Fin stabilizer with internal actuation mechanism
OwnerJohn D. Venables, Steven J. Venables +1inventors
InventorsJohn D. Venables, Steven J. Venables, Ryan W. Knapp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fin stabilizer is provided for a vessel and includes a fin which is supported by a shaft that extends below the waterline. The shaft is fixed in rotation along its elongate axis relative to the vessel and the fin includes an actuator mechanism which causes the fin to rotate around the shaft to counteract roll of the vessel. In some cases, the actuator may be hydraulic and the shaft may include passages therethrough to transfer hydraulic fluid/pressure from the vessel's interior hydraulic system through the shaft and into the actuator to cause the fin to rotate. The fin may also be able to pivot into a storage position where, for example, the shaft is folded into a cavity in the vessel hull.
Claims18
A vessel stabilizer comprising:
- a fin having a cavity therein;
- a hydraulic actuator mounted inside said cavity;
- a shaft which is fixed in rotation about its elongate axis, the shaft configured to extend from the vessel below a waterline and the hydraulic actuator coupled to the shaft such that the actuator, when actuated, causes the fin to rotate about the elongate axis of the shaft while the shaft remains fixed in rotation about the elongate axis relative to the vessel.
A vessel stabilizer comprising:
- a fin;
- a hydraulic actuator mounted to said fin;
- a connector which is fixed in rotation relative to the vessel and positioned below a waterline of the vessel and the hydraulic actuator coupled to the fin such that the hydraulic actuator, when actuated, causes the fin to rotate about an axis transverse to an elongated axis off the vessel defined from bow to stern while the connector remains fixed in rotation about the axis;
- and
- a passage through the connector configured to allow hydraulic fluid to pass from within the vessel's hull to outside the vessel's hull.
The device of claim11 wherein the connector is a shaft which includes gear teeth and the hydraulic actuator includes a gear which meshes with said gear teeth such that actuation of the hydraulic actuator causes the gear to rotate which causes the actuator and fin to rotate about the shaft.
A vessel stabilizer comprising:
- a fin having a hydraulic actuator and is configured to connect to a connector which is fixed in rotation relative to the vessel and below a waterline of the vessel, wherein the hydraulic actuator is configured to generate a torque to cause the fin to rotate around the connector about an axis and wherein the connector connects to the actuator within the fin;
- and
- wherein the hydraulic actuator is configured to be pressurized with hydraulic fluid via a passageway through the connector in order to cause the fin to rotate around the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.