Voith Schneider Propeller: Difference between revisions
imported>George Swan (first draft on citizendium) |
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Revision as of 23:22, 16 November 2007
The Voith Schneider Propeller is a specialized marine propulsion system. It is highly maneuverable, being able to change the direction of its thrust, almost instantaneously. There is a large circular plate that is mounted on the bottom of the vessel. That plate has a number long blades that protude from it. The circular plate rotates. And each of the blades that protudes from it is designed to independently rotate.
The system cleverly changes the orientation of the paddles, in synch with the rotation of the plate, so that the plate rotation can provide thrust in any direction. Unlike a Z drive changing the direction of thrust merely requires changing the pattern by which the vertical blades change their orientation.
This propulsion system is like a cross between an egg-beater and wankel engine.