US3653350A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure balancing oil system for stern tubes of ships
Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-04
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1990-12-04
Abstract
Abstract The oil in the stern tube is normally maintained at a predetermined pressure. A conduit leading from a source of compressed air has an outlet in the region of the center line of the tail shaft, the air in said conduit being at a pressure to normally bleed air from the outlet, and there being valve means in said conduit between the source of compressed air and the outlet which is responsive to changes in the air pressure in the conduit, caused by changes in the draft of the ship, for varying the oil pressure in the oil chamber to maintain it at a predetermined value above sea pressure. In one form of the invention the air pressure in the conduit serves as a medium to transmit changes in the draft of the ship to the oil in a closed head tank. In another form of the invention the air pressure in the conduit acts to control the flow of oil from an elevated head tank to thereby control the pressure in the stern tube, and in another form of the invention the air pressure in the conduit acts to control the effective pressure of the oil being delivered to the stern tube by a pressure pump.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold O Koons
- 👤 Donald W Pautz
- 👤 Willis W Gardner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:19
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H23/00; B63H23/32; B63H23/36; F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/16; F16J15/40; B63H23/321; B63H2023/327; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/926
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
In a ship having a stern tube with an oil chamber therein, means for normally maintaining pressure on the oil in said chamber, a source of compressed air, a bleed conduit leading from said source and having an outlet to the sea in the region of the stern tube, the air in said conduit being at a pressure to normally bleed from said outlet, and valve means between said source of compressed air and outlet responsive to changes in the air pressure in said bleed conduit caused by changes in the draft of the ship for varying the oil pressure in said oil chamber to maintain it at a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a ship having a stern tube with an oil chamber therein, means for normally maintaining pressure on the oil in said chamber, a source of compressed air, a bleed conduit leading from said source and having an outlet to the sea in the region of the stern tube, the air in said conduit being at a pressure to normally bleed from said outlet, and valve means between said source of compressed air and outlet responsive to changes in the air pressure in said bleed conduit caused by changes in the draft of the ship for varying the oil pressure in said oil chamber to maintain it at a predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A combination in a ship as defined in claim 1 in which the means for normally maintaining pressure on the oil in the stern tube chamber includes a closed head tank for oil, and in which there is communication downstream of the valve means between the bleed conduit and the closed head tank so that the air pressure in said bleed conduit acts on the oil in the head tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A combination in a ship as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for normally maintaining pressure on the oil in the stern tube chamber includes an oil reservoir, and in which the valve means includes a differential pressure valve in the conduit between the oil reservoir and the stern tube controlling the oil pressure in the latter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A combination in a ship as claimed in claim 3 in which the oil reservoir is at such an elevation as to normally maintain pressure in the stern tube, and in which said differential pressure valve is located in a gravity line leading from the head tank to the stern tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination in a ship as claimed in claim 4 in which the valve is a differential pressure regulating valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A combination in a ship as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for normally maintaining pressure on the oil in the chamber is a pressure pump, and in which the valve means includes a differential pressure relief valve in the circuit between said pump and reservoir for varying the effective pressure from said pump on the oil in the stern tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination in a ship as claimed in claim 1 in which the valve means between the source of compressed air and the outlet includes a differential regulator providing a constant flow rate for the compressed air in said conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A combination in a ship as claimed in claim 7 in which there is a bypass line between the outlet of said differential regulator and the compressed air conduit upstream of the differential regulator, and in which there is a variable orifice in said bypass line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A combination in a ship as claimed in claim 3 in which the valve means includes a constant flow differential regulator between the source of compressed air and the outlet, and in which there is communication between said bleed conduit downstream of said differential regulator and said differential pressure valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A combination in a ship as claimed in claim 6 in which the valve means includes a constant flow differential regulator between the source of compressed air and the outlet, and in which there is communication between said bleed conduit downstream of said differential regulator communicating with said differential pressure relief valve for controlling the latter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A combination in a ship as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for normally maintaining pressure on the oil in the stern tube chamber includes an external flow line leading to the chamber, and in which there is means in said external flow line in communication downstream of the valve means with the bleed conduit whereby air pressure in said bleed conduit acts on said means to vary the oil pressure in said oil chamber and maintain it at a predetermined value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |