Propeller hub with self-adjusting pitch mechanism
OwnerJoseph A. Marsiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism for automatically changing the pitch of propeller blades employing engine torque alone which increases with air speed. A powered hub mounts at least two blades and includes blade pitch changing elements automatically responsive to engine torque for changing blade pitch. The elements include a gear train having a drive gear and several driven gears with flexible coupling components interconnected therebetween. The flexible coupling includes a number of compressible components disposed in cavities in a circular array between the driving gear and the driven gears and which distort under torsional loads at a pre-determined rate. As engine torque changes due to aerodynamic loads on the blades, the flexible coupling components distort causing the blades to change pitch angle.
Claims5
A mechanism for automatically changing the pitch of propeller blades in response to changes of engine torque as influenced by air speed comprising:
- a rotatable powered hub;
- at least a pair of blades outwardly projecting from said hub;
- an engine power source connected to said hub for inducing rotation thereof;
- means carried in said hub and operably coupled with said blades which are responsive to engine torque for increasing and decreasing propeller pitch of each of said blades;
- said coupling means includes a gear train having a driving gear and several driven gears;
- and
- flexible coupling means interposed between said driving gear and said driven gears whereby rotation of said driven gears is only when said flexible coupling means rotate with respect to each other so as to correspond with engine torque.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.