Method and apparatus for operating a propeller and driving engine fuel valve

Claim 2

A power management system for a variable pitch propellerengine combination, comprising: an engine throttle for controlling the power output of said engine; a propeller connected to said engine for rotation therewith; hydraulic pitch control mechanism for adjusting the pitch of said propeller from neutral pitch in both forward and negative directions; a fluid pump actuated by said engine, a reservoir connected to the suction side of said pump; a fluid governor driven by said engine for sensing the rotational speed thereof and having its inlet connected to thE discharge side of said pump, said governor having an outlet port adapted to discharge to said propeller pitch control mechanism to reduce the pitch of the propeller when the engine rotational speed is below a prescribed value, said governor draining fluid from said propeller pitch control mechanism to increase the pitch of the propeller when the engine rotational speed is above a prescribed value; a hydraulic low or reverse pitch stop valve located between said governor outlet and said propeller pitch control mechanism and actuated by said propeller to shut off the supply of fluid from said governor to said pitch control mechanism when the pitch of the propeller is reduced to a prescribed value; a hydraulic motor and a manual control connected to said engine throttle for actuating said engine throttle; a manually operated two-position valve connecting said governor outlet with said propeller pitch mechanism when in one position and connecting said governor outlet with said hydraulic motor and also connecting said pump outlet with said low or reverse pitch stop valve when in the other position; and a manual control for adjusting the low or reverse pitch position of the propeller at which said low or reverse pitch valve is actuated to shut off the fluid to said propeller pitch control mechanism.

Claim 3

A power management system as described in claim 1, in which said low or reverse pitch stop valve comprises a piston which is moved by said propeller pitch control mechanism and which restricts the flow from the pump while at the same time commences to open a passage to the pitch control mechanism which drains fluid from said propeller pitch mechanism to balance the fluid flow from the pump and said draining fluid to result in zero flow to said propeller pitch control mechanism when said propeller pitch is reduced to said prescribed value.

Claim 4

In combination, a variable pitch propeller having a pitch-changing mechanism and an engine driving said propeller and having a throttle, an engine-driven fluid governor having an outlet port which provides oil at a pressure which varies when the engine speed deviates from a prescribed value, a first fluid motor connected to said pitch-changing mechanisms, a second fluid motor connected to said throttle, a selector valve adjustable for connecting the outlet port of said fluid governor with either one of said fluid motors, first manual means for adjusting said throttle when the respective fluid motor pertaining thereto is disconnected from the outlet port of said fluid governor, a further valve in the form of a low pitch stop valve interposed between said selector valve and said first fluid motor and actuated by said propeller as the propeller pitch is reduced to cut off the supply of fluid to said first fluid motor, an element connected to said propeller pitch-changing mechanism to be moved thereby and also connected to said low pitch stop valve to move the low pitch stop valve, and second manual means connected to said element for moving the element to adjust the pitch position of the propeller at which said low pitch stop valve is actuated by said propeller.

Claim 5

In combination, a variable pitch propeller having a pitch-changing mechanism and an engine driving said propeller and having a throttle, an engine-driven fluid governor having an outlet port which provides oil at a pressure which varies when the engine speed deviates from a prescribed value, a first fluid motor connected to said pitch-changing mechanisms, a second fluid motor connected to said throttle, a selector valve adjustable for connecting the outlet port of said fluid governor with either one of said fluid motors, first manual means for adjusting said throttle when the respective fluid motor pertaining thereto is disconnected from the outlet port of said fluid governor, a further valve in the form of a low pitch stop valve interposed between said selector valve and said first fluid motor and actuated by said propeller as the propeller pitch is reduced to cut off the supply of fluid to said first fluid motor, an element connected to said propeller pitch-changing mechanism to be moved thereby and also connected to said low pitch stop valve to move the low pitch stop valve, and second manual means connected to said element for moving the element to adjust the pitch position of the propeller at which said low pitch stop valve is actuated by said propeller.

