Abstract: The present disclosure provides hydraulic power sources for watercraft. Example power sources can include: a watercraft having an engine; a variable ratio drive assembly operably engaged with the engine; a hydraulic pump operably engaged with the variable ratio drive assembly; and a hydraulic motor powered by the hydraulic pump. The present disclosure also provides methods for providing hydraulic power aboard a watercraft. Example methods can include: using an engine of the watercraft to drive a variable ratio drive assembly; using the variable ratio drive assembly to drive a hydraulic pump; using the hydraulic pump to power a hydraulic motor; and using the hydraulic motor to drive a load.

Abstract: A variable pitch propeller comprises a plurality of blades pivotally connected to a hub. Each of the plurality of blades has a base having a leading end and a trailing end. The trailing edge has a notch therein forming a discontinuity in a profile of the trailing edge. The notch is sized and shaped so as to accommodate passage therethrough of a portion of the leading edge of an adjacent blade when the blade and the adjacent blade are pivoted. A blade for a variable pitch propeller is also presented.

Abstract: A watercraft has an engine, a propeller, an electronic control unit (ECU), a throttle actuator, and a velocity control actuator separate from the throttle actuator. The velocity control actuator is movable between an inactive position and a plurality of active positions. When the velocity control actuator is in the inactive position, the ECU controls a speed of the engine based at least in part on a degree of actuation of the throttle actuator. When the velocity control actuator is moved from the inactive position to one of the plurality of active positions, the ECU reduces the speed of the engine based at least in part on a degree of actuation of the velocity control actuator independently of the degree of actuation of the throttle actuator. A method of controlling a watercraft is also described.

Abstract: A surface drive that includes a shaft housing; a propeller; a propeller shaft that passes through the shaft housing with the propeller mounted at an end of the propeller shaft; and mounted to the shaft housing is at least one of a container, wherein a self-locking or automatic locking pitch change mechanism that is configured to adjust a propeller blade of the propeller is partially located in the container, or a propeller ventilation unit that is configured to direct exhaust gas to or away from the propeller based on a travel condition of the surface drive.

Abstract: A marine power system comprises a motor for providing propulsion. It also comprises an energy storage unit (ESU) for storing and supplying energy to the motor. A prime power system is connected to the ESU and motor for selectively providing energy to these subsystems through a bus. The motor selectively receives energy from the prime power system and the ESU and can supply regenerative braking energy to the bus. The system can also accommodate multiple generator sets providing system power. The ESU can also provide starting power for the prime power system. Alternately, the prime power system drives a mechanical power system output shaft connected to the motor, and the marine system comprises an alternator driven by the prime power system output shaft. The ESU can transmit energy to the alternator. The prime power system can be located on a tugboat displacing a barge carrying the energy storage unit.

Abstract: A variable rating impeller (10) for the pump of a waterjet unit that is rotatably driven by an engine to generate a high velocity jet stream. The impeller (10) having a hub (12) mountable to a rotating shaft through which an input power is transmitted by the engine, and a plurality of blades (18) spaced about the periphery of the hub. The blades (18) have a primary profile that defines the primary rating of the impeller, and a trailing portion (28) of each blade has resilient flexibility relative to the primary profile such that the trailing portion will progressively flex under hydrodynamic load to alter the profile of the blades to progressively lower the rating of the impeller (10) with increase in engine speed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable propeller arrangement comprising a drive shaft extending in a longitudinal direction and an adjustable propeller connected to the drive shaft. The adjustable propeller comprises at least one propeller blade and an adjusting member connected to the at least one propeller blade such that the pitch if the at least one propeller blade is controlled by the position, in the longitudinal direction, of the adjusting member. The arrangement comprises a conduit assembly which in turn comprises a duct located outside of the drive shaft and the conduit assembly further comprises a first conduit portion extending at least partially within the drive shaft. The conduit assembly is adapted to provide a fluid communication between the adjustable propeller and the duct.

