Protective device for the sealing of a stern tube of propeller-driven ships

Abstract

A protective device for a stern tube seal of a propeller-driven vessel, wherein an intermediate space is left open between a stern tube and a propeller hub, which intermediate space is covered by a tubular protective cover concentric with the propeller hub, which protective cover is fixedly anchored to the stern tube and axially overlies the propeller hub leaving an annular gap, wherein a ring concentric with the propeller hub and U-shaped in radial section is disposed inside the protective cover in the intermediate space between the stern tube and the propeller hub, the U-opening of which ring is directed radially outward, and wherein the ring is at least partially formed of a material that has a pourable consistency at 20° C.

1 . A protective device for a stern tube seal of a propeller-driven vessel, wherein an intermediate space is left open between a stern tube and a propeller hub, which intermediate space is covered by a tubular protective cover concentric with the propeller hub, which protective cover is fixedly anchored to the stern tube and axially overlies the propeller hub leaving an annular gap, wherein a ring concentric with the propeller hub and configured U-shaped in radial section is disposed inside the protective cover in the intermediate space between the stern tube and the propeller hub, the U-opening of which ring is directed radially outward,
 and wherein the ring comprises a material that has a pourable consistency at 20° C.   
     
     
         2 . The protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is concrete. 
     
     
         3 . The protective device according to  claim 1  wherein the ring is comprised of at least two ring sectors, wherein each ring sector extends over a defined circumferential angle and wherein the ring sectors are connected to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The protective device according to  claim 3 , wherein two, three, four, five, or six ring sectors form the ring. 
     
     
         5 . The protective device according to  claim 3  wherein the ring sectors are aligned relative to one another by centering elements, and wherein the centering elements are formed from a complementary profiling of end regions of the ring sectors lying in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         6 . The protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring or the ring sectors is or are attached to the propeller hub or to the protective cover using a screw connection. 
     
     
         7 . The protective device according to  claim 6 , wherein insert parts are disposed in the ring or in the ring sectors, which insert parts are penetrated by at least one screw. 
     
     
         8 . The protective device according to  claim 7 , wherein the insert parts are at least partially surrounded by the material of the ring. 
     
     
         9 . The protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is comprised of filling materials and binder, wherein the filling material has a weight proportion between 80% and 95%, wherein the binder preferably has a weight proportion between 5% and 20%, and wherein the binder is comprised of a resin and a hardener. 
     
     
         10 . The protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein glass and/or carbon and/or metallic reinforcing fibers are present in the material. 
     
     
         11 . The protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the material is mineral casting. 
     
     
         12 . The protective device according to  claim 9 , wherein the resin is an epoxy resin and wherein the hardener is an aminic hardener. 
     
     
         13 . The protective device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the ring comprises at least two ring sectors, wherein each ring sector extends over a defined circumferential angle and wherein the ring sectors are connected to one another,   wherein the ring sectors are aligned relative to one another by centering elements, and wherein the centering elements are formed from a complementary profiling of end regions of the ring sectors lying in a circumferential direction,   wherein the ring or the ring sectors is or are attached to the propeller hub or to the protective cover using a screw connection,   wherein insert parts are disposed in the ring or in the ring sectors, which insert parts are penetrated by at least one screw and are at least partially surrounded by the material of the ring,   wherein the material is comprised of filling materials and binder, wherein the filling material has a weight proportion between 80% and 95%, wherein the binder has a weight proportion between 5% and 20%, and wherein the binder is comprised of a resin and a hardener, and   wherein reinforcing fibers are present in the material.   
     
     
         14 . A protective device for protecting a stern tube seal of a propeller-driven vessel, the protective device being mountable in an intermediate space between a stern tube and a propeller hub inside a protective cover adjacent an annular gap between the propeller hub and the protective cover, the protective device comprising:
 a ring concentric with the propeller hub and having an outwardly facing channel with an outwardly facing opening, the ring being formed at least partially of a material that is pourable at 20° C.   
     
     
         15 . The protective device according to  claim 14 , wherein the ring comprises concrete. 
     
     
         16 . The protective device according to  claim 14 , wherein the ring comprises mineral casting. 
     
     
         17 . The protective device according to  claim 14 , wherein the ring comprises at least two ring sectors, each ring sector extending over a defined circumferential angle. 
     
     
         18 . The protective device according to  claim 14 , wherein the ring sectors are aligned relative to one another by a complementary profiling of circumferential end regions of the ring sectors.