Variable pitch propeller

Claim 2

A bladed rotor device comprising a first blade, a second blade having a substantially different blade area than the first blade and positioned in nondiametrical relation thereto, a hub link connecting the blades, support means connected to the link for enabling pivotal motion of the linked blades about the axis of the support means, the pivotal motion causing the blade angle of attack of one blade to vary while the blade angle of other blade remains constant.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 wherein the link is a hub portion and further wherein a drive shaft axially passes through the hub portion, the support means comprises a pivot pin diametrically extending through the shaft and the hub portion, the shaft having an arcuate surface with a center of curvature coinciding with the pin, the shaft having shoulder surfaces for limiting movement of the hub portion.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 1 together with a hub having first and second apertures therein, a third oversized aperture formed in perpendicular relation to the first and second apertures, the support means including separated pin elements journaled in the first and second apertures, an arcuate strip connecting the elements to serve as the link, the first blade being outwardly attached to one of the pin elements so that it can execute the varying angles of attack, and an element passing through the third aperture for connecting the second blade to the link for allowing the blade to maintain a constant angle of attack.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 3 wherein a complemental set of blades are similarly connected with a second link within the housing for executing identical rotational characteristics, the resulting structure being symmetrical.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 1 wherein the first blade includes two integrally connected blade elements spaced 120* from each other, said second blade being a single blade element positioned 120* from both blade elements of said first blade, and wherein the link means include gear members for causing simultaneous pivotal movement of said first and second blades.

Claim 7

The device set forth in claim 1 together with spiral grooves formed in thrust surfaces of the blades for reducing thrust imbalance.

Claim 8

In a turbine rotor, a vane assembly comprising a plurality of bladed members spaced peripherally around the rotor, each said bladed member comprising a first blade portion, a second blade portion substantially different in dimension and angularly oriented from said first blade portion, a rocking hub portion on which said blade portions are connected, a shaft pivotally mounting the hub portion so that each bladed member executes limited movement relative to said shaft whereby in each bladed member the first blade portion executes rotation with a constant blade angle of attack and the second blade portion executes rotation with a varying blade angle of attack.

Claim 9

In a turbine rotor, a vane assembly comprising a plurality of bladed members spaced peripherally around the rotor, each said bladed member comprising a first blade portion, a second blade portion substantially different in dimension and angularly oriented from said first blade portion, a rocking hub portion on which said blade portions are connected, a shaft pivotally mounting the hub portion so that each bladed member executes limited movement relative to said shaft whereby in each bladed member the first blade portion executes rotation with a constant blade angle of attack and the second blade portion executes rotation with a varying blade angle of attack.

Claim 10

In a fluid torque transmitting device an input impeller comprising an input shaft, a bladed rotor including a blade, a second blade substantially different in dimension and obliquely oriented with respect to said first blade, a rocking hub on which said blades are mounted, pin means pivotally mounting said hub to the shaft enabling the first blade to execute rotation with a constant blade angle of attack while the second blade executes rotation only with a varying blade angle of attack.

Claim 11

In a fluid torque transmitting device an input impeller comprising an input shaft, a bladed rotor including a blade, a second blade substantially different in dimension and obliquely oriented with respect to said first blade, a rocking hub on which said blades are mounted, pin means pivotally mounting said hub to the shaft enabling the first blade to execute rotation with a constant blade angle of attack while the second blade executes rotation only with a varying blade angle of attack.