Patent ID: 8651904

Claim:
A propeller drive assembly for steering and driving a ship ( 1 ), the propeller drive assembly comprising: at least one drive motor ( 2 ) and at least one transmission housing ( 4 ) supported by a hull of the ship; a control housing ( 7 ) secured to an outside of the hull, the control housing ( 7 ) comprising at least one propeller ( 8 ) supported on a driven shaft ( 6 ), and the control housing ( 7 ) being pivotably disposed, via a steering shaft ( 10 ), on the transmission housing ( 4 ) for steering the ship ( 1 ); a transmission output shaft ( 5 ) being coupled to the driven shaft ( 6 ); and a transmission housing lubricant circuit for the transmission housing ( 4 ) and a separate control housing lubricant circuit for the control housing ( 7 ); wherein a first sealing element ( 12 ), engages a shaft passage of the transmission output shaft ( 5 ) and a second sealing element ( 14 ) engages a shaft passage of the steering shaft ( 10 ) and the first sealing element ( 12 ) directly communicates with both the transmission housing lubricant circuit and the control housing lubricant circuit and separates the transmission housing lubricant circuit from the control housing lubricant circuit so as to form a lubricant tight seal and prevent fluid communication between the transmission housing lubricant circuit and the control housing lubricant circuit.