PROPELLER-AND-STERN TUBE ASSEMBLY Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC B63H1/14 

FIELD: shipbuilding; construction of stern tubes.

SUBSTANCE: proposed propeller-and-stern tube assembly includes propeller shaft, stern tube, supporting cylinder whose fore part is pressed in stern tube, seal and propeller with bearing fitted in bore of its hub; bearing is rotating on aft part of supporting cylinder. Hub and blades of propeller are provided with communicating passages whose external ends are open on blade surfaces and inner ends are connected with circular cavity formed by fore end face of propeller hub, surface of supporting cylinder and seal. Circular cavity is brought into communication with working clearance of bearing connected in its turn with shipboard water supply system through cavity formed by bores of supporting cylinder and propeller shaft surface. Seal mounted between fore end face of propeller hub and aft end face of stern tube is made in form of U-shaped elastic member. Thrust ring is located on side of aft end face of stern tube and is tightly connected with elastic member by its aft end face.

EFFECT: enhanced durability.

2 cl, 2 dwg