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Jussi Aarnivuo

The present invention relates to a propeller drive arrangement and a method for moving and steering a vessel. The arrangement comprises an azimuthing propulsion unit and operating equipment for turning said azimuthing propulsion unit to steer the vessel. The operating equipment comprises an electric motor for rotating said propulsion unit by means of a mechanical power transmission machinery connected to said electric motor. A power unit supplies electric power to said electric motor. A control unit controls the operation of said electric motor by controlling said power unit. The arrangement also comprises a sensor device for detecting the rotational position of said azimuthing propulsion unit. A control unit is arranged to process steering command information from a control means and turning position information from said sensor device and to control the operation of said electric motor on the basis of this processing.

Arrangement and method for turning a propulsion unit

A propeller drive arrangement for moving and steering a vessel traveling in water. The propeller drive arrangement includes an azimuthing propulsion unit, a power supply, a control unit, and a sensor means. An operating means is provided for turning the azimuthing propulsion unit it relation to the hull of the vessel for steering the vessel in accordance with a steering command controlled by the vessel's steering control device. The operating means also includes a second electric motor for turning the azimuthing propulsion unit via a mechanical power transmission that is connected to the second electric motor. The sensor means is connected to the control unit and used for detecting the rotational position of the azimuthing propulsion unit. The control unit is configured so that both the steering command information originating from the steering control device and the rotational position information originating from the sensor means can be processed.

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Helsinki, Finland

Jussi Aarnivuo