Arrangement for steering a water-craft

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for steering a water-craft, which comprises at least one main propulsion device which is arranged to push the water-craft forward or backward, and a number of steering propulsion devices, the pushing direction of which can be changed. The steering propulsion devices are arranged in the aft of the water-craft on both sides of the said at least one main propulsion device so that the steering of the water-craft is continuously provided by means of the steering propulsion devices without any separate rudder means or the like to be functionally connected to said at least one main propulsion device.

1 . An arrangement for steering a water-craft ( 1 ), which comprises at least one main propulsion device ( 3 ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  11 ,  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ), which is arranged to push the water-craft ( 1 ) forward or backward, and a number of steering propulsion devices ( 2 ), the pushing direction of which can be changed, characterized in that the steering propulsion devices ( 2 ) are arranged in the aft of the water craft ( 1 ) on both sides of the said at least one main propulsion device ( 3 ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  11 ,  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ) so that the steering of the water-craft ( 1 ) is continuously provided by means of the steering propulsion devices ( 2 ) without any separate rudder means of the like to be functionally connected to said at least one main propulsion device ( 3 ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  11 ,  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ).  
   
   
       2 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that there is an even number of the steering propulsion devices ( 2 ) and the propeller part of the steering propulsion devices ( 2 ) is stationarily located outside of the hull of the water-craft ( 1 ).  
   
   
       3 . An arrangement according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that a propeller ( 3 ,  3   a ,  3   b ) or a water-jet device ( 11 ,  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ) functions as the main propulsion device.  
   
   
       4 . An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one main propulsion device ( 3 ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  11 ,  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ) of the water-craft ( 1 ) is located essentially in the aft centre part of the watercraft ( 1 ) and the steering propulsion devices ( 2 ) are located essentially in the lateral parts of the aft of the water-craft ( 1 ).  
   
   
       5 . An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output required by the steering propulsion devices ( 2 ) is in all less than 50% of the common shaft output of the said at least one main propulsion device ( 3 ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  11 ,  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ) and of the steering propulsion devices ( 2 ).  
   
   
       6 . An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one main propulsion device ( 3 ,  3   a ,  3   b ) is connected by means of a shaft ( 5 ) to a prime mover ( 4 ), which prime mover ( 4 ) can be e.g. one or more diesel and/or electric engines and/or gas turbines.  
   
   
       7 . An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steering propulsion devices ( 2 ) are arranged to be installed under the cargo space ( 10 ) of the water-craft ( 1 ).  
   
   
       8 . An arrangement according to  claim 7 , characterized that the steering propulsion devices ( 2 ) are arranged to be installed to the water-craft ( 1 ) so that a space ( 8 ) is formed under the cargo space ( 10 ) for the maintenance of the steering propulsion devices ( 2 ).