EP2993118A1 - Fin stabilizer and water vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a fin stabilizer for stabilizing a watercraft, having a main fin pivotable by a watercraft-side fin drive, and a caudal fin movably mounted on the main fin, with means for automatically adjusting a caudal fin angle between the caudal fin and the main fin from a water pressure acting on an effective surface of the caudal fin, as well as a watercraft stabilized by at least one such fin stabilizer.

Description

The invention relates to a fin stabilizer for stabilizing a watercraft according to the preamble of patent claim 1, as well as a watercraft.

Stabilizers of watercraft, especially fin stabilizers, which are suitable for both the driving operation, as well as for a "pre-anchor" operation, have these two operating modes regarding conflicting requirements. For operation optimized stabilizer fins should have a large span and a relatively small chord length. The buoyancy forces to stabilize the vessel result from the flow during the journey and the angle of attack of the fin stabilizers. To minimize the required drive torque, the axis of rotation should be in the area of the center of lift of the fin stabilizer.

Since there is no or negligible flow of the stabilizer fins in the case of a "pre-anchor" stabilization, the force counteracting a rolling motion must be generated by the fin stabilizers themselves, by displacement and flow structure around the moved stabilizer fin. The stabilizer fins should therefore have a large chord length with an axis of rotation closer to the nose of the stabilizer fins in "pre-anchor" stabilization at approximately the same span. In order for the "pre-anchor" fin stabilizers to be able to effectively counteract a rolling motion of the watercraft during driving operation, high drive torques are required. Due to the large stabilizer fin and the strong drive, these stabilizer systems have a high weight, a high power consumption and a large space requirement in the vessel. Furthermore, when designing the fin stabilizers, a compromise must always be made between the driving operation and the "pre-armature" operation.

In the US5367970A a fin with variably adjustable outer contour is disclosed. In the fin control wires are integrated, which cause a buckling of the fin by a change in length. The change in length is regulated by a control system.

From the DE102011005313 B3 For example, there is known a fin stabilizer for stabilizing a watercraft having a main fin pivotable by a watercraft-side fin drive and a caudal fin movably supported on the main fin. The fin stabilizer has a locking device that actively controls the pivoting of the caudal fin. In "pre-anchor" operation, the locking device locks a possible pivoting movement of the caudal fin and thereby increases the surface of the stabilizer fin. When driving the locking device is switched to freewheeling and allows a free pivoting movement of the caudal fin, whereby the surface of the stabilizer fin is reduced.

These known concepts allow a more effective stabilization of the vessel as one-piece stabilizer fins, in particular by adjusting the effective area of the stabilizer fins. However, in this case an active control device is needed to choose between the operating conditions "pre-anchor" and driving operation. Furthermore, there is in the DE102011005313 B3 the locking device of a variety of mechanical or hydraulic components.

The publication US 2 151 836 A discloses a boat with elastic side bump pads and support surfaces for reducing heavy bumps. The publication DE 60 2005 004 944 T2 discloses an active roll stabilization system for ships. From the publication DE 39 39 435 A1 Stabilizing fins are known for damping the longitudinal motion in Kiel yachts known.

The object of the invention is to provide a fin stabilizer for a watercraft, which allows for a reduced technical effort both in driving operation and in "pre-anchor" operation a high stabilization effect of the vessel, and against a rolling motion both pre-anchor, as also highly stabilized during cruising.

This object is achieved by a fin stabilizer for stabilizing a watercraft having the features of patent claim 1 and by a watercraft having the features of patent claim 10.

A fin stabilizer according to the invention for stabilizing a watercraft has a main fin, which can be pivoted by a watercraft-side fin drive, and a caudal fin. According to the invention, the tail fin is elastically deformable when it exceeds a hydraulic force acting on it, thereby automatically setting one Tail fin angle. Alternatively or additionally, a device for automatically adjusting a tail fin angle can be arranged between the caudal fin and the main fin, which adjusts the tail fin angle as a function of a hydraulic force acting on the caudal fin.

