A podded propeller for ease of maintenance

Abstract

The application provides a convenient-to-maintain pod propeller, which comprises a mounting plate, a propeller assembly and a lifting assembly, the propeller assembly is movably connected with the mounting plate through the lifting assembly, a steering assembly is arranged between the mounting plate and the propeller assembly, the steering assembly is connected with the tail of the propeller assembly, the steering assembly drives the propeller assembly to swing, the steering assembly is lifted together with the propeller assembly, and the lifting assembly is flexibly connected with the middle of the propeller assembly. The lifting height between the mounting plate and the propeller assembly is greater than the depth of the propeller assembly below the water surface, so that the propeller assembly can be pulled out of the water surface to facilitate maintenance. The propeller assembly can be freely lifted, the disassembly of the steering assembly before lifting is avoided, and the lifting efficiency is improved. The maintenance efficiency of the propeller assembly is improved without affecting the normal work of the propeller assembly under water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a propulsion device, and more particularly to a podded propeller propulsion device that is easy to maintain, belonging to the technical field of propeller propulsion devices. Background Technology

[0002] A propeller is a device that converts any form of energy into mechanical energy. It generates thrust by rotating blades or jetting water and can be used to propel vehicles forward. There are many types of propellers, which are widely used in ships. However, traditional propellers have the disadvantage of being difficult to disassemble. When internal parts of the propeller are damaged, maintenance personnel need to use external tools to disassemble them, which is inconvenient and affects the efficiency of propeller maintenance and repair.

[0003] Chinese Patent (application number 202121804973.2) discloses a novel large-area propeller thruster that is easy to maintain, including a propeller thruster body, a disassembly and assembly mechanism, and a protective device. The top of the propeller thruster body is provided with a disassembly and assembly mechanism, and the top of the disassembly and assembly mechanism is provided with a protective device. The disassembly and assembly mechanism includes a stabilizing plate, and a mounting bracket is movably mounted on the top of the stabilizing plate. Receiving covers are fixedly mounted on both the left and right sides of the mounting bracket. Pull rods are movably mounted inside the two receiving covers. A first spring located inside the receiving cover is sleeved on the outer side of each of the two pull rods. A piston block is fixedly mounted on the opposite side of each of the two pull rods.

[0004] When workers need to inspect the propeller thruster body, they first pull the two levers to opposite sides. When the levers are under a certain tension, the movable rod will be disengaged from the positioning groove, and the stabilizing plate will no longer be restricted in position. Thus, the propeller thruster body can be disassembled. In this way, the propeller thruster body can be easily disassembled and inspected.

[0005] At this point, the propeller unit, along with the stabilizing plate, separates from the hull, and can only be moved downwards after disassembly. Since the propeller unit operates submerged in water, underwater visibility is low and underwater resistance is high, making disassembly and maintenance of the propeller unit inconvenient. Therefore, the vessel must be steered into a dry dock to drain water before repairs can be carried out, making on-site repairs of the propeller unit impossible.

[0006] Currently, some small yachts or small boats are equipped with external propellers at the stern. These propellers can be repaired simply by flipping them up out of the water. However, podded propellers are generally used on medium and large vessels, so it is not possible to flip them up, and podded propellers cannot be repaired on-site. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Purpose of the invention: The purpose of this invention is to address the problem of difficult underwater maintenance of podded propellers by providing a podded propeller that is easy to maintain.

[0008] Technical solution: A podded propeller thruster that is easy to maintain includes a mounting plate, a thruster assembly, and a lifting assembly. The thruster assembly is movably connected to the mounting plate via the lifting assembly. A steering assembly is provided between the mounting plate and the thruster assembly. The steering assembly is connected to the tail of the thruster assembly, and the steering assembly drives the thruster assembly to swing. The steering assembly rises and falls simultaneously with the thruster assembly. The lifting assembly is flexibly connected to the thruster assembly in the middle.

