An azimuth thruster is a configuration of marine propellers placed in pods that can be rotated to any horizontal angle ( azimuth ), making a rudder redundant. These give ships better maneuverability than a fixed propeller and rudder system.
5-414: An L-drive is a type of azimuth thruster where the electric motor is mounted vertically, removing the second bevel gear from the drivetrain. Azimuth thruster pods can be rotated through a full 360 degrees, allowing for rapid changes in thrust direction and eliminating the need for a conventional rudder . This form of power transmission is called a L-drive because
10-415: Is that a ship with azimuth drive maneuvers differently from one with a standard propeller and rudder configuration, necessitating specialized pilot training. Another disadvantage is they increase the draught of the ship. English inventor Francis Ronalds described what he called a propelling rudder in 1859 that combined the propulsion and steering mechanisms of a boat in a single apparatus. The propeller
15-993: The location of the motor: The most powerful podded thrusters in use are the four 21.5 MW Rolls-Royce Mermaid units fitted to RMS Queen Mary 2 . Mechanical azimuth thrusters can be fixed installed, retractable or underwater-mountable. They may have fixed pitch propellers or controllable pitch propellers . Fixed installed thrusters are used for tugboats, ferries and supply-boats. Retractable thrusters are used as auxiliary propulsion for dynamically positioned vessels and take-home propulsion for military vessels. Underwater-mountable thrusters are used as dynamic positioning propulsion for very large vessels such as semi-submersible drilling rigs and drillships . Primary advantages are maneuverability, electrical efficiency, better use of ship space, and lower maintenance costs. Ships with azimuth thrusters do not need tugboats to dock, though they may still require tugs to maneuver in difficult places. The major disadvantage of azimuth drive systems
20-741: The rotary motion has to make one right angle turn, thus looking a bit like the letter "L". This name is used to make clear the arrangement of drive is different from Z-drive . See also [ edit ] Azipod – Electric drive azimuth thruster Propulsor – Mechanical device to propel a vessel Z-drive – Steerable marine drive system Cyclorotor – Perpendicular axis marine propulsion system Outboard motor – Self-contained propulsion system for boats Notes [ edit ] Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=L-drive&oldid=905902474 " Category : Marine propulsion Azimuth thruster There are two major variants, based on
25-575: Was placed in a frame having an outer profile similar to a rudder and attached to a vertical shaft that allowed the device to rotate in plane while spin was transmitted to the propeller. The modern azimuth thruster using the Z-drive transmission was invented in 1951 by Joseph Becker, the founder of Schottel in Germany, and marketed as the Ruderpropeller. Becker was awarded the 2004 Elmer A. Sperry Award for
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