In many cases it may be preferable to drive the propeller shaft by means of a hydraulic motor, instead of using the conventional set up of engine and gearbox.
How it works
A hydraulic vane pump is fitted to the engine in place of the gearbox.
This pump draws hydraulic fluid from a storage tank and delivers it under pressure to the speed and direction control valve. The control valve determines the direction and volume of hydraulic flow to the hydraulic vane motor, which can then rotate clockwise or counter clockwise as selected. This hydraulic motor drives the propeller shaft via a flexible coupling.
The VETUS system uses a hydraulic pump and motor with fixed swept volumes. The transmission ratios (reduction) in the propulsion system are achieved by the difference in volume between the vane pump and the hydraulic motor.
The reduction between the engine RPM and the shaft RPM is 2:1 for models HPM4.35, HPM4.45 and HPM4.56 and 1.9:1 for model HPH4.65. The maximum permissible engine power is 50 kW (67 HP), with a maximum engine speed of 3,000 RPM. In most cases a shaft diameter
Ø 25 mm will suffice. The output flange of the VETUS hydraulic motor fits all VETUS flexible couplings.