US 4,059,011 A · Method and force determining apparatus for ice breaking vessels

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing data related to the ice breaking efficiency of a hull of a vessel as the vessel passes through ice, and particularly for providing data related to the frictional forces experienced on the hull of the vessel as the vessel passes through ice. Movable means is carried on the hull of the vessel generally flush with the hull for displacement in response to forces applied thereto as the vessel passes through ice. The displacement of said movable means relative to the hull of the vessel is determined as a manifestation of frictional forces between the hull of the vessel and the ice. The movable means preferably comprises a generally coplanar relation therewith and flush with the outer hull skin. The plate is mounted on a plate suspending means which permits omnidirectional movement of the plate at least in the plane of the hull. In one embodiment, the degree of movement of the plate is sensed by a plurality of electromagnets carried by the hull of the ship and disposed at spaced positions adjacent the edges of the plate, with the electromagnets cooperating with a plurality of electrical conductors carried by the plate adjacent respective ones of the plurality of electromagnets, the electrical conductors producing electrical signals related to the degree of movement of the plate relative to the plurality of electromagnets. In another embodiment, plate movement is sensed by displacement probes in contact therewith and arranged to provide electrical signals representing displacement.

Claims18

Dependent claims

Apparatus for providing data related to frictional forces experienced on the hull of a vessel as the vessel passes through ice comprising:

a generally planar plate;
means for suspending said plate in an aperture in the hull of the vessel generally flush therewith and at a location on the hull which contacts the ice through which the vessel passes, said plate being maintained at a reference position by said suspending means in the absence of forces applied to said plate and being displaceable from said reference position generally in the plane of the hull in response to the application of forces to said plate;
and,
means responsive to displacement of said plate for generating a signal related to the displacement of said plate from said reference position, wherein said plate suspending means comprises:
first and second electromagnets carried by the hull of the vessel and having pole faces of one magnetic polarity facing outboard of the hull of the vessel;
and,
third and fourth electromagnets having pole faces of a polarity opposite said one polarity, said third and fourth electromagnets being secured to said plate with the pole faces thereof aligned with and in contact with the pole faces of said first and second electromagnets, said plate thereby being movably suspended by magnetic attraction between the pole faces of said electromagnets.

4 more elements

Apparatus for providing data related to the ice breaking efficiency of a hull of a ship as the ship passes through ice comprising:

movable means carried on the hull of the ship generally flush with the hull for displacement in response to forces applied thereto as the ship passes through the ice;
means for measuring the displacement of said movable means relative to the hull of the ship as a manifestation of frictional forces between the bull of the ship and the ice;
said movable means comprising a generally planar plate mounted in an aperture in the hull of the ship in generally coplanar relation with the hull, said plate being mounted on a plate suspending means connected to the hull of the ship, said plate suspending means comprising:
first and second electromagnets carried by the hull of the ship and having pole faces of one magnetic polarity facing outboard of the hull of the ship;
and
third and fourth electromagnets having pole faces of a polarity opposite said one polarity, said third and fourth electromagnets being secured to said plate with the pole faces thereof aligned with and in contact with the pole faces of said first and second electromagnets, said plate thereby being movably suspended by magnetic attraction between the pole faces of said electromagnets.

3 more elements

Apparatus for providing data related to frictional forces experienced on the hull of a vessel as the vessel passes through ice comprising:

a generally planar plate;
means for suspending said plate in an aperture in the hull of the vessel generally flush therewith and at a location on the hull which contacts the ice through which the vessel passes, said plate being maintained at a reference position by said suspending means in the absence of forces applied to said plate and being displaceable omnidirectionally from said reference position generally in the plane of the hull in response to the application of forces to said plate;
and,
means responsive to displacement of said plate in at least two nonparallel directions for generating a signal having values with a known relationship to the displacement of said plate from said reference position in said at least two non-parallel directions.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and force determining apparatus for ice breaking vessels

Life of this patent

Method and force determining apparatus for ice breaking vessels

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18