Propulsion systems for submarine vessels

In a submarine vessel comprising a bow, a stern and a battery electric supply source, the improvement which comprises:

• at least one thruster mounted on said stern, said thruster including a magnetic flux generating stator, a shaftless propellant rotor, bearing means and nozzle means,
• conductor means to supply D.C. electrical current to said thruster from said electric supply source,
• controller means to regulate said electrical current from said battery electric supply source to said thruster and
• mounting means to attach said thruster to said stern, said stator comprising:
• a pair of spaced apart, ring-like side plates each defined by a first outer circular periphery of diameter D1, an outer face, an inner face and a central circular opening through said outer and inner faces defined by a first inner circular periphery of diameter D2 smaller than D1,
• a stator ring of width W1 defined by a second outer circular periphery of diameter D3, a second inner circular periphery of diameter D4 smaller than D3 but larger than D2 and a pair of first side edges, said stator ring being positioned between and fixed to said side plates and,
• a plurality of similar pole pieces of width W2 less than W1 made of magnetizable material positioned along a circular locus of diameter D5 smaller than D4 but larger than D2, said pole pieces being substantially centered between said first side edges,
• each pole piece being associated with windings of a plurality of separate conductive wires each insulated from each other with said pole pieces and windings being potted in plastic forming a ring-like structure inside said stator ring, said wires being electrically connected to said conductor means,
• said rotor comprising:
• a propeller ring of width W2 defined by a third outer circular periphery of diameter D6 smaller than D5, a third inner circular periphery of diameter D2 and a pair of second side edges having thickness T1 equal to D6 minus D2,
• a circular channel in said propeller ring extending through said third outer circular periphery to a depth less than T1, said channel being substantially centered between said second side edges,
• a plurality of permanent magnets of thickness less than T1 positioned in said channel and fixed therein with potting plastic, and
• a plurality of propeller blades fixed to and depending from siad third inner circular periphery, and
• said bearing means comprising:
• first semi-circular grooves in said inner face of said side plates juxtaposed to said first inner circular periphery of said stator,
• second semi-circular grooves in said second side edges of said rotor, and
• a plurality of ball bearings captured between said first and second grooves.

A propulsion system for a submarine vessel comprising:

• a thruster including a magnetic flux generating stator, a shaftless propellant rotor, bearing means and nozzle means,
• conductor means to supply D.C. electrical current to said thruster from a battery electric supply source,
• controller means to regulate said electrical current and
• mounting means to attach said thruster to said vessel, said stator comprising:
• a pair of spaced apart, ring-like side plates each defined by a first outer circular periphery of diameter D1, an outer face, an inner face and a central circular opening
• a stator ring of width W1 defined by a second outer circular periphery of diameter D3, a second inner circular periphery of diameter D4 smaller than D3 but larger than D2 and a pair of first side edges, said stator ring being positioned between and fixed to said side plates and,
• a plurality of similar pole pieces of width W2 less than W1 made of magnetizable material positioned along a circular locus of diameter D5 smaller than D4 but larger than D2, said pole pieces being substantially centered between said first side edges,
• each pole piece being associated with windings of a plurality of separate conductive wires each insulated from each other with said pole pieces and windings being potted in plastic forming a ring-like structure inside said stator ring, said wires being electrically connected to said conductor means,
• said rotor comprising:
• a propeller ring of width W2 defined by a third outer circular periphery of diameter D6 smaller than D5, a third inner circular periphery of diameter D2 and a pair of second side edges having thickness T1 equal to D6 minus D2,
• a circular channel in said propeller ring extending through said third outer circular periphery to a depth less than T1, said channel being substantially centered between said second side edges,
• a plurality of permanent magnets of thickness less than T1 positioned in said channel and fixed therein with potting plastic, and
• a plurality of propeller blades fixed to and depending from said third inner circular periphery, and
• said bearing means comprising:
• first grooves in said inner face of said side plates juxtaposed to said first inner circular periphery of said stator,
• second grooves in said second side edges of said rotor, and
• a plurality of bearings captured between said first and second grooves.