Propeller assembly with hub structure which reduces gear noise during operation

A connection assembly for interconnecting a propeller shaft to a central hub of a propeller, the central hub extending along a longitudinal axis and including an inner surface, comprising:

• an adaptor having an inner surface defining a passageway for receiving the propeller shaft therethrough and an outer surface having first and second longitudinally extending keys extending therealong and defining a slot therebetween, each key defined by first and second sidewalls having first portions that diverge from each other;
• and
• an insert having first and second sides and being slideably receivable in the slot, the first and second sides of the insert including inner portions;
• wherein the inner portion of the first side of the insert forms a mating relationship with the first portion of the first sidewall of the first key and the inner portion of the second side of the insert forms a mating relationship with the first portion of the second sidewall of the second key with the insert received in the slot;
• wherein the first and second sidewalls of each of the first and second keys includes second portions extending from terminal ends of the first portions of the first and second sidewalls and converging toward each other.

A connection assembly for interconnecting a propeller shaft to a central hub of a propeller, the central hub extending along a longitudinal axis and including an inner surface, comprising:

• an adaptor having an inner surface defining a passageway for receiving the propeller shaft therethrough and an outer surface;
• a plurality of longitudinally extending key pairs extending along the outer surface of the adaptor, each key pair defining a slot having a first open end and a second closed end and each key of each key pair being defined by first and second sidewalls having first portions that diverge from each other;
• and
• a plurality of inserts, each insert being receivable in a corresponding slot such that the insert extends between the open end and the closed end of the slot and having an inner surface and an outer surface interconnected by first and second ends and first and second sides;
• wherein:
• the first and second sides of each insert including inner portions;
• and
• the inner portion of the first side of each insert forms a mating relationship with the first portion of the first sidewall of a first key of a corresponding key pair and the inner portion of the second side of the insert forms a mating relationship with the first portion of the second sidewall of a second key of the corresponding key pair with the insert received in the corresponding slot.

A connection assembly for interconnecting a propeller shaft to a central hub of a propeller, the central hub extending along a longitudinal axis and including an inner surface, comprising:

• an adaptor having an inner surface defining a passageway for receiving the propeller shaft therethrough and an outer surface;
• a plurality of longitudinally extending key pairs extending along the outer surface of the adaptor, each key pair defining a slot and each key of each key pair being defined by first and second sidewalls having first portions that diverge from each other;
• and
• a plurality of inserts, each insert being receivable in a corresponding slot and having first and second sides, the first and second sides of each insert including inner portions;
• wherein the inner portion of the first side of each insert forms a mating relationship with the first portion of the first sidewall of a first key of a corresponding key pair and the inner portion of the second side of the insert forms a mating relationship with the first portion of the second sidewall of a second key of the corresponding key pair with the insert received in the corresponding slot;
• wherein the first and second sidewalls of the first and second keys of each key pair include second portions extending from terminal ends of the first portions of the first and second sidewalls and converging toward each other.

A propeller assembly for mounting on a rotatable propeller shaft of a watercraft, comprising:

• a hub structure extending along a longitudinal axis, the hub structure including an outer surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades projecting therefrom and an inner surface defining a passage;
• an adaptor receivable in the passage of the hub structure, the adaptor including an inner surface defining a passageway for receiving the propeller shaft therethrough and an outer surface;
• a plurality of longitudinally extending key pairs extending along the outer surface of the adaptor, each key pair defining a slot having a first open end and a second closed end and each key of each key pair being defined by first and second sidewalls having first portions that diverge from each other;
• and
• a plurality of inserts, each insert being receivable in a corresponding slot such that the insert extends between the open end and the closed end of the slot and having an inner surface and an outer surface interconnected by first and second ends and first and second sides;
• wherein:
• the first and second sides of each insert including inner portions;
• and
• the inner portion of the first side of each insert forms a mating relationship with the first portion of the first sidewall of a first key of a corresponding key pair and the inner portion of the second side of the insert forms a mating relationship with the first portion of the second sidewall of a second key of the corresponding key pair with the insert received in the corresponding slot.

A propeller assembly for mounting on a rotatable propeller shaft of a watercraft, comprising:

• a hub structure extending along a longitudinal axis, the hub structure including an outer surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades projecting therefrom and an inner surface defining a passage;
• an adaptor receivable in the passage of the hub structure, the adaptor including an inner surface defining a passageway for receiving the propeller shaft therethrough and an outer surface;
• a plurality of longitudinally extending key pairs extending along the outer surface of the adaptor, each key pair defining a slot and each key of each key pair being defined by first and second sidewalls having first portions that diverge from each other;
• and
• a plurality of inserts, each insert being receivable in a corresponding slot and having first and second sides, the first and second sides of each insert including inner portions;
• wherein the inner portion of the first side of each insert forms a mating relationship with the first portion of the first sidewall of a first key of a corresponding key pair and the inner portion of the second side of the insert forms a mating relationship with the first portion of the second sidewall of a second key of the corresponding key pair with the insert received in the corresponding slot;
• wherein the first and second sidewalls of the first and second keys of each key pair include second portions extending from terminal ends of the first portions of the first and second sidewalls and converging toward each other.