Azimuth thruster, also known as Z propulsion arrangement, rudder propeller, turning propeller, or rotating propeller. The propeller or ducted thruster can rotate 360 ° around the vertical axis in the horizontal plane through the transmission mechanism of the bevel gear system, which is used to propel and manipulate the thruster of the ship. Due to its Z propulsion arrangement, it can simultaneously propel and manipulate ships. Can change the direction of thrust arbitrarily, making the ship turn around in place and move back and forth freely. For the maneuverability of ships during navigation, 360 ° rotary thrusters are better than ducted thrusters and flat thrusters. This is because although ducted thrusters have greater thrust when moving forward, they have poorer thrust and less than ideal maneuverability when reversing; On the contrary, a rotary propeller can achieve good maneuverability, but the mechanism is complex, the cost is high, and it is prone to damage; Although the 360 ° rotary thruster does not have a rudder, it can fully convert the thrust of the propeller into a force equivalent to the rudder, which is beneficial for maneuvering the ship. Moreover, the unit power thrust of the 360 ° rotary thruster is large, and the backward thrust and forward thrust are basically the same. This propulsion device can be fully assembled in the workshop without the need for underwater operations, making installation and maintenance very convenient. However, due to the significant losses caused by the transmission mechanism and large hub diameter, its efficiency is generally low, and the mechanism is complex with high cost. Commonly used for ships that require high maneuverability, such as ferries.

The output power of the host rotates the vertical shaft through the first stage umbrella gear, and is then transmitted to the thruster through the second stage umbrella gear, forming a Z transmission system. There is also a hydraulic pump driving the worm gear to drive the entire pusher device to rotate 360 ° horizontally. The Z shaft system and guide pipe propeller are all installed on a cylindrical body, and the entire device can be lifted out or installed at the deck opening. The unit horsepower thrust of the turning propeller is high, and the maneuverability is good. The tugboat equipped with dual omnidirectional propellers has the ability to rotate, translate, and reverse on site. The backward thrust is basically the same as the forward thrust, and can be remotely operated by combining the aircraft. Installing a mesh cover in front of the duct can protect the propeller. This type of rudder is suitable for small ships such as tugboats in ports.

For more azimuth thruster information, please click here.