Integrated external electric drive propulsion module arrangement for surface ships

摘要

In the external electric drive propulsion module arrangement (10) described in the specification, two parallel propulsion units (26,28) are mounted in a housing (14) affixed beneath the stern (16) of a ship and having a surface contour conforming to the contour of the adjacent surface portions of the ship's hull. Each propulsion unit (26,28) is disposed substantially horizontally to provide maximum propulsion efficiency and has a rotating blade section (22) for driving water rearwardly from an inlet and a fixed blade section (24) following the rotating blade section. The inlet receives water from a wraparound array of screened intake openings (18) near the forward end of the module housing which draws in the surface boundary layer of the ship's hull. In addition, vertical vanes (30) are affixed to the stern of the ship to straighten the flow of water from the propulsion units.