Cyclorotors

Abstract

A cyclorotor is described that can be used as a propulsor for a marine vessel. The cyclorotor includes a rotary housing comprising a main body and a plurality of blade modules arranged circumferentially around the main body. The cyclorotor also includes a plurality of blade assemblies, each blade assembly being located in a respective blade module and having a blade extending from the rotary housing with a blade axis about which it can be pivoted relative to the rotary housing. Each blade assembly is associated with a blade actuator comprising an electric motor and having a drive shaft, a driving gear mechanically connected to the drive shaft and a driven gear mechanically connected to the respective blade assembly for pivoting the respective blade about its blade axis. Each blade module is preferably adapted to be detached and removed from the main body.

1 . A cyclorotor comprising:
 a rotary housing comprising a main body and a plurality of blade modules arranged circumferentially around the main body;   a plurality of blade assemblies, each blade assembly being located in a respective blade module and having a blade extending from the rotary housing with a blade axis about which it can be pivoted relative to the rotary housing; and   a plurality of blade actuators, each blade actuator being associated with a respective one of the blade assemblies;   wherein each blade actuator comprises:
 an electric motor having a drive shaft; 
 a driving gear mechanically connected to the drive shaft; and 
 a driven gear mechanically connected to the driving gear and to the respective blade assembly for pivoting the respective blade about its blade axis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 1 , wherein each blade assembly comprises exactly one bearing assembly rotatably mounting the respective blade, wherein each bearing assembly includes a stationary ring that is fixed to a blade module housing and a rotating ring that is fixed to a root part of the respective blade. 
     
     
         3 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 2 , wherein the driven gear is formed as an integral part of the rotating ring of the respective bearing assembly and the teeth of the driven gear are formed on a surface of the rotating ring. 
     
     
         4 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 2 , wherein the driven gear is formed as a separate component that is fixed to the rotating ring of the respective bearing assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 4 , wherein the driven gear is formed as a ring and the teeth of the driven gear are formed on a surface of the ring. 
     
     
         6 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving and driven gears of each blade actuator define a transmission gear located in the respective blade module. 
     
     
         7 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 6 , wherein each transmission gear is a bevel gear. 
     
     
         8 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 7 , wherein the driven gear of each blade actuator is a conical gear with an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the respective blade axis, and wherein the driving gear of each blade actuator is a conical gear with an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the respective blade axis. 
     
     
         9 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving gear of each blade actuator is disengagable from the drive shaft of the respective electric motor. 
     
     
         10 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving gear of each blade actuator is disengagable from the driven gear. 
     
     
         11 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving gear of each blade actuator is mechanically connected to one or both of the drive shaft of the respective electric motor and the respective driven gear by a respective drivetrain. 
     
     
         12 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of openings, each opening providing access between the interior of the main body and the interior of a respective one of the blade modules, wherein a drivetrain of each blade actuator extends through a respective opening during normal use, and wherein the drivetrain is adapted to be selectively reconfigured so that it does not extend through the opening so that the opening can be sealed for blade module replacement. 
     
     
         13 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of openings, each opening providing access between the interior of the main body and the interior of a respective one of the blade modules. 
     
     
         14 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 13 , wherein each opening is defined by a first opening formed in a structural part of the blade module and an aligned second opening formed in an adjacent structural part of the main body. 
     
     
         15 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 14 , further comprising a first panel removably connected to the structural part of the blade module for sealing the first opening, and a second panel removably connected to the structural part of the main body for sealing the second opening. 
     
     
         16 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 15 , further comprising one or more seals between the first panel and the structural part of the blade module and extending around the first opening, and one or more seals between the second panel and the structural part of the main body and extending around the second opening. 
     
     
         17 . The cyclorotor according to  claim 1 , wherein each blade module is removably connected to the main body by a plurality of mechanical fixings. 
     
     
         18 . A method of repairing a cyclorotor according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 sealing a first opening in a blade module to be replaced and optionally an aligned second opening in the main body; and   removing the sealed blade module from the main body.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising disengaging the driving gear from one or both of the drive shaft of the respective electric motor and the respective driven gear prior to sealing. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 securing a replacement sealed blade module to the main body; and   unsealing a first opening in the replacement blade module and the aligned second opening in the main body if sealed.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising reengaging the driving gear with one or both of the drive shaft of the respective electric motor and the respective driven gear after unsealing. 
     
     
         22 . A marine vessel comprising one or more cyclorotors according to  claim 1  mounted to the hull of the marine vessel as a propulsor. 
     
     
         23 . The marine vessel according to  claim 22 , wherein an access opening is provided in the hull of the marine vessel through which winch cables can be attached to a blade module to be replaced. 
     
     
         24 . The marine vessel according to  claim 23 , wherein the access opening is provided in an annular collar that surrounds the rotary housing and which forms a structural part of the hull of the marine vessel. 
     
     
         25 . The marine vessel according to  claim 22 , further comprising an earthing assembly, wherein the earthing assembly comprises an earthing circuit between each blade assembly and an earthing connection on the hull of the marine vessel.