Volvo Penta IPS semi scale functional model

thingiverse

This is a semi-scale assembly of the Volvo Penta IPS (Inboard Power System) designed to be functional rather than detailed exactly. The VP IPS consists of a hull assembly and a steerable pod with forward-facing counter-rotating propellers. The main idea behind the full-scale design is that the propellers operate in undisturbed water. This project is heavily "in progress" but I've decided to publish it because I'm moving on to another project and would rather someone else have fun with it than let it sit idle. Maybe I'll build it myself later, as I'd like to create a Delta 54 IPS with three of these, which would be truly awesome. I haven't assembled this myself, but I've printed some parts and checked that they print correctly, such as the pod. From there on, you're on your own to experiment. My design uses an inner 2mm propeller shaft for the front propeller and a 2mm inner and 2.5mm outer diameter brass tube as the counter-rotating shaft for the aft propeller. I've included pictures of the lengths of the shafts and tubes, and made it so that a short piece of brass tube is glued to the inner shaft at the aft end, with the bevel gear going outside of it. The design also includes a passive water intake/outlet for cooling water for an electric motor, which enters the pod behind the propellers and goes up through a sculpted cavity in the steering actuator ring. The idea is to cut short pieces of 3mm aluminum tube and glue them as hose connectors on the actuator ring, one for water inlet and one for outlet. The outlet goes the same way as the exhausts of the full-scale version, and this should work even when the pod is turned.