Shock-absorbing propeller assembly
AssigneePrecision Propeller, Inc.
InventorJames Booe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for connecting a drive axle to a propeller. A drive member is configured to mount on a drive axle, a tubular member is coupled to the propeller, and a resilient member is configured to be positioned between the drive member and the tubular member. The drive member has an axis and includes a plurality of radially outwardly extending tabs. The tubular member is coupled to the propeller and has an axis and a plurality of radially inwardly extending tabs. The resilient member has an axis and is configured to be positioned between the outwardly extending tabs and the inwardly extending tabs. Furthermore, the resilient member is mounted coaxially with the drive member and the tubular member.
Claims20
An assembly for connecting a propeller to a drive axle, the assembly comprising
- a drive member configured to mount on the drive axle, the drive member having an axis and including a plurality of radially outwardly extending tabs, each tab having at least one surface aligned in a radial plane relative to the drive axle,
- a tubular member coupled to the propeller, the tubular member having an axis and a plurality of radially inwardly extending tabs, and
- a resilient member having an axis and configured to be positioned between the outwardly extending tabs and the inwardly extending tabs, the resilient member being mounted coaxially with the drive member and the tubular member.
An assembly for connecting a propeller to a drive axle, the assembly comprising
- a drive member configured to mount on the drive axle, the drive member having an axis and including a plurality of radially outwardly extending tabs, each tab having at least one surface aligned in a radial plane relative to the drive axle,
- a tubular member coupled to the propeller, the tubular member having an axis and a plurality of radially inwardly extending tabs configured to be in spaced relationship with the outwardly extending tabs to provide spaces therebetween, and
- a single-piece resilient member disposed between the drive member and the tubular member, the resilient member having portions configured to be positioned in the spaces between the plurality of outwardly extending tabs and inwardly extending tabs.
A method of resiliently connecting a propeller to a drive axle, the method comprising the steps of
- providing a drive member configured to mount on the drive axle, the drive member having an axis and including a plurality of radially outwardly extending tabs, each tab having at least one surface aligned in a radial plane relative to the drive axle,
- positioning a single-piece resilient member over the drive member, the single-piece resilient member being configured to have two circumferentially spaced apart portions of the resilient member disposed between each of the plurality of radially outwardly extending tabs, and
- positioning a propeller over the resilient member, the propeller having a concentric tubular member defining an axis and a plurality of radially inwardly extending tabs, wherein each of the radially inwardly extending tabs is configured to extend between two circumferentially spaced portions of the resilient member.
An assembly for connecting a propeller to a drive axle, the assembly comprising
- a drive member configured to mount on the drive axle, the drive member having an axis and including a selected number of radially outwardly extending tabs, each tab having at least one surface aligned in a radial plane relative to the drive axle,
- a tubular member coupled to the propeller, the tubular member having an axis and a number of radially inwardly extending tabs, the number of inwardly extending tabs being equal to the selected number of outwardly extending tabs, and
- a resilient member configured to be positioned between the drive member and the tubular member, the resilient member having a number of axially aligned portions and end portions connecting the axially aligned portions, wherein the number of axially aligned portions is equal to twice the number of outwardly extending tabs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.