[0009] This invention allows the entire thruster assembly to be pulled out of the water during maintenance using a lifting assembly. The lifting height between the mounting plate and the thruster assembly exceeds the depth of the thruster assembly below the water surface, ensuring the assembly is fully exposed for easy maintenance. Simultaneously, the steering assembly rises and falls with the thruster assembly, enabling free movement and eliminating the need for disassembly and reassembly of the steering assembly before lifting, thus improving efficiency. The flexible connection between the lifting assembly and the thruster assembly ensures reliable installation without affecting its steering and swaying. This invention improves the maintenance efficiency of the thruster assembly without compromising its normal underwater operation.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, to enable simultaneous raising and lowering of the steering assembly and the propeller assembly without disassembling the steering assembly, the steering assembly includes a mounting bracket, a drive motor, a drive gear, and a driven gear shaft. The mounting bracket is fixed below the mounting plate, the drive motor is fixedly connected to the mounting plate via the mounting bracket, the drive gear is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor, and the driven gear shaft meshes with the drive gear. The driven gear shaft and the drive gear mesh as spur gears, and the gears are arranged in a vertical direction. The shaft at the bottom of the driven gear shaft is fixedly connected to the propeller assembly. When the propeller assembly needs to be raised or lowered, the driven gear shaft rises and falls simultaneously with the propeller assembly. The driven gear shaft moves vertically without separating from the drive gear, thus enabling the propeller assembly to be pulled out of the water for maintenance without disassembling the steering assembly, further improving the maintenance efficiency of the propeller assembly.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, to ensure stability during the lifting of the thruster assembly, a swing locking assembly and a follow-up lifting assembly are provided between the thruster assembly and the mounting plate. The swing locking assembly includes a locking frame and a locking tongue assembly. The locking frame is fixedly installed at the tail of the thruster assembly and swings simultaneously with it. The locking tongue assembly is movably connected to the mounting plate via the follow-up lifting assembly. When the thruster assembly is at its normal underwater operating height, the locking frame and locking tongue assembly separate, allowing the thruster assembly to swing freely. When it is necessary to pull the thruster assembly out of the water, the locking frame and locking tongue assembly engage, and the thruster assembly is in a swing-locked state. The entire swing locking assembly is pulled out of the water simultaneously with the thruster assembly via the follow-up lifting assembly. This achieves simultaneous movement of the entire swing locking assembly with the thruster assembly without affecting the locking mechanism, improving lifting stability and efficiency.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, to lock the swinging motion of the thruster assembly, the locking frame includes vertical plates symmetrically arranged on both sides of the tail of the thruster assembly, each with a locking hole; the latch assembly includes a latch, a drive linkage, a drive turntable, a mounting block, and a guide rod; the mounting block is fixedly mounted on the lower end of the lifting assembly; the drive turntable is rotatably mounted on the front side of the mounting block; the two ends of the drive linkage are hinged to the latch and the drive turntable, respectively, and the drive linkage is hinged to the front surface of the drive turntable; the latch is horizontally telescopically connected to the mounting block via the guide rod, and when the latch extends to both sides, it inserts into the locking hole.

