Abstract: An agitator includes a drive motor having a shaft projecting through an axial end of a housing and having connected thereto a propeller boss. The propeller boss and housing define a circumferential gap spanned by a circumferentially extending radially outermost gap covering and sealing portion of a deflector ring. The deflector ring includes a radially innermost ring mounting portion located in the circumferential gap. The deflector ring is preferably made of elastomeric material and an outermost circumferential surface of the deflector ring is exteriorly convexly curved in the form of an aerofoil converging axially toward ends of sealing lips of the deflector ring gap covering and sealing portion.

Abstract: A propeller (10) including a hub (11), a plurality of blades (13) extending outwardly from the hub (11) and part annular connecting elements (17) which interconnect tips (16) of adjacent blades (13). The trailing edges (21) of the elements (17) extend from the trailing edge of one blade (13) at its tip to intersect the adjacent blade (13) at a relief point (23) on the high pressure side of the blade (13) between the leading and trailing edges of the blade (13). The leading edge (20) of the elements (17) extends from the leading edge of a blade (13) at its tip (16) to intersect the adjacent blade (13) at a relief point (25) on the low pressure side of the blade (13) intermediate the leading and trailing edges of the blade (13) at its tip (16).

Abstract: A protective air passing shield has a top shield resiliently releasably connected by a plurality of mounts to an end portion of a side shield. The protective air passing shield is disposed about a fan and connected to a shroud of a cooling system and blocks large particles from the cooling system.

Abstract: A propeller guard for use in association with a boat propulsion propeller driven by an outboard motor or an inboard/outboard rear motor drive unit. The propeller guard may be constructed of injection molded plastic, fiber reinforced resin, metal such as aluminum or other materials having strength characteristics to provide necessary protection and constructed to minimize hydrodynamic resistance. The propeller guard will protect swimmers, aquatic mammals and other sea life from coming into contact with the propeller thereby preventing injury and at the same time protect the propeller from damage by engagement with floating or submerged debris.

Abstract: A thrust enhancer includes a peripheral ring with an exhaust ring concentrically supported within the peripheral ring by a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced struts. Each strut carries a blade that is preferably angled in the left-hand direction at about a 36.degree. angle with respect to a plane defined by the strut to redirect water flowing at lateral angles with respect to the axis of the propeller shaft so that the water moves more in alignment with the propeller shaft to cause the thrust forces caused by rotation of the propeller to be directed more completely aligned with the axis of the propeller shaft. Suitable brackets are provided for securely mounting the thrust enhancer onto an outboard motor housing or other mounting location aft of a marine propulsion propeller.

Abstract: The cover is used for boat drive units, at least portions of which are disposed outside the hull of a boat. At least two housing shells are provided, which can be placed in a form-fitting manner on the part of the boat drive unit which is outside the hull of the boat. The housing shells can be connected to each other. The interior contour is formed by a foamed material, which is supported by the walls of the housing shells.

Abstract: A marine mammal guard for an outboard motor having a drive shaft housing, an anti-cavitation plate, a lower support unit, a gear casing, a skeg and a propeller hub with a plurality of propeller blades radially thereabout. The guard comprises a protective housing having a pair of forward intake ports and a rearward exit port. A mechanism is provided for securing the protective housing to the lower support unit. The protective housing will extend about the gear casing, the propeller hub and propeller blades below and parallel to the anti-cavitation plate and above the skeg, so as to prevent animals and other objects also submerged within water from coming into contact with the propeller blades of the outboard motor.

Abstract: A propeller protector comprises a shield 18 which surrounds the aft face of the propeller and prevents access thereto. The shield 11 may be secured in position by guide surfaces which engage the lateral fins found on most outboard propeller drive shafts. The protector may be locked in position by a suitable strap.

Abstract: A case and lock for reducing damage and deterring theft of boat propellers. The invention is comprised of a case for enclosing a boat propeller and a portion of a propeller drive unit. The case has a pair of pivotally connected members which are supported by a horizontal stabilizer fin of a propeller drive unit. The lock lockably connects the case members. One optional feature of the invention are running lights mounted on the sides of the lockable case members. Another optional feature is an electronic alarm which is activated during attempts to steal the propeller.

