Self-Orienting Suction Point For Fluid Transportation

When a ship pitches or rolls in heavy seas, the angle can cause a loss of lube oil pressure in the engine. When oil pressure is lost, alarms and automation will shut down the engines to prevent damage, and the ship loses propulsion. Without propulsion and collateral loss of steerage in rough seas, the ship risks capsizing and sinking, jeopardizing the lives of those onboard.

A cadet team at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy invented the Self-Orienting Suction Point for Fluid Transportation (SSPFT), an apparatus and method for preventing or minimizing the loss of lube oil pressure in a ship engine. The invention is an engineering solution that allows lubrication systems to tolerate higher inclination angles when a ship pitches and rolls, thereby preserving lube oil pressure and preventing propulsion loss.

For a more detailed description download the PDF below.