Guiding arrangement for retractable thruster
AssigneeCaterpillar Propulsion Production AB
InventorJohannes Gibson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a guiding arrangement for a retractable thruster assembly. The guiding arrangement may comprise a foundation plate, a first upper guide, a second upper guide, a first lower guide, and a second lower guide. The first lower guide and the second upper guide may be arranged such that an arc angle within the range from 25° to 75° is confined therebetween. Thus, flexibility regarding the implementation of the retractable thruster assembly as L-drive or Z-drive may be gained.
Claims10
A guiding arrangement for a retractable thruster assembly with a movable thruster support pipe, the guiding arrangement comprising:
- a foundation plate including:
- a water-averted side;
- a water-facing side opposing the water-averted side;
- an opening extending between the water-averted side and the water-facing side for guiding the thruster support pipe;
- a first upper guide arranged at the water-averted side of the foundation plate;
- a second upper guide arranged at the water-averted side of the foundation plate and opposing the first upper guide with respect to the opening;
- a first lower guide arranged at the water-facing side of the foundation plate;
- and
- a second lower guide arranged at the water-facing side of the foundation plate and opposing the first lower guide with respect to the opening,
- wherein the first lower guide and the second upper guide are arranged such that an arc angle within the range from 25° to 75° is confined therebetween,
- wherein the first upper guide is located closer to the second lower guide than to the first lower guide;
- and/or
- the second upper guide is located closer to the first lower guide than to the second lower guide.
A guiding arrangement for a retractable thruster assembly with a movable thruster support pipe, the guiding arrangement comprising:
- a foundation plate including:
- a water-averted side;
- a water-facing side opposing the water-averted side;
- an opening extending between the water-averted side and the water-facing side for guiding the thruster support pipe;
- a first upper guide arranged at the water-averted side of the foundation plate;
- a second upper guide arranged at the water-averted side of the foundation plate and opposing the first upper guide with respect to the opening;
- a first lower guide arranged at the water-facing side of the foundation plate;
- and
- a second lower guide arranged at the water-facing side of the foundation plate and opposing the first lower guide with respect to the opening,
- wherein the first lower guide and the second upper guide are arranged such that an arc angle within the range from 25° to 75° is confined therebetween
- a first lifting device accommodated in the first lower guide and configured to extend in the direction of the upper guides for retraction of the retractable thruster assembly, and/or
- a second lifting device accommodated in the second lower guide and configured to extend in the direction of the upper guides for retraction of the retractable thruster assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.