US 4,229,141 AGranted

Devices for operating variable-pitch propellers

OwnerJose Luis de Francisco Mesadoinventor

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Abstract

A propeller includes a hub having mounted on the central end part thereof a rotating fitting which permits the passage therethrough of a fluid circulating within two conduits which pass longitudinally of the fitting. The fluid operates on opposite ends of an annular piston to impart thereto rectilinear movement, which in turn is transformed into rotation of the blades of the propeller due to lugs extending from the piston and being eccentrically engaged with the blades. The hub of the propeller is completely free to turn without affecting the driving shaft. The assembly is positioned completely outside the stern of the ship.

Claims1

Dependent claims

A variable pitch propeller comprising:

a rotatable propeller shaft;
a propeller hub positioned around and fixed to said propeller shaft and adapted to rotate therewith;
a plurality of propeller blades spaced around said hub, each said blade having a base mounted within said hub for rotation about the axis of said base, whereby rotation of said bases around said axes will vary the pitch of said blades;
an annular cylindrical piston slidably mounted within said hub for rectilinear movement in opposite directions parallel to and coaxial with said propeller shaft;
first and second pressure fluid chambers within said hub at opposite ends of said piston;
a plurality of lugs and extending outwardly from said piston, each said lug engaging a respective said base eccentrically of said axis thereof, whereby rectilinear movement of said piston is transformed into rotation of said bases about said axes;
a double-acting valve unit positioned within said hub for rotation therewith, said unit including first and second double-acting valves, said valves being ganged so that movement of either of said valves causes movement of the other of said valves;
a first fluid duct connecting said first pressure fluid chamber to said first valve;
a second fluid duct connecting said second pressure fluid chamber to said second valve;
first feed conduit means for supplying pressure fluid from a supply to said first valve, and for thereby opening said first valve in a first valving direction;
second feed conduit means for supplying pressure fluid from the supply to said second valve, and for thereby opening said second valve in a second valving direction;
whereby when said first feed conduit means supplies pressure fluid to said first valve and opens said first valve in said first valving direction, said pressure fluid is caused to pass through said first fluid duct into said first pressure fluid chamber and to move said piston in a first rectilinear direction, thereby causing rotation of said bases and blades in a first rotative direction, said opening of said first valve in said first valving direction causing opening of said second valve in said first valving direction, thereby allowing pressure fluid to pass from said second pressure fluid chamber, through said second fluid duct, said second valve and said second feed conduit means, to thereby be returned to the supply;
and
whereby when said second feed conduit means supplies pressure fluid to said second valve and opens said second valve in said second valving direction, said pressure fluid is caused to pass through said second fluid duct into said second pressure fluid chamber and to move said piston in a second rectilinear direction, thereby causing rotation of said bases and blades in a second rotative direction, said opening of said second valve in said second valving direction causing opening of said first valve in said second valving direction, thereby allowing pressure fluid to pass from said first pressure fluid chamber, through said first fluid duct, said first valve and said first feed conduit means, to thereby be returned to the supply.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A variable pitch propeller comprising:

a rotatable propeller shaft;
a propeller hub positioned around and fixed to said propeller shaft and adapted to rotate therewith;
a plurality of propeller blades spaced around said hub, each said blade having a base mounted within said hub for rotation about the axis of said base, whereby rotation of said bases around said axes will vary the pitch of said blades;
an annular cylindrical piston slidably mounted within said hub for rectilinear movement in opposite directions parallel to and coaxial with said propeller shaft;
first and second pressure fluid chambers within said hub at opposite ends of said piston;
a plurality of lugs and extending outwardly from said piston, each said lug engaging a respective said base eccentrically of said axis thereof, whereby rectilinear movement of said piston is transformed into rotation of said bases about said axes;
a double-acting valve unit positioned within said hub for rotation therewith, said unit including first and second double-acting valves, said valves being ganged so that movement of either of said valves causes movement of the other of said valves;
a first fluid duct connecting said first pressure fluid chamber to said first valve;
a second fluid duct connecting said second pressure fluid chamber to said second valve;
first feed conduit means for supplying pressure fluid from a supply to said first valve, and for thereby opening said first valve in a first valving direction;
second feed conduit means for supplying pressure fluid from the supply to said second valve, and for thereby opening said second valve in a second valving direction;
whereby when said first feed conduit means supplies pressure fluid to said first valve and opens said first valve in said first valving direction, said pressure fluid is caused to pass through said first fluid duct into said first pressure fluid chamber and to move said piston in a first rectilinear direction, thereby causing rotation of said bases and blades in a first rotative direction, said opening of said first valve in said first valving direction causing opening of said second valve in said first valving direction, thereby allowing pressure fluid to pass from said second pressure fluid chamber, through said second fluid duct, said second valve and said second feed conduit means, to thereby be returned to the supply;
and
whereby when said second feed conduit means supplies pressure fluid to said second valve and opens said second valve in said second valving direction, said pressure fluid is caused to pass through said second fluid duct into said second pressure fluid chamber and to move said piston in a second rectilinear direction, thereby causing rotation of said bases and blades in a second rotative direction, said opening of said second valve in said second valving direction causing opening of said first valve in said second valving direction, thereby allowing pressure fluid to pass from said first pressure fluid chamber, through said first fluid duct, said first valve and said first feed conduit means, to thereby be returned to the supply.

11 more elements