Enhancing operational characteristics and technical-economic indicators of vessels through the application of new toothed coupling designs

Abstract

This study demonstrates the potential for improving the operational characteristics and technical-economic indicators of vessels operating under conditions of misalignment of the axes of connecting shafts of marine power plants and their elements by using toothed coupling constructions with enhanced operational characteristics. The proposed couplings are designed in a way that makes them almost insensitive to the misalignment of the axes of connecting shafts, thus operating like an ideal hinge. The application of toothed couplings allows reducing the likelihood of unscheduled docking of the vessel, which, in turn, helps save significant costs for realignment and payment in case of the loss of the vessel’s transit capacity.