US2570839A - Vessel propelling and steering mechanism - Google Patents

Description

v A. F. O' BANNON VESSEL PROPELLING AND STEERING MECHANISM Oct. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1'7, 1947 9 mm Q QN Q m Z l 9 MN OM. .m on l F- E 5X 8 1 All}: .1 Q1} 9 L i: R, 8 EN NN NIIWHIJH FIIIL w. M Q

Oct. 9, 1951 A. F. OBANNON VESSEL PROPELLING AND STEERING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 17, 1947 fllllllllllllnulllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA III/VI I III/Ill III/I III/IIII/IIIIIII/I Andrew F. O'Bannan Patented Oct. 9, 1951 VESSEL PROPELLING AND STEERING MECHANISM Andrew F. OBannon, Los Angeles, Calif. Application December 17, 1947, Serial No. 792,149

2 Claims.

conveniently and effectively employed on boats,

ships, and the like, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herein described, wherein the conventional propeller screw is substituted by an oscillating and undulating blade, whereby more efficient utilization of the source of motive power is realized.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the type described wherein a plurality of propelling members may be employed in multiple and wherein, by partially rotating the entire propelling unit about a vertical axis, convenient and effective steering of the associated vessel is effected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vessel propelling and-steering mechanism which is simple in construction, which may be easily and conveniently manipulated, and which will not easily become damaged.

' An additional object of the invention is to provide a vessel propelling and steering mechanism which may be conveniently employed on vessels of various type and sizes, which will readily lend itself to economical manufacture, and which is otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which it is intended.

With the above more important objects in view, and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention, the same being taken substantially in the plane of the line |-l in Figure 4 and being shown in association with a vessel illustrated in cross section;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 in Figure 1 and showing the mechanism at standstill;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 33 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view, taken sub stantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, similar to that shown in Figure 2, but illustrating the mechanism in motion.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a vessel propelling and steering mechanism designated generally by the reference character It], the same embodying in it construction a carrier assembly or turntable ll provided within the stern portion 12 of a vessel I3.

The carrier assembly ll consists of a lower race portion l4, an upper race portion 15 and an annular roller unit [6 which is interposed between the two racers l4, l5 as will be clearly apparent. The race portion I4 is stationary, being rigidly secured to or formed integrally with the hull of the vessel, and it will be noted that an arcuate slot or opening ll extends partially around the race portion M, as is best shown in Figure 4. The purpose of this slot will be hereinafter more fully described.

A power unit it, assuming any suitable form, such as for example, an electric motor, an internal combustion engine, a steam engine, or the like, is mounted upon the upper, rotatable race i5 of the carrier II, this power unit being operatively connected by selectively actuated drive means in of any conventional type to a central, vertical pivot 59 which is non-rotatably mounted at the center of the carrier. A gear 20" is secured to the pivot l9 and the gear means 20 operatively moves around it when the power unit i8 is energized, whereby the race portion l5 of the carrier may be caused to rotate in either direction, as desired. This structural arrangement provides the steering mechanism, which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The power unit 18 also includes a laterally, projecting driven shaft 2c provided with a pair of eccentrics 21, these including eccentric disks 2| and, straps 2i" which are operatively connected as at 22 to suitable cranks 23 provided on a pair of vertical mounting pivots 24.

These pivots are rotatably journaled in suitable bearings 25 on the power unit is and are also rotatably journaled in the upper race portion it of the carrier ll. Moreover, the pivots 24 extend freely through the aforementioned slot Ii and the lower end portions of the pivots carry vertically disposed, spaced parallel propelling blades 26.

It will be noted that the pivots 24 are connected to the end portions of the blades 26 and that the blades are disposed in the vertical plane or" the respective pivots, as will be clearly understood.

The bladesZEi are formed from flexible, more or less resilient material and are capable of undulatory movement, as will be hereinafter described.

