Engine Bed Plate

Introduction

A solid foundation is necessary for any structure, be it on the ground or meant for the sea. No doubt this axiom applies equally well to marine diesel engines which are huge and gigantic structures and have a lot of forces apart from their weight, such as the reactive forces when the huge piston rush up and down through the cylinders. It goes without saying that a very strong base is required to support such load and forces and the bedplate of the engine servers as the structural base of the engine. It acts as housing for the huge crankshaft while it also supports the cylinder block. In this article we will see about the role and functions of the bedplate and learn about its usefulness and purpose.

The Bedplate

If you want to get an idea about the magnitude of weight which is being supported by the bedplate as well as have a general idea about the size of a marine engine just take a look at the picture below. You will notice a red coloured circle with a pointer and that is meant to highlight a human being standing next to the engine. This will surely give you an idea about the size and magnitude of the marine engine.