Side thrusters in subs - correct position for side thruster?

[libor]

I am seeking for your opinion. I am planning to instal side thruster into bow side of my model (Engel Akula) to help with maneuvre-ability. But now, it comes to me that the position I chosed is maeby not the best - becouse when submerged-the bow thruster installed at the bottom of prow could roll submarine around it horizontal axis.
Does anybody have any experience with positioning bow thrusters?
Libor

[tmsmalley]

Art Broder did this with

Art Broder did this with his LA. Maybe he will chime in here...

[anonymous]

Are you hoping to aid

Are you hoping to aid slow speed control or trying to help the turing circle when underway? If its the latter then placing the thruster in the stern to aid the rudder may work better. On long and this targets like liners and tankers (rathan tugs) that I have seen, bow trusters have little effect at speed.

[Guest]

The 6V Graupner bow thruster

The 6V Graupner bow thruster I used in my 1/72 L.A. was not powerful enough to have great effect on reducing turning radius while in forward motion,, but it is helpful turning the sub around at the far end of the pool without needing to keep backing up and going forward again repeatedly.
I was equally unimpressed with the minimal turning radius improvement with using a SubTech impeller pump as a stern thruster in my 1/72 Alfa.
My impression about 'causing roll' is that I didn't notice a problem with that. My subs are trimmed with a lot of weight at the bottom, and the thrusters are placed below the horizontal mid line so water is always available to the impellers to prevent air lock.
I am interested in using the same thrusters used for forward propulsion in my new Flying sub, in my nukes, as side thrusters. I think those powerful little bilge pumps may improve the efficiency of the side thrusting, during travel, when used in conjunction with the rudder control.
I am interested to find out if anyone has had greater success with sub side thrusters.

[Guest]

Dave Forrest, who posts on

Dave Forrest, who posts on here as 'Davy', demonstrated a wireless thruster that clips on underneath his R-class submarine.

He built this to enable the boat to navigate the small pools often present at shows and exhibitions.

He tried it first as a bow thruster, and then as a stern thruster. the latter proved more effective.

Andy

[PaulC]

Art,

What is the make of

Art,

What is the make of the bilge pumps you're using in your FS-1? Are these the units that can be seen in Rick's FS-1 on the SubRegatta 2005 dvd?

[carcharadon]

A short clip showing maneuverability

A short clip showing maneuverability of an all bilge pump powered sub. The turning bilge pumps are Rule 1100 GPH. These are the same size as 500 GPH. The sub itself is 7 foot. Although I have used these pumps in a 4 foot model they are about fist sized and may be difficult to fit in a narrow hull but could be placed anywhere in a wet hull, with excurrent pipe or hose leading to the nozzles.

http://home.comcast.net/~gustofur/turn.wmv

[Guest]

Paul,
The bilge pumps came from

Paul,
The bilge pumps came from a Canadian supplier found by Rick Teskey. I don't have the exact source. They are around 3" long and a little over 1" in diameter. See picture on my web site- http://groups.msn.com/ArtBrod....oID=281 . If that link doesn't work, just look at the 'Flying sub, whipray' folder, under pictures, atFlying Sub Folder

[PaulC]

Thanks, Art!

Thanks, Art!

[Guest]

I googled the model number

I googled the model number of that pump. Here's one of the links with some useful data-

http://www.allproducts.com/manufacture8/caopump/ck181dc.html

For sale at $19-50 here-

http://www.price1.com/product_info.p...products_id=98



Edited By Sub culture on 1140970869

[PaulC]

Hey thanks, Andy! That's them

Hey thanks, Andy! That's them all right.

[anonymous]

Thanks Andy. Yes, a thruster

Thanks Andy. Yes, a thruster on the stern is more effective , presumably because it has a bigger turning moment. Trouble is you've usually got less space at the stern - internally anyway.

BTW I've just finished an article on the clip on thruster hopefully for the AMS journal - including your photos - Many thanks!

I used a scratch built radial impeller but if I'd known about those submersible pumps, they would have been an option.

David

[libor]

Thanks for all info, I

Thanks for all info, I am going to try to add bow thruster and will let you know my experience soon.
Libor



Edited By libor on 1141374750

[libor]

She has not been in

She has not been in the real wather yet and the thruster was tested just in the bath, but below are photos of what I have done. Libor

[anonymous]

Nice photos, thanks!
Your thruster links

Nice photos, thanks!
Your thruster links in with another thread on the forum because the motor is going to be running in water. Will you be taking any particular precautions?

I'm very interested in running motors in water because for non-critical functions (thrusters, periscopes, flags etc) it looks like a good approach (cheap, space saving - outside the WTC, and easy connection into the WTC.)