Extendable and retractable propeller for watercraft
OwnerSven O. Ridderinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
For a watercraft which may be a powered craft or a sailboat with an auxiliary engine, a propeller which will pivot relative to its propeller shaft about an axis extending transversely of the propeller shaft so that the propeller retracts into general longitudinal alignment with the propeller shaft. The propeller includes two blades fixed to each other as a unit with a pivot pin passage formed at the juncture of the two blades. In one preferred form, one of the propeller blades is made larger than the other with the smaller blade positioned rearwardly in relation to the pivot pin passage and the larger blade forwardly of the passage. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pivot pin passage extends at a relatively slight teetering angle to a plane extending perpendicular to the propeller shaft axis.
Claims12
A propeller assembly for a watercraft comprising a propeller shaft, a propeller including a hub and first and second diametrically opposed blades fixed relative to each other for movement as a unit, and means mounting the propeller to the propeller shaft for pivotal movement about an axis extending generally transversely to the propeller shaft between an extended position with the blades projecting generally radially from said shaft and a folded position with one propeller blade extending forwardly generally along the propeller shaft and the other propeller blade extending rearwardly of the propeller shaft generally longitudinally thereof.
A propeller for an engine of a watercraft such as a power boat or a sailboat, the propeller comprising a hub and two blades fixed to and projecting radially from the hub in generally diametrically opposed position, said hub having means for mounting the propeller to a propeller shaft for pivotal movement about an axis lying in a diametrical plane passing through the hub and portions of the blades for positioning the blades in an extended position projecting generally radially from the associated shaft or a retracted folded position extending longitudinally of the associated shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.