Patent ID: 9630693
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: B63H

Claim:
1. A method of arranging the lubrication of a steerable thruster of a marine vessel, the lubrication arrangement having an oil tank and circulation means for circulating oil between the oil tank and the thruster, the thruster comprising the vertical shaft being surrounded by a vertical shaft housing, the lower gearbox including a shaft for running a propeller, a gearwheel mounted on the propeller shaft and rotated by means of a pinion wheel having a substantially vertical pinion wheel shaft, the pinion wheel shaft being arranged within the shank and forming at least a part of the vertical shaft, the pinion wheel shaft being supported rotatably to the lower vertical shaft housing by means of bearings, the method comprising: arranging full bath lubrication in both the stembox and the shank, providing at least two oil paths for introducing oil from the oil tank to the thruster, a first path leading from the oil tank to the lower gearbox via the shank and a second path leading directly from the tank to the lower gearbox, arranging a splash-type lubrication in the lower gearbox by regulating the amount of oil introduced into the lower gearbox for maintaining a desired oil level O