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RUDDERS

FLAP RUDDERS: Flap Rudder is the ultimate rudder solution when it comes to ship manoeuvrability. With decades of research, development and practical experience the rudder is the most mature design of all flap rudders in the shipbuilding industry. Optimised profiles, rudder balance, deflection ratio between rudder blade and flap, hinge and link systems guarantee a reliable and efficient tool for your vessel. Often copied but never equaled, because the combination of all individual features are forging a superb rudder. Rudder angles of up to !" #$ degrees and additional %$ degrees of the flap permit extreme maneuvers and dynamic positioning operations. &lso attractive is the improved course keeping performance and fuel saving, obtained through smaller required rudder angles compared to conventional rudders. 'n combination with the (ecker )*R Rudder support, the Flap Rudder can be offered practically unlimited in si+e.

KITCHEN RUDDERS: ,he )itchen Rudder is the familiar name for -)itchen.s /atent Reversing Rudders-, a combination rudder and directional propulsion delivery system for relatively slow speed displacement boats which was invented in the early 01th century by 2ohn 3.&.)itchen of 4ancashire, 5ngland. 't turns the rudder into a directional thruster, and allows the engine to maintain constant revolutions and direction of drive shaft rotation while altering thrust by use of a control which directs thrust forward or aft. Only the rudder pivots6 the propeller itself is on a fixed shaft and does not. -)itchener gear- or -)itchener rudder- have been common misnomers for the )itchen rudder 'n the pictures, the clams are almost shut which provides a reverse thrust which can be directed to port or starboard.

,he rudder consists of a pair of slightly conical 7usually but not always " designs vary8, semi"cones mounted on a pivot either side of the

propeller with the long axis of the cone running fore and aft when the helm is midships. ,hey are pivoted about a vertical axis such that the cone may close off the propeller thrust aft of the propeller, directing the thrust forwards and thus creating motion astern. 'n addition to the -9aws- of the cone being controlled the direction of thrust is also controlled by rudder direction 7compare this with an outdrive or an outboard motor for direction of thrust of an unenclosed propeller where the propeller itself pivots8. :odern equivalent include certain types of pump 9ets or the 9et drive. While not strictly )itchen rudder technology, the -clamshell- thrust reverser on some aircraft 9et engines is an aeronautical derivative of the device. ,he picture of the aircraft shows the clamshells deployed directing thrust forwards. ,his is equivalent to the )itchen rudder in the -full astern- position. ,he operation of the )itchen Rudder is performed with the propellor engaged, even when the boat is stationary. ,he rudder is controlled by a small wheel on the tiller. ;eutral< ,he engine is brought up to speed with the drive to the propeller engaged and with the )itchen rudder in the -neutral- position. ,his is a position where an equal quantity of thrust is aimed forward and aft.=0> 5ach vessel will have a unique -neutral- position. :oving ahead< ,he )itchen gear is opened up to direct an increasing proportion of thrust aft. &s the balance changes the vessel will move ahead. :oving astern< ,he )itchen gear is closed to direct an increasing proportion of thrust forward. &s the balance changes the vessel will move astern.

*ome pictures of the kitchen rudders<

AZIPOD:
&+ipod is the registered brand name of the &(( 3roup for their a+imuth thruster. Originally developed in Finland 9ointly by )vaerner :asa"?ards dockyards and &((, these are marine propulsion units consisting of electrically driven propellers mounted on a steerable pod. ,he pod.s propeller usually faces forward because in this puller 7or tractor8 configuration the propeller is more efficient due to operation in undisturbed flow. (ecause it can rotate around its mount axis, the pod can apply its thrust in any direction. &+imuth thrusters allow ships to be more maneuverable and enable them to travel backward nearly as efficiently as they can travel forward

'n the traditional a+imuth propulsion system the motor is inside the ship.s hull and the propeller is driven through shafts and gearboxes. 'n the &+ipod system the electric motor is inside the pod, and the propeller is connected directly to the motor shaft. (y avoiding the use of a traditional propeller shaft, the propeller can be further below the stern of the ship in a clear flow of water providing greater hydrodynamic and mechanical efficiency. 5lectric power for the &+ipod motor is conducted through slip rings that allow the &+ipod to rotate through @#1 degrees. (ecause fixed pitch propellers are used in &+ipods, power for an &+ipod system is always fed through a variable"frequency drive or cycloconverter that allows speed and direction control of the propulsion motors.

4"AR'B5< &n 4"drive is a type of a+imuth thruster in which the pod"mounted propellers are driven mechanically rather than electrically. &+imuth thruster pods can be rotated through a full @#1 degrees, allowing for rapid changes in thrust direction and eliminating the need for a conventional rudder. ,his form of power transmission is called a 4"drive because the rotary motion has to make one right angle turn, thus looking a bit like the letter -4-. ,his name is used to make clear the arrangement of drive is different from C"drive. )OR,";OCC45< Luigi Stipa and later Ludwig Kort (1 !"# de$onstrated that an in%rease in propulsi&e e''i%ien%( %ould )e a%hie&ed )( surrounding the propeller with a 'oil*shaped shroud in the %ase o' hea&il( loaded propellers+ , -Kort No..le- is re'erred to as an a%%elerating no..le and is generall( a /,RIN 1 , pro'ile or a /,RIN !0 pro'ile+ In a Kort no..le1 the in'low &elo%it( is in%reased1 redu%ing pressure+ This lowers thrust and tor2ue o' the propeller+ ,t the sa$e ti$e1 a %ir%ulation o%%urs1 resulting in an inward ai$ed 'or%e1 that has a 'orward %o$ponent+ The du%t there'ore has a positi&e thrust+ This is nor$all( larger than the thrust redu%tion o' the propeller+ The s$all %learan%e )etween the propeller and du%t redu%es tip &orte31 in%reasing e''i%ien%(+ ,s drag in%reases with in%reasing speed1 e&entuall( this will )e%o$e larger than the added thrust+ 4essels that nor$all( operate a)o&e this speed are there'ore nor$all( not 'itted with du%ts+ 5hen towing1 tug)oats sail with low speed and hea&il( loaded propellers1 and are o'ten 'itted with du%ts+ 6ollard pull %an in%rease up to !78 with du%ts+

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