Air motor

Claim 2

A guard structure for the air-moving propeller of a marine air motor for over-water propulsion utilizing a combustion engine operatively connected to such propeller for rotating the same, in which the guard structure is constructed from wire stock and provided with a configuration to operatively enclose the propeller at opposite sides and at the outer ends of the propeller as it rotates, said guard being constructed from wire stock formed into a plurality of convolutions connected by radially extending reinforcing ribs of wire stock with the ribs being rigidly secured to the respective convolutions at their intersections therewith, the convolutions of said guard structure comprising at least two groups, each having a plurality of convolutions, with the convolutions of each group being formed from a respective single length of wire stock, to provide a relatively vibration-resistant structure.

Claim 3

A guard structure according to claim 1, wherein the convolutions and ribs of said guard structure are provided with a coating of suitable material operable to protect the wire stock forming the structure from exposure to the elements and simultaneously therewith reduce noise resulting from the flow of air through the guard structure.

Claim 4

A guard structure according to claim 1, wherein said guard structure is divided into two separable sections, the meeting edges of the respective sections being defined by respective close annularly shaped members of wire stock, and means for securing the two sections in assembled relation.

Claim 5

A guard structure according to claim 3, wherein said securing means comprises elements on adjacent ends of respective radially extending ribs, arranged to bE interlocked with the adjacent annularly shaped member of the other section.

Claim 6

A guard structure according to claim 4, wherein said convolutions of each section are disposed in spiral configuration.

Claim 7

A guard structure for the air-moving propeller of a marine air motor for over-water propulsion utilizing a combustion engine operatively connected to such propeller for rotating the same, in which the guard structure is constructed from wire stock and provided with a configuration to operatively enclose the propeller at opposite sides and at the outer ends of the propeller as it rotates, said guard being constructed from wire stock formed into a plurality of convolutions connected by radially extending reinforcing ribs of wire stock with the ribs being rigidly secured to the respective convolutions at their intersections therewith, the convolutions and ribs of said guard structure being provided with a coating of suitable material operable to protect the wire stock forming the structure from exposure to the elements and simultaneously therewith reduce noise resulting from the flow of air through the guard structure.

Claim 8

A guard structure for the air-moving propeller of a marine air motor for over-water propulsion utilizing a combustion engine operatively connected to such propeller for rotating the same, in which the guard structure is constructed from wire stock and provided with a configuration to operatively enclose the propeller at opposite sides and at the outer ends of the propeller as it rotates, said guard being constructed from wire stock formed into a plurality of convolutions connected by radially extending reinforcing ribs of wire stock with the ribs being rigidly secured to the respective convolutions at their intersections therewith, the convolutions and ribs of said guard structure being provided with a coating of suitable material operable to protect the wire stock forming the structure from exposure to the elements and simultaneously therewith reduce noise resulting from the flow of air through the guard structure.

Claim 9

In a marine air motor for over-water propulsion utilizing a combustion engine operatively connected to an air-moving propeller, said engine and propeller forming a unitary structure adapted to be mounted adjacent the stern of a boat for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis with the plane of rotation of said propeller extending transverse to said pivotal axis, the combination of a guard structure for said propeller, constructed from wire stock formed to provide a pair of relatively flat portions disposed in spaced opposed relation at opposite sides of the plane of rotation of said propeller with one os such portions disposed adjacent such engine, and an intermediate relatively annularly shaped portion extending from the relatively flat portions and across the plane of rotation of said propeller in outwardly spaced relation from the ends of the latter as it rotates, whereby said guard structure completely encircles and protects said propeller, the relatively flat portion adjacent the combustion engine having its central portion secured thereto, said relatively flat portions being formed by a plurality of radially spaced convolutions of wire stock and a plurality of cooperable generally radially extending reinforcing ribs formed from wire stock, with said ribs being rigidly secured to the respective convolutions at their intersections therewith, the convolutions of said guard structure comprising at least two groups, each having a plurality of convolutions, the convolutions of each such group being formed from a single length of wire stock.