Both the flexible caudal fin and the device for automatically adjusting a caudal fin angle are passive. As a result, control devices, active controls and the like are not necessary. There is no need to integrate active control devices into the fin stabilizer so that it also has reduced weight and complexity over conventional fin stabilizers of the same size. The production costs and the maintenance of the fin stabilizer is significantly reduced. The device acts as a kind of spring with a spring constant adapted to the forces acting on the stabilizer fin. In the "pre-anchor" operation, the effective effective area of the stabilizer fin is extended by the caudal fin, since the force acting on the caudal fin during "pre-anchor" operation causes no or only negligibly small deflection of the caudal fin when adjusting the fin drive. When driving, however, a water flow acts in addition to the fin drive, so that the force acting on the caudal fin causes a deflection and thus a laying of the caudal fin in the direction of the water flow. The effective surface of the stabilizer fin is thus reduced in travel mode, whereby the drive torque of the stabilizer fin decreases and thus a larger angle of attack and resulting greater buoyancy force for roll reduction is achieved.

In one embodiment, the caudal fin is pivotally mounted on the main fin about a pivot axis. This allows a defined mechanical pivoting of the caudal fin. The device may in this case be an arrangement of at least one elastic deformation body, a cylinder-piston arrangement, a double-acting torsion spring seated on the pivot axis and the like, which passively adjust the tail fin angle and the pivoting of the caudal fin.

According to a preferred embodiment of the fin stabilizer, the device has a deformation body which at least partially connects the main fin with the caudal fin. Preferably, the deformation body consists of a one-piece elastic plastic or an elastic combination of plastics and other suitable materials and has a defined spring constant. Here, the mechanical pivot axis between the caudal fin and the main fin can be completely replaced by the deformation body.

In a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the fin stabilizer, the deformation body is designed in several parts, for example multi-layered. The individual bodies or layers can have a variable thickness. The orientation of the layers may be chosen differently depending on the required properties of the deformation body. Reinforcing fibers may be embedded in the deformation body. The composition of the deformation body, the geometric shape and the thickness or distribution of thickness of the layers of the deformation body, the behavior of the caudal fin can be precisely adjusted.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the deformation body has at least one stabilizing element. This stabilizing element preferably only allows the degrees of freedom necessary for the operation of the fin stabilizer for a deflection of the caudal fin. The stabilizing element thus acts as a quasi-pivoting guide, which prevents twisting of the device. Preferably, this layer element is introduced centrally or in the neutral phase of the deformation body. The layer element may for example consist of a plastic, of a fiber composite material, a metal or a metal compound material or the like.

In an advantageous embodiment of the fin stabilizer, the stabilization element connects, at least in sections, the caudal fin with the main fin. This ensures that there is at least one continuous connection between the main fin and the caudal fin and the caudal fin is still reliably connected to the main fin when the deformation body is damaged.

Preferably, the securing element of the fin stabilizer has at least one web on at least one side. By this measure, a flat rib-like bracing of the deformation body. Preferably, a plurality of webs, in particular wall-like webs are provided, wherein at least some spaces between the webs are filled with compressible and stretchable materials such as plastic foams. Furthermore, multi-part, in particular multi-layered deformation combinations and the like can be used in the interstices. A defined transfer of the forces acting on the caudal fin forces on the deformation body is thereby made possible. Through the materials in the spaces, the spring constant of the deformation body can be precisely adjusted. However, the materials may also be chosen so that their influence on the spring constant is negligible compared to the influence of a median plane of the deformation body. For example, it is conceivable to choose the materials in the interstices so that different sized resistances must be overcome depending on the tilt angle. Likewise, the materials in the interstices can be chosen such that, depending on the swivel angle, an increasing resistance for pivoting the tail fin is overcome.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the fin stabilizer, the deformation body or the caudal fin at least partially on a non-positive and / or positive connection with the main fin. Preferably, the deformation body is also flush in the caudal fin. By this measure, the production of such a fin stabilizer can be carried out with the aid of the usual manufacturing processes with a high degree of automation. Examples are screw connections and dovetail connections. Alternatively or additionally, the deformation body can also be adhesively bonded to the main fin and / or caudal fin, for example adhesively bonded.

