Connecticut Patent of the Month – April 2021
Ships often have fin roll stabilizers below the waterline. These fins rotate and help to reduce the roll of the vessel from the water. Traditional stabilizers are powered hydraulically. These involve a complex set up of plumbing, reservoirs, valves and so on. The reservoirs need further set ups to cool and filter the water. Recently, these systems have come into question as the associated hydraulic oil can negatively affect the environment if leaked. Alternative electric designs are prone to positioning errors and high maintenance requirements. Naiad Maritime Group, Inc. has designed an efficient and simple style of fin stabilizer to combat these issues.
Their design is made of a housing which has a rotatable shaft. The shaft connects to a fin which is mounted outside of the vessel hull.A motor and drive element are connected to the housing, with drive element also connecting to the fin shaft. The motor rotates the shaft which in turn rotates the outer elements of the fin. The system is connected to a controller which receives sensor readings to guide and direct the fin’s rotation. This system is a simple set up with minimal additional components and sensors that ensure accuracy in positioning and force applied.
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