Claim 10

In a marine air motor for over-water propulsion utilizing a combustion engine operatively connected to an air-moving propeller, said engine and propeller forming a unitary structure adapted to be mounted adjacent the stern of a boat for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis with the plane of rotation of said propeller extending transverse to said pivotal axis, the combination of a guard structure for said propeller, constructed from wire stock formed to provide a pair of relatively flat portions disposed in spaced opposed relation at opposite sides of the plane of rotation of said propeller with one os such portions disposed adjacent such engine, and an intermediate relatively annularly shaped portion extending from the relatively flat portions and across the plane of rotation of said propeller in outwardly spaced relation from the ends of the latter as it rotates, whereby said guard structure completely encircles and protects said propeller, the relatively flat portion adjacent the combustion engine having its central portion secured thereto, said relatively flat portions being formed by a plurality of radially spaced convolutions of wire stock and a plurality of cooperable generally radially extending reinforcing ribs formed from wire stock, with said ribs being rigidly secured to the respective convolutions at their intersections therewith, the convolutions of said guard structure comprising at least two groups, each having a plurality of convolutions, the convolutions of each such group being formed from a single length of wire stock.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 7, wherein said convolutions and reinforcing ribs are provided with a non-metallic coating thereon operative to protect the wire stock forming said guard structure from exposure to the elements and simultaneously therewith reduce noise resulting from the flow of air through the guard structure.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 7, wherein said guard structure is divided at the peripheral centerline of said intermediate portion to form a pair of separable, generally similarly shaped sections, the meeting edges of which are formed by respective closed annularly shaped members of wire stock, the convolutions extending from each annular member to adjacent the central part of the associated relatively flat portion being formed from a single piece of wire, and means for securing the two sections in assembled relation.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 9, wherein each relatively flat portion is provided with a centrally disposed closed annularly shaped member to which the inner end of the wire stock forming the adjacent convolutions is secured, and the adjacent ends of a plurality of said reinforcing ribs are rigidly secured, the opposite ends of the wire stock forming the outermost convolution and the adjacent ends of a plurality of said reinforcing ribs being secured to the adjacenT annular shaped member defining said meeting edges of the respective sections.

Claim 14

A device according to claim 10, wherein said convolutions and reinforcing ribs are provided with a non-metallic coating thereon operative to protect the wire stock forming said guard structure from exposure to the elements and simultaneously therewith reduce noise resulting from the flow of air through the guard structure.

Claim 15

In a marine air motor for over-water propulsion utilizing a combustion engine operatively connected to an air-moving propeller, said engine and propeller forming a unitary structure adapted to be mounted adjacent the stern of a boat for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis with the plane of rotation of said propeller extending transverse to said pivotal axis, the combination of a guard structure for said propeller, constructed from wire stock formed to provide a pair of relatively flat portions disposed in spaced opposed relation at opposite sides of the plane of rotation of said propeller with one of such flat portions disposed adjacent such engine, and an intermediate relatively annularly-shaped portion extending from the relatively flat portions and across the plane of rotation of said propeller in outwardly spaced relation from the ends of the latter as it rotates, whereby, said guard structure completely encircles and protects said propeller, the relatively flat portion adjacent the combustion engine having its central portion secured thereto, said relatively flat portions being formed by a plurality of radially spaced convolutions of wire stock and a plurality of cooperable generally radially extending reinforcing ribs formed from wire stock, with said ribs being rigidly secured to the respective convolutions at their intersections therewith, said convolutions and reinforcing ribs being provided with a non-metallic coating thereon operative to protect the wire stock forming said guard structure from exposure to the elements and simultaneously therewith reduce noise resulting from the flow of air through the guard structure.

Claim 16

In a marine air motor for over-water propulsion utilizing a combustion engine operatively connected to an air-moving propeller, said engine and propeller forming a unitary structure adapted to be mounted adjacent the stern of a boat for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis with the plane of rotation of said propeller extending transverse to said pivotal axis, the combination of a guard structure for said propeller, constructed from wire stock formed to provide a pair of relatively flat portions disposed in spaced opposed relation at opposite sides of the plane of rotation of said propeller with one of such flat portions disposed adjacent such engine, and an intermediate relatively annularly-shaped portion extending from the relatively flat portions and across the plane of rotation of said propeller in outwardly spaced relation from the ends of the latter as it rotates, whereby, said guard structure completely encircles and protects said propeller, the relatively flat portion adjacent the combustion engine having its central portion secured thereto, said relatively flat portions being formed by a plurality of radially spaced convolutions of wire stock and a plurality of cooperable generally radially extending reinforcing ribs formed from wire stock, with said ribs being rigidly secured to the respective convolutions at their intersections therewith, said convolutions and reinforcing ribs being provided with a non-metallic coating thereon operative to protect the wire stock forming said guard structure from exposure to the elements and simultaneously therewith reduce noise resulting from the flow of air through the guard structure.