Propeller blading for a self-adjusting propeller for boats

Claim 1

A self-adjusting sailing ship propeller system comprising: a drive shaft rotatable in opposite directions; a propeller body mounted on said drive shaft and rotatable therewith; a plurality of propeller blades rotatably mounted on said propeller body; each said propeller blade being freely rotatable about an axis of rotation to a neutral position when said drive shaft is stationary, and to respective forward or reverse pitch drive positions when said drive shaft is rotated in the forward or reverse directions, respectively; means within said propeller body to limit said forward or reverse pitch drive positions of said propeller blades; each said propeller blade having a configuration such that a center line of pressure thereof, formed by connecting points of greatest blade thickness taken in cross-sectional planes perpendicular to said axis of rotation, forms an arc which intersects said axis of rotation at a distance from the tip of said blade such that an outer portion of said propeller blade forms means for providing a moment acting on said propeller blade, upon the driving of said drive shaft, which is approximately equal to and which counteracts a directed moment causing said propeller blade to assume said neutral position when said drive shaft is stationary.