not as before when each thruster had a separate drive unit e.g. an electric one for each of the thrusters. This solution allows for a significant cost reduction and simplification of the manufacturing process - there are fewer complicated elements (e.g. gear, engines) to undergo service maintenance.

Another advantage is intuitive control by means of a special mouse the movement of which is analogous to that of the houseboat - even a person with no sailing experience can safely steer the boat, and complicated manoeuvring becomes easy and, first and foremost, safe. An indubitable advantage of the solution according to the invention is a failure-free and maintenance-free operation in comparison to traditional solutions with thrusters having individual, complicated hydraulic or electric drives.

Moreover, it is possible to use the thrusters for an unlimited period of time, which enables adjusting the course in the case of side winds and water currents.

The object of the invention is presented in the examples on the figures in which:

fig. 1 presents the side view of the drive unit.

fig. 2 presents the view from above of the main drive unit and the division of water jet from the propeller.

fig. 3 presents a plan of the drive unit from above,

fig. 4 presents a side view of the jet propeller.

fig. 5 presents a cross-section of the three-way cut-off and distribution valve.

fig. 6 presents the drive unit and steering system together with the flow of the water jets. fig. 7 presents the method of steering and movement directions controlled by means of a mouse.

fig. 8 presents the steering method of a floating unit. fig. 9 presents a method of installing the pipelines of the main drive unit in the variant when they are installed inside the pontoon hulls.

Example 1 (Drive unit)

A drive unit is installed in one of the pontoon hulls in the middle pontoon hull (2), in a separate part of the middle pontoon hull (2) which is a separated nacelle (19), placed in the front of the unit, wherein the main drive unit of the nacelle (19) is a drive with a stationary engine (20), not an outboard drive, where by means of main ferrules (31) and ferrules (15) connected to the nacelle (19) a propelling water jet flows, which is used to steer the unit, wherein to the main ferrules (31) there are joined by means of rubber expansion joints DN150 (13), pipes of a pipeline of the main drive unit (RN), which direct the water jet into the stern area installed between a side pontoon hull (1) and the middle pontoon hull (2) along the unit below water surface , wherein to the ferrules for connecting the front and back thrusters (15) there are connected, by means of rubber expansion joints DN80 (12), at least two thrusters - a front one (SP) and back one (ST), wherein the jet of water directed to pipelines (RN) (RST) (RSP) is steered from a inboard panel and/or remote panel and/or steering wheel, each by means of a butterfly valve of the main drive unit (P2) and a butterfly valve of the thrusters (PI), and the pipeline of the main drive unit (RN) is ended with compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles (18) which compress the water jet with installed movable reverse flaps (17), wherein the pipeline of the back thruster (RST) and the front thruster (RSP) are each ended with at least one left ejector - a nozzle (L) and at least one right ejector - nozzle (P), wherein the left and right ejectors are installed through the side pontoon hulls (1) on their external side.

A drive unit is installed in one of the pontoon hulls in the middle pontoon hull (2), in a separate part of the middle pontoon hull (2) which is a separated nacelle (19), placed in the front of the unit, wherein the main drive unit of the nacelle (19) is a drive with a stationary engine (20), not an outboard drive, where by means of main ferrules (31) and ferrules (15) connected to the nacelle (19) a propelling water jet flows, which is used to steer the unit.

To the main ferrules (31) there are joined by means of rubber expansion joints DN150 (13), pipes of a pipeline of the main drive unit (RN), which direct the water jet into the stern area installed between a side pontoon hull (1) and the middle pontoon hull (2) along the unit below water surface .

To the ferrules for connecting the front and back thrusters (15) there are connected, by means of rubber expansion joints DN80 (12), at least two thrusters - a front one (SP) and back one (ST), wherein the jet of water directed to pipelines (RN) (RST) (RSP) is steered from an inboard panel and/or remote panel and/or steering wheel, each by means of a butterfly valve of the main drive unit (P2) and a butterfly valve of the thrusters (PI).

The pipeline of the main drive unit (RN) is ended with compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles (18) which compress the water jet with installed movable reverse flaps (17).

The pipeline of the back thruster (RST) and the front thruster (RSP) are each ended with at least one left ejector - a nozzle (L) and at least one right ejector - nozzle (P), wherein the left and right ejectors are installed through the side pontoon hulls (1) on their external side.

The nacelle (19) is fixed by means of rubber pads (K) which damp vibrations into a traverse reinforcement frame (3) two double pads (K) per frame (3) - six double pads (K) per three frames (3) in total. A hybrid drive is used as a stationary engine (20), which drive consists of the main stationary diesel marine engine and an auxiliary engine - a magnetic wobble plate engine powered by direct current with carbon brushes.

The stationary engine (20) with the gear (21) is damped by means of vibroisolators for internal longitudinals of the nacelle (19).