Abstract: A propeller having a central hub portion with multiple blades affixed to the hub portion and spaced around the circumference of the hub to extend outwardly therefrom is provided. An annular ring or shroud joins the tips of the blades, a portion of each blade tip being free of the annular ring on the trailing side of the blade to define a region permitting outward flow of liquid along the blades. By this construction, energy is directed rearwardly from the propeller and the loss of energy due to centrifugal action is reduced.

Abstract: A locking boat propeller cover that completely encloses the propeller whereby unauthorized removal of the propeller is prevented, the propeller is protected from damage, and the risk of injury to people coming into contact with the propeller area is reduced.

Abstract: A flywheel has a hub with a plurality of blades secured to said hub and extending away therefrom. A plurality of ribs are secured to the blades to form a protective enclosure which rotates with the blades. The ribs are spaced apart a distance selected to inhibit insertion of the user's fingers thereinbetween.

Abstract: A guard attachable to the lower unit of an outboard motor preventing direct impact between submerged hazards and the elements of the lower unit. The guard includes two angle brackets, a rigid bar attached to the angle brackets at a top end, and a skeg pocket and fin attached to a lower portion of the bar. The guard descends from a position forward of, and substantially level with, the cavitation plate to a point below the skeg. The guard prevents damage to the entire lower unit, including the propeller, upon impact with a submerged obstacle.

Abstract: The propeller and lower unit protector is made from a high grade steel and has a spring like U-shaped top member for sliding in a generally horizontal direction over an outboard engine cavitation plate from a front to a back portion of the engine. A generally ring shaped member depends downwardly from a first end of the top member and is attached thereto. The ring member is spaced apart outwardly from the outer edges of the propeller blades. The opening in the front of the U-shaped top member is closed by a bolt through a bore in the first end of the top member to secure the top member in a tight grip around the lower engine housing. The closed end of the top member is attached to a strut depending downwardly and backwardly to attach to a bottom portion of the ring member. Port and starboard side struts also connect the downwardly depending strut to a middle portion of the ring member.

Abstract: The propellor guard described herein is designed primarily for the protection of manatee but is also useful in protection against injury to other animals and larger fish which might come in contact with a boat's propellor. This guard is tapered toward substantially a point at the front end and is substantially circular at the rear end so as to encircle the region in which the propellor is rotated. The guard has a V-bracket at the front which is securely pressed against a propellor support and is supported at the rear in the circular portion by a pair of clamps which engage and are bolted tightly onto the cavitation plate.

Abstract: An inherently safer propeller design is disclosed. A conventional propeller has a substantially cylindrical ring affixed to the distal ends of the blades. Preferably, the leading edge of the ring extends beyond the forward most extending portion of the leading edges of the blades. The leading edge of the ring is constructed to absorb the energy of impact with an object. In this manner, damage to the object is substantially reduced. The propeller of the present invention presents a design which, in certain preferred embodiments, substantially eliminates the possibility of severe injury when a moving propeller collides with a human or animal. Preferably, the energy absorbing leading edge is comprised of a hollow sheet metal section, which may be foam-filled. Alternatively, the leading edge may be comprised of an elastomer or other material which absorbs energy. Several ways of attaching the leading edge to the ring to create a detachable and replaceable structure are disclosed.

Abstract: A propeller guard is provided with replaceable ribs that form a cage is placed around the propeller of an outboard marine propulsion unit. The ribs are suspended from a flat upper plate adapted to be bolted to a cavitation plate above the propeller. The ribs are maintained in spaced relation to each other around the propeller by the support plate and a longitudinally extending bottom bar bolted at one end to the skeg of the propulsion unit. In the event of damage to any of the ribs of the cage, the damaged rib can easily be replaced with a new one.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in a trolling motor of the type having a propeller, a housing with axially spaced leading and trailing ends, a shaft carrying a propeller and journalled for rotation in the housing, and a drive for rotating the shaft and propeller. The housing trailing end has an annular, radially inwardly facing surface and the propeller has a hub with an annular, radially outwardly facing surface on which blades are mounted. The housing, shaft and propeller are mounted relative to each other so that the radially inwardly facing housing surface is radially outside of and in axially overlapping relationship with the radially outwardly facing propeller surface.

