Rudder propeller drive, and rudder propeller driving method

Abstract

The invention relates to a rudder propeller drive comprising a driving motor ( 1 ), the output shaft of which can be effectively connected to a shaft of a propeller by means of a drive train. The propeller shaft is accommodated in a rudder propeller housing that can be mounted outside a hull, while the propeller on the propeller shaft is located outside the rudder propeller housing. A lubricating and/or cooling device is provided for the propeller shaft and/or for drive train areas mounted in front of the propeller shaft. The drive train encompasses a hydrodynamic clutch ( 3 ) or a hydrodynamic torque converter which is combined with or integrated into the lubricating and/or cooling device in such a way that the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter and the lubricating and/or cooling device use a joint amount of functional fluid.

1 . Rudder propeller drive with a drive motor, the output shaft of which can be functionally connected to a shaft of a propeller via a drivetrain, wherein the propeller shaft is accommodated in a rudder propeller housing that can be mounted outside a hull, and the propeller on the propeller shaft is located outside the rudder propeller housing, wherein a lubricating and/or cooling device is contained for the propeller shaft and/or for drivetrain areas upstream of the propeller shaft,
 wherein   the drivetrain contains a hydrodynamic clutch or a hydrodynamic torque converter that is combined with the lubricating and/or cooling device or integrated into the lubricating and/or cooling device in such a manner that the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter and the lubricating and/or cooling device use a common supply of functional fluid.   
   
   
       2 . Rudder propeller drive according to  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating and/or cooling device contains the interior of the rudder propeller housing. 
   
   
       3 . Rudder propeller drive according to  claim 2 , wherein the functional fluid is contained in the rudder propeller housing. 
   
   
       4 . Rudder propeller drive according to  claim 2 , wherein the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter is fluidically connected to the interior of the rudder propeller housing. 
   
   
       5 . Rudder propeller drive according to  claim 4 , wherein the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter is located in the interior of the rudder propeller housing. 
   
   
       6 . Rudder propeller drive according to  claim 4 , wherein the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter is located in an extension of the interior of the rudder propeller housing inside the hull. 
   
   
       7 . Rudder propeller drive according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter is combined with the lubricating and/or cooling device or integrated into the lubricating and/or cooling device in such a manner that the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter ensures a conveyance of the functional fluid in the lubricating and/or cooling device. 
   
   
       8 . Rudder propeller drive according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrodynamic clutch contains several hydrodynamic clutch units or the hydrodynamic torque converter contains several hydrodynamic converter elements. 
   
   
       9 . Rudder propeller drive according to  claim 1 , wherein an elastic clutch is additionally installed in the drivetrain. 
   
   
       10 . Rudder propeller drive according to  claim 1 , wherein a shiftable clutch is additionally installed in the drivetrain. 
   
   
       11 . Rudder propeller drive according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive motor lies inside the hull. 
   
   
       12 . Rudder propeller driving method, wherein an output shaft of a drive motor is functionally connected to a shaft of a propeller by means of a drivetrain, which propeller shaft is accommodated in a rudder propeller housing located outside a hull, and which propeller on the propeller shaft is located outside the rudder propeller housing, wherein the propeller shaft and/or drivetrain areas upstream of the propeller shaft is/are lubricated and/or cooled using a functional fluid,
 wherein   the drivetrain contains a hydrodynamic clutch or a hydrodynamic torque converter to which functional fluid is fed that is part of the same supply of functional fluid used for lubricating and/or cooling the propeller shaft and/or drivetrain areas upstream of the propeller shaft.   
   
   
       13 . Rudder propeller drive method according to  claim 12 , wherein the lubricating and/or cooling device contains the interior of the rudder propeller housing, and the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter is fluidically connected to the interior of the rudder propeller housing. 
   
   
       14 . Rudder propeller method according to  claim 13 , wherein the functional fluid is contained in the rudder propeller housing. 
   
   
       15 . Rudder propeller drive method according to  claim 14 , wherein the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter is located in the interior of the rudder propeller housing. 
   
   
       16 . Rudder propeller drive method according to  claim 14 , wherein the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter is located in an extension of the interior of the rudder propeller housing inside the hull. 
   
   
       17 . Rudder propeller drive method according to  claim 12 , wherein the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter is combined with the lubricating and/or cooling device or integrated into the lubricating and/or cooling device in such a manner that the hydrodynamic clutch or the hydrodynamic torque converter ensures a conveyance of the functional fluid in the lubricating and/or cooling device.