Claim 6

A variable pitch propeller according to claim 3, in which said first manual means includes a first link connected to said throttle to adjust said throttle independently of said second fluid motor, said second manual means including a second link connected to said element, and said selector means including a master control lever having a first position wherein it is connected to said first link and a second position wherein it is connected to said second link, said master control lever being movable when in said first and second positions to adjust said throttle and said element respectively, said master control lever also being linked to said selector valve so that movement of said master control lever from said second position to said first position will move said selector valve into position to connect said governor outlet port to said first fluid motor of said pitch control mechanIsm while movement of said master control lever from said first position to said second position will move said selector valve into position to connect said governor outlet port to said second fluid motor connected to said throttle.

Claim 7

A variable pitch propeller according to claim 4 in which said master control lever is movable between said first and second positions in only one adjusted position thereof, lock means normally locking said first and second links against movement, and means operable upon moving said master control lever into its said first or second position for unlocking the lock means of the respective said first or second link.

Claim 8

A variable pitch propeller according to claim 5 in which said one adjusted position of said master control lever is that position wherein said throttle is closed and said further low pitch stop valve is in its normal low positive pitch stop position.

Claim 9

In combination; a variable pitch propeller and a drive engine connected thereto, spring means urging said propeller toward maximum positive pitch position and a first fluid motor responsive to fluid pressure to move said propeller toward maximum negative pitch position, a throttle for said engine, a second fluid motor and a first link both connected to said throttle for adjustment thereof independently of each other, a first source of fluid at substantially constant pressure, a second source of fluid at a pressure which is high below a predetermined engine speed and low above a said predetermined engine speed, a selector valve having a first position wherein said second fluid motor is connected to said first fluid motor and said second fluid motor is connected to drain and a second position wherein said first source is connected to said first fluid motor and said second source is connected to said second fluid motor, stop means for stopping said propeller pitch in a predetermined position when moving under the influence of said first motor in a direction away from maximum pitch position, a second link connected to said stop means for adjustment thereof from a normal position wherein the propeller pitch is stopped in a predetermined low positive position toward a position wherein the propeller pitch is stopped in negative position, a master control center including a movable control lever, said control center having a first adjusted position wherein said first link is connected to said control lever while said second link is locked and said selector valve is in its said first position and a second adjusted position wherein said second link is connected to said control lever while said first link is locked and said selector valve is in its said second position.

Claim 10

In combination; a variable pitch propeller and a drive engine connected thereto, spring means urging said propeller toward maximum positive pitch position and a first fluid motor responsive to fluid pressure to move said propeller toward maximum negative pitch position, a throttle for said engine, a second fluid motor and a first link both connected to said throttle for adjustment thereof independently of each other, a first source of fluid at substantially constant pressure, a second source of fluid at a pressure which is high below a predetermined engine speed and low above a said predetermined engine speed, a selector valve having a first position wherein said second fluid motor is connected to said first fluid motor and said second fluid motor is connected to drain and a second position wherein said first source is connected to said first fluid motor and said second source is connected to said second fluid motor, stop means for stopping said propeller pitch in a predetermined position when moving under the influence of said first motor in a direction away from maximum pitch position, a second link connected to said stop means for adjustment thereof from a normal position wherein the propeller pitch is stopped in a predetermined low positive position toward a position wherein the propeller pitch is stopped in negative position, a master control center including a movable control lever, said control center having a first adjusted position wherein said first link is connected to said control lever while said second link is locked and said selector valve is in its said first position and a second adjusted position wherein said second link is connected to said control lever while said first link is locked and said selector valve is in its said second position.

Claim 11

A combination according to claim 7 in which the locked position of said first link is the throttle-closed position thereof and the locked position of said second link is the said normal position thereof.

Claim 12

In combination; a variable pitch propeller having a pitch-changing mechanism operable to adjust the propeller pitch from maximum positive pitch through zero pitch to maximum negative pitch position, first biasing means biasing said pitch-changing mechanism in a first direction toward maximum pitch position; a first fluid motor connected in opposition to said first biasing means to move said pitch-changing mechanism in a second and opposite direction toward maximum negative pitch position, a drive engine connected to said propeller and having a throttle, second biasing means biasing said throttle toward closed position, a second fluid motor connected in opposition to said second biasing means, a first and substantially constant pressure source of fluid, a governor sensitive to engine speed and having a fluid outlet port forming a second source of fluid having a pressure which deviates from a prescribed value when the speed of the engine varies, a selector valve hydraulically interposed between said first and second fluid motors on the one hand and said first and second sources on the other hand and haVing a drain connection, a valve member in said selector valve having a first position wherein said second source is connected to said first fluid motor while said second fluid motor is connected to drain and a second position wherein said first source is connected to said first fluid motor while said second source is connected to said second fluid motor, first manual means connected to said throttle for effecting manual adjustment thereof when said selector valve member is in its said first position, stop means operated by said propeller-pitch-adjusting mechanism during movement thereof in said second direction for interrupting the supply of fluid to said first fluid motor thereby stopping said pitch-adjusting mechanism in a predetermined position during movement thereof in said second direction, and second manual means connected to said stop means for adjusting said stop means to adjust said predetermined position.

Claim 13

In combination; a variable pitch propeller having a pitch-changing mechanism operable to adjust the propeller pitch from maximum positive pitch through zero pitch to maximum negative pitch position, first biasing means biasing said pitch-changing mechanism in a first direction toward maximum pitch position; a first fluid motor connected in opposition to said first biasing means to move said pitch-changing mechanism in a second and opposite direction toward maximum negative pitch position, a drive engine connected to said propeller and having a throttle, second biasing means biasing said throttle toward closed position, a second fluid motor connected in opposition to said second biasing means, a first and substantially constant pressure source of fluid, a governor sensitive to engine speed and having a fluid outlet port forming a second source of fluid having a pressure which deviates from a prescribed value when the speed of the engine varies, a selector valve hydraulically interposed between said first and second fluid motors on the one hand and said first and second sources on the other hand and haVing a drain connection, a valve member in said selector valve having a first position wherein said second source is connected to said first fluid motor while said second fluid motor is connected to drain and a second position wherein said first source is connected to said first fluid motor while said second source is connected to said second fluid motor, first manual means connected to said throttle for effecting manual adjustment thereof when said selector valve member is in its said first position, stop means operated by said propeller-pitch-adjusting mechanism during movement thereof in said second direction for interrupting the supply of fluid to said first fluid motor thereby stopping said pitch-adjusting mechanism in a predetermined position during movement thereof in said second direction, and second manual means connected to said stop means for adjusting said stop means to adjust said predetermined position.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 9 in which said stop means includes a control valve through which the fluid supplied to said first motor passes and having an inlet port receiving said fluid and having another port connected to said first fluid motor and also having a drain port, a shiftable control valve member operable for controlling the ports of said control valve and to which valve member said second manual means is connected, means biasing said control valve member toward a first position wherein said outlet port is connected to said inlet port, and means operated by said propeller at a predetermined pitch position thereof during adjustment of the pitch of the propeller in said second direction for moving said control valve member toward a second position wherein said outlet port is disconnected from said inlet port and is instead connected to said drain port.

Claim 15

The combination according to claim 9 which includes a master control lever, a casing in which said master control lever is mounted, a lateral slot in the casing permitting lateral movement of said master control lever therein, a longitudinal slot extending from each end of said lateral slot for longitudinal movement of the master control lever in each of its lateral positions, means to connect said master control lever to said first manual means in response to movement of said master control lever laterally in said lateral slot into alignment with one of said longitudinal slots and to said second manual means in response to movement of said master control lever laterally in said lateral slot into alignment with the other of said longitudinal slots, and means connecting said master control lever to the valve member of said selector valve for moving said valve member into its said first position when said master control lever is connected to said first manual means and into its said second position when said master control lever is connected to said second manual means.

