IC ENGINE & BOILER

MA 3016
Holding Down Bolts
Arrangement

Holding Down Bolts 19/8/2015 1

 Learning Outcomes
 Describe modern holding down
bolts arrangement for Main
Engine
 Identify common problems
associated with holding down
bolts arrangement

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Holding Down Bolts

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 Holding Down Bolts
 The name ‘holding-down bolts’ is carry-over from
reciprocating steam engine days
 A more suitable name now is stud bolts
 Bolts used are between 25 to 75mm diameter
 Threaded at each end, upper ends have two flats or
a square to take spanner.
 Plain part of the stud bolt is machined down to
diameter slightly less than bottom of thread
 Provide stretching length between threaded section
and prevent stress concentration at bottom of last
thread… prevent failure
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 Holding Down Bolts..Old Design
 Foundation plate tapped to accommodate
thread on the lower end of bolt
 Bolt is screwed into tapped hole with spanner
applied to the square
 Self-curing plastic sealing tapes are
sometimes used on lower threads:
 Prevent leakage of fluids from tank top
 Protect thread against corrosion
 In other instances seals such as O-ring or
grommet is used
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Holding Down Bolts

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 MODERN
DESIGN What are the
differences?
Holding
Down Bolts

PAD (welded to
tank top surface if
bevel 1:100)

7
 Holding Down Bolts
 Engine must be securely fixed to ship
 As engine turns, propeller tries to push
or thrust the propeller shaft and engine
crankshaft forward
 Thrust bearing transmits this thrust
from crankshaft to bedplate.
 Friction between bedplate, chocks and
foundation plate transmits the thrust…
Not the holding down bolts.
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 Holding Down Bolts
 Engine must be lined up with propeller shaft
 If engine output driving flange is not aligned to
propeller shaft, bending stresses could be set up.
 Engine must also be bolted to a flat surface
 If surface was uneven, then when the bolts were
tightened :
 bedplate would be distorted,
 which in turn would distort the crankshaft
 … causing unacceptable stresses to be set up
when the engine was running.

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Alignment & Holding Down Bolts
 Before engine is bolted down it is
supported on jacks whilst it is aligned
with the tailshaft bearing.
 This used to be done by stretching a wire
above the tailshaft, and measuring the
distance from the wire to the crankshaft
bearing centres.
 Modern method uses laser beam.

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 Alignment & Holding Down Bolts
 When the bedplate is in perfect
alignment, cast iron chocks are inserted
 Cast iron chocks are hand fitted
between the machined underside of the
bedplate and foundation plate.
 This is a skilled task and 80% contact is
generally the aim.

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Alignment & Holding Down Bolts
 Onceengine is supported by
chocks the jacks are removed

 Holding down bolts are

tightened using a hydraulic
jack to stretch the bolts.

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 Alignment & Holding Down Bolts
 Holding down bolts should be
checked regularly for tightness.
 If they are loose, mating surfaces will
rub against each other and wear away
as fretting
 If this continues and the bolts are
subsequently tightened down,
bedplate will be out of alignment.
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Loose bolts and chock

Cracked bolts & chocks

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 Severe fretting on matting surfaces
of bedplates, chocks and foundation
plate
 Fretting contributes to misalignment
and serious crankshaft damage
 Excessive vibration, abnormal
movements upper part of engine
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 Summary
Describe modern holding
down bolts arrangement for
Main Engine
Identify common problems
associated with holding down
bolts arrangement
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 Exercise
1. Sketch and describe modern
holding down bolts arrangement
for Main Engine
2. Identify with reasons common
problems associated with holding
down bolts arrangement

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