[0013] When the thruster assembly needs to be pulled out of the water, the drive turntable rotates, pushing the locking tongue to extend to both sides via the drive linkage. The locking tongue extends to both sides and inserts into the lock hole. The locking bracket and the locking tongue assembly are fixedly connected as one unit. Since the locking tongue assembly is connected to the mounting plate via the lifting assembly, and the locking bracket is fixedly connected to the tail of the thruster assembly, the swaying of the thruster assembly can be restricted without affecting the lifting and lowering movement of the entire swaying locking assembly. When the thruster assembly returns to the underwater working position, the drive turntable rotates in the opposite direction, the locking tongue retracts from the lock hole, the locking bracket separates from the locking tongue assembly, and the thruster assembly can then sway left and right under the drive of the steering assembly.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, to achieve automatic reset of the drive turntable, a connecting shaft and a reset spring are provided between the mounting block and the drive turntable. The connecting shaft passes through the mounting block and is fixedly connected to the drive turntable, and the connecting shaft and the mounting block are connected by the reset spring. The reset spring ensures that the drive turntable remains in its initial state when no driving force is applied. In the initial state of the drive turntable, the locking tongue assembly is in a retracted state, which prevents the swinging locking assembly from affecting the steering assembly during normal operation of the propeller assembly, thus improving the reliability of the invention.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, to achieve automatic locking of the swing locking assembly when the pusher assembly is lifted, a lever is provided at the extended end of the connecting shaft. One end of the lever is fixedly connected to the connecting shaft, and the other end of the lever is suspended. A pressing assembly is provided above the suspended end of the lever. A follower assembly is provided between the mounting block and the mounting plate. The pressing assembly and the follower assembly are movably connected. When the mounting block moves upward, the follower assembly drives the pressing assembly to move downward. The pressing assembly presses down on the suspended end of the lever, driving the locking side of the connecting axis to rotate. When the pusher assembly is lifted, the follower assembly drives the locking side of the connecting axis to rotate through the pressing assembly and the lever, thereby driving the drive turntable to rotate towards the locking side, and the locking tongue inserts into the lock hole to achieve swing locking. When the pusher assembly falls back, the turntable is driven to return to its initial state under the action of the return coil spring, the locking tongue retracts from the lock hole, and the locking frame and locking tongue assembly separate, improving the automation level of the invention.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, to enable the pusher assembly to lift while the pressing assembly presses down on the lever, the pressing assembly includes a pressing rod, a first driving member, a driving lever, a second driving member, and a connecting plate. The driving lever is hinged to the connecting plate at its center, and the connecting plate is fixedly installed below the mounting plate. The pressing rod passes through the connecting plate and is vertically oriented. The driving lever has a plate-like structure with elongated holes at both ends. The first driving member is fixedly connected to the pressing rod, and the second driving member is fixedly connected to the follower assembly. The first and second driving members are located in the elongated holes on both sides of the driving lever. The second driving member is fixedly installed on the follower assembly. When the follower assembly retracts, the second driving member moves upward, thereby rotating the driving lever. The first driving member on the other side slides in the elongated hole, thereby moving the pressing rod downward to press down on the lever.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, to improve the smoothness of the contact between the pressing rod and the lever, a roller is provided below the pressing rod, and the roller contacts the lever when the pressing rod moves downward. As the pressing rod presses down on the lever, the roller rolls on the lever, which improves the smoothness of the pressing process.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, to improve the smoothness of the lifting and lowering of the follower component, the follower component includes an upper sliding rod assembly, a lower sliding rod assembly, and a scissor lift assembly. The upper end of the scissor lift assembly is connected to the mounting plate via the upper sliding rod assembly, and the lower end of the scissor lift assembly is connected to the mounting block via the lower sliding rod assembly. This invention employs a scissor lift structure to ensure a smoother lifting and lowering process for the follower component.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, to improve the reliability of the connection between the swing locking assembly and the propeller assembly, a connecting rod is provided between the sliding rod assembly and the propeller assembly, and the connecting rod is made of a flexible material. When the propeller assembly needs to be lifted, the swing locking assembly enables the follow-up lifting assembly and the follow-up assembly to retract synchronously. The connecting rod can further improve the reliability of the propeller assembly's installation and lifting, while the use of a flexible material can reduce the impact of the connecting rod on the swing of the propeller assembly.

