Integral stabilizer system for vessels

Abstract

A stabilization system for vessels that comprises at least one pair of stabilizer elements (E) each arranged on a side of the vessel and well under its water line, each of said stabilizer elements being hinged to the hull (C) of the vessel such that they can be made to rotate (XX′) between a deployed, active, position and a non-deployed, inactive, position in which they are received in corresponding housings (A) provided in the hull and the configuration of said stabilizer elements (E) being such that, in the aforesaid inactive position, they define, together with the rest of the hull (C), a surface without interruption of continuity. Movement between said active and inactive positions is achieved by actuating means provided inside the hull or mounted on the outside thereof, but inside said housings (A) for receiving the aforesaid stabilizer elements.

1 . Stabilizer system for vessels of the type comprising stabilizer elements that project from each side of the hull, 
 characterized in that it comprises: 
 at least one stabilizer element, like a fin (E), mounted in order to rotate with respect to the hull (C) between at least one deployed, active, position, in which it is connected to the hull (C) only by means of a hinged articulation (XX′), and a non-deployed position in which it is received in a housing (A) provided in said hull and in which its outer surface is incorporated into the remainder of said hull without an interruption of continuity;  
 actuating means for displacing said at least one stabilizer element (E) between said first, inactive, non-deployed position and said second, active, deployed position, and vice versa; and  
 clamping means allowing said at least one stabilizer element to be immobilized in each of its aforesaid first and second positions, respectively.  
   
     
     
         2 . Stabilizer system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said hinged articulation (XX′) is mounted entirely outside said hull (C) but inside said housing (A).  
     
     
         3 . Stabilizer system according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , in which said actuating means are arranged outside said hull (C) but inside the abovementioned housing (A).  
     
     
         4 . Stabilizer system according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that each stabilizer element (E) may be clamped in at least one intermediate position between said first and second, non-deployed and deployed, positions, respectively.  
     
     
         5 . Stabilizer system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of rotation (XX′) of each stabilizer element forms a small angle with the horizontal plane of flotation of the vessel.  
     
     
         6 . Stabilizer system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a number of pairs of stabilizer elements (E) located in different positions along the hull.  
     
     
         7 . Stabilizer system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for actuating the stabilizer elements are mechanical, electrical or hydraulic or consist of a combination thereof.  
     
     
         8 . Stabilizer system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each stabilizer element consists of at least two mutually articulated sections that are in a non-deployed condition when said stabilizer element is in said inactive position, contained in said housing (A) of the hull (C), it being possible to deploy said at least two sections in order to increase the length of said stabilizer element when the latter is placed in said second, active position, projecting from said hull.  
     
     
         9 . Stabilizer system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stabilizer elements, when in said active, deployed, position, are able to move by rotating about their axis of articulation with the hull, opposing the rolling in order to increase their hydrodynamic effectiveness.