US 4,132,503 AGranted

Variable-pitch propeller

AssigneeSchaffran Propeller Lehne & Co.

InventorsRobert Kreft, Udo Torper

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Abstract

A variable-pitch propeller has a hollow hub rotatable about a hub axis and carrying a plurality of angularly equispaced vanes each rotatable on the hub about a respective vane axis extending radially of the hub axis. Each of the vanes has an eccentric pivot pin parallel to its respective vane axis and connected via a bearing to one end of an arm formed on an adjustment member displaceable in the hub along the hub axis and rotatable in the hub about the hub axis. The bearing allows for rotation of the pivot pin relative to the arm in which it is received and for displacement of the pivot pin along the pivot axis relative to the arm receiving it. Thus axial displacement of the adjustment member will force the pivot pins to orbit limitedly about the respective vane axes with concomitant sliding of the bearing along the pin and simultaneous rotation of the adjustment member in the hub.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A variable-pitch propeller comprising:

a hollow hub rotatable about a hub axis;
at least one vane arranged on said hub and rotatable on said hub about a vane axis extending generally radially of said hub axis;
a pivot fixed on said vane and defining a pivot axis off-set from and generally parallel to said vane axis;
an adjustment member arranged in said hub for displacement parallel to said hub axis and for rotation in said hub about said hub axis;
a link extending generally along said hub axis and having two ends one of which is rigidly secured to said adjustment member;
self-aligning bearing means slidably supported on said pivot and joining for swivel movement the other end of said link to said pivot to transform axial displacement and rotation of said hub into a rotary movement of said vane about said vane axis;
and means for axially displacing and simultaneously rotating said adjustment member in said hub along and about said hub axis and thereby rotating said vane about said vane axis.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.