Integral motor propulsor unit for water vehicles

A submersible propulsor unit, comprising:

• a cylindrical shroud having a water inlet and a water outlet;
• a propeller means having a hub rotatably mounted within said shroud on a shaft;
• an electric motor for driving said propeller means including a rotor mounted around the periphery of said propeller means, and a stator mounted within said shroud that is magnetically coupled to the rotor, wherein said rotor includes permanent magnets for increasing the minimum distance required between the stator and the rotor for efficient magnetic coupling and thereby reducing both drag losses and the noise generated by the propeller means;
• and
• a plurality of vane members connected between said shroud and said shaft for supporting said shaft along the axis of rotation of said shroud, wherein said vane members are connected to a portion of said shaft disposed between said hub and the outlet end of said shroud to reduce the noise generated by the propeller means.

A submersible propulsor unit, comprising:

• a shroud having a water inlet and a water outlet;
• a propeller means having a hub rotatably mounted within said shroud on a shaft, wherein said shaft has an end that faces the inlet end of said shroud;
• a bearing assembly including a thrust bearing disposed between the hub of said propeller means and the inlet end of said shaft, including impeller means for circulating ambient water around the surfaces of said bearing to lubricate and cool said bearing;
• an electric motor for driving the propeller means including a rotor mounted around the periphery of the propeller means, and a stator mounted within said shroud and spaced away from but electromagnetically coupled to the rotor, and
• a cover mounted over the inlet end of the shaft over said thrust bearing.

A submersible propulsor unit, comprising:

• a shroud having a water inlet and a water outlet;
• a propeller means having a hub rotatably mounted within said shroud on a shaft;
• an electric motor for driving said propeller means including a rotor mounted around the periphery of said propeller means, and a stator mounted within said shroud and spaced away from but magnetically coupled to said rotor, and
• a bearing assembly having bearing surfaces disposed between the hub of said propeller means and said shaft, and including means for circulating ambient water around said bearing surfaces to both lubricate and cool said bearing assembly, including
• a water intake port in said shaft substantially aligned with the water outlet of said shroud for discouraging the intake of particle of debris into said port, and
• a plurality of vane members connected between said shroud and said shaft for supporting said shaft along the axis of rotation of said shroud, wherein said vane members are connected to a portion of said shaft disposed between said hub and the outlet end of said shroud to reduce the noise generated by the propeller means.

A submersible propulsor unit, comprising:

• a shroud having a water inlet and a water outlet;
• a propeller means having a hub rotatably mounted with said shroud on a shaft, wherein said shaft has an end that faces the inlet end of said shroud;
• a bearing assembly including a thrust bearing disposed between the hub of said propeller means and the inlet end of said shaft;
• an electric motor for driving the propeller means including a rotor mounted around the periphery of the propeller means, and a stator mounted within said shroud and spaced away from but electromagnetically coupled to the rotor, and
• a cover mounted over the inlet end of the shaft over said thrust bearing that remains stationary with respect to said hub when said propeller means rotates to thereby reduce the noise generated by the rotation of the hub, wherein said cover is detachably mounted on said shaft to facilitate access to said thrust bearing.

A submersible propulsor unit, comprising:

• a shroud having a water inlet and a water outlet;
• a propeller means having a hub rotatably mounted within said shroud on a shaft, wherein said shaft has an end that faces the inlet end of said shroud;
• a bearing assembly including a thrust bearing disposed between the hub of said propeller means and the inlet end of said shaft and having means for circulating ambient water around the bearing surfaces of said assembly both to lubricate and cool said bearing assembly including a water intake port in said shaft substantially aligned with the water outlet of said shroud for discouraging the intake of particle of debris into said port;
• an electric motor for driving the propeller means including a rotor mounted around the periphery of the propeller means, and a stator mounted within said shroud and spaced away from but electromagnetically coupled to the rotor, and
• a cover mounted over the inlet end of the shaft over said thrust bearing that remains stationary with respect to said hub when said propeller means rotates to thereby reduce the noise generated by the rotation of the hub.