Helical marine strut

• US 7,798,875 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: White River Marine Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Angel, Bruce A., Spain, Glenn Lyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Avila; Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/875,208
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 440/82
• US Class Current: 440/82
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 3/42 Shaft brackets
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 5/16 characterised by being mounted in recesses; with stationary water-guiding elements; Means to prevent fouling of the propeller, e.g. guards, cages or screens

Abstract

A support for a marine motor propeller shaft comprising a single leg having an upper section attached to the hull of a boat and a lower section supporting a propeller shaft. The leg has an angled helical twist near the upper section such that the propeller support is angled away from the centerline of the hull and faces the flow vector of inflowing water to the propeller. The angle of the helical twist is determined by analyzing the flow dynamics of water entering the propeller to determine peak fluid flow.

Claims

1. A support for a marine motor propeller shaft, the support being utilized in a marine vessel having an inboard propulsion drive system, the drive system including a propeller shaft extending through the vessel hull, a propeller mounted at the end of the propeller shaft, and a rudder mounted aft of the propeller, comprising:

a single leg having an upper section attached to the hull of a boat and a lower section supporting a propeller shaft;

the leg being attached to the hull forward of the propeller, the leg lower section supporting the propeller shaft also being forward of the propeller; and

the leg having an angled helical twist near the upper section such that the propeller support is angled with respect to the centerline of the hull and creates a gradient flow vector of inflowing water to the propeller;

said helical twist diminishing from said leg upper section towards said leg lower section, said leg lower section being generally straight.

2. The propeller support described in claim 1, wherein the angle of the helical twist is determined by analyzing the flow dynamics of water entering the propeller to determine peak fluid flow.

3. A support for a marine motor propeller shaft, the support being utilized in a marine vessel having an inboard propulsion drive system, the drive system including a propeller shaft extending through the vessel hull, a propeller mounted at the end of the propeller shaft, and a rudder mounted aft of the propeller, comprising:

a single leg having an upper section attached to the hull of a boat and a lower section supporting a propeller shaft;

the leg being attached to the hull forward of the propeller, the leg lower section supporting the propeller shaft also being forward of the propeller; and

the leg having an angled helical twist near the upper section such that the propeller support is angled away from the centerline of the hull and creates a gradient flow vector of inflowing water to the propeller;

said helical twist diminishing from said leg upper section towards said leg lower section, said leg lower section being generally straight; and

wherein the angle of the helical twist is determined by analyzing the flow dynamics of water entering the propeller to determine peak fluid flow.

4. A support for a marine motor propeller shaft, the support being utilized in a marine vessel having an inboard propulsion drive system, the drive system including a propeller shaft extending through the vessel hull, a propeller mounted at the end of the propeller shaft, and a rudder mounted aft of the propeller, comprising:

a single leg having an upper section attached to the hull of a boat and a lower section supporting a propeller shaft;

the leg being attached to the hull forward of the propeller, the leg lower section supporting the propeller shaft also being forward of the propeller; and

the leg having an angled helical twist near the upper section such that the propeller support is angled towards the centerline of the hull and creates a gradient flow vector of inflowing water to the propeller;

said helical twist diminishing from said leg upper section towards said leg lower section, said leg lower section being generally straight; and

wherein the angle of the helical twist is determined by analyzing the flow dynamics of water entering the propeller to determine peak fluid flow.

5. A support for a marine motor propeller shaft, the support being utilized in a marine vessel having an inboard propulsion drive system, the drive system including a propeller shaft extending through the vessel hull, a propeller mounted at the end of the propeller shaft, and a rudder mounted aft of the propeller, comprising:

a single leg having an upper section attached to the hull of a boat and a lower section supporting a propeller shaft;

the leg being attached to the hull forward of the propeller, the leg lower section supporting the propeller shaft also being forward of the propeller; and

the leg having an angled helical twist near the lower section such that the propeller support is angled with respect to the centerline of the hull and creates a gradient flow vector of inflowing water to the propeller;

said helical twist increasing from said leg upper section towards said leg lower section, said leg upper section being generally straight.

6. The propeller support described in claim 5, wherein the angle of the helical twist is determined by analyzing the flow dynamics of water entering the propeller to determine peak fluid flow.