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US 12,275,514 B1Granted
Electrically controllable pitch propeller system for maritime crafts
AssigneeRolls-Royce Marine North America Inc.
InventorsEric Maxeiner, Eric Davis, Donald Ricciuti, Anthony Youst, Michael Schwartz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrically actuated propeller pitch control system includes a propeller hub assembly, a propeller assembly, and a crosshead drive system. The propeller hub assembly rotates about the central axis during operation of watercraft. The propeller assembly is configured to selectively rotate a propeller blade. The crosshead drive system includes an electric motor, a transmission, and a lead screw that rotates about the central axis.
Claims20
An electrically actuated propeller pitch control system for use with watercraft, the propeller pitch control system comprising:
- a propeller hub assembly that includes a hub cone extending circumferentially about a central axis having a forward end, an aft end opposite the forward end, and an outer wall extending between the forward end and the aft end about the central axis to define a cavity, a hub body coupled with the forward end of the hub cone and arranged circumferentially about the central axis to define an interior space therein, and a spigot coupled to the hub body, the hub body configured to transfer rotational energy from a propulsion shaft to the propeller hub assembly to cause the propeller hub assembly to rotate about the central axis during operation of the watercraft, the hub body formed to include a plurality of blade-receiving holes extending therethrough circumferentially spaced apart from one another and opening into the interior space,
- a propeller assembly configured to selectively rotate a propeller blade to vary a pitch angle of the propeller blade during operation of the watercraft, the propeller assembly includes a crosshead located in the interior space of the hub body axially aft of the spigot and a variable pitch blade assembly coupled with the hub body, the variable pitch blade assembly extends through a respective one of the plurality of blade-receiving holes of the hub body and into engagement with the crosshead, the crosshead is formed to include a threaded hole extending axially therethrough, and the crosshead is arranged to move selectively axially along the central axis to cause the propeller blade to rotate, and
- a crosshead drive system that includes an electric motor located in the cavity of the hub cone, a transmission including a reduction gearset coupled with the electric motor and located in the cavity of the hub cone, and a lead screw that extends through and is mated with the threaded hole formed in the crosshead, the lead screw being coupled with the reduction gearset, and the electric motor is configured to drive rotation of the reduction gearset and the lead screw about the central axis to cause the crosshead to move axially within the interior space of the hub body and drive rotation of the propeller blade about a blade axis extending through the propeller blade to vary the pitch angle of the propeller blade,
- wherein the reduction gearset includes a first planetary gearset and a second planetary gearset, the first planetary gearset includes a first ring gear having a first diameter, a first sun gear, and a plurality of first planet gears, the second planetary gearset includes a second ring gear having a second diameter, a second sun gear, and a plurality of second planet gears, and wherein the second diameter of the second ring gear is greater than the first diameter of the first ring gear,
- wherein the spigot is formed to include a first axial passage extending therethrough along the central axis, the reduction gearset is formed to include a second axial passage extending therethrough along the central axis, and the lead screw is formed to include a third axial passage extending therethrough along the central axis, wherein the first axial passage of the spigot, the second axial passage of the reduction gearset, and the third axial passage of the lead screw are aligned with one another to define a continuous passageway that extends axially through the propeller pitch control system,
- wherein the crosshead drive system includes a lubrication conduit extending through the continuous passageway to direct lubrication therethrough toward the reduction gearset and the lead screw and an electrical conduit extending through the continuous passageway and connected with the electric motor to supply power to the electric motor.
3 more elements
An electrically actuated propeller pitch control system for use with watercraft, the propeller pitch control system comprising:
- a propeller hub assembly that includes a hub cone extending circumferentially about a central axis having a forward end and an aft end opposite the forward end, a hub body coupled with the forward end of the hub cone and arranged circumferentially about the central axis to define an interior space therein, and a spigot coupled to the hub body, the hub body configured to transfer rotational energy to the propeller hub assembly to cause the propeller hub assembly to rotate about the central axis during operation of the watercraft,
- a propeller assembly configured to selectively rotate a propeller blade, the propeller assembly includes a crosshead located within the hub body and a variable pitch blade assembly that engages the crosshead, the crosshead is formed to include a hole extending axially therethrough, and
- a crosshead drive system that includes an electric motor located within the hub cone, a transmission coupled with the electric motor, and a lead screw that extends through the hole formed in the crosshead, the lead screw being coupled with the transmission, and the electric motor is configured to drive rotation of the transmission and the lead screw about the central axis to cause the crosshead to move selectively axially along the central axis and drive rotation of the propeller blade to vary a pitch angle of the propeller blade,
- wherein the spigot includes a flange that extends circumferentially about the central axis and a cylindrical member that extends axially aft away from the flange and into the interior space of the hub body, the hub body includes an outer band that extends circumferentially about the central axis and a forward wall that extends radially inwardly from the outer band toward the central axis, the forward wall defines an opening into the interior space of the hub body, and the flange engages the forward wall such that the outer band of the hub body extends circumferentially around the flange and the flange closes the opening into the interior space of the hub body.
1 more element
An electrically actuated propeller pitch control system for use with watercraft, the propeller pitch control system comprising:
- a propeller hub assembly that includes a hub cone extending circumferentially about a central axis having a forward end and an aft end opposite the forward end, a hub body coupled with the forward end of the hub cone and arranged circumferentially about the central axis to define an interior space therein, and a spigot coupled to the hub body, the hub body configured to transfer rotational energy to the propeller hub assembly to cause the propeller hub assembly to rotate about the central axis during operation of the watercraft,
- a propeller assembly configured to selectively rotate a propeller blade, the propeller assembly includes a crosshead located within the hub body and a variable pitch blade assembly that engages the crosshead, the crosshead is formed to include a hole extending axially therethrough, and
- a crosshead drive system that includes an electric motor located within the hub cone, a transmission coupled with the electric motor, and a lead screw that extends through the hole formed in the crosshead, the lead screw being coupled with the transmission, and the electric motor is configured to drive rotation of the transmission and the lead screw about the central axis to cause the crosshead to move selectively axially along the central axis and drive rotation of the propeller blade to vary a pitch angle of the propeller blade,
- wherein the spigot is formed to include a first axial passage extending therethrough along the central axis, the transmission is formed to include a second axial passage extending therethrough along the central axis, and the lead screw is formed to include a third axial passage extending therethrough along the central axis, wherein the first axial passage of the spigot, the second axial passage of the transmission, and the third axial passage of the lead screw are aligned with one another to define a continuous passageway that extends axially through the propeller pitch control system,
- wherein the crosshead drive system includes a lubrication conduit extending through the continuous passageway to direct lubrication therethrough toward the transmission and the lead screw and an electrical conduit extending through the continuous passageway and connected with the electric motor to supply power to the electric motor.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.