Abstract: A propeller assembly has first and second propeller blades pivotably mounted on a propeller hub. The first and second propeller blades are pivotable with respect to the propeller hub about corresponding first and second pivot axes to vary a pitch of the first and second propeller blades. A support member has a first end at least partially disposed within the first propeller blade and a second end at least partially disposed within the second propeller blade. The first end has a first central longitudinal axis generally coaxial with the first pivot axis. The second end has a second central longitudinal axis generally coaxial with the second pivot axis. A gear case having a propeller and a marine outboard engine having a propeller are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dynamic or aerodynamic fin comprising at least two parallel arranged fin sections. At least one fin section comprises a rotational axis for installing the fin section by a rotation shaft. An end stop is provided for stopping the rotational movement of the fin section to define an extreme position. In the extreme position the fin sections provide a substantially cambered shape to the fin. The dynamic fin is improved in that it comprises a pair of coupling elements. A first fin section is coupled to a second adjacent fin section by a pair of a first and second coupling elements. The first coupling element is complementary to the second coupling element. The first coupling element is part of, preferably integral, with the first fin section and the second coupling element is part of, preferably integral, with the second fin section.

Abstract: A propeller (1) comprising a hub, and a plurality of fins (3) extending radially outwards from the hub, wherein each fin is moveably connected to the hub such that, during rotation of the propeller, the dihedral of each fin can be altered and controlled over a working range by movement of that fin about one or more axes of rotation (BB).

Abstract: A propeller comprising a hub (101) and a plurality of fins (3) extending radially outwards from the hub, wherein each fin is moveably connected to the hub such that, during rotation of the propeller, either the dihedral, the rake or both the dihedral and the rake of the fin(s) can be altered and controlled over a working range by movement of the fin(s) about one or more axes of rotation; and one or more actuators for controlling the dihedral or rake of the fins independently of the pitch of the fins.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system comprising a push rod activated pins (170) which engage eccentric shaft (174) for unlocking a propeller base (190) so the base (190) can rotate around a transverse axis. The base (190) has an inclined surface (192) which engages with an inclined surface (159) defining an opening in the propeller's hub therefore locking the propeller blade (34) in position. The inclined surfaces (159, 192) are disengaged by rotation of the eccentric shaft (174) thus the propeller blades (34) can be rotated to adjust the pitch and then the inclined surfaces (159, 192) re-engage to locking the propeller blade (34) in the pitch adjusted position.

Abstract: The invention takes the form of a surface drive for a watercraft, which is equipped with a self-inhibiting or lockable adjuster the shaft housing together with a co-articulating duct housing permanently connected to the shaft housing for engine exhaust and cooling extraction in front of the propeller, a hydrodynamic buoyancy area and side flaps and at least one lockable operating cylinder.

Abstract: A propeller for a marine propulsion system is disclosed which comprises a propeller hub having a casing formed from three segments (16a, 16b, 16c), each of which has a part of an opening (28) for mounting a propeller blade (34). A locking and unlocking mechanism (51, 54, 95, 100) is provided for disengaging the propeller blades to enable pitch adjustment of the blades. A push rod (50) is connected to the mechanism (100) to cause disengagement and adjustment of the pitch of the blades. The mechanism (100) includes a claw (101) having pivotally connected fingers (95). The hub also has a slide ring (51) having a load surface (61) is provided for receiving load when the propeller blades are unlocked to enable pitch adjustment to take place.

Abstract: A boat propeller comprises a hub formed of a first cylindrical member and a second cylindrical member detachably joined together. The second cylindrical member comprises a plurality of insertion cavities formed in the second cylindrical member, an end of each of the insertion cavities having a plurality of receptacle members. The boat propeller also comprises a plurality of blades equal in number to the number of insertion cavities. Each blade comprises a blade piece portion and an adjustment member, a tip of the adjustment member comprising a positioning member such that the positioning member makes contact with at least one of the receptacle members when the adjustment member is inserted into the corresponding insertion cavity. The positioning member of the adjustment member is selectively matched with one or more of the receptacle members for adjusting a pitch of the blades.

Abstract: A variable marine jet propulsion system incorporates a motor, a variable-pitch propeller pump in a spherical housing, a variable housing and a variable inlet duct, and a microcontroller. The pump, the nozzle and the inlet are controlled by the microcontroller, which is programmed to control the pump as a continuously variable power transmission for maintaining efficient motor operation, the nozzle for maintaining efficient pump operation, and the inlet for maintaining efficient recovery of the total dynamic head of the incoming water. The spherical pump housing maintains close fits to the propeller vane tips for more efficient operation at all pitches, including zero and reverse pitches. Zero pitch results in no effective pumping action, effectively a true neutral in fluid power transmission. Reverse pitch in combination with the large variable nozzle provides reverse flow and consequently reverse thrust, which eliminates the need for the “backing bucket”.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system comprising a push rod (50) for adjusting the pitch of propeller blades (34). The push rod (50) has a screw-threaded bolt (60) engaged with a nut (78). The nut (78) carries a bevel gear (84) by which the nut (78) can be rotated to cause the bolt (60) and therefore the push rod (50) to move longitudinally. The push rod (50) is connected to a claw with arms couple with pins (170). The pins (170) engage eccentric shafts (174) for unlocking a propeller base (190) so the base (190) can rotate around a transverse axis. The base (190) has an inclined surface which engages with an inclined surface defining an opening in the propeller's hub therefore locking the propeller blade (34) in position. The inclined surfaces are disengaged by rotation of the eccentric shaft (174) thus the propeller blades (34) can be rotated to adjust the pitch and than the inclined surfaces re-engage locking the propeller blade (34) in the pitch adjusted position.

Abstract: The stern end of a seawater hull has a rotor hub with propeller blades thereon. The rotor hub is rotated for propulsion of the hull by means of a propeller shaft extending through a sealed compartment within the hull. Such sealed compartment and an electrically powered control system is disposed within the hull to automatically adjust angular deflection of deformable tip portions of the propeller blades by means of blade embedded actuators, in response to varying input signals which respectively reflect changes in seawater conditions such as temperature and strain imposed on the propeller blades during propelling rotation of the rotor hub.

Abstract: A method is for controlling a multi-phase electrical ship propulsion motor that is supplied with electric energy via a power converter. The ship propulsion motor is preferably a permanently excited motor with at least three windings. The phase currents flowing in the windings are controlled via the power converter to minimize the body noise emitted by the electrical ship propulsion motor.

Abstract: An integrated propulsion and guidance system for a vehicle includes an engine coupled to an impeller via a driveshaft to produce propulsive force. The impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades, including at least one control blade pivotably mounted to the hub. A control system provides a control signal to a magnetic actuator to adjust the blade pitch of the control blades as the blades rotate about the hub. The change in blade pitch produces a torque on the driveshaft that can be used to control the heading of the vehicle.

Abstract: An integrated propulsion and guidance system for a vehicle includes an engine coupled to an impeller via a driveshaft to produce propulsive force. The impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades, wherein one or more of the blades is pivotably mounted to the hub. A control system provides a control signal to the impeller to adjust the blade pitch of the pivotable impeller blades as the blades rotate about the hub. The change in blade pitch produces a torque on the driveshaft that can be used to control the heading of the vehicle. By varying the magnitude and phase of the control signal provided to the impeller, the torque can be applied in a multitude of distinct reference planes, thereby allowing the orientation of the vehicle to be adjusted through action of the impeller.

Abstract: A motor for driving a propeller is disclosed which has a drive shaft (10) which is coupleable to a propeller shaft (20) by bevel gears (12 and 14) so as to rotate the shaft (20) to in turn rotate propeller blades P of an outboard motor. The drive shaft (20) has an internal concentric shaft (30) which enables the adjustment of the pitch of the propeller blades P by mounting the propeller blades P for rotation about a pitch axis and coupling the mounting (72?) via an integral bevel gear (104) to a bevel gear (102) on the shaft (30). A phase adjustment mechanism (40) is provided for rotating the shaft (30) relative to the shaft (20) to in turn rotate the propeller blades P around the pitch axis to change the pitch of the propeller blades P. The phase adjustment mechanism comprises ring gears (48 and 50), together with planet gears (48) in engagement with a gear on the shaft (30) and planet gears (46) in engagement with a gear (26) on the shaft (20).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of altering the pitch of a propeller through localized bending of its blades. To alter the propeller's pitch the camber of at least one of its blades is changed by bending a portion of a trailing edge, a leading edge, or both edges relative to a remainder of the blade. A bent portion can be located away from a tip of the blade at a distance that is less than or substantially equal to 60% of a radius of the blade, and bending preferably commences at a distance in from an edge of a blade of up to 50% of a section width of the blade. The maximum preferable change in pitch at any location on the radius due to bending is 30%.

Abstract: A motor for driving a propeller is disclosed which has a drive shaft (10) which is coupleable to a propeller shaft (20) by bevel gears (12 and 14) so as to rotate the shaft (20) to in turn rotate propeller blades P of an outboard motor. The drive shaft (20) has an internal concentric shaft (30) which enables the adjustment of the pitch of the propeller blades P by mounting the propeller blades P for rotation about a pitch axis and coupling the mounting (72′) via an integral bevel gear (104) to a bevel gear (102) on the shaft (30). A phase adjustment mechanism (40) is provided for rotating the shaft (30) relative to the shaft (20) to in turn rotate the propeller blades P around the pitch axis to change the pitch of the propeller blades P. The phase adjustment mechanism comprises ring gears (48 and 50), together with planet gears (48) in engagement with a gear on the shaft (30) and planet gears (46) in engagement with a gear (26) on the shaft (20).

Abstract: A motor for driving a propeller is disclosed which has a drive shaft (10) which is coupleable to a propeller shaft (20) by bevel gears (12 and 14) so as to rotate the shaft (20) to in turn rotate propeller blades P of an outboard motor. The drive shaft (20) has an internal concentric shaft (30) which enables the adjustment of the pitch of the propeller blades P by mounting the propeller blades P for rotation about a pitch axis and coupling the mounting (72′) via an integral bevel gear (104) to a bevel gear (102) on the shaft (30). A phase adjustment mechanism (40) is provided for rotating the shaft (30) relative to the shaft (20) to in turn rotate the propeller blades P around the pitch axis to change the pitch of the propeller blades P. The phase adjustment mechanism comprises ring gears (48 and 50), together with planet gears (48) in engagement with a gear on the shaft (30) and planet gears (46) in engagement with a gear (26) on the shaft (20).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of altering the pitch of a propeller through localized bending of its blades. To alter the propeller's pitch the camber of at least one of its blades is changed by bending a portion of a trailing edge, a leading edge, or both edges relative to a remainder of the blade. A bent portion can be located away from a tip of the blade at a distance that is less than or substantially equal to 60% of a radius of the blade, and bending preferably commences at a distance in from an edge of a blade of up to 50% of a section width of the blade. The maximum preferable change in pitch at any location on the radius due to bending is 30%.

Abstract: A ribbon drive propulsion apparatus and method for water-borne vessels such as surface craft and submersibles is disclosed. The vessel is equipped with an extended tube having an intake at a first end and an outlet at a second end. A ribbon formed of helical coils is mounted in the tube for rotation and the frequency of the coils decreases from the first end to the second end of the tube. Water is collected at the first end, an axial component of momentum of the water is increased via the rotating ribbon, and the water is ejected from the second end to provide propulsion to the vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a propeller suited for installation in boats and vessels and having a run-time controllable pitch of propeller blades (4).

Abstract: A propulsion system for a water craft having at least one shaft extending rearwardly form the transom of the hull of the craft and a drive system for driving the at least one shaft. A surface piercing propeller is mounted on the at least one shaft, proximal to the trailing edge of the hull, so that the propeller operates in a transom cavity created behind the hull, in use of the craft. The ratio (S/C) of the spacing of the blades to the blade cord for each propeller is at least 2.0 along substantially the whole length of the blades. The propulsion system has a high operational efficiency particularly suited for high speed marine craft.

