# US 2019/0168856 A1 · Drive unit for marine vessels comprised of drive shaft braking and locking system

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- Number: US 2019/0168856 A1
- Document ID: US20190168856A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/324,348
- Filed: 2017-08-08
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-09
- Assignees: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
- Applicants: Ge Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
- Inventors: Loic VINCENT; Thierry Deschamps; Laurent Barth; Lionel Julliand
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168856A1

## CPC

- B63H 23/35: Shaft braking or locking, i.e. means to slow or stop the rotation of the propeller shaft or to prevent the shaft from initial rotation
- B63H 5/125: movably mounted with respect to hull, e.g. adjustable in direction {, e.g. podded azimuthing thrusters}({outboard units or Z-drives B63H20/00; } movably mounted for steering purposes only, {rudders carrying propellers} B63H25/42)
- B63H 21/17: by electric motor
- B63H 25/42: Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements (by jets B63H25/46); Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers
- F16C 41/001: {Integrated brakes or clutches for stopping or coupling the relatively movable parts}
- F16D 49/00: Brakes with a braking member co-operating with the periphery of a drum, wheel-rim, or the like (similar clutches F16D13/10)
- F16D 49/18: Brakes with three or more brake-blocks (self-tightening F16D49/20)
- B63H 2005/1256: {with mechanical power transmission to propellers}
- B63H 2005/1258: {with electric power transmission to propellers, i.e. with integrated electric propeller motors}
- F16C 2326/30: Ships, e.g. propelling shafts and bearings therefor
- F16D 2125/40: Screw-and-nut
- F16D 2125/66: Wedges
- B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES

## Abstract

The drive unit is designed to be mounted on a marine vessel, including a mobile housing, and is able to pivot around an axis against the hull of the marine vessel. A drive shaft mounted rotary is against the mobile housing and is supported by two roller bearings. A propulsion element rotates in solidarity with the drive shaft. The propulsion unit has, at the front, at least two braking and locking systems of the drive shaft located in an area between the upstream rolling bearing and propulsion element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drive unit for a marine vessel, the drive unit including a mobile housing that is able to pivot around an axis compared to the hull of the marine vessel, wherein a drive shaft is mounted to rotate the mobile housing and is supported by two rolling bearings as well as a propulsion element rotating in solidarity with the drive shaft, wherein, at its front area, at least two systems for braking and locking the drive shaft located in an area between the upstream rolling bearing and propulsion element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drive unit according to claim 1, in which each of the braking and locking systems includes an actuator to control the friction of a lining of a brake pad on a disk brake rotating in solidarity with the drive shaft in case of braking and/or locking of the drive shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The drive unit according to claim 2, in case of braking and/or locking of the drive shaft, the lining comes in radial support on the cylindrical outer surface of the brake disc.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The drive unit according to claim 2 in rest position, the brake pad is moved away radially from the disc brake by a spacing component.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The drive unit according to claim 2, the actuator includes a worm screw system rotated by a motor drive to provide a linear motion of translation to an actuator arm provided with a braking component in contact with the brake pad.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The drive unit according to claim 5, the inner surface the braking component and the outer surface of the brake pad are respectively inclined to the axis of the actuator arm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The drive unit according to claim 1, the two braking and locking systems are identical between them and are arranged symmetrically from the drive shaft.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The drive unit according to claim 1, including at least three braking and locking systems located more than 120° from each other around the drive shaft.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The drive unit according to claim 1, the propulsion element is mounted on one end located on the front of the drive unit in relation to the marine vessel and upstream of the roller bearing located at the front of the drive unit and upstream of the braking and locking systems of the drive shaft.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The drive unit according to claim 1, the element of propulsion is a propeller or a pump rotor under nozzle.