The drive unit is a drive with a hybrid stationary engine (20), not an outboard drive.

The drive unit is installed in one of the pontoon hulls (in this case in the middle pontoon hull (2) of a trimaran), in a specially prepared separate part of the middle pontoon hull (2), a so called "nacelle" (19),which is placed in the front of the unit.

The main drive consists of:

A stationary marine engine (20) (in this case a diesel), which is being damped on two stages.

The first stage - on the rubber pads (K) installed between the nacelle (19) and a traverse reinforcement frame (3) (two double pads (K) per frame (3) - six double pads (K) per three frames (3) in total).

The second stage - the stationary engine (20) with the gear (21) is damped by means of vibroisolators for internal longitudinals of the nacelle.

This increases comfort by means of damping vibrations of the jet propeller (25) and the propeller shaft (24).

directly to the flywheel of the engine (20) there is a torsional vibration damper (22) installed, next there is an electromagnetic clutch (SE). The electromagnetic clutch (SE) allows for remote control of the drive unit - while mooring, the stationary engine (20) can be controlled remotely by the automatics and operate as a drive for the electric power generator or the drive of air conditioning, without a risk of coupling the drive - this type of clutch is ease to control remotely.

gear (21) - the casing of the gear (21) is directly joined with the engine in a rigid manner (in a likewise manner the clutch is joined with the casing as a whole)

- a one-way clutch (23) - its function is to uncouple the casing of the gear, which creates unnecessary resistance in the moment of powering the electric engine (possible functions of the hybrid - sailing in the silent zones, serving as an alternate engine in case of the main engine failure)

- transmission by means of a Cardan shaft (24) with Birfield style joints or cross-type joints - a belt pulley of the drive (26) (a sprocket or fan one) by means of a sprocket belt or a fan belt from an electric DC engine (the electric engine is installed over the jet propeller and/or on the side)

- jet propeller (25)

In the place of standard compressor air nozzles at the end of the jet propeller (25) - right behind the directing wheel (regulating/straightening the jet of the pumped water) there is a special transmission pipeline consisting of respectively :

□□ maintenance access hatch (27) for maintenance check-up in order to exchange the bearing of the propeller shaft, or to check the state of the rotor, or a possibility to remove a line tangled up in the rotor;

□ Dcap of the maintenance access hatch (pressed, the bottom part of the cap is profiled, after fixing makes the inner section round and does not hinder the water flow;

□ Da distributor of special construction, which is ended with:

o ferrules for connecting the back and front thrusters (15) (in this case, 3" that is DN80). The thrusters are "fed" by means of a water jet from the propeller (25) of the main drive unit with a butterfly valve of the main drive unit (P2) (with a horizontal axis) regulating the amount of water fed to the main drive unit/the thrusters - the moment the butterfly valve closes the amount of water fed to the main drive unit decreases, and the amount of water fed to the thrusters increases, depending on what is necessary); here the butterfly valve is controlled by a linear electric actuator;

o butterfly valve of the thrusters (PI) (with a vertical axis) regulating the amount of water fed to the left or right side of the drive unit's ejector (the water ejected from the propeller (25) is not ejected directly outside the boat - which causes its thrust and movment, but the jet is divided into two, L and P, which in result allows the two jets to give thrust to the boat. The valve has an additional function (it can be coupled with the steering wheel) the main direction of water ejection - steering the unit will be implemented by movable exhaust nozzles at the end of the system (coupled with the steering wheel).

o connection ferrules of the L and P pipeline of the main drive unit (31) (in this case 6" that is DN150)

o for each side of the pipeline of the main drive unit (RN): - rubber expansion joint (12) which dumps the vibrations of the drive unit assemblage, the water jet (the pipeline placed outside the nacelle will be stiffly connected with the pontoon hull construction), a compensator is to, as its name suggests, compensate the movements of the nacelle with respect to the pontoon hull unit - the aim is to increase comfort and durability of the installation - it will equalize potential stress and tension, etc.

- the pipeline (RN) directing the water jest into the stern arean (installed between a side pontoon hull (2) and middle pontoon hull (1), below the water surface - which allows for not counting the mass of water in the pipeline into the unit's displacement)

- a compressor air nozzle and a movable exhaust nozzle (18) - controlled by means of the steering wheel, they direct the ejected water jet which regulates the direction of movement

- reverse flap (17) (controlled from the pilothouse using the linear electric actuator)

Front thruster and stern thruster:

The idea is to feed the ejector of the thruster from the propeller (25). It will also allow for constant operation during movement, e.g. to adjust the course in the case of side water current etc. 9standard thrusters, especially with electric drive have their operation time limited to a few or over a dozen minutes, due to large power consumption and heating of the electric wire components).