[0020] Beneficial Effects: This invention allows the entire thruster assembly to be pulled out of the water during maintenance using a lifting assembly. The lifting height between the mounting plate and the thruster assembly exceeds the depth of the thruster assembly below the water surface, ensuring the assembly is fully pulled out for easy maintenance. Simultaneously, the steering assembly rises and falls with the thruster assembly, enabling free lifting and lowering of the thruster assembly and eliminating the need for disassembly and reassembly of the steering assembly before lifting, thus improving efficiency. The flexible connection between the lifting assembly and the thruster assembly ensures reliable installation without affecting its steering and swaying. This invention improves the maintenance efficiency of the thruster assembly without compromising its normal underwater operation. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the propulsion assembly of the present invention in its underwater state. Figure 1 ;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the thruster assembly in its raised state according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the propulsion assembly of the present invention in its underwater state. Figure 2 ;

[0024] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure for mounting the locking frame and driven gear shaft of the propeller assembly of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the locking tongue assembly of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the locking tongue assembly of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0028] Figure 8 This is a rear view of the present invention after the mounting plate has been removed. Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] like Figure 1 and 2 As shown, a podded propeller thruster that is easy to maintain includes a mounting plate 1, a thruster assembly 2, and a lifting assembly 3. The thruster assembly 2 is movably connected to the mounting plate 1 via the lifting assembly 3. A steering assembly 4 is provided between the mounting plate 1 and the thruster assembly 2. The steering assembly 4 is connected to the tail of the thruster assembly 2, and the steering assembly 4 drives the thruster assembly 2 to swing. The steering assembly 4 rises and falls simultaneously with the thruster assembly 2. The lifting assembly 3 is flexibly connected to the thruster assembly 2 in the middle.

[0031] This invention allows the entire thruster assembly 2 to be pulled out of the water using a lifting assembly 3 when maintenance is required. The lifting height between the mounting plate 1 and the thruster assembly 2 is greater than the depth of the thruster assembly 2 below the water surface, ensuring that the thruster assembly 2 can be pulled out of the water for easy maintenance. Simultaneously, the steering assembly 4 can rise and fall with the thruster assembly 2, enabling free lifting and lowering of the thruster assembly 2 and avoiding the need to disassemble and reassemble the steering assembly before lifting, thus improving lifting efficiency. The flexible connection between the lifting assembly 3 and the thruster assembly 2 ensures the reliability of the thruster assembly 2 installation without affecting its steering and swaying. This invention improves the maintenance efficiency of the thruster assembly 2 without affecting its normal underwater operation.

[0032] like Figure 3 As shown, to achieve simultaneous raising and lowering with the thruster assembly 2 without disassembling the steering assembly 4, the steering assembly 4 includes a mounting bracket 41, a drive motor 42, a drive gear 43, and a driven gear shaft 44. The mounting bracket 41 is fixed below the mounting plate 1. The drive motor 42 is fixedly connected to the mounting plate 1 via the mounting bracket 41. The drive gear 43 is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 42. The driven gear shaft 44 meshes with the drive gear 43, and the driven gear shaft 44 and the drive gear 43 are spur gears, arranged in a vertical direction. The shaft at the bottom of the driven gear shaft 44 is fixedly connected to the thruster assembly 2. When the thruster assembly 2 needs to be raised or lowered, the driven gear shaft 44 rises and falls simultaneously with the thruster assembly 2. The driven gear shaft 44 moves vertically without separating from the drive gear 43, thus enabling the thruster assembly 2 to be pulled out of the water for maintenance without disassembling the steering assembly 4, further improving the maintenance efficiency of the thruster assembly 2.

[0033] like Figure 1 , 2 As shown in Figure 4, to ensure the stability of the thruster assembly 2 during lifting, a swing locking assembly 5 and a follow-up lifting assembly 6 are provided between the thruster assembly 2 and the mounting plate 1. The swing locking assembly 5 includes a locking frame 51 and a locking tongue assembly 52. ​​The locking frame 51 is fixedly installed at the tail of the thruster assembly 2 and swings simultaneously with it. The locking tongue assembly 52 is movably connected to the mounting plate 1 through the follow-up lifting assembly 6. When the thruster assembly 2 is at its normal underwater operating height, the locking frame 51 and the locking tongue assembly 52 separate, and the thruster assembly 2 can swing freely. When it is necessary to pull the thruster assembly 2 out of the water, the locking frame 51 and the locking tongue assembly 52 engage, and the thruster assembly 2 is in a swing-locked state. The entire swing locking assembly 5 is pulled out of the water simultaneously with the thruster assembly 2 through the follow-up lifting assembly 6. This achieves simultaneous movement of the entire swing locking assembly 5 with the thruster assembly 2 without affecting the locking mechanism, improving lifting stability and efficiency.

