Tandem propeller assembly for a marine propulsion unit
AssigneeSanshin Industries Co., Ltd.
InventorsYasushi Iriono, Yoshitsugu Sumino, Mitsunori Suzuki, Hiroshi Harada
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Abstract
A tandem propeller assembly for use with a marine propulsion unit is disclosed wherein a single shock-absorber assembly is utilized to assure damping effects for both propellers so as to protect the propulsion system from being damaged when either propeller is obstructed by drifting wood or other debris. Each of the preferred embodiments disclosed provides a simple structure for absorbing impacts upon either propeller in a tandem propeller assembly while minimizing any increase in the surface area of contact with the water which would increase the propulsion resistance and would result in speed loss.
Claims30
A tandem propeller assembly for use in a marine propulsion unit including a drive shaft, comprising:
- a first propeller unit;
- a second propeller unit located in tandem relative to the first propeller unit;
- corotation connector means for positively drivingly connecting the first and second propeller units together for corotation in the same direction;
- a single shock absorber;
- and
- drive connecting means for drivingly interconnecting at least one of the propeller units to a drive shaft through said single shock absorber such that said single shock absorber protects the marine propulsion unit from damage in the event that either of the propeller units is obstructed by debris during operation.
A tandem propeller assembly for use in a marine propulsion units comprising:
- a drive shaft;
- a first propeller unit;
- a second propeller unit;
- a single shock absorber arranged between said drive shaft and each of said propeller units;
- and
- drive connecting means for drivingly connecting said first and second propeller units to said drive shaft for rotation in the same direction through said single shock absorber such that said single shock absorber protects the marine propulsion unit from damage in the event that either of the first and second propeller units is obstructed by debris during operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.