Engine exhaust bypass system for ocean vessel

An exhaust system for a water-borne vessel, comprising:

• a primary exhaust subsystem comprising a primary conduit and a primary outlet.
• a bypass exhaust subsystem comprising a bypass conduit coupled to the primary conduit and a bypass outlet;
• a bypass mechanism coupled to the bypass outlet and comprising:
• an annularly-shaped seat member;
• a closure member hingedly coupled to the seat member to provide a closed position and at least one opened position
• the closure and seat members configured to seal against exhaust leakage in the closed position and to allow exhaust to flow there through in the opened condition;
• a locking mechanism configured to lock open the closure member when the closure member is opened;
• and
• wherein the bypass mechanism is configured to open when the vessel lists a predetermine amount with respect to the water line and the primary outlet is blocked.

A method of bypassing a blocked primary exhaust system, comprising:

• establishing a bypass exhaust route;
• providing a normally-closed bypass mechanism at a distal portion of the bypass exhaust route;
• the bypass mechanism comprising:
• a seat member;
• a closure member hingedly coupled to the seat member to provide a closed position and at least one opened position
• the closure and seat members configured to seal against exhaust leakage in the closed position and to allow exhaust to flow there through in the opened condition;
• a locking mechanism configured to lock open the closure member when the closure member is opened;
• and
• wherein the bypass mechanism is configured to open when the orientation of the bypass mechanism with respect to gravity changes by a predetermined amount and the primary exhaust system is blocked;
• and
• changing the orientation of the bypass mechanism with respect to gravity.

An engine exhaust bypass valve for ocean vessels, comprising:

• an annular coaming;
• a hatch hingedly coupled to the coaming, the hatch having a lip that extends below the top edge of the coaming when the hatch is in the closed position;
• a locking mechanism having a pawl and a hinge blade that communicate to fix the position of the hatch relative to the coaming;
• and
• at least one counterweight coupled to the hatch so that the counterweight counterbalances at least a portion of the weight of the hatch when the hatch is in the open position.

A method of manufacturing an engine exhaust bypass valve for ocean vessels, comprising:

• forming a bypass valve having a coaming, a hatch hingedly coupled to the coaming, and a counterweight coupler coupled to the hatch;
• calculating the force required to maintain the valve in a closed condition under normal vessel and engine operating conditions;
• determining additional weight to be added to the hatch based on the closed force calculation to keep the valve in the closed condition under normal vessel and engine operating conditions;
• calculating the force exerted on the hatch by engine exhaust when a primary exhaust system is blocked;
• calculating a position of the additional weight on the hatch so that the blocked exhaust force and the additional weight will automatically open the valve when the vessel is in a predetermined abnormal orientation;
• installing the additional weight on the hatch at the calculated position.

A method of bypassing a blocked primary engine exhaust on a listing ocean vessel, comprising:

• providing a bypass valve having a coaming, a hatch hingedly coupled to the coaming and defining a closed and an opened condition;
• determining additional weight to be added to the hatch to keep the valve closed during normal vessel and engine operating conditions;
• adding the determined weight to the hatch;
• coupling the bypass valve in communication with the primary engine exhaust of the vessel;
• upsetting the normal orientation of the vessel;
• blocking the primary exhaust to increase the pressure tending to open the bypass valve;
• and
• automatically opening the hatch based on the increased pressure and the abnormal orientation to thereby allow exhaust to pass through the valve.