Marine propeller arrangement

Claim 1

Support apparatus for a marine propeller having a propeller hub with a bore, comprising: a propeller shaft having said propeller hub mounted on the aft end thereof; a drive plate detachably secured to the aft ends of both said propeller and said propeller shaft; a stern tube surrounding said propeller shaft and extending aft into said bore of said propeller hub, said stern tube having an outer diameter, said outer diameter being sufficiently smaller than said bore of said propeller hub to avoid contact of said tube with said bore in service; at least an aft shaft bearing mounted inside said stern tube, said aft bearing being located with its geometrical center substantially coincident with the centre of gravity of said propeller, said aft shaft bearing having oil pockets with pressurized fluid whereby said propeller can be supported on a fluid cushion prior to commencement of rotation and during low speed rotation; and at least one inwardly projecting auxiliary bearing surface in said bore of said propeller on which the weight of said propeller can be supported on said outer diameter of said stern tube when said apparatus is not in service, whereby said propeller shaft may be withdrawn; and by which movement of said propeller will be limited in the event of failure of said aft bearing in service, whereby said propeller runs on said aft shaft bearing in service without contacting said stern tube and the weight of said propeller is supported in service solely by said aft bearing acting between said propeller shaft and said stern tube.