The deforming body or caudal fin may extend flush or stepped from the main fin. The flush design results in particular a fluidically optimized form of the fin stabilizer. Whirls in the transitional areas of the main fin facility and facility tail fin can be effectively prevented. The gradation simplifies the manufacture of the fin stabilizer.

A vessel equipped with the fin stabilizer according to the invention is characterized, in particular in the case of a technically reduced fin stabilizer, by a high degree of roll stabilization, both while driving and in "pre-anchor" operation.

Other advantageous embodiments are the subject of further subclaims.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Flossenstabilisators im nicht montierten Zustand,

Figur 2

eine vereinfachte Schnittdarstellung des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels

Figur 3

einen Schnitt durch einen Teilbereich des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels,

Figur 4

einen Schnitt durch einen Teilbereich des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels,

Figur 5

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Flossenstabilisators,

Figur 6

einen Schnitt durch einen Teilbereich des dritten Ausführungsbeispiels,

Figur 7

einen Schnitt durch einen Teilbereich eines vierten Ausführungsbeispiels,

Figur 8

einen Schnitt durch einen Teilbereich eines fünften Ausführungsbeispiels,

Figur 9

einen Schnitt durch einen Teilbereich eines sechsten Ausführungsbeispiels.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to greatly simplified schematic illustrations. Show it:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fin stabilizer according to the invention in the unassembled state,

FIG. 2

a simplified sectional view of the first embodiment

FIG. 3

a section through a portion of the first embodiment,

FIG. 4

a section through a portion of the second embodiment,

FIG. 5

a perspective view of a third embodiment of the fin stabilizer according to the invention,

FIG. 6

a section through a portion of the third embodiment,

FIG. 7

a section through a portion of a fourth embodiment,

FIG. 8

a section through a portion of a fifth embodiment,

FIG. 9

a section through a portion of a sixth embodiment.

In the drawings, the same structural elements each have the same reference number. For reasons of clarity, only a few of the same constructive elements are provided with a reference numeral in some figures.

The FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fin stabilizer 1. The fin stabilizer 1 has a main fin 2 and a tail fin 4, which has a means 6 for automatically setting a tail fin angle α to the main fin 2. The device 6 is in the longitudinal direction x of the fin stabilizer 1 between the main fin 2 and the caudal fin 4. The tail fin angle α becomes closer in FIG. 2 explained.

The main fin 2 is driven via a drive shaft 7 by a watercraft-side fin drive, not shown. The drive shaft 7 extends in or nearly in the transverse direction y of the fin stabilizer 1 and is arranged centrally in the vertical direction z of the fin stabilizer 1. A receptacle, not shown, for producing an operative connection between the drive shaft 7 and the fin stabilizer 1 is arranged near a leading edge 8 of the main fin 2 viewed on the inflow side and away from a trailing edge 9 of the main fin 2 and thus away from the tail fin 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates the deflection of the caudal fin 4 relative to a main fin center plane 3 about a caudal fin angle α using a simplified sectional view of the first embodiment. A position of the caudal fin 4 deflected about the tail fin angle + α is illustrated here by the reference numeral 4+. A position of the caudal fin 4 deflected about the tail fin angle -α is illustrated here by the reference numeral 4-. The respective position results from the forces applied to the caudal fin 4. The alignment of the tail fin 4 always takes place in such a way that it takes place in the direction of a water flow which is applied to one of the main fin 2. A pivot axis 11, designated here by the reference numeral 11, merely serves as a reference point for defining the tail fin angle.

