Patent ID: 6837757

Claim:
A rim-driven propulsion pod arrangement comprising: a propulsion pod having a generally cylindrical housing forming a duct with an axial flow path for water from a forward end to an aft end; an axial rotor support assembly mounted within the housing by a plurality of angularly distributed support members extending between the housing and the support assembly; a rotor assembly having a hub supported for rotation on the support assembly and an angularly distributed row of rotor blades mounted on the hub and a peripheral rim mounted on the outer ends of the row of rotor blades, the peripheral rim being received within an annular recess in the housing so as to be disposed out of the flow path of water through the duct formed by the housing; a passage for conveying water from a high pressure region aft of the rotating rotor blade row through a space between the peripheral rim and the recessed portion of the housing and having an outlet at a low pressure region of the duct forwardly of the rotor blade row and arranged at an angle to direct water emerging from the flow path rearwardly toward the rotor blade row; a rim drive motor comprising a stator in the annular recess and a rotor in the rim of the rotor assembly containing permanent magnets to drive the rotor in response to energization of windings in the stator, the rotor being disposed closer to the forward end of the duct than the support members; and at least one strut connecting the housing to a vessel to be driven by the propulsion pod and connected to the propulsion pod in a plane containing the support members, thereby avoiding obstruction of heat transfer from the stator through the housing to water surrounding the housing.