US3794441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable pitch propeller
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-09-11
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1992-09-11
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure pertains to novel means whereby the blade pitch in a propeller may be varied by employing uni-directional rotation of a propeller shaft, a portion of the power driving the propeller, and a pair of braking means. A propeller hub having a plurality of pivotally mounted blades is mounted on the propeller shaft. A blade pitch actuator member having a hub-end and a brake-end extends through the propeller shaft into the propeller hub. An eccentric slider block secured to the hub-end of the actuator member is interconnected to each of the propeller blades. An actuator gear is screw-mounted on the brake-end of the actuator member. Three pairs of planetary each pair secured to a common shaft, are mounted on the propeller shaft in substantially parallel spaced relation to the axis of rotation of the propeller shaft. One of each pair of planetary pinions is meshed with the actuator gear and further meshed with an outer sun gear secured to a first brake actuated member. The other of each pair of planetary pinions is meshed with an inner sun gear secured to a second brake actuated member. Each brake actuated member has a brake actuator means. Application of the first brake means causes the actuator gear to rotate in one direction and application of the second brake means causes the actuator gear to rotate in the other direction. Rotation of the screw-mounted actuator gear causes movement of the actuator member and eccentric slider block, thus altering the propeller blade pitch.
Inventors
- 👤 N Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:10
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H3/00; B63H3/02; B63H3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A variable pitch propeller comprising a hub means secured to a propeller shaft means, a plurality of propeller blades pivotally mounted in said hub means and operatively connected to a blade pitch actuator member having a hub-end and a brake-end, a pair of brake means each comprising a brake actuator means fixed with respect to said propeller shaft means and a brake actuated member rotatably mounted on said propeller shaft means, an actuator gear operatively mounted on said brake-end of said blade pitch actuator member, a pair of planetary pinions operatively secured to a common shaft means, said common shaft means rotatably mounted on said propeller shaft means, an outer sun gear secured to one of said brake actuated members, an inner sun gear secured to the other of said brake actuated members, said pair of planetary pinions operatively meshed with said actuator gear and said inner and outer sun gears, whereby actuation of one of said brake means produces forward pitch in said plurality of propeller blades and actuation of the other of said brake means produces reverse pitch in said plurality of propeller blades.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A variable pitch propeller comprising a hub means secured to a propeller shaft means, a plurality of propeller blades pivotally mounted in said hub means and operatively connected to a blade pitch actuator member having a hub-end and a brake-end, a pair of brake means each comprising a brake actuator means fixed with respect to said propeller shaft means and a brake actuated member rotatably mounted on said propeller shaft means, an actuator gear operatively mounted on said brake-end of said blade pitch actuator member, a pair of planetary pinions operatively secured to a common shaft means, said common shaft means rotatably mounted on said propeller shaft means, an outer sun gear secured to one of said brake actuated members, an inner sun gear secured to the other of said brake actuated members, said pair of planetary pinions operatively meshed with said actuator gear and said inner and outer sun gears, whereby actuation of one of said brake means produces forward pitch in said plurality of propeller blades and actuation of the other of said brake means produces reverse pitch in said plurality of propeller blades.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A variable pitch propeller as defined in claim 1 wherein said blade pitch actuator member further comprises an actuated portion secured against rotation to said hub-end, said actuator gear screw-mounted on said brake-end, said plurality of propeller blades interconnected to said actuated portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A variable pitch propeller as defined in claim 1 wherein said blade pitch actuator member further comprises an actuated portion screw-mounted on said hub-end, said actuator gear secured against rotation to said brake-end, said plurality of propeller blades interconnected to said actuated portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A variable pitch propeller as defined in claim 1 wherein one end of said common shaft means extends outside said propeller shaft means and further comprises a mechanical propeller blade pitch overriding means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A variable pitch propeller as defined in claim 1 wherein a blade pitch indication actuator member is interconnected to one of said sun gears, a blade pitch indication actuated member screw-mounted on said blade pitch indication actuator member for axial movement with respect to said propeller shaft means, said axial movement providing a measure of pitch of said plurality of propeller blades.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A variable pitch propeller as defined in claim 1 wherein friction between said propeller shaft means and said blade pitch actuator member maintains the pitch setting of said plurality of propeller blades when neither of said pair of brake means is actuated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A variable pitch propeller as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said pair of planetary pinions and said inner and outer sun gears and said actuator gear and said brake actuated members is also a friction member, axial force means forcing together said friction member and said propeller shaft means producing friction, said friction maintaining the pitch setting of said plurality of propeller blades when neither of said pair of brake means is actuated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
A variable pitch propeller as defined in claim 1 wherein at least two of said pair of planetary pinions and said inner and outer sun gears and said actuator gear and said brake actuated members form a pair of friction members, axial force means forcing together said pair of friction members producing friction, said friction maintaining the pitch of said plurality of propeller blades when neither of said pair of brake means is actuated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
A variable pitch propeller as defined in claim 1 further comprising blade pitch indication means interconnected to said blade pitch actuation member, a pair of pressure varying control valves interconnected to said pitch indication means, said brake actuator means of each of said pair of brake means including a fluid powered caliper means, a fluid power control circuit including a single lever control and a pair of pressure regulating relay valVes and a four-way spring-centered pilot-operated control valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
184 words
A variable pitch propeller comprising a hub means secured to a propeller shaft means, a plurality of propeller blades pivotally mounted in said hub means and operatively connected to an actuated portion operatively mounted on one end of a blade pitch actuator member, an actuator gear operatively mounted on the other end of said actuator member, a pair of planetary pinions operatively secured to a common shaft means, flange means operatively secured to said propeller shaft means, said common shaft means rotatably mounted on said flange means, an outer sun gear secured to a first brake actuated member, an inner sun gear secured to a second brake actuated member, each of said first and second brake actuated members having a brake actuator means fixed with respect to said propeller shaft means, said pair of planetary pinions operatively meshed with said inner and outer sun gears and said actuator gear, whereby actuation of one of said brake means produces forward pitch in said plurality of propeller blades and actuation of the other of said brake means produces reverse pitch in said plurality of propeller blades.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
184 words
A variable pitch propeller comprising a hub means secured to a propeller shaft means, a plurality of propeller blades pivotally mounted in said hub means and operatively connected to an actuated portion operatively mounted on one end of a blade pitch actuator member, an actuator gear operatively mounted on the other end of said actuator member, a pair of planetary pinions operatively secured to a common shaft means, flange means operatively secured to said propeller shaft means, said common shaft means rotatably mounted on said flange means, an outer sun gear secured to a first brake actuated member, an inner sun gear secured to a second brake actuated member, each of said first and second brake actuated members having a brake actuator means fixed with respect to said propeller shaft means, said pair of planetary pinions operatively meshed with said inner and outer sun gears and said actuator gear, whereby actuation of one of said brake means produces forward pitch in said plurality of propeller blades and actuation of the other of said brake means produces reverse pitch in said plurality of propeller blades.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |