SHIP'S PROPULSION SHAFTING ARRANGEMENT

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT

THE PROPULSION SHAFT ARRANGEMENT CAN BE DIVIDED INTO 3 PARTS

• CRANKSHAFT
• INTERMEDIATE SHAFT
• PROPELLER SHAFT OR TAIL SHAFT

THE CRANK SHAFT IS THE ONE WHICH IS LOCATED INSIDE THE MAIN ENGINE CRANK CASE ROTATED BE THE COMBUSTION FORCE ON THE ENGINE CYLINDER.
 

THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CONNECTS THE CRANKSHAFT TO THE PROPELLER SHAFT AT THE AFT.

THE NUMBER OF INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WILL DEPEND ON THE POSITIONING OF MAIN ENGINE ON THE SHIP.

THE INTERMIEDIATE SHAFTS ARE CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AND TO PROPELLER SHAFT AND THE CRANK SHAFT BY FLANGE COUPLINGS WITH FITTED BOLTS. SOMETIMES THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS ALSO CONNECTED BY MUFF COUPLING TO TAIL SHAFT FOR EASE OF REMOVAL.

THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ARE SUPPORTED BY INTERMEDIATE BEARINGS PLACED AT NODAL POINTS(location where amplitude of vibration is zero). 

THE NUMBER OF INTERMIEDIATE BEARINGS DEPEND ON:

•  LENGTH OF THE SHAFT
• DIAMETER OF THE SHAFT

THE TAIL SHAFT IS THE AFTMOST SHAFT WITH A TAPERED END WHERE THE PROPELLER BOSS FITS IN

TAIL SHAFT IS HOUSED IN BY STERN TUBE WHICH HAS MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS LIKE

• SUPPORTS THE TAIL SHAFT
• ACTS AS A SEAL TO AVOID INGRESS OF SEAWATER INTO ENGINE ROOM

THURST BLOCK IS LOCATED NEAR THE MAIN ENGINE (MOSTLY A INTEGRATED COMPONENT OF MAIN ENGINE) THAT TAKES UP THE THRUST PROVIDED BY THE PROPELLER.