USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Benjamin Y-h Chen

Carol L Tseng

Frank B Peterson

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a surface ship having at least one tractor podded propulsor is provided. The vessel having a tractor podded propulsor system comprises a hull means and at least one tractor podded propulsor unit attached to the aft section of the hull means. The at least one tractor podded propulsor unit comprises an axisymmetric pod having a longitudinal centerline associated therewith, at least one propeller mounted for rotation to a forward end of the pod, and a substantially vertically aligned streamlined strut connected at a top end to the aft section of the hull means and connected at a bottom end to the pod. The pod has a forward end and a tapered aft end. Mounted within the pod is at least one rotatably mounted propeller shaft that extends forward of the pod forward end, shaft seals, thrust bearings, and power means functioning to rotate the at least one propeller shaft. The tractor podded propulsor produces lower resistance and higher cavitation inception speeds than prior art open shafts and struts systems.

Tractor podded propulsor for surface ships

A torque balanced propulsor unit for a submersible vehicle of the type having a bow, a stern, a longitudinally extending central section axisymmetric about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and including therein a maximum diameter of the vehicle, and a tapered aft section axisymmetric about the longitudinal axis is provided. The torque balanced propulsor unit includes a rotor for providing a forward thrust to the vehicle. The rotor includes a central axisymmetric hub and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart impeller blades extending radially from the central hub. The rotor is rotationally mounted to the tapered aft section of the vehicle. The rotor has a first torque associated therewith. The torque balanced propulsor unit further includes a stator for producing a second torque on the vehicle. The stator is secured to the vehicle at a location aft of the rotor. The stator includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart stationary vanes fixed to the vehicle and extending radially therefrom, the vanes being shaped to produce the second torque. The stator is configured and positioned so as to function within the wake of the rotor to produce the second torque, wherein the second torque is substantially equal and opposite the first torque.

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Potomac, both of, MD, United States of America

Benjamin Y-h Chen