[0034] like Figure 5 and 6 As shown, in order to lock the swing of the thruster assembly 2, the locking frame 51 includes vertical plates 511 symmetrically arranged on both sides of the tail of the thruster assembly 2, and each vertical plate 511 has a locking hole 512; the locking tongue assembly 52 includes a locking tongue 521, a drive link 522, a drive turntable 523, a mounting block 524 and a guide rod 525. The mounting block 524 is fixedly installed at the lower end of the lifting assembly. The drive turntable 523 is rotatably installed on the front side of the mounting block 524. The two ends of the drive link 522 are hinged to the locking tongue 521 and the drive turntable 523 respectively. The drive link 522 is hinged to the front plate surface of the drive turntable 523; the locking tongue 521 is horizontally telescopically connected to the mounting block 524 through the guide rod 525. When the locking tongue 521 extends to both sides, it is inserted into the locking hole 512.

[0035] When the thruster assembly 2 needs to be pulled out of the water, the drive turntable 523 rotates, pushing the locking tongue 521 to extend to both sides via the drive linkage 522. The locking tongue 521 extends to both sides and inserts into the locking hole 512. The locking bracket 51 and the locking tongue assembly 52 are fixedly connected as one unit. Since the locking tongue assembly 52 is connected to the mounting plate 1 through the lifting assembly, and the locking bracket 51 is fixedly connected to the tail of the thruster assembly 2, the swing of the thruster assembly 2 can be restricted without affecting the lifting and lowering movement of the entire swing locking assembly 5. When the thruster assembly 2 returns to the underwater working position, the drive turntable 523 rotates in the opposite direction, the locking tongue 521 exits from the locking hole 512, the locking bracket 51 separates from the locking tongue assembly 52, and the thruster assembly 2 can swing left and right under the drive of the steering assembly 4.

[0036] like Figure 7As shown, to achieve automatic reset of the drive turntable 523, a connecting shaft 526 and a reset coil spring 527 are provided between the mounting block 524 and the drive turntable 523. The connecting shaft 526 passes through the mounting block 524 and is fixedly connected to the drive turntable 523. The connecting shaft 526 and the mounting block 524 are connected by the reset coil spring 527. The reset coil spring 527 keeps the drive turntable 523 in its initial state when there is no driving force. In the initial state of the drive turntable 523, the locking tongue assembly 52 is in a retracted state, which can prevent the swing locking assembly 5 from affecting the steering assembly 4 when the pusher assembly 2 is working normally, thus improving the reliability of the invention.

[0037] like Figure 7 and 8 As shown, to achieve automatic locking of the swing locking component 5 when the thruster assembly 2 is lifted, a lever 7 is provided at the extended end of the connecting shaft 526. One end of the lever 7 is fixedly connected to the connecting shaft 526, and the other end of the lever 7 is suspended. A pressing component 8 is provided above the suspended end of the lever 7. A follower component 9 is provided between the mounting block 524 and the mounting plate 1. The pressing component 8 is movably connected to the follower component 9. When the mounting block 524 moves upward, the follower component 9 drives the pressing component 8 to move downward. The pressing component 8 presses down on the suspended end of the lever 7, driving the connecting shaft 526 to rotate towards the locking side. When the thruster assembly 2 is lifted, the follower component 9 drives the connecting shaft 526 to rotate towards the locking side through the pressing component 8 and the lever 7, thereby driving the drive turntable 523 to rotate towards the locking side. The locking tongue 521 is inserted into the lock hole 512 to achieve swing locking. When the pusher assembly 2 falls back, the turntable 523 is driven to return to its initial state under the action of the reset coil spring 527, the locking tongue 521 exits from the lock hole 512, and the locking frame 51 separates from the locking tongue assembly 52, which improves the automation level of the present invention.

