Integrated thruster apparatus for a marine vessel
A thruster system for a marine vessel includes an electric motor having an output shaft. The thruster system also includes a housing having a first housing opening and a second housing opening, the first housing opening defining a water intake, the second housing opening defining a water discharge. The thruster system further includes a rotatable member operatively coupled to, and driven by, the output shaft of the electric motor, wherein rotation of the rotatable member results in water brought into the housing through the first housing opening and expelled through the second housing opening to generate a thrust force in a direction that is greater than 45 degrees relative to a propeller direction of the marine vessel.
1 . A thruster system for a marine vessel comprising:
an electric motor having an output shaft;
a housing having an intake opening and a discharge opening, the intake opening defining a water intake, the discharge opening being a single discharge opening and the only opening defining a water discharge, wherein the intake opening and the discharge opening define a water flow path;
a rotatable member operatively coupled to, and driven by, the output shaft of the electric motor, wherein rotation of the rotatable member results in water brought into the housing through the intake opening and expelled through the discharge opening to generate a thrust force in a direction that is greater than 45 degrees relative to a propeller direction of the marine vessel, wherein the discharge opening which defines the water discharge is oriented downwardly at an angle of 5 degrees to 10 degrees, relative to a horizontal plane extending perpendicularly from a vertical water intake flow, to cause the entirety of water flowing through the water flow path to be expelled downwardly; and
a flange having a curved shape, the flange mechanically fastened to the housing and a hull to assemble the housing to the hull.
2 . The thruster system of claim 1 , wherein the intake opening is located at a bottom portion of the housing and the discharge opening is located at a side portion of the housing.
3 . The thruster system of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a tubular housing that is at least partially below a waterline, and wherein the tubular housing defines a recess that at least partially houses the rotatable member.
4 . The thruster system of claim 3 , wherein a distance between the intake opening and the discharge opening defines a length of the tubular housing, and wherein the length of the tubular housing is generally perpendicular to a marine vessel-rearward to a marine vessel-forward length of the marine vessel.
5 . The thruster system of claim 4 , wherein the recess is configured to allow water to continuously submerge the rotatable member.
6 . The thruster system for the marine vessel of claim 1 , wherein the thrust force direction is perpendicular to the propeller direction of the marine vessel.
7 . The thruster system for the marine vessel of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable member is an impeller.
8 . The thruster system for the marine vessel of claim 1 , wherein the thruster system is permanently mounted to the hull of the marine vessel.
9 . The thruster system for the marine vessel of claim 1 , wherein the thruster system is permanently mounted to a pontoon of the marine vessel.