Abstract: In a marine drive (10), a propeller shroud is provided by a cage (24) having internal spoke structure (26, 28, 38, 40, 46, 48) and having retainer structure (50, 74) mounting the cage (24) to the gearcase (12) and engaging the gearcase (12) and driveshaft housing (11) in a particular manner such that impact force on the cage (24) is transmitted to(1) the junction of the lower skeg (20) and the torpedo-shaped portion (14) of the gearcase (12,)(2) the leading edge of the gearcase (12) at the front edge (31) of the strut portion (23) and the front edge (33) of the skeg (20),(3) the underside of the anti-ventilation plate (22), and(4) the rearwardly extending portion (52) of the driveshaft housing (11) above the anti-ventilation plate (22) and the splash plate (13).

Abstract: a propulsion and steering apparatus generally for a boat having a unitized construction comprising an engine, propeller, rudder and protective cage for the propeller, all mounted on a rotatable pylon adapted to be secured to the transom or other portions of the boat. A rudder is attached to the pylon and projects into the water to facilitate steering of the boat if the engine should die or be at idle speed. An ice break can be substituted for the rudder for use of the vehicle on snow and frozen water such as for ice fishing and rescue work. If desired, the apparatus can be mounted forwardly of the transom on transversely extending beams in the boat to provide a large open area that will be kept available for fishermen and equipment in the rear of the boat. The entire propulsion means is adaptable to be hinged to the mounting so it may be laid down to present a low profile for moving under bridges, storing in garages and while being transported on the highways.

Abstract: A weed cutting and shredding attachment for an electric trolling motor including a sharpened cutting blade oriented with the sharp edge thereof adjacent to the path of movement of the leading edge of the propeller blades on an electric trolling motor together with a mounting structure for effectively mounting the cutting element from the trolling motor.

Abstract: A weedguard for attachment to electric trolling motors having a motor housing and a motor support shaft, the weedguard comprising a lower triangular frame member portion and an upper arm portion, the triangular frame portion having a flange for attachment to the motor housing so that the triangular frame portion has one apex toward the front of the motor housing and extends downwardly and rearwardly from the apex with respect to the motor housing; the upper arm portion being secured to the triangular frame portion at that apex and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom, and a rearward extension member extending from the upper arm portion toward the motor shaft for attachment to the motor shaft.

Abstract: A thin wall sleeve is provided including an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the rear terminal end of a marine outdrive lower unit propeller drive housing portion and the adjacent front terminal end of an associated marine propeller hub. The sleeve is mounted in position with its opposite ends telescoped over the housing portion and hub terminal ends and the longitudinal mid-portion of the sleeve bridging the axial spacing therebetween. The sleeve is mounted from the housing portion terminal end, for example, by an adhesive band layer, maintaining the inside diameter surfaces of the sleeve radially spaced outward of the outer surfaces of the housing portion rear terminal end and the hub front terminal end loosely rotatably received within the sleeve.

Abstract: A shrouded propeller for operation in ice-filled waters, which arrangement comprises a propeller and a nozzle encirculating the propeller, which propeller arrangement comprises an ice crusher annulus. The propeller arrangement is provided by at least one first flow path for the water flow entering the nozzle, which first path is directed via the interspace between said annulus and the actual nozzle. The first path is further directed to and through the nozzle interior. The arrangement is provided by a flow path for the water main flow through the central portion bordered by said annulus. If the central flow path is obstructed by ice chunks, said first path is available for the water flow inside the nozzle.

Abstract: A self retracting screen for turbomachinery comprised of a number of interlocking wires, the wire ends being pivotally attached to the periphery of the normal inlet of the turbomachinery. Preferably, the wires are elliptical, or streamlined, in cross-section such that the major diameters of the elliptical cross-section of the wires when the screen is closed are substantially parallel to the turbomachinery inlet stream.