It should be understood that the power unit l8 may be controlled so as to selectively rotate the carrier II through the drive means 26 and impart rotation to the driven shaft 20. As has been already stated, rotation of the carrier H is utilized for steering purposes, whereas rotation of the shaft 20 will be transmitted through the medium of the eccentrics 2| and the pivots 24 to produce an oscillatory movement of the blades 26. when movement of this character is imparted to the blades, the blades will become undulated as shown in Figure 5, and as a result of these undulations, forward thrust will be im-- parted to the vessel. It should, of course, be understood that when oscillation of the blades ceases, the blades possess sunicient resiliency to return to their normal, flat condition, as shown in Figure 2.

The blades 26 are, of course, disposed below the water line 21, and while it is appreciated that water may enter into the stern portion l2 of the vessel through the slot 11, it should be explained that the stern portion 12 merely constitutes what may be referred'to a streamlined enclosure for the propelling and steering mechanism which,

as" a whole; mayfun'ction"satisfactorily under water. eemesstosay, thef water is prevented from'gaini'ng access to'the interior of the vessel by means 01 a"'suitabl'e' bulkhead 28 which separates the stern portion I2 fromtheremainder of thehull. i

It'should be also stated that the arrangement 0f the ecbentlics 2i uponme Shaft is Such as to facilitate'synchrorii'zed oscillation and undulationorthebl'a'des 26;s'oas'to prevent vibration.

In order to prevent the blades 'zs'riom becom in'gkritangl'ed with under-sea weedsfand the like, apair of'deflectoffinsfiaare provided below the carrier H, these'finsiing' fnbunted at one end thereof "on the aforementioned pivots 24,

while a: cross memento" connects the mid-link of the arcuate slot [7 facilitates rotation of the carrier :1 whilesteeri ng that the slot 1 1 providesblearance for the pivots 2 4, so that the port or staboard "deflection of the entire unit may "It is believed that the advant es and use of the invention will be clearly appare t from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at" this point 'is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred emblodiinentof this invention it "is to be understood that minor changes in the details of constructionfcombination and arrangement of parts may, be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is c a e a ne 1. Combined propelling and steering mechanism of the class described, comprising a turntable mounted in the stern of a vessel and rotatab e in a horizontal plane, a pair of vertical pivot pins rotatably journalled at transversely spaced points inthe peripheral portion of said turntable and projecting upwardly and downwardly therefrom; apair of flexible propelling blades secured toand extending rearwardly from lower end portions of the respective pivot pins, a pair of cranks secured to upper end portions or the respective p= motor mounted on said turntable for 110 tion therewith and including a horizontal drivesnaa" extending rearwardly into the space between said pins',a7pa1r of opposing eccentrics seeuredl wean drive shaft and operatively conmeted" to the'respective' cranks whereby said lilades may be oscillated simultaneously in opposite directions, and means driven by said motor forrotating' said turntable 2 combination with a vessel having a stern portion provided in" the bottom thereof'with an arcuate slot, a combined propelling and steering i ee r ainie entree turntable hd in saidsi rn P rtia. r qqne sa t a Slot an feta -a 1 1 b iioi a lane'a pair piv dt pins rotatably joi1 rnal1ed at transversely sna edm nis n he e i he al Po on o a turntable and projecting downwardly through sa d l t, air ifiex hle pr el la cure "t and estensi n ear ar l from ow and q t onsof he e pect v ivot pins, a a of cranlgs secured to upper. end portions of the respective pins, a motor mounted on said turnab ofqr rotat on, herewi h and nc di a horizon al d i sha t. exten in r a w dly t t s ac between aid pinsfa pair f pp n cen rics. t se ured s id d iv haft and Operat elyconnec edto the r spectiv ranks where y said lad s may. be scillated simultaneously. in

opposite directions, and means driven. by said motor; for rotatin sa d turntable.

ANDREW F. OBANNON.

EEliliNQ -S lT The following references are orrecord in the file a? thi a i n N TED STA E-$- AT N

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