FIG. 3 represents a section of the device 6 in the area A. FIG. 1 along in the direction of flow of the fin stabilizer 1. In this embodiment, the device 6 is designed as a one-piece, elastic deformation body 10. The deformation body 10 extends over the respective entire extent of the stabilizer fin 1 in the trailing edge region of the main fin 2 in the transverse direction y and in the vertical direction z. For example, the deformation body 10 is made of polyurethane. The device 6 serves as a kind of pivot axis 11 (FIG. FIG. 2 ) and as a connection between the skin fin 2 and the caudal fin 4. The device 6 has, in addition to the deformation body 10, a connecting element 12 which connects the deformation element 10 to the main fin 2. The connecting element 12 here has an H-shaped longitudinal section and is preferably resistant to bending and bolted to the main fin. A tail fin side connector is not shown, but can be constructed analogously be. A connection of the deformation body 10 to the tailfin side connecting element, for example, by material connection.

The main fin side connecting element 12, the deformation body 10 and the tail fin side connecting element lead a streamlined shape of the main fin 2 to the tail fin 4. A skin 10 covering the deformation body 10, the main-finside connecting element 12 and the tail-fins-side connecting element (not shown) goes over flush from the main fin 2 to the tail fin 4.

In FIG. 4 a section through a second embodiment of the fin stabilizer 1 according to the invention in the region of a device 6 for automatically setting a tail fin angle α between the tail fin 4 and the main fin 2 is shown. The device 6 has a multipart and in particular here a multilayer deformation body 10, which extends over the entire transverse extent and high expansion of the fin stabilizer 1 in the trailing edge region of the main fin 2. It is connected to a main finside connection element 12 and a tail finside connection element 18. It has a stabilizing element 16, which is introduced in the neutral phase of the deformation body 10 and extends between the main fin-side connecting element 12 and the tail fin-side connecting element 18. The stabilizing element 16 prevents distortion of the deformation body 10 during an elastic deformation for deflecting the tail fin 4. On both sides of the stabilization element 16 two layers 21, 23 and 20, 22 are respectively arranged.

Depending on the requirements of the multilayer deformation body 10, the thickness, ie the extent in the vertical direction z, of the stabilizing element 16 and of the individual layers 20, 21, 22, 23 can vary. Likewise, the individual layers 20 to 23 may consist of different materials. The stabilizing element is here, for example, a plastic-based glass fiber composite material, the two immediately adjacent to the stabilizing element 16 inner layers 22, 23 consist for example of a polyurethane or polyethylene foam and the two outer layers 20, 21 for example, consist of a non-foamed polyurethane elastomer.

The stretchable and compressible layers 20, 21, 22, 23 are adapted to the stabilizing element 16 in their thickness. This results in the desired shape of the device 6 and thus also the shape of the transition from the main fin 2 to the caudal fin 4. In the illustrated second exemplary embodiment, the stabilization element 16 tapers in the direction of the caudal fin. The inner layers 22, 23 increase in height in the caudal fin direction, whereas the outer layers 20, 21 are tapered in the direction of the caudal fin for setting the flow-optimized shape. Of course, other courses are possible.

The FIG. 5 shows in perspective a third embodiment of the fin stabilizer 1 with a device 6 for automatically setting a tail fin angle α between a tail fin 4 and a main fin 2. The device 6 has a multipart deformation body 10 in which a stabilizing element 16 is embedded, which introduced in the neutral phase is. The stabilizing element 16 is here plate-like and has webs 24, 25, 26, 27 arranged on both sides. The webs 24, 25, 26, 27 are respectively arranged opposite one another and extend in the vertical direction z of the fin stabilizer 1 along the entire extent of the fin stabilizer 1 in the transverse direction y in the region of the deformation body 10. A detailed explanation of the webs is in FIG. 6 ,

In FIG. 6 is an enlarged section of the area B FIG. 5 shown. The device 6 is connected via a here H-shaped connecting element 12 with the main fin 2. The connecting element 12 is similar to the connecting element 12 shown in the first embodiment FIG. 2 executed, eliminating repetitive explanations. The connection of the tail fin 4 to the deformation body 10 is also equal to the first embodiment, so that here repeating explanations omitted and the explanations to FIG. 2 is referenced.

