Rudder bearing is an important component of a ship's rudder system. It is installed on the hull structure and its main function is to support the weight of the rudder stock and withstand various forces on the rudder blades, including hydrodynamic forces. For example, in a large ocean going cargo ship, the rudder support is located in the rudder compartment, which connects the rudder stock to the hull to ensure stable rotation of the rudder.
According to its working mode, it can be divided into upper rudder support and lower rudder support.
1. Upper rudder support: usually located at the upper part of the rudder stock, it not only bears radial forces (forces perpendicular to the axis of the rudder stock), but also bears some axial forces of the rudder stock (forces along the axis of the rudder stock). The upper rudder bearing generally has a good sealing device to prevent leakage of seawater or lubricating oil. For example, some upper rudder bearings adopt a lip seal structure, which can effectively block seawater from entering the rudder compartment.
2. Lower rudder support: It mainly bears the radial force of the rudder stock and is located at the lower part of the rudder stock, near the rudder blades. The structure of the lower rudder support is relatively simple, but it needs to have sufficient strength and wear resistance because it needs to withstand the large frictional and impact forces generated by the rudder blades rotating in water.
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