[0038] like Figure 8 As shown, in order to enable the pusher assembly 2 to lift while the pressing assembly 8 presses down on the lever 7, the pressing assembly 8 includes a pressing rod 81, a first driving member 82, a driving lever 83, a second driving member 84, and a connecting plate 85. The middle part of the driving lever 83 is hinged to the connecting plate 85, and the connecting plate 85 is fixedly installed below the mounting plate 1. The pressing rod 81 passes through the connecting plate 85 and is arranged vertically. The driving lever 83 has a plate-like structure with elongated holes at both ends. The first driving member 82 is fixedly connected to the pressing rod 81, and the second driving member 84 is fixedly connected to the follower assembly 9. The first driving member 82 and the second driving member 84 are respectively located in the elongated holes on both sides of the driving lever 83. The second driving member 84 is fixedly installed on the follower assembly 9. When the follower assembly 9 retracts, the second driving member 84 moves upward, thereby driving the driving lever 83 to rotate. The first driving member 82 on the other side slides in the elongated hole, thereby driving the pressing rod 81 to move downward, thus pressing down on the lever 7.

[0039] To improve the smoothness of the contact between the pressing rod 81 and the lever 7, a roller 86 is provided below the pressing rod 81. When the pressing rod 81 moves downward, the roller 86 contacts the lever 7. As the pressing rod 81 presses down on the lever 7, the roller 86 rolls on the lever 7, which can improve the smoothness of the pressing process.

[0040] like Figure 4 As shown, to improve the smoothness of the lifting and lowering of the follower assembly 9, the follower assembly 9 includes an upper sliding rod assembly 91, a lower sliding rod assembly 92, and a scissor lift assembly 93. The upper end of the scissor lift assembly 93 is connected to the mounting plate 1 via the upper sliding rod assembly 91, and the lower end of the scissor lift assembly 93 is connected to the mounting block 524 via the lower sliding rod assembly 92. The scissor lift structure adopted in this invention ensures a smoother lifting and lowering process for the follower assembly 9.

[0041] To improve the reliability of the connection between the swing locking assembly 5 and the thruster assembly 2, a connecting rod 94, made of flexible material, is provided between the sliding rod assembly 92 and the thruster assembly 2. When the thruster assembly 2 needs to be raised, the swing locking assembly 5 enables the synchronous retraction of the follow-up lifting assembly 6 and the follow-up assembly 9. The connecting rod 94 further improves the reliability of the installation and lifting of the thruster assembly 2, and the use of flexible material reduces the impact of the connecting rod 94 on the swing of the thruster assembly 2.