The webs 24, 25, 26, 27 are executed here wall-like and extend orthogonally from the stabilizing element 18 in the vertical direction z. They are each preferably evenly spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction x of the fin stabilizer 1 and from its outer skin 14 at the head end. Due to the flow-optimized shape of the deformation body 10, the webs or walls 24, 25, 26, 27 extend away from the stabilizing element 16 at different distances or have different heights. By the mutual spacing a plurality of spaces 32, 33, 34, 35 is formed, the head side of the webs 28, 29, 30, 31 are interconnected. The intermediate spaces 32, 33, 34, 35 are filled with a plastic foam 22, 23 in this embodiment. The stabilizing element 16 and the webs 28, 29, 30, 31 are preferably also made of plastic. For mutual interlocking of the plastic material in the intermediate spaces 32, 33, 34, 35, the webs may be provided with corresponding holes for receiving or penetrating the plastic material. In the case of a deformation of the deformation body 10, the webs 28, 29, 30, 31 of the one side are moved towards one another on the head side and the plastic material is compressed in the respective interspaces 32, 33, 34, 35, whereby a pivoting behavior of the tail fin can likewise be set.

In FIG. 7 a section through a device 6 for automatically adjusting a tail fin angle α between a caudal fin 4 and a main fin 2 of a fourth embodiment of a fin stabilizer 1 is shown. The essential difference from the third embodiment is that here a multipart deformation body 10 of the device 6 on both sides of a plate-like stabilizing element 16 for self-contained chambers 36, 37, 38, 39 has. A mutual connection of the chambers or intermediate spaces 36, 37, 38, 39 as in the third embodiment according to FIG. 6 does not exist. The chambers 36, 37, 38, 39 are arranged in pairs on both sides of the stabilizing element 16 in the flow direction one behind the other and filled for example with a plastic foam.

FIG. 8 shows a section through a device 6 for automatically adjusting a tail fin angle α between a tail fin 4 and a main fin 2 of a fifth embodiment of a fin stabilizer 1. The essential difference from the embodiments already shown consists in the stepped shape of the device 6 and its deformation body 10 in Area of the main fin-side connecting element 12 and thus in the transition region from the main fin 2 to the device 6. The deformation body 10 has here, for example, a rectangular longitudinal section. Thus, the outer skin 14 extends in the direction of the caudal fin 4 parallel to the main fin center plane 3. The caudal fin 4 is preferably carried out streamlined as in the previous embodiments. It extends here flush from the device 6 away. Optionally, the tail fin 4 can be omitted. In this case, then the device 6 or its deformation body 10 does not fulfill the task of existing tail fin 4, by the device 6 gives the water forces acting on them while driving and remains in the "pre-anchor" operation quasi-rigid. See also the in FIG. 9 described embodiment in which the device 6 and the deformation body 10 forms the tail fin 4 and the tail fin 4, the device 6 and the deformation body 10 is.

In FIG. 9 a section through a portion of a sixth embodiment of the fin stabilizer 1 is shown. For automatic setting of a tail fin angle α, the tail fin 4 in this embodiment is designed such that it is elastically deformed when a water force acting on it is exceeded. The device 6 or the deformation body 10 is virtually integrated into the caudal fin 4 and does not constitute a single component. The caudal fin 4 is thus connected directly to the main fin 2. All features of the device 6 such as gaps, webs, can be integrated into the elastic caudal fin 4.

