Fin stabilizer
AssigneeSkf Marine GmbH
InventorMark Niedostatek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fin stabilizer is for the roll-stabilizing of a watercraft in motion, at anchor, or at zero speed, including a shaft on which a stabilizing fin is disposed. The shaft is drivable by a drive unit for changing at least one angle of attack of the stabilizing fin in the water. A cross-sectional geometry of the stabilizing fin is changeable by at least one actuator, and the stabilizing fin forms a closed surface geometry. Due to the hydraulically effective cross-sectional geometry of the stabilizing fin, which cross-sectional geometry is largely changeable by at least one actuator, a significantly increased energy efficiency of the fin stabilizer results with a simultaneously improved stabilizing effect of the fin stabilizer, in particular with respect to suppressing rolling movements of the watercraft.
Claims13
A fin stabilizer for roll-stabilizing a watercraft in motion, at anchor, or at zero speed, the fin stabilizer comprising:
- a shaft,
- a stabilizing fin disposed on the shaft and forming a self-contained surface geometry,
- a drive unit for driving the shaft and for changing at least one angle of attack of the stabilizing fin in water, and
- at least one actuator configured to change a cross-sectional geometry of the stabilizing fin,
- wherein the stabilizing fin comprises an inflow body spaced from an outflow body by an elastomeric connecting body, the elastomeric connecting body connecting the inflow body to the outflow body, and
- wherein the change of the cross-sectional geometry of the stabilizing fin is effected solely by an elastic deformation of the elastomeric connecting body.
A fin stabilizer for roll-stabilizing a watercraft in motion, at anchor, or at zero speed, the fin stabilizer comprising:
- a shaft,
- a stabilizing fin disposed on the shaft and forming a self-contained surface geometry,
- a drive unit for driving the shaft and for changing at least one angle of attack of the stabilizing fin in water, and
- at least one actuator configured to change a cross-sectional geometry of the stabilizing fin,
- wherein the stabilizing fin comprises an inflow body spaced from an outflow body by an elastomeric connecting body, the elastomeric connecting body connecting the inflow body to the outflow body, and
- wherein an outermost surface of the inflow body forms a first portion of the self-contained surface geometry and an outermost surface of the elastomeric connecting body forms a second portion of the self-contained surface geometry and an outermost surface of the outflow body forms a third portion of the self-contained surface geometry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.