Abstract: A variable-pitch marine propeller system has a propeller unit for mounting on a drive shaft, and a power unit including a stationary annular hydraulic cylinder for operating the propeller unit, a hydraulic remote control unit being fluid-coupled to the power unit. The propeller unit is provided with a shear pin assembly that is serviceable for replacing sheared pins without removing the propeller unit from the drive shaft. An annular piston of the hydraulic cylinder is coupled to a ring-shaped actuator yoke by a roller thrust bearing, the actuator yoke axially displacing a mating yoke of the propeller unit with which the actuator yoke is allowed to rotate. The piston operates in a sealed environment for the exclusion of water from the separately sealed surfaces of the cylinder itself. In one configuration, the propeller unit is replaceable without disturbing the sealed environment of the annular piston. The control unit includes a hydraulic control cylinder that is operated by a threaded piston rod.

Abstract: A boat drive having a variable-speed engine connected through a clutch to a variable-pitch propeller has a control having a housing and a guide on the housing defining a central crosswise track having a travel end and a start end, forward and backward travel tracks extending from the travel end, and a forward start track extending from the start end. A lever pivoted on the housing is movable in the tracks of the guide. A pitch controller connected to the propeller includes a position detector operable by the lever when in the travel end and travel tracks for increasing propeller pitch positively on movement of the lever forward from the travel end in the forward travel track and negatively on movement of the lever backward from the travel end in the backward track and for setting the propeller at 0° pitch when the lever is in the travel end.

Abstract: A boat drive has a housing, a tube shaft rotatable in the housing about a shaft axis and having axially opposite front and rear ends, a hub carried on the shaft rear end, and a plurality of radially projecting vanes pivotal on the hub. An axially shiftable core shaft extending coaxially in the tube shaft has a rear end rearward of the tube-shaft rear end and a front end forward of the tube-shaft front end. Mechanism connecting the core-shaft rear end with the vanes pivots the vanes on the hub on axial displacement of the core shaft. A pair of oppositely directed axial-thrust bearings on the core-shaft front end are contained in and surrounded by a hollow piston having front and rear faces axially flanking the thrust bearings. A cylinder fixed in the housing and surrounding the piston forms with the respective faces thereof front and rear compartments so that pressurization of the front compartment shifts the core shaft rearward and pressurization of the rear compartment shifts the core shaft forward.

Abstract: A device is used in a hydraulic machine of the type which comprises a runner or rotor with a hub body and vanes or blades which are rotatably journalled in bearings in the hub body, and which has at least one chamber which communicates with the bearings. The device comprises an oil supply to the bearings and elements for leading oil away from the chamber at pace with the supply of oil, such that the chamber is caused to contain an essentially constant volume of oil, which is smaller than the total volume of the chamber, which oil volume is pressed towards the peripheral wall of the chamber by the centrifugal force at the rotation of the runner.

Abstract: A service vessel that is designed for navigating both in the open sea and in ice conditions is provided with a demountable propeller nozzle. For an ice-free navigation period the propeller nozzle is mounted around the propulsion propeller of the vessel, whereas for a navigation period in ice conditions the propeller nozzle is removed. The power absorption of the propulsion propeller is maintained constant during nozzle and nozzle-free operation.

Abstract: The positions of blade members on a hub of a propeller for a sport boat is determined by replaceable keys or plates fitted into openings of corresponding shape and having differently located bores determining the pitch setting. The recess can be in the seat of the hub directly or in a blade carrier plate which can be mounted on the hub.

Abstract: A controllable-pitch propeller for a sport-type watercraft has a push rod eccentrically connected to each blade displaceable in a bore of the propeller hub. The push rod is sealed with respect to the end of that bore by a multifold bellows whose radial flange is clamped by a cap of an axial flange of the housing in which the bore is provided.

Abstract: A variable-pitch marine propeller system has a propeller unit for mounting on a drive shaft, and a power unit including a stationary annular hydraulic cylinder for operating the propeller unit, a hydraulic remote control unit being fluid-coupled to the power unit. An annular piston of the hydraulic cylinder is coupled to a ring-shaped actuator yoke by a roller thrust bearing, the actuator yoke axially displacing a mating yoke of the propeller unit with which the actuator yoke is allowed to rotate. The piston operates in a sealed environment for the exclusion of water from the separately sealed surfaces of the cylinder itself. In one configuration, the propeller unit is replaceable without disturbing the sealed environment of the annular piston. The control unit includes a hydraulic control cylinder that is operated by a rotatably mounted barrel that engages a threaded piston rod. Alternatively, the control cylinder is actuated by a lever having biasing springs and an adjustable brake.

