Abstract: A marine bearing assembly for a propeller shaft suitable for a vessel which travels in intensely cold seawater where a conventional bearing, as a result of its contraction, would seize the shaft and prevent it from rotating. The assembly includes a cylindrical body having an axial bore therein to receive the rotating shaft, the body being formed of UHMW polyethylene having a low coefficient of friction and a high coefficient of thermal contraction. To complete the assembly, the body is exposed to a temperature below the freezing point of water to cause it to contract. The contracted body is then press-fitted into a sleeve whose internal diameter matches the contracted diameter of the body, whereby at higher temperatures the body seeks to expand, but being confined within the sleeve it is held under compression.

Abstract: An improvement in a variable pitch propeller to allow replacement of propeller blades under water without water intruding into the mechanism in the propeller hub and without a substantial quantity of oil leaking to the surrounding water. The propeller comprises a number of turnable propeller blades (2) which are each removably attached to a rotatable crank disk (3) and for each propeller blade there is provided a first seal (5) between the hub (1) and the propeller blade root (2a), a second seal (6) between the hub (1) and the crank disk (3) and a by-pass valve (7) passing the second seal (6). the valve (7) is spring biased to remain in a closed position when the propeller blade (2) is removed. When the propeller blade (2) is secured in place the first seal (5) is operative and when the propeller blade is removed, the second seal (6) is the operative one together with the valve (7).

Abstract: A marine propulsion lower unit including a gear case supporting a propeller shaft adapted to carry a propeller, which gear case has an upper surface including therein a cylindrical well defined by cylindrical peripheral wall and a bottom wall having therein an axial bore, a combined shift rod bushing and gear case seal assembly comprising a hub having an axis and axially spaced first and second ends, which hub also includes therein an axial bore extending from the first end, and which hub also includes therein a counter bore extending from the second end, and communicating with the axial bore in coaxial relation thereto, a flange extending from the hub and received in the well in the gear case, a pair of attachment arms extending from the hub in transverse radially outward relation to the axis of the hub and fixedly connected to the gear case, a plug member received in the counter bore and having an axial bore communicating with the axial bore in the hub, a shift rod extending through the axial bore in the pl

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preventing leaks in a propeller shaft bearing arrangement including a plain bearing (2), which is lubricated with oil or water and which supports the propeller shaft (1) extending through an opening in the body (4) of a hull, and packing members (6,7) for keeping the lubricant in the lubrication space and for preventing water from entering the bearing arrangement. According to the invention, the pressure vibrations occuring in the lubricant are equalized arranging, in the lubrication space, a medium possessing a high compressibility, which medium by means of changes in volume receives and equalizes said pressure vibrations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preventing leaks in a propeller shaft bearing arrangement including a plain bearing (2), which is lubricated with oil or water and which supports the propeller shaft (1) extending through an opening in the body (4) of a hull, and packing members (6,7) for keeping the lubricant in the lubrication space and for preventing water from entering the bearing arrangement. The pressure vibrations occuring in the lubricant are equalized by arranging, in the lubrication space, a medium prossesing a high compressiblility, which medium through changes in volume receives and equalizes said pressure vibrations.

Abstract: Bearing for rotary shaft, of the type comprising at least one bearing element with a friction surface contacting with one external surface of the shaft. The bearing element comprises a bearing block on which is defined the friction surface and a support housing having an opening for receiving the block. The block and the housing are separated over the whole periphery of the opening by a gap, and joined together resiliently through the gap. The block and housing together define a closed cavity filled with a substantially incompressible fluid.

Abstract: A water lubricated bearing assembly having a plurality of circumferentially spaced first set of bearing elements with substantially flat surfaces and water courses therebetween supporting a shaft for rotation. Certain ones or all of such bearing elements support a second set of bearing elements that are moveable radially into supporting engagement with the shaft such that either the first set or the second set of bearing elements are the prime supports for the shaft and wherein such first and second set of bearing elements have different coefficient of friction.