Voith Schneider Propeller: Difference between revisions

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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 of long blades that protude from it.  The circular plate rotates, acting to steer the vessel.  Each of the blades that protude from it are designed to rotate independently.
{{Image|Voith schneider animation.gif|right|350px|Animation of a vertical view of a Voith Schneider Propeller.}}
[[Image:Osprey class coastal mine hunter.gif|thumb|The [[Osprey Class Coastal Mine Hunter]]s use a pair of Voith Schneider propellers.]]
The '''Voith Schneider Propeller''' is a specialized marine propulsion system.<ref name=VoithSchneiderPropulsion>
{{cite web
| url=http://members.surfeu.at/fprossegger/english/vsp-function.html
| title=Voith Schneider Propulsion
| author=Michel Verhoeven
| accessdate=2007-11-16
}}</ref><ref name=OfficialVoithPage>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.voithturbo.de/vt_en_pua_marine_vspropeller.htm
| title=Voith Schneider Propellers
| publisher=Voith
| accessdate=2007-11-16
}}</ref>
It is highly maneuverable; being able to change the direction of its thrust almost instantaneously.   
The system uses a large rotating circular plate, mounted on the bottom of the vessel.
The rotating plate has a number of long vertical hydrofoil blades that protrude from it, each of which rotates independently.


The system changes the orientation of the paddles, in sync 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.
The propulsion system alters the direction of the propeller's thrust, and the magnitude of its thrust, by altering the angle of attack of the vertical plates as the horizontal plate they protrude from rotates.  This allows instaneous changes of direction simply by altering the blades angle of attack, in a way that is homogolous to how altering the angle of attack of [[helicopter]] blades alters the direction of their thrust.


This propulsion system is like a cross between an [[egg-beater]] and [[wankel]] engine.
Voith Schneider propeller's maneuverability makes them well suited for driving [[tug-boats]] and [[fire-boats]].  Their low [[acoustic signature]] makes them well suited for [[minesweeping]] duties.<ref name=OspreyClass>
{{cite news
| url=http://peoships.crane.navy.mil/mine/mine_osphrey_mhc.htm
| title=Coastal Mine Hunters (MHC) Osprey Class
| publisher=[[United States Navy]]
| accessdate=2007-11-16
}}</ref>


== External links ==
Vessels equipped with Voith Schnieder propellers are not suited for navigating in shallow waters, because the blades protude below the hull.


[http://www.voithturbo.de/vt_en_pua_marine_vspropeller.htm The Voith-Scheider home-page].
==References==
<references/>

Latest revision as of 09:04, 8 June 2009

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(CC) Photo: Christopher Johnson
Animation of a vertical view of a Voith Schneider Propeller.
The Osprey Class Coastal Mine Hunters use a pair of Voith Schneider propellers.

The Voith Schneider Propeller is a specialized marine propulsion system.[1][2] It is highly maneuverable; being able to change the direction of its thrust almost instantaneously. The system uses a large rotating circular plate, mounted on the bottom of the vessel. The rotating plate has a number of long vertical hydrofoil blades that protrude from it, each of which rotates independently.

The propulsion system alters the direction of the propeller's thrust, and the magnitude of its thrust, by altering the angle of attack of the vertical plates as the horizontal plate they protrude from rotates. This allows instaneous changes of direction simply by altering the blades angle of attack, in a way that is homogolous to how altering the angle of attack of helicopter blades alters the direction of their thrust.

Voith Schneider propeller's maneuverability makes them well suited for driving tug-boats and fire-boats. Their low acoustic signature makes them well suited for minesweeping duties.[3]

Vessels equipped with Voith Schnieder propellers are not suited for navigating in shallow waters, because the blades protude below the hull.

References

  1. Michel Verhoeven. Voith Schneider Propulsion. Retrieved on 2007-11-16.
  2. Voith Schneider Propellers. Voith. Retrieved on 2007-11-16.
  3. Coastal Mine Hunters (MHC) Osprey Class, United States Navy. Retrieved on 2007-11-16.