Variable pitch counterweighted propeller system with releasable hydraulic pitchlock
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsPaul A. Carvalho, Robert W. Pruden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The hydraulic propeller system of the present invention has a central hub including a stationary portion and a rotatable portion. A plurality of propeller blades are connected with the rotatable portion, wherein each of the plurality of propeller blades has an adjustable pitch and a counterweight biasing the blades in a first pitch direction. An actuating mechanism is used for adjusting the pitch of each of the plurality of propeller blades. And a valve for locking the propeller blades at a last commanded pitch is further provided. At least the valve and the actuating mechanism are located on and rotatable with the rotatable portion.
Claims12
A hydraulic propeller system, comprising:
- a central hub including a nonrotatable portion and a rotatable portion;
- a plurality of propeller blades connected with said rotatable portion, wherein each of said plurality of propeller blades has an adjustable pitch and a counterweight biasing said blades in a first pitch direction;
- actuation means for adjusting said pitch of each of said plurality of propeller blades;
- and
- means for locking said propeller blades at a last commanded pitch,
- wherein said means for locking is located on and rotatable with said rotatable portion.
The propeller system according to claim 2, wherein said means for locking comprises a valve in hydraulic communication with said actuation means via a first hydraulic pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.