Propeller pitch indicator systems for electrically controllable pitch propeller systems on watercraft
OwnerEric Maxeiner, Eric Davis +3inventors
InventorsEric Maxeiner, Eric Davis, Donald Ricciuti, Anthony Youst, Michael Schwartz
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Abstract
An electrically actuated propeller pitch control system includes a propeller hub, a propeller assembly, and a crosshead drive system. The propeller hub rotates about the central axis during operation of watercraft. The propeller assembly is coupled to rotate with the propeller hub during operation of the watercraft. The crosshead drive system includes an electric motor, a lead screw, and a pitch position indicator system configured to indicate a pitch angle of propeller blades.
Claims20
An electrically actuated propeller pitch control system for use with watercraft, the propeller pitch control system comprising:
- a propeller hub configured to transfer rotational energy from a propulsion shaft to the propeller hub to cause the propeller hub to rotate about a central axis during operation of the watercraft,
- a propeller assembly coupled to rotate with the propeller hub during operation of the watercraft, the propeller assembly including a plurality of propeller blades and a crosshead located within the propeller hub and coupled with the plurality of propeller blades, the crosshead configured to move selectively axially relative to the propeller hub without rotating relative to the propeller hub to change a pitch angle of the plurality of propeller blades, and
- a crosshead drive system that includes an electric motor located within the propeller hub, a lead screw that extends through a hole formed in the crosshead, and a pitch position indicator system configured to indicate the pitch angle of the plurality of propeller blades, the electric motor being coupled with the lead screw to drive rotation of the lead screw about the central axis relative to the propeller hub to cause the crosshead to move selectively axially along the central axis relative to the propeller hub and thereby change the pitch angle of the plurality of propeller blades,
- wherein the pitch position indicator system includes a crosshead follower and a position rod, the crosshead follower extends through the propeller hub and is coupled for axial movement with the crosshead, the position rod is coupled with the crosshead follower and extends away from the propeller hub, through the propulsion shaft, and into a hull of the watercraft, wherein the crosshead follower moves the position rod axially relative to the central axis in response to the crosshead moving axially along the central axis such that an axial location of a marker of the position rod is indicative of the pitch angle of the plurality of propeller blades.
An electrically actuated propeller pitch control system comprising:
- a propeller hub configured to couple with propeller blades and rotate about a central axis,
- a crosshead located within the propeller hub,
- a lead screw that extends through the crosshead and configured to rotate about the central axis relative to the propeller hub and the crosshead to cause the crosshead to move axially selectively along the central axis relative to the propeller hub,
- an electric motor located within the propeller hub and coupled to the lead screw to drive rotation of the lead screw about the central axis, and
- a pitch position indicator system that includes a crosshead follower extending through the propeller hub and coupled with the crosshead for axial movement therewith and a position rod coupled with the crosshead follower and extending axially away from the crosshead, and wherein a portion of the position rod provides a marker indicative of an axial position of the crosshead relative to the lead screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.