Patent ID: 6033271
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
A ship propulsion system comprising: drive means; a propeller with a propeller shaft connected directly to said drive means; a thrust bearing in said drive means for receiving directly thrust of said propeller shaft; auxiliary drive means having an electrical machine operable selectively as a motor or as a generator, said electrical machine being operated when electrical power is produced aboard ship; coupling means connected between said electrical machine and transmission means in said auxiliary drive means; gear means on said transmission means and surrounding said propeller shaft; a flexible coupling connecting said transmission means to said propeller shaft; a shiftable coupling mounted on a separate section of said propeller shaft between said transmission means and said drive means; said shiftable coupling being free of play and transmitting torque from said drive means to said propeller shaft and the thrust of said propeller shaft; an auxiliary thrust bearing free of play and connected to said shiftable coupling, said auxiliary thrust bearing being actuated when the ship is in auxiliary or emergency operation; said propeller shaft having a reduced thrust in said auxiliary or emergency operation transmitted through said auxiliary thrust bearing to said thrust bearing in said drive means in the ship's hull, said auxiliary drive means being operated when said electrical machine comprises a supplemental drive after said electrical machine is switched over to motor operation and said drive means is separated from said propeller shaft by disengagement of said shiftable coupling and actuating said auxiliary thrust bearing integral with said shiftable coupling.