Learning chapter

Propeller, Shafting & Stern Tube

14 lessons

The shafting volume: what the system carries and how it is sized, bearings, the thrust block, couplings and bolts, the propeller shaft, faults and withdrawal, water- and oil-lubricated stern tubes, split stern bearings, seals, alignment, the propeller, reduction gearing and the ancillaries.

This chapter collects 14 illustrated lessons on Propeller, Shafting & Stern Tube as part of Auxiliary Machinery & Shipboard Systems, ordered as they are best studied. It opens with The Shafting System — What It Carries and How It Is Sized, Shaft Bearings — Plain, Tilting Pad and Roller, The Thrust Block and Thrust Shaft — Clearance, Pads and Support, Shaft Couplings and Coupling Bolts — Flange, Hydraulic and Muff, The Propeller Shaft — Liners and Propeller Mounting, Propeller Shaft Faults, Weardown and Withdrawal and 8 more. Each lesson is written for MEO oral and written preparation: definitions first, then how the system behaves, then the checks and figures used in practice.

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01 The Shafting System — What It Carries and How It Is SizedThe shafting system: what it consists of, the torque, thrust and propeller weight it carries, and how the shaft diameters and safety factor are arrived at.9 sections 02 Shaft Bearings — Plain, Tilting Pad and RollerIntermediate shaft bearings: how a plain journal oil film forms, why only a third of it carries load, tilting pad and roller types, and the aftermost bearing.8 sections 03 The Thrust Block and Thrust Shaft — Clearance, Pads and SupportComprehensive guide to the marine thrust block and thrust shaft: propulsion shafting layout, hydrodynamic tilting pads, axial clearance measurement, foundation chocking, and troubleshooting.9 sections 04 Shaft Couplings and Coupling Bolts — Flange, Hydraulic and MuffShaft couplings: what a flange coupling has to do, clearance, fitted and tapered bolts, the Pilgrim hydraulic bolt and the muff coupling type.8 sections 05 The Propeller Shaft — Liners and Propeller MountingThe propeller shaft: the bronze liner that keeps the sea off it, keyed and keyless propeller mounting, the Pilgrim nut and SKF oil injection methods.8 sections 06 Propeller Shaft Faults, Weardown and WithdrawalPropeller shaft defects and their causes, withdrawing the propeller and shaft, weardown and propeller drop by poker gauge, and survey intervals.7 sections 07 Sea Water Lubricated Stern Tubes — Staves, Water Supply and RewoodingThe water-lubricated stern tube: lignum vitae and Tufnol staves, how the tube is held in the stern frame, the water supply, rewooding and weardown.8 sections 08 Oil Lubricated Stern Tubes — White Metal, Lip Seals and Header TanksThe oil-lubricated stern tube: the Simplex type, the white metal bearing and its clearances, the lip seals and the 110 °C limit, and header tanks.8 sections 09 Split Stern Bearings and Withdrawable Stern GearWorking on stern bearings afloat: the Glacier-Herbert and Ross-Turnbull split bearings, sealing the space, removing the bottom half, and withdrawable gear.9 sections 10 Stern Tube Seals — Lip, Floating Ring and Radial FaceStern tube seals: what a seal has to do, the lip seal and its garter springs, floating ring and radial face types, and the faults to look for.9 sections 11 Shaft Alignment — Datums, Sighting Methods and the Jacking CheckShaft alignment: what changes the line, the reference datums, sighting by light and optical telescope, the fair curve method and the jacking check.10 sections 12 The Propeller — Fixed Pitch, Controllable Pitch and CavitationThe propeller: what it has to do and its vocabulary, how a fixed pitch propeller is cast, materials and cavitation, and the controllable pitch hub.11 sections 13 Reduction Gearing, Flexible Couplings and ClutchesReduction gearing: why it is fitted, choosing a gearbox, the reverse/reduction gearbox, the torsional problem, the Geislinger coupling and clutches.11 sections 14 Shafting Ancillaries — Friction Brake, Torsionmeter and Earthing DeviceShafting ancillaries: the shaft friction brake and trailing collar, the torsionmeter and shaft constant, the four meter types, and shaftline earthing.12 sections