Abstract: Described is novel apparatus for rendering a watercraft propulsion system universal. One embodiment of the invention comprises a rotary shaft; a propeller detachably attached to one end of the rotary shaft, the other end of the rotary shaft being configured for detachable and either direct or indirect connection to, and rotational relationship with, a drive shaft of the engine; a plate which is directly or indirectly pivotally attached to a stern portion of the watercraft and which, during normal operation, is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane above the propeller, the plane of the plate traversing the rotary shaft; and a hollow heat-conductive loop integral with or connected to the apparatus and connected to the cooling system for circulating a flow of the fluid from the cooling system through the loop and thence back to the cooling system, the loop being adapted to be disposed in thermally-conductive heat exchange contact with the water when the watercraft is being propelled by the engine.

Abstract: A self-adjusting, variable pitch propeller comprising: a central hub defining a propeller rotation axis; a plurality of blade assemblies symmetrically disposed about the hub, each assembly having a substantially cylindrical segment with a propeller blade fast therewith and defining a leading blade edge, each blade assembly being pivotally attached to the hub adjacent the leading edge of the blade of that assembly, a support means interconnecting each assembly and the hub at a location remote from the pivotal attachment to permit controlled blade pitch adjustment to occur as a function of the magnitude of opposed hydrodynamic and centrifugal forces acting on the assemblies by pivotal movement of each assembly, about its the pivotal attachment, both circumferentially and radially relative to the axis.

Abstract: The propeller comprises a propeller shaft mounted so that its position in relation to the ship's hull can be varied both at stopovers or in transit. The propeller shaft carries propeller blades of such a configuration that, while going into the water, they position their face sides normally to the longitudinal center plane of the ship. According to the invention the propeller blades can change position relatively to the longitudinal center plane or to the midship section plane or simultaneously to both the planes, thereby increasing speed, maneuverability, efficiency, and safety.

Abstract: A sleeve 18 spline-fitted in an outer periphery of a propeller shaft 4 is connected to a propeller boss 12 for surrounding the outer periphery of the sleeve by a damper rubber 20 interposed in superposed relation therebetween, and in a recess formed in the outer periphery of the propeller boss 12 so that a bottom surface thereof comes near the outer periphery of the damper rubber 20, propeller blades are rotatably supported on a blade shaft 33 parallel to the propeller shaft 4. With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a compact variable propeller for a boat which can be mounted on a relatively short propeller shaft and which is provided with a torque limiting device.

Abstract: An integral marine propulsion unit utilizes both collective and cyclic propeller blade pitch angle variations to generate a thrust vector in any of three degrees of motion for use with both the submersible and surface marine vessels. The present marine propulsion unit eliminates the need for extraneous drag generating control surfaces and rudders for motion control of a marine vessel by incorporating a flat plate mechanism which includes an Oldham coupler coupled to a pair of plates and a slotted plate coupled with one of the plates. The slotted plate and the one plate coupled to the slotted plate are relatively rotatable about a fixed axis. The flat plate mechanism permits relative angular displacement between the slotted plate and the one plate to collectively pivot all of the propeller blades and permits radial movement of the slotted plate along with propeller blades.

Abstract: A drive for a boat has a propeller hub rotatable about a main axis extending in a normal travel direction, a plurality of blades projecting generally radially of the main axis from the hub and each pivotal so as to be of variable pitch, and respective blade rods extending axially and displaceable axially relative to the hub to vary the pitch of the blades. A stator carried on the boat downstream in the direction from the hub and nonrotatable about the axis rotatably supports a cylinder housing that is releasably connected to the rods for joint axial movement therewith. A piston displaceable along the axis in the cylinder is releasably connected to the hub for joint axial movement therewith. Pressurizable lines extending through the stator are connected to the cylinder for alternately pressurizing the piston and thereby relatively axially shifting the rods and hub.

