Tractor podded propulsor for surface ships

Abstract

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.