In the following, the mode of operation of the automatic device 6 for the automatic adjustment of a tail fin angle α will be explained. The description refers to all in the FIGS. 1 to 7 shown fin stabilizers. The device 6 and in particular its one-piece or multi-part deformation body 10 acts as a kind of spring, the spring constant is set so that no or almost no pivoting of the tail fin 4 relative to the main fin 2 takes place during "pre-anchor" operation, whereas while driving the tail fin 2 is aligned in the direction of a water flow. The spring constant is determined by the structure of the deformation body 10 and is in the multi-part deformation body 10 shown here as an example resulting from individual material properties of the layers 20, 21, 22, 23, space fillings, chamber fillings, stabilizing elements 16 and webs 28, 29, 30, 31st together. The device 6 forms a quasi from acting on the tail fin 4 load by an elastic deformation in FIG. 2 indicated pivot axis 11th

The device 6 thereby extends the effective effective area of the fin stabilizer 1 through the tail fin 4 in "pre-anchor" operation, since the force acting on the caudal fin 4 during a pivoting of the fin stabilizer 1 results in a clear deflection of the caudal fin 4 around the tail fin angle + α, -α is not enough. In the "pre-anchor" operation is thus an effective effective area of the fin stabilizer 1 of the Main fin 2 and formed by almost the entire surface of the caudal fin 4. When driving, however, the water flow acts in addition to the fin drive, so that the force acting on the caudal fin 4 causes a deflection and thus a laying of the caudal fin 4 in the flow. The surface of the fin stabilizer is thus reduced in driving operation, whereby the fin stabilizer can be deflected by the fin drive more. When driving, the caudal fin is thus quasi freewheeling or clearance, so that the driving surface of the fin stabilizer 1 is largely formed by the main fin during driving operation.

Disclosed is a fin stabilizer for stabilizing a watercraft, having a main fin pivotable by a watercraft-side fin drive, and a caudal fin movably mounted on the main fin, with means for automatically adjusting a caudal fin angle between the caudal fin and the main fin from a water pressure acting on an effective surface of the caudal fin, as well as a watercraft stabilized by at least one such fin stabilizer.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

fin stabilizer

2

main fin

3

Main fin midplane

4

caudal fin

4+

Caudal fin deflected by + α

4

To -α deflected caudal fin

6

Facility

7

drive shaft

8th

Leading edge d. main fin

9

Trailing edge d. main fin

10

deformable body

11

swivel axis

12

Connecting element main fin side

14

shell

16

stabilizing element

18

Connecting element tail tail side

20

location

21

location

22

location

23

location

24

web

25

web

26

web

27

web

32

gap

33

gap

34

gap

35

gap

36

chamber

37

chamber

38

chamber

39

chamber

α

Caudal angle

x

longitudinal direction

y

Transverse direction / width direction

z

Vertical direction / thickness direction

Claims (10)

A fin stabilizer (1) for stabilizing a vessel against rolling motion, comprising a main fin (2) which is pivotable by a watercraft-side fin drive, and a caudal fin (4), characterized in that for automatically setting a caudal fin angle (α) the caudal fin (4 ) is elastically deformable when a hydrostatic force acting on it is exceeded, and / or that means (6) for automatically setting a caudal fin angle (α) between the caudal fin (4) and the main fin (2) in dependence on a caudal fin (4 ) Acting hydropower is provided. A fin stabilizer according to claim 1, wherein the caudal fin (4) is pivotably mounted on the main fin (2) about a pivot axis (11). A fin stabilizer according to claim 1, wherein the means (6) comprises at least one elastic deformation body (10) at least partially connecting the main fin (2) to the caudal fin (4). A fin stabilizer according to claim 3, wherein the deformation body (10) is made in several parts. Fin stabilizer according to one of the preceding claims 1, 2 to 4, wherein the deformation body (10) has at least one stabilizing element (16). A fin stabilizer according to claim 5, wherein the stabilizing element (16) at least in sections connects the caudal fin (4) to the main fin (2). Fin stabilizer according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the stabilizing element (16) at least on one side at least one web (24, 25, 26, 27). Fin stabilizer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one deformation body (10) or the caudal fin (4) is non-positively and / or positively connected to the main fin (2). Fin stabilizer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the deformation body (10) or the caudal fin (4) extends flush from the main fin (2). A watercraft stabilized by at least one fin stabilizer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

Images