Example 2 (Front thruster)

A drive unit is installed in one of the pontoon hulls in the middle pontoon hull (2), in a separate part of the middle pontoon hull (2) which is a separated nacelle (19), placed in the front of the unit, wherein the main drive unit of the nacelle (19) is a drive with a stationary engine (20), not an outboard drive, where by means of main ferrules (31) and ferrules (15) connected to the nacelle (19) a propelling water jet flows, which is used to steer the unit, wherein to the main ferrules (31) there are joined by means of rubber expansion joints DN150 (13), pipes of a pipeline of the main drive unit (RN), which direct the water jet into the stern area installed between a side pontoon hull (1) and the middle pontoon hull (2) along the unit below water surface , wherein to the ferrules for connecting the front and back thrusters (15) there are connected, by means of rubber expansion joints DN80 (12), at least two thrusters - a front one (SP) and back one (ST), wherein the jet of water directed to pipelines (RN) (RST) (RSP) is steered from a inboard panel and/or remote panel and/or steering wheel, each by means of a butterfly valve of the main drive unit (P2) and a butterfly valve of the thrusters (PI), and the pipeline of the main drive unit (RN) is ended with compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles (18) which compress the water jet with installed movable reverse flaps (17), wherein the pipeline of the back thruster (RST) and the front thruster (RSP) are each ended with at least one left ejector - a nozzle (L) and at least one right ejector - nozzle (P), wherein the left and right ejectors are installed through the side pontoon hulls (1) on their external side.

The front thruster (SP), placed in the front part of the unit consists of the following consecutively joined elements:

- connections for ferrules (here DN80) - screw unions (16)

- three-way cut-off and distribution valve (14) controlled by means of an electric or hydraulic actuator

- rubber expansion joint DN80 (12)

- the pipeline of the front drive unit (RSP)

- left (L) and right (P) ejectors - nozzles.

Example 3 (Back thruster)

A drive unit is installed in one of the pontoon hulls in the middle pontoon hull (2), in a separate part of the middle pontoon hull (2) which is a separated nacelle (19), placed in the front of the unit, wherein the main drive unit of the nacelle (19) is a drive with a stationary engine (20), not an outboard drive, where by means of main ferrules (31) and ferrules (15) connected to the nacelle (19) a propelling water jet flows, which is used to steer the unit, wherein to the main ferrules (31) there are joined by means of rubber expansion joints DN150 (13), pipes of a pipeline of the main drive unit (RN), which direct the water jet into the stern area installed between a side pontoon hull (1) and the middle pontoon hull (2) along the unit below water surface , wherein to the ferrules for connecting the front and back thrusters (15) there are connected, by means of rubber expansion joints DN80 (12), at least two thrusters - a front one (SP) and back one (ST), wherein the jet of water directed to pipelines (RN) (RST) (RSP) is steered from a inboard panel and/or remote panel and/or steering wheel, each by means of a butterfly valve of the main drive unit (P2) and a butterfly valve of the thrusters (PI), and the pipeline of the main drive unit (RN) is ended with compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles (18) which compress the water jet with installed movable reverse flaps (17), wherein the pipeline of the back thruster (RST) and the front thruster (RSP) are each ended with at least one left ejector - a nozzle (L) and at least one right ejector - nozzle (P), wherein the left and right ejectors are installed through the side pontoon hulls (1) on their external side.

The back thruster (ST) placed in the back part of the unit consists of the following consecutively joined elements:

- connections for ferrules (here DN80) - screw unions (16)

- three-way cut-off and distribution valve (14) controlled by means of an electric or hydraulic actuator

- rubber expansion joint DN80 (12)

- the pipeline of the back drive unit (RST)

- left (L) and right (P) ejectors - nozzles.

Example 4 (Jet propeller)

A drive unit is installed in one of the pontoon hulls in the middle pontoon hull (2), in a separate part of the middle pontoon hull (2) which is a separated nacelle (19), placed in the front of the unit, wherein the main drive unit of the nacelle (19) is a drive with a stationary engine (20), not an outboard drive, where by means of main ferrules (31) and ferrules (15) connected to the nacelle (19) a propelling water jet flows, which is used to steer the unit, wherein to the main ferrules (31) there are joined by means of rubber expansion joints DN150 (13), pipes of a pipeline of the main drive unit (RN), which direct the water jet into the stern area installed between a side pontoon hull (1) and the middle pontoon hull (2) along the unit below water surface , wherein to the ferrules for connecting the front and back thrusters (15) there are connected, by means of rubber expansion joints DN80 (12), at least two thrusters - a front one (SP) and back one (ST), wherein the jet of water directed to pipelines (RN) (RST) (RSP) is steered from a inboard panel and/or remote panel and/or steering wheel, each by means of a butterfly valve of the main drive unit (P2) and a butterfly valve of the thrusters (PI), and the pipeline of the main drive unit (RN) is ended with compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles (18) which compress the water jet with installed movable reverse flaps (17), wherein the pipeline of the back thruster (RST) and the front thruster (RSP) are each ended with at least one left ejector - a nozzle (L) and at least one right ejector - nozzle (P), wherein the left and right ejectors are installed through the side pontoon hulls (1) on their external side.

