A Magnus rotor, associated assemblies and mechanisms

A Magnus rotor 100 comprises a rotor 101 rotatable about a rotor axis 101a and having an external surface 101b defining a rotor diameter (DROTOR, Fig 1(b)). The rotor has an internal running surface 102a defining a running surface diameter (DRUNNING, Fig 1(b)) no greater than 80% of the rotor diameter. A support structure 105 is configured to rotatably support the rotor and has a plurality of wheels 103, each wheel is rotatably mounted to the support structure so as to rotate about a respective wheel axis 103a extending substantially parallel to the rotor axis and is positioned such that the wheels roll against the internal running surface, as the rotor rotates about the support structure. This disclosure further relates to a wheel assembly, a drive assembly, a biasing assembly and a gimballed wheel mechanism for a Magnus rotor.