Page 65: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2015)

Tech Note

Thrustmaster

Quick Release:

Z-Drives with Mechanical Fuses

CE IC I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I VI V V RV R R R R R R R ER E E E E E SE S S S S S S S S S E S E E E E NE N N N IN I I I I I I I RI R R R R R R AR A A A A A A A A MA M M M I I I I I I I I RI R R R R R R R R R ER E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E VE V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V IV I I I I I I I I LI L L L L L L L L L L L EL E E E DE D D D D D DE EL LI IV VERING ING MARINE SERVICES, E E ES S S S S S S S S S S S S S

A highlight of Thrustmaster’s efforts to safeguard its Z- , , R OR O FO F F R O O OV V VE E ER R R

Drive thrusters for towboats operating in the inland wa-

At Técnico, we take pride in our ability to assemble large numbers of skilled terways are the inclusion of a built-in mechanical fuse or tradesmen to accomplish turn-key projects. Our entire workforce is committed to quick release coupling. (Pictured below is torque limiting exceeding our customers’ expectations on time… within budget.

coupling general assembly drawing and a picture.) The inclusion of a quick release coupling at the input shaft of the Z-drive gives operators added protection from the in- evitable debris that can line the riverbed. The quick release coupling acts as a mechanical fuse whenever the drive line is blocked, for example should the propeller ingest a log, a tire or other river waste that is typical during daily opera- tions. After the obstruction is removed from the propeller, the mechanical fuse can quickly be reset manually. The mechanical fuse, also called a torque limiting coupling, is a component installed on the horizontal input shaft of the

Z-drive and connects to the cardan shaft driven off of the

AN EMPLOYEE OWNED COMPANY engine or electric motor.

Headquarters: 831 Industrial Ave. | Chesapeake, VA 23324

Técnico Corporation

The concept behind the quick release coupling is that

Phone 757.545.4013 | Fax 757.545.4925

Marine & Industrial Contractors when the propeller or gear set and/or drive line sees any

NORFOLK, VA • MOBILE, AL • PHILADELPHIA, PA • SAN DIEGO, CA tecnicocorp.com spike in torque above the set limit for the coupling, the coupling instantaneously breaks free allowing the cardan shaft and engine to spin freely without driving the thrust- er. The propeller and gear set are instantaneously discon- nected from the engine saving the propeller, gear sets, and bearings, from damage or complete failure. Therefore, not only avoiding the damage, but also operational downtime, unnecessary dry-docking, and crippling cost of repairs typically associated with the competitions’ thruster run-ins

Tapered Contact Tips with the inevitable debris.

Drawn for better conductivity

The quick release coupling is a standard component on

Nozzles

Thrustmaster’s line of Z drives.

Designed to minimize o o o o o o Goo enec Goose enec Goosenec Goosenec Goosenec Goos se en nec c c e e e k G G G G G G Gooseneck k k k k k k k k k k bu bu b bu bu bu bu sp sp sp sp sp sp sp sp p pat at at at atte te te te te e e er r r r r r bu uil il il il ld d d d d d- d- d- d- d d ups spatter build-up p p p p p p pupupupupu u u upup

Armor-protected and rated to 650 amps

Limited Lifetime

Warranty on handle and trigger switch by ge ge E sy Ea Ea Easy-P Easy Easy-P Easy-P Easy-P P P Pul l ul l l ll l Tr Tr Tr Trig g ig ig igge E Easy-Pull Trigger e e er r r r r r rger

Reduces welder fatigue

Rugged Handle

Virtually indestructible

Flexible Unicable

Abrasion-resistant outer jacket

Featuring a full line of consumables with high copper content

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Image: Thrustmaster www.marinelink.com 65

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