REMOVABLE PROPELLER BLADE ASSEMBLY

• US 3,876,331 A
• Filed: 11/22/1972
• Issued: 04/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 76 Corporation The
• Original Assignee: Gerald Denherder, Robert Denherder
• Inventors: DenHerder, Robert, DenHerder, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Jr., Everette A.
• Application Number:
  US05/308,672
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 416/93,214,212,134,206
• US Class Current: 416/93.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 1/20 Hubs; Blade connections
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/245 Exhaust gas outlets B63H20/26 takes precedence

Abstract

An exhaust-through hub is provided with mounting brackets for holding a plurality of propeller blade segments each having a blade and a mounting base. The segments are held in the hub by a releasable retainer which can be secured and removed for replacement of the propeller blades without the use of threaded couplings.

Claims

1. A removable propeller blade assembly comprising a hub adapted to be secured to the output shaft of a boat drive unit, a plurality of removable propeller blade segments each having a blade and a mounting base, receiving means on said hub for supporting the mounting bases, non-threaded means for securing said bases to and releasing the bases from said receiving means, said hub comprising an outer hub assembly, an inner hub assembly and spaced web means securing said outer hub assembly to said inner hub assembly for allowing passage of exhaust gases through said outer hub assembly, said locking means including ring means for encircling said mounting bases and holding them against said receiving means, said locking means including an expandable band having a plurality of appendages, said receiving means, mounting bases and ring means having alignable holes for receiving said appendages whereby the expanded band and ring means interlock the propeller blade segments to the hub.

2. A removable propeller blade assembly comprising a hub adapted to be secured on the output shaft of a boat drive unit, a plurality of removable propeller blade segments each having a blade and a mounting base, receiving means on said hub for supporting the mounting bases, non-threaded means for locking said bases to and releasing the bases from said receiving means, said hub comprising an outer hub assembly, an inner hub assembly and spaced web means securing said outer hub assembly to said inner hub assembly for allowing passage of exhaust gases through said outer assembly, said locking and releasing means including ring means for encircling said mounting bases and holding them against said receiving means, said receiving means including forward and aft supporting members for supporting inner end surfaces of said mounting bases against radially inward movement, said forward member having a forward recess for receiving the forward end of said mounting bases, and spaced longitudinal flanges each having a recess for receiving a lateral edge of said mounting bases whereby said mounting bases are nested in said forward and longitudinal flanges recesses and against said forward and aft supporting members to firmly support said propeller blade segments on said outer hub assembly, said locking and releasing means including an expandable band having a plurality of spaced appendages, said receiving means, mounting bases and ring means having alignable holes for receiving said appendages whereby the expanded band and ring means inter-lock the propeller blade segments to the hub.

3. The propeller blade assembly of claim 1, said non-threaded means for locking said bases to and releasing the bases from said receiving means including means for locking and releasing the bases without employing wrenches or the like so that the blade segments can be replaced with ease while the boat is in the water.