Interlocking variable-pitch propeller assembly

Claim 2

A variable-pitch propeller assembly comprising a propeller hub having a plurality of radial axes and a longitudinal axis; means for mounting a plurality of propeller blades for rotation about said radial axes so as to change the pitch of each blade; guide means secured to each blade; a plurality of floating plates each having slots slidably receiving said guide means of a respective blade and shaped to cause said rotational movement of said blades to change their pitch when said plates are shifted, each said plate being interlockingly engaged with an adjacent plate for conjoint movement parallel to said longitudinal axis for simultaneously changing the pitch of the blades and for independent movement transverse to said longitudinal axis; and actuating means for moving said plates longitudinally of said propeller hub.

Claim 3

The propeller assembly of claim 1 wherein said blades each includes a root flange and said guide means include a pair of spaced pins secured to said root flange, said plates each having a pair of slots for receiving said pair of spaced pins.

Claim 4

The blade assembly of claim 1 wherein said plates each include a notch along one side and a boss extending from an opposite side and registrable within a notch of an adjacent plate.

Claim 5

The blade assembly of claim 3 wherein said actuating means includes spaced pistons, and wherein each of said plates includes opposites end faces engageable with said spaced pistons.

Claim 6

A variable-pitch propeller assembly comprising a plurality of propeller blades mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis to produce thrust and for independent rotation about radial axes passing through said blades for changing the pitch of the blades; torque compensating means for balancing the torque of one of said blades by the torque of another, said torque compensating means including a plurality of floating plates each abutting adjacent plates along planes substantially normal to said longitudinal axis and having means interconnecting each plate to a respective blade for shifting the plate in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis upon rotation of said blades about said radial axes whereby countertorques of adjacent blades are at least partially resisted by reaction forces imposed directly between adjacent plates; and actuating means for simultaneously shifting said plates along said longitudinal axis for rotating said blades about said radial axes to change the pitch of the blades.

Claim 7

A variable-pitch propeller assembly comprising a plurality of propeller blades mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis to produce thrust and for independent rotation about radial axes passing through said blades for changing the pitch of the blades; torque compensating means for balancing the torque of one of said blades by the torque of another, said torque compensating means including a plurality of floating plates each abutting adjacent plates along planes substantially normal to said longitudinal axis and having means interconnecting each plate to a respective blade for shifting the plate in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis upon rotation of said blades about said radial axes whereby countertorques of adjacent blades are at least partially resisted by reaction forces imposed directly between adjacent plates; and actuating means for simultaneously shifting said plates along said longitudinal axis for rotating said blades about said radial axes to change the pitch of the blades.

Claim 8

The propeller assembly of claim 5 wherein said blades include flanges having spaced guides, said plates include slots for receiving said guides and notches and bosses for interlocking with adjacent plates, and said actuating means including a control piston engageable with the opposite ends of said plates.