Abstract: The specification discloses a combined rope and fish net guard for use on large ocean going marine vessels. A rope guard extends outwardly from the stern frame to closely overlap the propeller hub. The propeller hub defines an annular groove underlying the rope guard. A cutting ring is mounted on the inner cylindrical wall of the rope guard and extends inwardly into the annular groove. The cutting ring is equipped with bidirectional cutting edges or teeth.

Abstract: A fan guard assembly comprising a pair of mirror image plates, each of said plates having a plurality of perforations extending therethrough to define a plurality of air flow passages. The plates further include a flange-like surface extending radially outward from the top, bottom and the outboard side. The inboard sides of the plates are placed in overlapping relationship with respect to each other. The plates are joined together about the overlapped portions to form the fan guard assembly.

Abstract: A water power apparatus, composed of independent design features, which provides for: (1) utilization of a central boat with two paddle wheels and respective side stabilizers, with one wheel being located on each respective side of the boat, connected by a central axle or a flexible coupling; (2) two respective and connected sets of paddle wheels, with the blades on each of the two respective wheels placed 90.degree. apart, with each set of wheels being situated a lateral distance, apart from the other, of at least one-half the width of a respective paddle wheel blade, and with the blades on one wheel set being staggered 45.degree.

Abstract: A guard for protection of an outboard motor is described. The guard comprises a main rib with a shock absorbing end portion and a resilient rib which is secured to the main rib such that, when the guard is attached to an outboard motor which is mounted on a boat and which is submerged in water, the resilient rib is disposed forward of the end portion. The forward rib and the end portion extend one behind the other in the direction of travel of the boat so that the forward rib imparts additional shock absorbing properties to the guard. Further shock absorbing resilient ribs and arcuate funnelling bands to strengthen the guard may be secured to the main rib.

Abstract: The marine propulsion device lower unit includes a housing having a lower portion submerged in water and defining an internal passage communicating with the water. Corrosion protection for both internal and external parts of the lower unit is provided by a sacrificial, galvanic-type anode mounted on the submerged portion of the housing and including a first or outer portion having a surface exposed to water exterior to the lower unit and a second or inner portion having a surface exposed to water present in the passageway.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device is provided including a lower unit having a gearcase and a propeller shaft housing located in the gearcase and supporting a propeller shaft for rotation. A propeller is mounted on the propeller shaft rearward portion for common rotation with the propeller shaft. A thrust bushing is carried by the propeller shaft and for transmitting forward thrust from the propeller to the propeller shaft. An annular sacrificial anode surrounds the propeller shaft and is positioned between the thrust bushing and the propeller shaft bearing housing for providing cathodic protection for the rearward end of the gearcase and the propeller shaft bearing housing.

Abstract: A spherical vehicle for operation in a fluid medium utilizes an actuator disk or propeller of approximately half the diameter of the sphere for propulsion. In addition to providing the energy for driving the sphere, the actuator disk acts to draw the flow of fluid smoothly over the after part of the sphere, thus avoiding or minimizing the tendency of the flow to separate from the surface of the sphere and create turbulence. For aircraft launch, a heavy shroud protects the actuator disk propeller and assures that the vehicle will sink rapidly after impact. The shroud is jettisoned at a desired depth. Steering in pitch and yaw planes is effected through the use of a plurality of powered thrusters located at or just behind the circle of maximum diameter (with respect to the direction of motion) and selectively actuated by a guidance or control system. Alternatively a single reversible thruster may be used for steering in yaw combined with a movable internal weight for pitch control.

Abstract: Propulsion unit for a marine vessel intended for operation under severe ice conditions comprises a multi-bladed propeller, which may be of fixed or controllable pitch, a stationary duct, which may take the form of a nozzle, within which the propeller runs and is protected peripherally against ice damage, and, at the forward and aft ends of the duct, water-guide members in the form of vanes and/or blades which are more massive than is required by their water-guiding functions and which restrict the size of ice masses that can encounter the propeller by entering the duct at its opposing ends. The duct may embrace the propeller peripherally around the full 360.degree.. The water-guide members may be secured at their outer ends to the duct and at their inner ends to ring members co-axial with the propeller. The upper quadrant of the duct may be secured to the hull of the vessel and the lowest portion of the duct to a skeg extending beneath the duct.