Vessel stern gear systems

Claim 1

A MARINE TAIL SHAFT PRELOADING SYSTEM FOR INCORPORATION IN OR WITH VESSEL STRUCTURES IN CONTACTABLE SPACED RELATION TO THE TAIL SHAFT OF THE PROPULSIVE SYSTEM OF THE VESSEL WHICH, BY APPLYING SUPPORTING AND DEPRESSING FORCES TO THE TAIL SHAFT DURING INSTALLATION, WILL PRODUCE A STATE OF EQUILIBRIUM IN THE TAIL SHAFT WHICH WILL BE EQUIVALENT TO THAT REQUIRED TO BE PRODUCED IN SERVICE BY THE TAIL SHAFT AND TAIL SHAFT BEARINGS SO AS TO PERMIT MATHEMATICAL CALCULATION OF SERVICE LOADS AND STRESSES AND THE DESIGN OF THE APPROPRIATE SHAFT AND BEARINGS AND SUBSEQUENT INSTALLATION THEREOF IN THE VESSEL IN SUCH MANNER AND UNDER KNOWN CONDITIONS SO AS TO ENSURE MAINTENANCE AT ALL TIMES OF SHAFT STRESSES AND BEARING LOADS WITHIN DESIGNED LIMITS, COMPRISING ADJUSTABLE BEARING AND LOAD IMPOSING COMPENTS, ONE LOCATED IN THE POINT OF EXTRUSION OF THE TAIL SHAFT AND ANOTHER LOCATED TOWARDS THE INTERIOR OF THE VESSEL, MEANS FOR APPLYING CONTROLLING AND RELEASING FORCE TO THE SAID LOAD BEARING AND LOAD IMPOSING COMPONENTS, AND ADJUSTABLE STEADY AND THRUST BEARINGS SUPPORTING THE SAID TAIL SHAFT IN ITS PRELOADED CONDITION AFTER WITHDRAWAL OF THE SAID BEARING AND LOAD IMPOSING COMPONENTS FROM THE TAIL SHAFT.