Abstract: A marine propulsion and steering unit (10) comprises a pod (13) having front and rear ends, a driving machine (14), e.g. a drive motor, accommodated in the pod, a substantially horizontal propeller shaft (15) drivingly connected to the driving machine and provided with a propeller (18) externally of the front end of the pod (13), and an upright pod supporting strut (12) rigidly attached to the pod and having at the upper end thereof swivel bearing means (11) supporting the pod supporting strut and the pod below a buoyant body for angular motion about a substantially vertical axis (C). The pod supporting strut (12) is shaped essentially as an upstanding airfoil the chord plane (V) of which contains or is proximal to the axis (T) of the propeller shaft (15) and the leading edge (12A) of which is directed towards the propeller (18).

Abstract: A steering and reversing system for a marine jet propulsion unit having a stationary nozzle (3) for discharging a water jet rearwardly from the unit comprises a pair of steering and reversing members (4, 5) which are mounted side by side at the rear end of the nozzle and individually pivotable in opposite directions about upright axes (7) from a non-deflecting position to first and second deflecting positions. In the non-deflecting position, the steering and reversing members (4, 5) form a rearwardly directed extension of the nozzle, while in the first deflecting position each member diverts a portion of the water jet laterally outwardly by means of its front section (4a, 5a) and in the second deflecting position each member deflects a portion of the water jet downwardly and forwardly by means of scoop-like members at its rear section (4b, 5b).

Abstract: An actuating system for a controllable pitch propeller comprises a hydraulic servomotor arranged in the propeller hub and being connected mechanically to the propeller blades. Pressure medium is delivered to the servomotor, under the control of a control valve, from a pressure-medium source, which is connected to a stationary pressure-medium chamber which embraces a rotatable shaft connected to the propeller and which is sealed against the outer surface of the shaft and communicates, via a radial pressure-medium channel in the shaft, with an axial pressure-medium channel located in the shaft and extending to the hydraulic servomotor. The system further comprises an additional stationary pressure-medium chamber which embraces the shaft and seals against the outer surface thereof and which, via an additional radial pressure-medium channel in the shaft communicates with the axial pressure-medium channel in the shaft.

Abstract: A propeller assembly (2), a so-called thruster, intended to be fitted to an opening (7) in a bottom part (1) of the shell structure of a watercraft, for example an offshore-platform, is provided with a mounting flange (9) which can be connected in a pressure tight fashion to the shell structure around the opening (7). To enable the assembly to be fitted and dismantled from outside the shell structure and beneath the surface of the water on which the craft floats without requiring the assistance of a diver there are used a plurality of lines (12) which can be connected to lifting devices in the watercraft and passed out through a corresponding number of line openings (13) located in the shell structure on one side of the assembly mounting opening (7), so that the ends of the lines can be connected to the line attachments (16; 37) on the assembly (2).

Abstract: A propeller assembly, a so-called rotatable thruster, for propelling, manoeuvering, steering and/or positioning a watercraft, floating docks, pontoons and in particular offshore platforms, includes a propeller (1) having an embracing propeller shroud (2) and mounted on a propeller shaft journalled in a gear housing (3). The gear housing accommodates a bevel gearing through which the propeller shaft is connected to a drive shaft extending through a tubular support strut (4), which is connected at its lower end to the gear housing in order to support the same. The upper end of the support strut is arranged to be rotatably mounted in an opening in a bottom part of the hull of the watercraft, with the propeller shaft extending substantially horizontally, so that the drive shaft can be connected to drive machinery located within the hull and such that the assembly can be rotated about a rotational axis coinciding with the axis of the drive shaft, by means of rotational machinery located within the hull.

Abstract: A water jet unit for ships, comprises a propeller pump having a pump housing connected on its inlet side with an inlet channel and on its outlet side with a water-jet directing outlet means. The pump housing has a hub housing which is arranged centrally in the flow path of the water through the pump housing and which is carried by guide vanes extending radially between the wall of the pump housing and the hub housing. The impeller is mounted on the end of a pump shaft extending into the pump housing through the inlet channel and is journalled in the hub housing by means of an axial bearing and a radial bearing. Both bearings are spherical and have a substantially common center.