Abstract: A propeller assembly is provided for mounting on a rotatable propeller shaft of a watercraft. The propeller assembly includes a hub structure extending along a longitudinal axis. The hub structure includes an outer surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced propeller blades projecting therefrom and an inner surface having a longitudinally extending keys projecting therealong. An adaptor has an inner surface defining a passageway for receiving the propeller shaft therethrough and an outer surface having longitudinally extending keys extending therealong. A tubular bushing interconnects the adaptor to the hub structure. The tubular bushing has a first set of keyways for receiving corresponding keys of the adaptor in a mating relationship and a second set of keyways for receiving the keys of the hub structure in a mating relationship.

Abstract: A propeller assembly is provided for mounting on a rotatable propeller shaft of a marine vehicle. The propeller assembly includes a central hub mounted on the propeller shaft for rotation therewith. A generally tubular propeller housing is slidable on the central hub for rotational movement with the propeller shaft. The propeller housing includes an inner surface having a shoulder formed therein. A locking ring is mounted on the propeller shaft. The locking ring includes an outer rim for engaging the shoulder and preventing removal of the propeller housing from the central hub. A stop member may also be provided to limit movement between the propeller housing and the central hub.

Abstract: A method of using an apparatus for straightening a propeller having an arbor press with two opposed inner surfaces. The opposed surfaces are spaced apart a sufficient distance to allow a propeller to fit between them with one opposed surface extending beyond the second opposed surface. Two pads are mounted on the first inner surface to support the propeller during the straightening procedure. One or both of the pads may be adjustable to more precisely locate the points of pressure that will be applied to the propeller to straighten it. A ram is mounted on the second inner surface to apply pressure to the propeller. A reinforcing ridge may be attached to the outer surface of the arbor press to provide rigidity during the propeller straightening procedure. To allow precision manipulation of the device under water, a floatation collar is fixed to the arbor press or the reinforcing ridge. The floatation has sufficient buoyancy to counteract the weight of the apparatus when under water.

Abstract: An apparatus for straightening a propeller has an arbor press with two opposed inner surfaces. The opposed surfaces are spaced apart a sufficient distance to allow a propeller to fit between them with one opposed surface extending beyond the second opposed surface. Two pads are mounted on the first inner surface to support the propeller during the straightening procedure. One or both of the pads may be adjustable to more precisely locate the points of pressure that will be applied to the propeller to straighten it. A ram is mounted on the second inner surface to apply pressure to the propeller. A reinforcing ridge may be attached to the outer surface of the arbor press to provide rigidity during the propeller straightening procedure. To allow precision manipulation of the device under water, a floatation collar is fixed to the arbor press or the reinforcing ridge. The floatation has sufficient buoyancy to counteract the weight of the apparatus when under water.

Abstract: An aircraft propeller has adjustable pitch blades which are reset from a low pitch in-flight idle position to a lower pitch ground idle position by a beta feedback and reset mechanism. The reset mechanism includes a set of cam elements supported for movement in response to rotation of the blades and positioned to engage a follower plate adjustably mounted on the beta feedback control rods.

Abstract: A multiple blade aircraft propeller hub has a bulkhead supporting concentric slip rings connected by slide blocks to the aircraft electrical system. Electrical conducting flexible leads connect the slip rings to electrical heating elements or de-icing boots carried by the propeller blades. Each of the leads includes an elongated flexible braided copper tube for conducting electricity and which loosely surrounds a flexible multiple strand stainless steel cable, and an extruded flexible vinyl insulating tube loosely surrounds the braided tube. The leads provide for minimizing stresses and metal fatigue in the electrical conducting braided tube with changes in blade pitch and thereby provide for a substantially extended service life.

Abstract: An aircraft propeller has adjustable pitch blades which are reset from a low pitch in-flight idle position to a lower pitch ground idle position by a beta feedback and reset mechanism. The reset mechanism includes a set of cam elements supported for movement in response to rotation of the blades and positioned to engage a follower plate adjustably mounted on the beta feedback control rods.

Abstract: A generally flat core of foam material extends outwardly from a wedge-shaped metal base plug, and the core is covered with overlapping plies of resin-bonded plastics materials having unidirectional fibers. The plies are covered by outer layers or skins of resin-bonded woven fabric plastics materials. The fibers of the inner plies are orientated at positive and negative acute angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the blade to provide the blade with predetermined torsional stiffness, and the fibers of the outer plies extend generally parallel to the axis and wrap around the base plug in an interleaving manner to provide high stiffness and strength to bending forces. Some of the plies extending around the base plug receive metal shell elements, and the shell elements engage propeller hub lip portions which cooperate to define an under-cut recess and clamp the plies to the base plug.

Abstract: A propeller hub supports a plurality of adjustable pitch propeller blades which are rotated on corresponding radial axes by a hydraulic actuating system supported by the hub. The hub and pitch changing system are enclosed by a spinner assembly including a substantially flat circular bulkhead member having a core molded between skins of resin impregnated high modulus fiber material. The bulkhead member supports a spinner dome of molded resin impregnated high modulus fiber material, and concentric slip rings are supported by a member connected to the rearward face of the bulkhead member. Terminal posts extend from the slip rings through the bulkhead member to receive conductor wires for supplying electrical current to de-icing heating elements mounted on the blades. A fairing is bonded to the spinner dome for each blade to provide for optimum aerodynamic flow around the base portion of each blade, and each fairing is formed by a molded resin skin material covering a rigid foam core.

Abstract: A motor-driven marine propeller is disclosed for propelling a marine vessel. The propeller includes a hub member driven by the motor and a can member disposed coaxially relative to the hub member the can member having a fore and an aft end. The hub member and the can member define therebetween an annular port for the passage therethrough of a portion of the exhaust generated by the motor. Supports extend between the hub member and the can member for supporting the can member coaxially relative to the hub member and a plurality of blades are secured to and extend from the can member with each of the blades being equidistantly spaced relative to each other. Each of the blades defines a leading and a trailing surface such that the propeller rotates in a direction from the trailing towards the leading surface in normal forward motion.

Abstract: An adjustable pitch aircraft propeller has peripherally spaced composite blades each including an elongated core of expanded rigid foam material extending from a metal base member having a reduced neck portion and an outwardly projecting flange portion. A casing or skin of plastic resin impregnated fabric material surrounds the core of each blade and extends inwardly along the neck portion and also has a flange portion overlying the flange portion of the base member. The skin material overlying the neck portion of the base member is retained by a filament winding impregnated with plastic resin, and the blade is coupled to the propeller hub by an annular lip portion which projects inwardly and overlies the flange portion of the skin material. The foam core of each propeller blade has longitudinally extending slots, and strips of resin impregnated fabric material extend through the slots to form corresponding webs which connect the skin material forming opposite side of the propeller blade.

Abstract: A propeller hub supports a plurality of angularly disposed propeller blades which are movable by a hydraulic cylinder between a high pitch position and a reverse position through a low pitch position. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder from a governor unit driven by the aircraft engine, and a fluid pressure responsive relief valve controls the pressure of the hydraulic fluid. The pressure responsive relief valve is manually adjustable by the aircraft pilot to change the fluid pressure at which the valve responds in order to change the pitch of the propeller blades. The fluid pressure must be increased above a predetermined normal operating limit for actuating the cylinder against the bias of a spring within the propeller to move the blades to their reverse pitch position. In addition, a centrifugally actuated lock unit prevents actuation of the cylinder and movement of the blades to their reverse pitch position until the speed of the propeller is reduced to a slow idle.