Patent ID: 7845995
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: B63H,F03B,F16C,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A pod propulsion system comprising: a housing defining a fluid duct; an annular drum rotatably mounted to the housing within the fluid duct, the annular drum having a drum interior, a cylindrical outer surface and a collar extending from the cylindrical outer surface; a rotor mounted to the drum for rotation therewith, the rotor and the drum having a common axis of rotation for impelling a working fluid through the fluid duct, thereby imparting a propulsion force to the drum; a bearing assembly mounted to the housing, the bearing assembly comprising a first bearing comprising a first plurality of bearing pads disposed circumferentially around the drum, each of the first plurality of bearing pads having a pad bearing surface configured to contact a first side of the collar in a predetermined manner, and being pivotably mounted to the housing so as to maintain contact of the pad bearing surface with the first side of the collar in the predetermined manner when an orientation of the collar relative to the housing changes, the bearing assembly being configured to transmit the propulsion force to the housing,