Abstract: A boat drive of the type in which a housing outside the hull of the board and below the water level receives a hollow propeller shaft driven by a drive shaft connected to the propeller shaft by a transmission. The hub of a variable pitch propeller is mounted on the propeller shaft and the axially extending stems which adjust the pitch on this hub are engaged by a push rod extending through the prop shaft and connected to a double acting cylinder at the opposite end from that at which the rod is connected to the stems.

Abstract: A variable-speed propeller in a ship drive has the hydraulic valves feeding the working chambers of the hydraulic drive for the variable-speed propeller formed as electromagnetic valves controlled by timing relays which can be switched by a rocker switch or push-button switches to adjust the propeller pitch by an angular increment controlled by the "on" time of the relays. The engine speed is detected and, when the engine speed exceeds the maximum speed of the engine, the relay associated with increased pitch is triggered to obtain an increment of engine-speed reduction, thereby preventing the system from inadvertently having the blade pitch reduced when the engine is at maximum speed.

Abstract: A ship propeller arrangement (1), in particular for motor boats, has a propeller being operated with super-cavitative rotating speed and having its propeller blades (5) provided with step bearings (7) being swivelable around threaded bolts (6), which are screwed into a propeller star (8) being put onto the propelling shaft (2). Rotation of each propeller blade (5) is effected by a hollow shaft (17) surrounding the propelling shaft (2) and by bevel gears (14, 15) being put onto the hollow shaft as well as onto the propelling shaft and being in meshing engagement with a cogging (12) of the respective step bearing (7). For the purpose of limiting the forces acting in radial direction, the outer surface of each step bearing (7) is kept free. The step bearing (7) is held in radial direction by a shoulder (9) of the threaded bolt (6) (FIG. 2).

Abstract: An arrangement in connection with an azimuth propeller for ships to measure the angle between the rotational axis of the propeller and the longitudinal axis of the ship (azimuth angle), and the angle of attack of the propeller blades. The azimuth propeller comprises a first housing (1) which is firmly connected with the ship, and a second housing (2) which is rotatably mounted in first housing (1). A first drive shaft (6) extends through the first housing and is connected with a drive shaft (11) of a propeller (13) with variable pitch blades (14), said drive shaft extending at an angle to the first drive shaft. A first rod (31) extends through propeller shaft (11) and is in connection with the propeller blades and is movable with them.

Abstract: An improved integral marine propulsion unit is disclosed that can generate a thrust vector in any of three degrees of motion. The unit utilizes both collective and cyclic propeller blade pitch angle variation to generate these thrust. This unit obviates the need for control surfaces and rudders for motion control of a marine vessel. Additionally, this unit provides flexibility in external propulsor arrangements on a marine hull. The unit integrates the swash plate mechanism and actuators within the central bore of a ring type prime mover.

Abstract: A watercraft has a hull and a hollow support body secured below the hull. A propeller drive shaft is disposed rotatably in the body with one end extending out of the body and is adapted for connection to a driving engine. A main bearing for the drive shaft is disposed in the body, the shaft extending through the bearing. A variable pitch propeller has a hub and a plurality of variable pitch propeller blades. The hub is secured to the shaft. A plurality of adjusting elements are mounted in the hub parallel to the shaft, each element being secured to a corresponding blade for varying the pitch thereof. A coupling is slidably disposed along the shaft in the support body with a rotatable first section secured to the hub and a non-rotatable first section spaced from the shaft and having bearing means in which the first section is rotatably supported.

Abstract: A variable pitch propeller assembly includes a hollow casing which, at its inner surface, fits securely around the propeller shaft. The outer surface of the casing forms the general shape of a cylinder which is coaxially located with respect to the propeller shaft's axis of rotation. A hollow collar is disposed around the outer surface of at least a portion of the casing and is further configured for movement with respect to the casing along the casing's longitudinal axis. A plurality of propeller blades are arranged around the outer circumference of the casing, and are connected to the casing so that the pitch of each blade with respect to the axis of rotation of the propeller shaft is varied by rotation of the blade about an axis which extends generally perpendicularly from the outer surface of the casing.