The Voith-Schneider propeller is a specialized marine propulsion system. It is highly maneuverable, being able to change the direction of its thrust, almost instantaneously.

From a circular plate, rotating around a vertical axis, a circular array of vertical blades (in the shape of airfoils) are protruding out of the bottom of the ship, each blade can rotate a bit itself around a vertical axis. The internal gear changes the angle of attack of the blades, in synch with the rotation of the plate, so that each blade can provide thrust in any direction, very similar to the collective pitch control and cyclic in a helicopter.

Since the vertical blades protrude from under the vessel, it cannot operate in shallow water.

Unlike a Z-drive (where a conventional propeller is tilted on a vertical rudder axis) changing the direction of thrust merely requires changing the pattern by which the vertical blades change their orientation.

This propulsion system is like a cross between an egg-beater and wankel engine.

External links

• The Voith-Schneider home-page (http://www.voithturbo.de/vt_en_pua_marine_vspropeller.htm)
• Explanation, diagrams and animation showing a Voith-Schneider rotor in action (http://members.surfeu.at/fprossegger/english/vsp-function.html)

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