[0042] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A podded propeller thruster that is easy to maintain, comprising a mounting plate (1), a thruster assembly (2), and a lifting assembly (3), wherein the thruster assembly (2) is movably connected to the mounting plate (1) via the lifting assembly (3); characterized in that: A steering assembly (4) is provided between the mounting plate (1) and the thruster assembly (2); the steering assembly (4) is connected to the tail of the thruster assembly (2), the steering assembly (4) drives the thruster assembly (2) to swing, and the steering assembly (4) rises and falls simultaneously with the thruster assembly (2); the lifting assembly (3) is flexibly connected to the thruster assembly (2) in the middle; A swing locking assembly (5) and a follow-up lifting assembly (6) are provided between the thruster assembly (2) and the mounting plate (1). The swing locking assembly (5) includes a locking frame (51) and a locking tongue assembly (52). The locking frame (51) is fixedly installed at the tail of the thruster assembly (2) and swings with it. The locking tongue assembly (52) is movably connected to the mounting plate (1) through the follow-up lifting assembly (6). The locking frame (51) includes vertical plates (511) symmetrically arranged on both sides of the tail of the pusher assembly (2), and each vertical plate (511) has a lock hole (512); the latch assembly (52) includes a latch (521), a drive link (522), a drive turntable (523), a mounting block (524) and a guide rod (525). The mounting block (524) is fixedly installed at the lower end of the lifting assembly (6). The drive turntable (523) is rotatably installed on the front side of the mounting block (524). The two ends of the drive link (522) are respectively hinged to the latch (521) and the drive turntable (523). The drive link (522) is hinged to the front plate surface of the drive turntable (523). The latch (521) is horizontally telescopically connected to the mounting block (524) through the guide rod (525). When the latch (521) extends to both sides, it is inserted into the lock hole (512). A connecting shaft (526) and a return spring (527) are provided between the mounting block (524) and the drive turntable (523). The connecting shaft (526) passes through the mounting block (524) and is fixedly connected to the drive turntable (523). The connecting shaft (526) and the mounting block (524) are connected by the return spring (527). The extension end of the connecting shaft (526) is provided with a lever (7). One end of the lever (7) is fixedly connected to the connecting shaft (526), ​​and the other end of the lever (7) is suspended. A pressing component (8) is provided above the suspended end of the lever (7). A follower component (9) is provided between the mounting block (524) and the mounting plate (1). The pressing component (8) is movably connected to the follower component (9). When the mounting block (524) moves upward, the follower component (9) drives the pressing component (8) to move downward. The pressing component (8) presses down on the suspended end of the lever (7) to drive the connecting shaft (526) to rotate toward the locking side.

2. The easy-to-maintain podded propeller thruster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The steering assembly (4) includes a mounting bracket (41), a drive motor (42), a drive gear (43), and a driven gear shaft (44). The mounting bracket (41) is fixed below the mounting plate (1). The drive motor (42) is fixedly connected to the mounting plate (1) through the mounting bracket (41). The drive gear (43) is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor (42). The driven gear shaft (44) meshes with the drive gear (43). The driven gear shaft (44) and the drive gear (43) mesh with spur gears, and the gears are arranged in a vertical direction. The shaft at the bottom of the driven gear shaft (44) is fixedly connected to the thruster assembly (2).

3. The easy-to-maintain podded propeller thruster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressing assembly (8) includes a pressing rod (81), a first driving member (82), a driving lever (83), a second driving member (84), and a connecting plate (85). The middle part of the driving lever (83) is hinged to the connecting plate (85). The connecting plate (85) is fixedly installed below the mounting plate (1). The pressing rod (81) passes through the connecting plate (85) and is arranged in the vertical direction. The driving lever (83) is a plate-shaped structure with elongated holes at both ends. The first driving member (82) is fixedly connected to the pressing rod (81), and the second driving member (84) is fixedly connected to the follower assembly (9). The first driving member (82) and the second driving member (84) are located in the elongated holes on both sides of the driving lever (83).

4. The easy-to-maintain podded propeller thruster according to claim 3, characterized in that: A roller (86) is provided below the pressing rod (81). When the pressing rod (81) moves downward, the roller (86) contacts the lever (7).

5. The easy-to-maintain podded propeller thruster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The follower assembly (9) includes an upper slide rod assembly (91), a lower slide rod assembly (92), and a scissor lift assembly (93). The upper end of the scissor lift assembly (93) is connected to the mounting plate (1) through the upper slide rod assembly (91), and the lower end of the scissor lift assembly (93) is connected to the mounting block (524) through the lower slide rod assembly (92).

6. The easy-to-maintain podded propeller thruster according to claim 5, characterized in that: A connecting rod (94) is provided between the slide bar assembly (92) and the thruster assembly (2), and the connecting rod (94) is made of flexible material.

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