Long shaft propeller controller and bearing seal protector

A marine propulsion linkage for connecting a propeller to a motive power source and operative within a body of water having an average surface level and surface waves therein, comprising:

• a shaft adapted for rotation about a first axis having a first end and elongated along said first axis from said first end to a second end, said first and second ends terminating said shaft;
• a means for coupling said shaft to said motive power source adjacent said first end;
• a means for coupling said shaft to said propeller adjacent said second end;
• a casing enclosing said shaft between said first and second ends;
• a generally planar skeg coupled with and descending in a generally vertical plane from said casing;
• a framework adding structural integrity to said casing;
• a pivotal transom mount permitting said shaft, casing and framework to pivot about two orthogonal axes;
• a handle coupled to said framework and adapted to operatively allow said propeller to be pivoted about a generally horizontal axis to thereby raise and lower said propeller within a body of water, and adapted to operatively allow said propeller to be pivoted about a generally vertical axis to thereby shift said propeller between port and starboard of said transom mount;
• an anti-cavitation body having a generally tear-drop geometry from a top plan view and including an oval cut-out defining a leading edge adjacent to and engaging said casing and gentle tapering edges extending from said casing and adapted to operatively guide said propeller around obstacles while also preventing foreign matter from becoming affixed adjacent to said oval cut-out, said anti-cavitation body further defining a partial cylinder from a rear elevational view and having a longitudinal axis and a radius of curvature about said longitudinal axis larger in diameter than propeller and extending from said leading edge to a trailing edge partially encompassing and extending beyond said propeller;
• first and second wings adjacent to said first and second edges of angular extent, respectively, and angularly offset from said partial cylinder to extend radially outward therefrom, and angled into said water body deeper than said anti-cavitation body, wherein said first and second wings are adapted to operatively run below said water body surface and improve a seal between said anti-cavitation body and said water body adjacent to said propeller and adapted to operatively develop a vacuum with said water body to contain water between said anti-cavitation body and propeller and thereby tend to keep propeller at a level partially above said water body average surface level;
• and
• wherein said first and second wings each further comprise a longitudinal axis that is both laterally displaced from said anti-cavitation body longitudinal axis, and wherein said wings have a larger radius of curvature than said anti-cavitation body radius of curvature.

A marine propulsion linkage for connecting a propeller to a motive power source and operative within a body of water having an average surface level and surface waves therein, comprising:

• a shaft adapted for rotation about a first axis having a first end and elongated along said first axis from said first end to a second end, said first and second ends terminating said shaft;
• a means for coupling said shaft to said motive power source adjacent said first end;
• a means for coupling said shaft to said propeller adjacent said second end;
• a casing enclosing said shaft between said first and second ends;
• a pivotal transom mount permitting said shaft and casing framework to pivot about two orthogonal axes;
• an anti-cavitation body having a generally tear-drop geometry from a top plan view and including an oval cut-out defining a leading edge adjacent to and engaging said casing and gentle tapering edges extending from said casing and adapted to operatively guide said propeller around obstacles while also preventing foreign matter from becoming affixed adjacent to said oval cut-out, said anti-cavitation body further defining a partial cylinder from a rear elevational view and having a longitudinal axis and a radius of curvature about said longitudinal axis larger in diameter than propeller and extending from said leading edge to a trailing edge partially encompassing and extending beyond said propeller;
• first and second wings adjacent to said first and second edges of angular extent, respectively, and angularly offset from said partial cylinder to extend radially outward therefrom, and angled into said water body deeper than said anti-cavitation body, wherein said first and second wings are adapted to operatively run below said water body surface and improve a seal between said anti-cavitation body and said water body adjacent to said propeller and adapted to operatively develop a vacuum with said water body to contain water between said anti-cavitation body and propeller and thereby tend to keep propeller at a level partially above said water body average surface level;
• and
• wherein said first and second wings each further comprise a longitudinal axis that is both laterally displaced from said anti-cavitation body longitudinal axis, and wherein said wings have a larger radius of curvature than said anti-cavitation body radius of curvature.