PROPULSION SYSTEMS FOR DYNAMIC POSITIONING

Propulsion devices to hold a ship or platform in a fixed position at sea are reviewed for a number of oceanographic and marine science vessels. The Glomar Challenger has tunnel mounted fixed propellers in which four transverse tunnel thrusters are used--two in the bow and two at the stern. The Mission Capistrano uses retractable rotatable propeller units in which each watertight housing contains a 1250 hp GE vertical electric motor, an Eaton dynamic coupling, motor and coupling controllers, heat exchangers for these two units, the steering motor and controller, emergency pumps and alarm transmitters. An M&T Series 12 Harbormaster is directly coupled to the power pod and incorporates a kort nozzle. The Voith-Schneider cycloidal propeller, used on the Navys AGOR 14 and 15 ships, is installed vertically and at right angles to the ship hull. As the entire blade assembly rotates, each blade rotates about its axis. The propeller gives a thrust in any direction by only changing the pitch on the rotating blades. In the kamewa controllable pitch bow thrusters a self-contained motor driven hydraulic unit supplies power to control the thruster propeller blade pitch and has interlocks for connection to the central control panel and the thruster prime mover.

• Corporate Authors:

  Compass Publications Incorporated

  1117 North 19th Street, Suite 1000
  Arlington, VA  United States  22209
• Publication Date: 1969-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 44-7
• Serial:
  • Undersea Technology
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: Compass Publications Incorporated

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Propellers; Thrusters
• Old TRIS Terms: Voith-schneider propellers
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00005463
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 30 1971 12:00AM