Small thruster required

[slipshot]

Chaps

I'm looking to locate a small thruster, very similar to those used on sea scooter's and the like. It only needs to be about 1-2 knots output, and run off 12 v. Ideally in-line, if that makes sense...

Anyone any recommendations, just for a project that I am working on and would appreciate any ideas or thoughts for something this small?

Cheers

Andy

 

[mainshiptom]

What about an electric outboard?

Tom

 

[Nick_H]

look at "bow thrusters", they operate in tunnels, if that's what you mean by in-line

 

[Kawasaki]

Hey up slipshot and Welcome.
Now You have intrigued us with 'just for a project'
Gis a clue ref said Project.
There are some amazing peeps on ere.
If the Project is 'Top Secret' they will understand.
If so, don,t spill The Beans.
I think we need a bit more info imho.

 

[slipshot]

Chaps

Thanks for the welcome.

Project is not really secret but as the people I have working on it have signed NDA's, I'll not say too much at the moment.

Tom - an electric outboard would be too large, and i need the unit (and prop) out of harms way, so it will actually be located in a small 'tunnel' for want of a better word.

Houghn - thanks - just seen you used the word tunnels. bow thrusters are OK, but they seem to be mounted with the prop at right angles to the motor - fine for a bow thruster, but when I say in line (forgive my ignorance of the terminology chaps), I mean the motor, with a centre spindle coming out to which a prop is fixed.

Small power outputs are all that is required. 1 - 2 knots is fine (2 knots max), and 1 knot would probably be sufficient, until I start testing.

It would be in a small unit that will access to water coming through the sides, so flow should not be an issue...

Similar units exist (thrusters that is), so I know they can be had, but I'm looking at all sorts.

I'm also looking into whether Willdo thrusters would work - the smallest one here could be OK, but it depends on size etc.

Sorry to be vague. This is requiring a fair bit of investment and I'm reluctant to say too much. Please do not think this is casting aspersions on the good names of you chaps - but for my second post, this will have to do...

Any ideas? Cheers

Andy

 

[hlb]

Think your better leaving it to the experts and save your money. 1 or 2 knots dont mean a thing, till you know how much weight your pushing.


I used to be in the plastics business. I got many of these.

I want you to design something for me. Cant tell you what it's for, it's secret. After telling many of them to clear off. We decided to go along with it and charge accordingly, knowing the product would never take off.

 

[slipshot]

[ QUOTE ]
Think your better leaving it to the experts and save your money. 1 or 2 knots dont mean a thing, till you know how much weight your pushing.


I used to be in the plastics business. I got many of these.

I want you to design something for me. Cant tell you what it's for, it's secret. After telling many of them to clear off. We decided to go along with it and charge accordingly, knowing the product would never take off.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for your comments - I think. When you say 'leaving it to the experts' what are you referring to? Opinions on this forum, or my entire project? If the latter, how nice of you to pass judgement on a few words. Not really what I was asking.

I'll spend my money how I feel it is relevant thus any thoughts or comments on a thruster would still be appreciated from others willing to assist.

Incidentally, if someone asked me to design something for them, I think I'd probably charge them, as indeed I am paying for the design work I'm having done. If you did design work and got paid, what's the problem, regardless of whether it would work or not? If you did it without being paid, well, there's only one person smiling.

Will the product ever take off? Who knows, but sometimes it's nice to gamble and not have the pessimist knock you down. Wonder if Bill Gates ever heard that?

Thanks for the advice, but I'll pass...

 

[enterprise]

A 12v DC motor will run submerged in water.
I dont know for how long & wouldn't try to estimate the wear & tear or current draw but it was a trick we used to add extra RPM to a small electric motor prior to racing it in remote controled cars.

Dont know if this is relevent or not?

 

[longjohnsilver]

How about an underwater scooter used by some divers? Is that the sort of thing you're after?

web page

 

[slipshot]

Ljsilver - that is exactly the thing, I just need the motor part within it or somewhere to find them? Thanks

 

[Nick_H]

So, aren't you just looking for a DC motor? I understand your concern about giving away too much info, but you need to give us a bit more to go on. Is it a motor/gearbox/prop combination you're looking for? What's it got to push at 1-2 knots, a toy boat or the QEII? Does it need to be waterproof?

Why not take a sea scooter apart and get the manufacturers name off the bits you want, although i'm pretty sure it'll just be a bog std 12v DC motor, with a shaft seal and plastic prop?

 

[bendyone]

I think maplins do them

 

[slipshot]

[ QUOTE ]
So, aren't you just looking for a DC motor? I understand your concern about giving away too much info, but you need to give us a bit more to go on. Is it a motor/gearbox/prop combination you're looking for? What's it got to push at 1-2 knots, a toy boat or the QEII? Does it need to be waterproof?

Why not take a sea scooter apart and get the manufacturers name off the bits you want, although i'm pretty sure it'll just be a bog std 12v DC motor, with a shaft seal and plastic prop?

[/ QUOTE ]

That's pretty much what I need. It does need to be waterproof since it will be submerged at all times, but max depth about 5 meters, and will probably be pushing about 100 kg all in, or maybe a bit less. Knots requirement is the anticipated speed of the unit.

Thus, if it's just a standard 12v dc motor with prop attached, where's the best location for a waterproof one, and how do I work out the size of prop required - if there is indeed any specific calculation?

Thanks for your help and apologies for the novice questions.

Andy

 

[Nick_H]

maybe try a company catering for amateur model/robot making?

 

[pissativlypossed]

Hey Hadyn, I heard you'd got a "Small Thruster"!

 

[bbjoday]

minn kota has them. go to my website neanderthal hunters. search for minn kota thruster.
bj