An azimuth thruster system includes a pod configured to rotate relative the hull of the ship about an azimuthal axis of the pod, a propeller shaft extending from the pod and being configured to rotate relative to the pod about a central axis of the propeller shaft, an outer shaft disposed at least partially in the pod and configured to be driven by a first primary prime mover, an inner shaft disposed at least partially within the outer shaft and configured to be driven by a second primary prime mover, and a pod gear unit disposed within the pod and coupled to the outer shaft, the inner shaft, and the propeller shaft. The outer and inner shafts are configured to rotate at least one of the pod and the propeller shaft based on directions and magnitudes of the torques generated by the first and second primary prime movers.

A marine vessel includes a hull, a propulsion system, a control unit and a motion sensor system. The propulsion system comprises a first drive unit and a second drive unit separated by a longitudinal midship line of the hull, where each drive unit is arranged to generate thrust in a controllable thrust elevation angle and in a controllable thrust azimuth angle, where at least the thrust elevation angles are individually controllable The control unit is arranged to estimate a pitch motion and a roll motion of the hull based on input from the motion sensor system. The control unit is arranged to suppress pitch motion and roll motion by the hull by controlling the thrust elevation angles and the thrust azimuth angles of the first and second drive units.

A computer implemented diagnostics system for a marine propeller drive unit is provided. The diagnostics system comprising processing circuitry connected to a speed sensor system and to a control unit associated with the electric machine. The speed sensor system is arranged in connection to the differential arrangement to provide propeller speed data to the processing circuitry indicative of a speed of rotation of at least one of the propeller axles of the self-balancing propeller drive unit. The control unit is arranged to provide motor current data to the processing circuitry indicative of a motor current drawn by the electric machine. The processing circuitry is arranged to monitor the motor current data from the control unit, and the propeller speed data from the speed sensor system, and to classify a state of the self-balancing propeller drive unit into a pre-determined number of states comprising one or more fault states, based on the motor current data and on the propeller speed data. The processing circuitry is arranged to trigger an action by the diagnostics system in case the state of the self-balancing propeller drive unit is classified as a fault state.

A marine propulsion system having a steering axis that allows pivoting of propellers along a first vertical axis directly beneath a gear box located inside the hull of a boat. A lower gear box can be placed within a vented or non-vented tunnel eliminating the need for a rudder and providing directional control of the boat by the orientation of the lower gear box. Surface piercing propellers and/or counter-rotating propellers may be used with the propellers pivoted around the vertical axis of the gear box. The offset steering axis allows pivoting around the first vertical axis wherein a secondary axis is moved with minimal drag providing superior maneuverability at both high and low speeds.

A system for contactless power transmission in an azimuth thruster, the system comprising a first body (76) comprising at least one first inductor to provide a magnetic field, a second body (78) comprising at least one second inductor to generate an electrical current from the magnetic field, the bodies being configured to be relatively rotatable, the at least one first inductor and the at least one second inductor being configured to generate an electrical current from the magnetic field at all relative rotational positions, wherein the or each of the first inductors are tuned to resonate within a predetermined frequency band and the or each of the second inductors are tuned to resonate within a predetermined frequency band, the frequency band of the or each of the second inductors at least partially overlapping with the frequency band of the or each of the first inductors.

The present invention relates to a marine drive unit (1) comprising an upper bevel gear set (2) and a lower bevel gear set (3). The upper bevel gear set (2) is connected to the lower bevel gear set (3) by a drive shaft (4) which extends in vertical direction. A first oil pump (5) is arranged to supply oil to the upper bevel gear set (2) and a second oil pump (6) is arranged to feed a cooling oil circuit.

An outboard propulsion system comprising a first portion for attachment to a boat, wherein the first portion is fixed about a substantially vertical axis, and a second portion connected to the first portion and configured to rotate about a steering axis, wherein the first portion comprises a sealed housing enclosing a member having a longitudinal axis relative to which it may move and the second portion comprises a gear configured to engage with the member such that movement of the member relative to its longitudinal axis generates rotational movement of the gear about the steering axis, and wherein the sealed housing comprises a sensor configured to determine the position of the member within the sealed housing.

A marine propulsor comprises: a stationary part and a movable part which is movable relative to the stationary part; and a wireless communication system, comprising at least one transmitter which is disposed in the movable part and is configured to transmit an electromagnetic data signal and at least one receiver which is disposed in the stationary part and is configured to receive the electromagnetic data signal. The wireless communication system includes a diversity scheme for mitigating multipath distortion of the electromagnetic data signal between the at least one transmitter and the at least one receiver.

Disclosed are a canister type thruster for implementing smooth upward/downward movement and improving productivity and an installation method thereof. The canister type thruster includes a guide module for guiding upward/downward movement of a canister. The guide module includes: a guide unit that is installed on an inner surface of a trunk so as to support a rack installed on an outer surface of the canister in parallel with a lifting direction to guide the upward/downward movement of the canister, a sliding pad that relieves an impact or a friction applied to the guide unit; and a support protrusion that is provided between the guide unit and the sliding pad to support the sliding pad.

The present invention is directed to a modular azimuth thruster for propelling a vessel, having a thruster housing around which water flows, and comprising: a standardized core unit having a core unit housing forming part of the thruster housing, a transmission line arranged within in the core unit housing, comprising a propeller shaft extending in a longitudinal direction of the thruster housing, and a propeller arranged outside the thruster housing and being operationally connected to the propeller shaft. The present invention further relates to a vessel comprising an azimuth thruster and a method of configuring an azimuth thruster.