Claim 16

In combination, a variable pitch propeller having a pitch-changing mechanism and an engine driving said propeller and having a throttle, a governor driven by said engine, first adjustable means connected to said pitch-changing mechanism and first governor-operated means connected to said pitch-changing mechanism, second adjustable means connected to said throttle and second governor-controlled means connected to said throttle and selector means movable into a first position for operatively connecting said governor to said first governor-controlled means while making said second governor-controlled means ineffective thereby to obtain automatic control of propeller pitch in conformity with engine speed while adjusting the power developed by the engine by manual actuation of said second adjustable means, said selector means being movable into a second position for operatively connecting said governor to said second governor-controlled means while making said first governor-controlled means ineffective thereby to obtain automatic control of the power developed by the engine in conformity with engine speed while adjustIng the pitch of said propeller by adjustment of said first adjustable means, said selector means including a single lever which is coupled to said second adjustable means in the said first portion of said selector means and to said first adjustable means in the said second portion of said selector means.

Claim 17

In combination, a variable pitch propeller having a pitch-changing mechanism and an engine driving said propeller and having a throttle, a governor driven by said engine, first adjustable means connected to said pitch-changing mechanism and first governor-operated means connected to said pitch-changing mechanism, second adjustable means connected to said throttle and second governor-controlled means connected to said throttle and selector means movable into a first position for operatively connecting said governor to said first governor-controlled means while making said second governor-controlled means ineffective thereby to obtain automatic control of propeller pitch in conformity with engine speed while adjusting the power developed by the engine by manual actuation of said second adjustable means, said selector means being movable into a second position for operatively connecting said governor to said second governor-controlled means while making said first governor-controlled means ineffective thereby to obtain automatic control of the power developed by the engine in conformity with engine speed while adjustIng the pitch of said propeller by adjustment of said first adjustable means, said selector means including a single lever which is coupled to said second adjustable means in the said first portion of said selector means and to said first adjustable means in the said second portion of said selector means.

Claim 18

A variable pitch propeller according to claim 12 in which said governor is a fluid governor having an outlet port which provides oil at a pressure which varies when the engine speed deviates from a prescribed value, said first governor-controlled means comprising a first fluid motor connected to said pitch-changing mechanism, said second governor-controlled means comprising a second fluid motor connected to said throttle, and said selector means comprising a selector valve interposed between said governor outlet port and said first and second fluid motors.

Claim 19

In combination: a variable pitch propeller and a variable power drive engine connected thereto and having an adjustable throttle, first automatic means for adjusting the pitch of the propeller in response to changes in engine speed to maintain the speed of the engine substantially constant, first manual means for adjusting the pitch of the propeller, second automatic means for adjusting the throttle of the engine in response to changes in engine speed to maintain the speed of the engine substantially constant, second manual means for adjusting said throttle; a main control lever, means for connecting said lever selectively with said first and second manual means while simultaneously locking the other thereof and while also simultaneously making the said automatic means pertaining to the locked manual means effective and the automatic means pertaining to the manual means which is connected to said control lever ineffective, said first and second automatic means comprising a single engine-driven governor common to both thereof.

Claim 20

In combination: a variable pitch propeller and a variable power drive engine connected thereto and having an adjustable throttle, first automatic means for adjusting the pitch of the propeller in response to changes in engine speed to maintain the speed of the engine substantially constant, first manual means for adjusting the pitch of the propeller, second automatic means for adjusting the throttle of the engine in response to changes in engine speed to maintain the speed of the engine substantially constant, second manual means for adjusting said throttle; a main control lever, means for connecting said lever selectively with said first and second manual means while simultaneously locking the other thereof and while also simultaneously making the said automatic means pertaining to the locked manual means effective and the automatic means pertaining to the manual means which is connected to said control lever ineffective, said first and second automatic means comprising a single engine-driven governor common to both thereof.