Patent GB-948339-A (GB)
Title: Regulating and control mechanism for a ship's propulsion installation comprising an egine which drives a propeller with adjustable blades
IPC: B63H3/10
Filed: 1960-04-01
Abstract: 948,339. Variable pitch propeller and engine control. LIPS N.V. April 1, 1960 [April 7, 1959], No. 11675/60. Heading B7V. A regulating and control mechanism for a ship's propulsion installation comprising an engine which drives a propeller with adjustable blades comprises first positive means (including a cam 3 and linkage 6) for adjusting the desired speed setting of a governor (7) of the engine, second positive means (including a cam 4 and member 8, both cams 3 and 4 being rotated by control lever 1) for correspondingly adjusting the desired value of the supply of working medium to the engine, a connection 11, 12 between a part (associated with the governor 7) which signals the actual speed of the engine and a member (10) which determines the actual value of the supply of working medium to the engine and, between the second positive means (4) and said member (10), a connection which includes a device 14 sensitive to a difference between the desired and actual values of the working medium supply, this device being adapted, when such a difference occurs, to transmit a signal to propeller blade pitchadjusting mechanism 27-28 to adjust the pitch in the sense of restoring the actual engine speed and the actual working medium supply to their desired values. When the lever 1 is moved to select a certain adjustment in the steaming ahead range and all parts are in the position shown, hydraulic fluid entering through 37 leaves the cylinder of valve member 31 to conduit 19 and casing 13. When a change of conditions occurs causing change in engine speed, the governor 7 varies the fuel supply adjustment at 10 and causes the slide valve 14 to be displaced, e.g. when the speed drops, and consequently the fuel supply is increased by the governor 7 to restore the speed to its desired value, the valve 14 moves to the left and hydraulic fluid flowing in through conduit 19 can flow through conduit 21 to the cylinder 24 to change the blade pitch, hydraulic fluid flowing from the cylinder through conduits 20 and 18 to discharge 38. The pitch of the blades consequently decreases, resulting in decreased load and increase in engine speed so that the governor reduces the fuel supply. When the lever 1 is moved to " astern," the switch 47 is reversed resulting in valve 31 moving to the right. The hydraulic medium supplied through 37 flows through conduit 18 to casing 13 and also through connecting conduit 40 and a conduit 44 to cylinder 24 to change the pitch of the blades. Any decrease of engine load results in valve 14 moving to the right allowing hydraulic fluid to flow to cylinder 24 via conduit 21 to accelerate pitch adjustment, conversely increase of engine load will slow down the adjustment. As soon as the blades have reached " astern " pitch, contact 49 on rod 28 reaches contact strip 51 and energizes solenoid 36 to move valve member 32, achieving the same condition as shown in the drawing with the difference that hydraulic fluid flows through conduit 37 to conduit 18 while conduit 19 functions as discharge.