Folding propeller and methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11667364-B2
Application number	US-202117454490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2021
Priority date	Nov 12, 2020
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a folding propeller, comprising a hub, which may be driven via a drive shaft around a rotation axis, at least two propeller blades, which are pivotably arranged on the hub between a folded position and an unfolded position, and a propeller blade arresting means, which is configured for arresting the propeller blades in the unfolded position, wherein the propeller blade arresting means is movable relative to the hub in rotation direction between a starting position and an arresting position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A folding propeller comprising:
a hub, which can be driven via a drive shaft around a rotation axis (A);
at least two propeller blades pivotably arranged on the hub between a folded position (Z 1 ) and an unfolded position (Z 2 ); and
a propeller blade arresting means configured for arresting the propeller blades in the unfolded position, wherein the propeller blade arresting means is movable relative to the hub in rotation direction (D) between a starting position (Z 10 ) and an arresting position (Z 20 ).

2. The folding propeller according to claim 1 , wherein the propeller blade arresting means is connected with the drive shaft in a torsion proof way, wherein the hub is uncoupled from the propeller blade arresting means in rotation direction (D), and wherein the propeller blade arresting means has a sleeve.

3. The folding propeller according to claim 2 , wherein the hub is configured to be movable in such a way that a movement of the hub from the starting position (Z 10 ) into the arresting position (Z 20 ) is enforced when applying a torque to the drive shaft.

4. The folding propeller according to claim 1 , wherein the hub is connected with the drive shaft in a torsion proof way, wherein the propeller blade arresting means is uncoupled from the hub in rotation direction (D), wherein the propeller blade arresting means has a sleeve.

5. The folding propeller according to claim 4 , wherein the propeller blade arresting means is configured to be movable in such a way that a movement of the propeller blade arresting means from a starting position (Z 10 ) into an arresting position (Z 20 ), in which the propeller blades are arrested, is enforced by means of utilising mass inertia that occurs when rotating the hub.

6. The folding propeller according to claim 5 , wherein the sleeve of the propeller blade arresting means has a recess and a catch in an area of each propeller blade, wherein the catch is formed on a downstream end of the sleeve.

7. The folding propeller according to claim 4 , wherein the propeller blade arresting means is configured to be movable in such a way that its mass inertia is utilised in a targeted way for enforcing a movement of the propeller blade arresting means from the starting position (Z 10 ) into the arresting position (Z 20 ).

8. The folding propeller according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation direction (D) equals a reverse operation of the propeller blades.

9. The folding propeller according to claim 1 , wherein the propeller blades are mounted on a bearing pin arranged transverse to the rotation axis (A).

10. The folding propeller according to claim 1 , wherein the propeller blade arresting means are located in the starting position (Z 10 ) when the drive shaft stands still, and wherein the propeller blades are freely pivotable between the folded position (Z 1 ) and the unfolded position (Z 2 ) in this case.

11. The folding propeller according to claim 2 , wherein the sleeve of the propeller blade arresting means has a recess and a catch in an area of each propeller blade.

12. The folding propeller of claim 11 , wherein the catch is formed on a downstream end of the sleeve.

13. The folding propeller according to claim 1 , wherein the propeller blade arresting means has an insertion bevel, which is configured such that, in a state in which the propeller blade arresting means is not yet completely in the arresting position (Z 20 ), a folding of the propeller blades leads to a re-setting of the propeller blade arresting means into its starting position (Z 10 ).

14. The folding propeller according to claim 1 , wherein the propeller blade arresting means is made of one piece.

15. The folding propeller according to claim 14 , wherein the propeller blade arresting means and/or the propeller blades include a metallic material.

16. The folding propeller according to claim 1 , wherein the propeller blade arresting means is configured for arresting the propeller blades in an unfolded position (Z 2 ) during drag operation of the folding propeller, so that an automatic rotation of the propeller blades takes place.

17. The folding propeller according to claim 16 , wherein the propeller blade arresting means is configured to enable an automatic rotation of the propeller blades for energy recuperation from around 5 kn of speed.

18. The folding propeller according to claim 1 , wherein the propeller blades are configured such that an initial opening of the propeller blades takes place by utilising centrifugal force.

19. The folding propeller according to claim 18 , wherein the propeller blades include a metallic material, in particular a metal alloy.

20. A drive for a boat comprising a folding propeller, wherein the folding propeller comprises:
a hub, which can be driven via a drive shaft around a rotation axis (A);
at least two propeller blades pivotably arranged on the hub between a folded position (Z 1 ) and an unfolded position (Z 2 ); and
a propeller blade arresting means configured for arresting the propeller blades in the unfolded position, wherein the propeller blade arresting means is movable relative to the hub in rotation direction (D) between a starting position (Z 10 ) and an arresting position (Z 20 ).

Assignees

• Torqeedo Gmbh

Inventors

• Despineux Frank
• Milojevic Janus

Classifications

• B63H1/24 Primary

  automatically foldable or unfoldable · CPC title

• B63H1/22 Primary

  the blades being foldable · CPC title