Mounting assemblies for marine vessels
A mounting assembly is for installing a thruster on a variety of marine vessels having a liner and a hull separated from the liner by a gap. A through-bore in which the thruster is to be installed axially extends through the liner, the gap, and the hull, and because of differences in manufacturing and/or materials at least one dimensional variance exists in at least one of the liner, the gap, and the hull amongst the variety of marine vessels. The mounting assembly has a base member configured to be installed on the liner over the through-bore and an adjustment member that is adjustable and fixable in place relative to the base member to accommodate installation of the thruster at different axial positions in the through-bore so as to accommodate said at least one dimensional variance.
1 . A mounting assembly for installing a thruster on a variety of marine vessels having a liner and a hull separated from the liner by a gap, wherein a through-bore in which the thruster is to be installed axially extends through the liner, the gap, and the hull, and wherein because of differences in manufacturing and/or materials at least one dimensional variance exists in at least one of the liner, the gap, and the hull amongst the variety of marine vessels, the mounting assembly comprising:
a base member configured to be installed on the liner over the through-bore; and
an adjustment member that is adjustable and fixable in place relative to the base member to accommodate installation of the thruster at different axial positions in the through-bore so as to accommodate said at least one dimensional variance.
2 . The mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one dimensional variance comprises a thickness of said at least one of the liner, the gap, and the hull.
3 . The mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the different axial positions are based on an axial length characteristic of the thruster in view of said at least one dimensional variance.
4 . The mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment member is axially adjustable relative to the base member and thus relative to the through-bore during installation of the mounting assembly.
5 . The mounting assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment device configured to facilitate an axial adjustment of an standoff distance of the base member relative to the liner prior to fixing the base member in place.
6 . The mounting assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the adjustment device comprises at least one screw.
7 . The mounting assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment device configured to facilitate an axial adjustment of a standoff distance of the adjustment member relative to the hull prior to fixing the adjustment member in place.
8 . The mounting assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the adjustment device comprises at least one screw.
9 . The mounting assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a fixing device configured to fix the adjustment member in place relative to the base member.
10 . The mounting assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the fixing device comprises at least one set screw.
11 . The mounting assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising
a first adjustment device configured to facilitate an axial adjustment of the base member relative to the liner prior to fixing the base member in place on the liner; and
a second adjustment device configured to facilitate an axial adjustment of the adjustment member relative to the hull prior to fixing the adjustment member in place relative to the base member;
wherein the axial adjustment of the base member and the axial adjustment of the adjustment member are cumulative so as to provide a relatively larger overall axial adjustment of the mounting assembly.
12 . The mounting assembly according to claim 11 , further comprising a fixing device configured to fix the adjustment member in place relative to the base member.
13 . The mounting assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a cutout in the base member which facilitates viewing of an axial position of the adjustment member relative to the through-bore, thereby facilitating installation of the thruster at the different axial positions.
14 . The mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment member is telescopically adjustable relative to the base member.
15 . A method of installing a thruster on a variety of marine vessels having a liner and a hull separated from the liner by a gap, wherein a through-bore in which the thruster is to be installed axially extends through the liner, the gap, and the hull, and wherein because of differences in manufacturing and/or materials, at least one dimensional variance exists in at least one of the liner, the gap, and the hull amongst the variety of marine vessels, the method comprising:
predetermining an axial position in the through-bore for the thruster by comparing a length characteristic of the thruster to a distance between an outside of the hull alongside the through-bore and an outside of the liner along the through-bore;
installing a mounting assembly over the through-bore, the mounting assembly having a base member and an adjustment member configured to support the thruster relative to the through-bore, the adjustment member being axially adjustable and fixable in place relative to the base member to accommodate installation of the thruster at the axial position despite said at least one dimensional variance;
adjusting the adjustment member relative to the hull to at least in part so that the thruster is located in the axial position; and
installing the thruster in the through-bore.
16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein adjusting the adjustment member relative to the hull comprises adjusting a standoff distance between the adjustment member and the hull.
17 . The method according to claim 15 , further comprising, prior to installing the thruster in the through-bore, adjusting the base member relative to the liner further to locate the thruster in the axial position.
18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein adjusting the base member relative to the liner comprises adjusting a standoff distance between the base member and the liner.
19 . The method according to claim 15 , further comprising thereafter fixing the adjustment member relative to the base member.
20 . A marine vessel comprising:
a liner and a hull that is separated from the liner by a gap, wherein a through-bore axially extends through the liner, the gap, and the hull, and wherein because of differences in manufacturing and/or materials, at least one dimensional variance compared to other marine vessels exists in at least one of the liner, the gap, and the hull;
a thruster installed in the through-bore; and
a mounting assembly which mounts the thruster to the marine vessel, the mounting assembly having a base member installed on the liner over the through-bore, and an adjustment member supporting the thruster relative to the through-bore, wherein the adjustment member is adjustable and fixable in place relative to the base member to accommodate installation of the thruster at a different axial position in the through-bore so as to accommodate said at least one dimensional variance.