The propeller (25) has at least one separating grate (S) in the form of a grid installed at its entrance hole i.e. inlet ports.

An electromagnetic clutch is used.

A proper solution was chosen for the drive of the electric power generator - the unit connects the main diesel engine with the generator by means of a hydraulic unit with a hydraulic pump which has an alternate output.

Example 5 (Three-way valve)

A drive unit is installed in one of the pontoon hulls in the middle pontoon hull (2), in a separate part of the middle pontoon hull (2) which is a separated nacelle (19), placed in the front of the unit, wherein the main drive unit of the nacelle (19) is a drive with a stationary engine (20), not an outboard drive, where by means of main ferrules (31) and ferrules (15) connected to the nacelle (19) a propelling water jet flows, which is used to steer the unit, wherein to the main ferrules (31) there are joined by means of rubber expansion joints DN150 (13), pipes of a pipeline of the main drive unit (RN), which direct the water jet into the stern area installed between a side pontoon hull (1) and the middle pontoon hull (2) along the unit below water surface , wherein to the ferrules for connecting the front and back thrusters (15) there are connected, by means of rubber expansion joints DN80 (12), at least two thrusters - a front one (SP) and back one (ST), wherein the jet of water directed to pipelines (RN) (RST) (RSP) is steered from a inboard panel and/or remote panel and/or steering wheel, each by means of a butterfly valve of the main drive unit (P2) and a butterfly valve of the thrusters (PI), and the pipeline of the main drive unit (RN) is ended with compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles (18) which compress the water jet with installed movable reverse flaps (17), wherein the pipeline of the back thruster (RST) and the front thruster (RSP) are each ended with at least one left ejector - a nozzle (L) and at least one right ejector - nozzle (P), wherein the left and right ejectors are installed through the side pontoon hulls (1) on their external side.

Cut-off mode - outlet ferrules A and B are closed.

Distribution mode - outlet ferrules A and B, depending on the position of the butterfly valve only one of them in open.

The construction guarantees correct operation in the case of high differential pressure between the inlet and the outlets - ca 15 bar (standard three-way valves allow operation with differential pressure between the inlet and outlet max ca 1-2 bar),

Operating without the use of a pre-filter in front of the valve / blocked pre-filters due to polluted water could cause a failure, lack of functionality of the thruster at the least expected moment, e.g. a complicated maneuver at port,

Operation in a dirty, polluted medium, e.g. with sand, grit, is possible,

The valve in the cut-off mode does not have to be perfectly sealed - it is only to decrease the flow of water significantly by virtually cutting it off, a potential water leakage from outlet nozzles of the thrusters is not essential; however, failure-free is an essential feature.

Example 6 (Steering method)

The floating unit is steered by means of a control panel - a mouse coupled with a steering module (M) which controls the movements of: butterfly valves (PI) and (P2), three- way cut-off and distribution valves (14), and reverse flaps (17), front (SP) and back (ST) thrusters, wherein communication between the control panel preferred a mouse and the steering module (M) takes place by means of a wired and/or wireless signal, and the movements of the mouse correspond to the directions where the boat floats, i.e.:

A - 'forward' direction, the main drive is actuated by means of the pipeline of the main drive unit (RN) to compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles (18);

B - 'backward' direction, the main drive is actuated by means of the pipeline of the main drive unit (RN) to compressor air nozzles and movable exhaust nozzles (18) with reverse flaps (17) pulled on; CI - 'the bow of the unit to the left' direction, the right ejector - nozzle (P) of the front thruster (SP) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster (RSP);

C2 - 'left' direction, the right ejector - nozzle (P) of the back thruster (ST) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster (RST), also the right ejector - nozzle (P) of the front thruster (SP) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster (RSP);

C3 - 'the stern of the unit to the left' direction, the right ejector - nozzle (P) of the back thruster (ST) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster (RST)

Dl - 'the bow of the unit to the right' direction, the left ejector - nozzle (L) of the front thruster (SP) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster (RSP);

D2 - 'right' direction, the left ejector - nozzle (L) of the back thruster (ST) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster (RST), also the left ejector - nozzle (L) of the front thruster (SP) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the front thruster (RSP);

D3 - 'the stern of the unit to the right' direction, the left ejector - nozzle (L) of the back thruster (ST) is actuated by means of the pipeline of the back thruster (RST).