Universal constant speed variable pitch boat propeller system
OwnerHenry A. Castleinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system that allows a boat propeller to maintain a constant blade speed by varying the pitch of the propeller in order to allow the boat's motor to operate at an optimum RPM. The system includes a governor that sends hydraulic fluid to an annular piston, which in turn controls the pitch of the boat propeller blades so that the torque experienced by the engine is kept approximately constant.
Claims9
An adjustable pitch boat propeller adapted for mounting on a drive shaft of a marine drive unit, the propeller comprising:
- a hub, the hub adapted for mounting over the drive shaft of the marine drive unit, the hub having an external surface an internal surface and a piston;
- a plurality of blades pivotally connected to said external surface of said hub;
- at least one connector for pivoting said plurality of blades in response to movements of said piston;
- and
- means for providing and maintaining a fixed amount of hydraulic pressure against said piston.
A method for adjusting the pitch on a boat propeller adapted for mounting on a drive shaft of a marine drive unit of a boat, the method comprising:
- providing a propeller comprising:
- a hub, the hub adapted for mounting over the drive shaft of the boat, the hub having an external surface and a piston housed within said external surface;
- a plurality of blades pivotally connected to said external surface of said hub;
- and
- a connector for pivoting at least one of said of blades in response to movements of said piston;
- providing a desired amount of hydraulic pressure between the internal annular surface of said hub and said annular piston, so that the pitch is adjusted by moving the annular piston within the annular hub by varying the hydraulic pressure between the annular hub and the annular piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.