Submersible electric thruster
First Claim
1. A submersible electric thruster comprising:
- a stator assembly with a stator, electrical windings, bearings, and a base;
a rotor assembly with a shaft extending through the stator assembly that is connected co-rotatably to a plurality of magnets arranged about the stator that are driven by the electromagnetic forces of the stator and windings;
a propeller with a central hub that surrounds and is co-rotatably connected to the rotor assembly and with a plurality of angularly spaced propeller blades that extend from said central hub;
a nose cone that is connected to the stator assembly;
a nozzle that is connected to the stator assembly and provides an inlet and outlet for water flow;
a tail cone that is connected to nozzle; and
at least one chamber containing at least the stator and windings;
wherein the plurality of magnets of the rotor assembly are arranged radially outwardly of the electrical windings of the stator assembly to thereby rotate about the windings when driven by the electromagnetic forces provided by the stator and windings;
wherein the at least one chamber containing the stator and windings is configured to be flooded with water when the thruster is submerged; and
wherein a protective coating encapsulates the stator and windings to prevent water from contacting the stator and windings when the at least one chamber is flooded due to the thruster being submerged, and wherein the protective coating makes direct contact with the flooded water.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A submersible electric thruster operable to propel underwater vehicles, surface vehicles, amphibious vehicles, etc. The submersible electric thruster includes a stator assembly having a base, stator, windings, and bearings and an external rotor assembly having a cylindrical arrangement of permanent magnets with a hub that is secured to a shaft. The stator forms the center of the motor and the permanent magnets spin around the stator. A propeller hub is integrally connected to the rotor assembly with angularly spaced propeller blades extending radially from the propeller hub. An annular nozzle surrounds the propeller and motor, forming an inlet and outlet for water flow. A nose cone is connected to the stator assembly and a tail cone is integrally connected to the nozzle assembly. Supporting arms may extend from the stator assembly to support the nozzle and/or supporting arms may extend from the nozzle to the support the tail cone.
27 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A submersible electric thruster comprising:
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a stator assembly with a stator, electrical windings, bearings, and a base; a rotor assembly with a shaft extending through the stator assembly that is connected co-rotatably to a plurality of magnets arranged about the stator that are driven by the electromagnetic forces of the stator and windings; a propeller with a central hub that surrounds and is co-rotatably connected to the rotor assembly and with a plurality of angularly spaced propeller blades that extend from said central hub; a nose cone that is connected to the stator assembly; a nozzle that is connected to the stator assembly and provides an inlet and outlet for water flow; a tail cone that is connected to nozzle; and at least one chamber containing at least the stator and windings; wherein the plurality of magnets of the rotor assembly are arranged radially outwardly of the electrical windings of the stator assembly to thereby rotate about the windings when driven by the electromagnetic forces provided by the stator and windings; wherein the at least one chamber containing the stator and windings is configured to be flooded with water when the thruster is submerged; and wherein a protective coating encapsulates the stator and windings to prevent water from contacting the stator and windings when the at least one chamber is flooded due to the thruster being submerged, and wherein the protective coating makes direct contact with the flooded water. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A submersible electric thruster comprising:
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a stator assembly with a stator and electrical windings; a rotor assembly with a shaft extending through the stator assembly that is connected co-rotatably to a plurality of magnets arranged about the stator that are driven by the electromagnetic forces of the stator and windings; a propeller with a central hub that surrounds and is co-rotatably connected to the rotor assembly and with a plurality of angularly spaced propeller blades that extend from said central hub; a nose cone that is connected to the stator assembly; and a nozzle that is connected to the stator assembly and provides an inlet and outlet for water flow; at least one chamber containing at least the stator and windings; wherein the plurality of magnets of the rotor assembly are arranged radially outwardly of the electrical windings of the stator assembly to thereby rotate about the windings when driven by the electromagnetic forces provided by the stator and windings; wherein the at least one chamber containing the stator and windings is configured to be flooded with water when the thruster is submerged; and wherein a protective coating encapsulates the stator and windings to prevent water from contacting the stator and windings when the at least one chamber is flooded due to the thruster being submerged, and wherein the protective coating makes direct contact with the flooded water. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification