MARINE PROPELLER WITH AN ADJUSTABLE EXHAUST STRUCTURE

Abstract

A marine propeller with an adjustable exhaust structure is disclosed. Each adjustable exhaust device of the adjustable exhaust structure includes an exhaust hole unit with exhaust through holes cut through the outer surface and inner surface of the propeller hub of the marine propeller, an adjustment member with shielding portions mounted in the exhaust hole unit, and a fastening member for securing the adjustment member in position. The adjustment member is movable to adjust the shielding area of the shielding portions relative to the exhaust through holes when disengaged from the constraint of the fastening member. Thus, the exhaust volume is adjustable to fit different conditions without changing any component parts of the marine propeller, facilitating ease of use of the marine propeller.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to marine propellers and more particularly, to a marine propeller with an adjustable exhaust structure for allowing adjustment of exhaust volume.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,003 discloses a propeller device, which comprises a propeller body with a propeller hub having 4 propeller blades extending therefrom and an aperture on each propeller blade, and a plug having a diametric profile shaped to be received and retained within each aperture. The vent plugs are provided with openings therethrough so that fluids can flow from a passage within a hub of the propeller device to a region proximate the outer cylindrical surface of the hub. The plugs can be changed to modify the size of the ventilation aperture without having to change the propeller device itself.

The propeller device is driven by an engine to move the propeller blades through water, achieving propeller thrust and forcing the boat to move forwards. At the same time, waste engine gas enters the passage of the propeller hub. At this time, a part of waste engine gas is exhausted through the ventilation aperture. Thus, the ventilation apertures of the plugs assist lowering the internal air pressure of the passage of the propeller hub, reducing water pressure from the propeller blades and enhancing propelling speed of the propeller blades.

However, under different application conditions, such as water level, load, temperatures, and etc., the user must selectively use different sizes of plugs having different dimensions of ventilation apertures, or plugs without any ventilation aperture to adjust the exhaust volume of the propeller device to an optimal condition for better propeller performance.

On other words, the user must prepare many different plugs having different dimensions of ventilation apertures. Preparing a large number of plugs relatively increases the cost. Further, the plugs may be missed easily when not in use. Therefore, the aforesaid prior art design of propeller device is not convenient to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a marine propeller, which allows convenient adjustment of the exhaust volume without changing any component parts, facilitating ease of use.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a marine propeller comprises a propeller body. The propeller body comprises a propeller hub and a plurality of propeller blades. The propeller hub comprises an outer surface and an inner surface. The propeller blades are extended outwardly from the outer surface of the propeller hub. The marine propeller further comprises at least one adjustable exhaust device. Each adjustable exhaust device comprises an exhaust hole unit cut through the outer surface and inner surface of the propeller hub, an adjustment member mounted in the exhaust hole unit, and fastening means for securing the adjustment member to the exhaust hole unit in position. The exhaust hole unit comprises at least one exhaust through hole. The adjustment member comprises at least one shielding portion for shielding the at least one exhaust through hole. Further, before the adjustment member is secured in position by the fastening means, the adjustment member is movable relative to the exhaust hole unit to adjust the shielding area of the at least one shielding portion relative to the at least one exhaust through hole.

Thus, under different application conditions, the user can adjust the exhaust volume to the optimal status without changing any component parts of the marine propeller, enabling the marine propeller to provide a proper speed. Thus, the marine propeller is very convenient to use.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a marine propeller with an adjustable exhaust structure in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the marine propeller with an adjustable exhaust structure in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating one exhaust hole unit in the propeller body of the marine propeller.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 3, illustrating one adjustment member installed in the exhaust hole unit.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the adjustment member shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the adjustment member shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of e marine propeller with an adjustable exhaust structure in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing the angular position of the adjustment member adjusted relative to the exhaust hole unit.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing the angular position of the adjustment member adjusted relative to the exhaust hole unit.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a marine propeller with an adjustable exhaust structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating one exhaust hole unit in a propeller body.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the marine propeller with an adjustable exhaust structure in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a marine propeller in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The marine propeller 10 comprises a propeller body 20, three adjustable exhaust devices 30. Each adjustable exhaust device 30 comprises, installed in the propeller body 20, an exhaust hole unit 40, an adjustment member 50, and a fastening member 60.

The propeller body 20 comprises a propeller hub 22, and three propeller blades 24. The propeller hub 22 comprises an outer tube 222 and an inner tube 224 integrally formed of multiple rib plates (not shown), and an outer surface 226 and an inner surface 228 located on the outer tube 222. The propeller blades 24 are outwardly extended from the outer surface 226 of the propeller hub 22. The adjustable exhaust devices 30 are respectively disposed between each two adjacent propeller blades 24.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIGS. 2 and 3 again, each exhaust hole unit 40 comprises a recess 42, an axle hole 44, and six exhaust through holes 46. The recess 42 is located on the outer surface 226 comprises a bottom wall 422, an inner peripheral wall 424, and two blocks 426 protruded from the inner peripheral wall 424. The axle hole 44 and the exhaust through holes 46 extend through the bottom wall 422 of the recess 42 and the inner surface 228 of the propeller hub 22. Further, the exhaust through holes 46 are spaced around the axle hole 44.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, each adjustment member 50 comprises a shaft 52, and an adjustment wheel 54 formed integral with one end of the shaft 52. The shaft 52 comprises a groove 522 extending around the periphery thereof. The adjustment wheel 54 is shaped like a gearwheel, comprising a circular peripheral wall 542, and a plurality of notches 544 arranged around a circle, i.e., equiangularly spaced around the circular peripheral wall 542. The adjustment wheel 54 further comprises six through holes 546 cut through the opposing top and bottom sides thereof and spaced around the shaft 52, and a shielding portion 548 between each two adjacent through holes 546.

Referring to FIG. 7 and FIGS. 2 and 4 again, in each adjustable exhaust device 30, the shaft 52 of the adjustment member 50 is inserted into the axle hole 44 of the exhaust hole unit 40, the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50 is set in the recess 42 of the exhaust hole unit 40, and the two blocks 426 of the recess 42 are respectively engaged into one respective notch 544 of the adjustment wheel 54. The fastening member 60 is a C-shaped retaining ring mounted in the groove 522 of the shaft 52 of the adjustment member 50 to secure the adjustment member 50 to the exhaust hole unit 40. The user can detach the fastening member 60, and then remove the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50 out of the recess 42, and then rotate the adjustment member 50 to the desired angle, and then set the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50 in the recess 42 again, and thus the shielding portions 548 of the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50 are moved relative to the exhaust through holes 46 to change their shielding area relative to the exhaust through holes 46 and to further adjust the exhaust volume of the marine propeller 10.

For example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 8, the shielding portions 548 of the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50 are moved away from the exhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40 and the exhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40 are fully opened. At this time, the exhaust volume of the marine propeller 10 reaches the maximum level. In the configuration shown in FIG. 9, the exhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40 are fully shielded by the shielding portions 548 of the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50, and the internal gas of the propeller hub 22 cannot be exhausted. At this time, the exhaust volume of the marine propeller 10 reaches the minimum level. Further, the shielding portions 548 of the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50 can be moved to a position to partially shield the exhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40, as shown in FIG. 4. Subject to the aforesaid operation of rotating the adjustment member 50 relative to the exhaust hole unit 40, the shielded area of the exhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40 is relatively adjusted.

In other words, under different application conditions, the user can adjust the exhaust volume to the optimal status without changing any component parts of the marine propeller 10, enabling the marine propeller 10 to provide a proper speed. Thus, the marine propeller 10 is very convenient to use.

It is to be noted that in each of the aforesaid adjustable exhaust devices 30, the fastening member 60 is not limited to C-shaped retaining ring, and any of a variety of other fastening means capable of prohibiting the adjustment member 50 from escaping out of the exhaust hole unit 40 and allowing movement of the shielding portions 548 of the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50 relative to the exhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40 before fixation can be used as a substitute. Further, the number and locations of the blocks 426 of the recess 42 of each exhaust hole unit 40 may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. One single block 426 can also achieve the same effect of securing the adjustment member 50 in position.

In the aforesaid first embodiment, the relative positioning between the exhaust hole unit 40 and the respective adjustment member 50 and quantitative adjustment of the relative angle therebetween are achieved by means of selectively engaging the relative smaller number of the blocks 426 of the exhaust hole unit 40 into the relatively larger number of the notches 544 of the adjustment member 50. Alternatively, the adjustment member 50 can be made having a relatively smaller number of blocks for selectively engaging a larger number of notches in the exhaust hole unit 40. Further, it is not a limitation to arrange the notches around a circle.

Further, the number and arrangement of the exhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40 and the number and arrangement of the through holes 546 and shielding portions 548 of each adjustment member 50 are not limited to the aforesaid design. Actually, each adjustable exhaust device 30 can be made having at least one set of exhaust through holes 46, through holes 546 and shielding portions 548 to achieve the same effects.

Further, the marine propeller 10 can be made having at least one adjustable exhaust device 30 to achieve the aforesaid exhaust volume adjustment effect. However, arranging one adjustable exhaust device 30 between each two adjacent propeller blades 24 can balance the resistance of the propeller blades 24, facilitating smooth operation of the marine propeller 10.

In the aforesaid first embodiment, the recess 42, axle hole 44 and exhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40 are located on the propeller body 20, however, this arrangement is not a limitation. In a second embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the exhaust hole unit 70 of the marine propeller comprises a through hole 72 extending through the outer surface 226 and inner surface 228 of the propeller hub 22 of the propeller body 20, and a plug 74 fixedly mounted in the through hole 72. The plug 72 defines an axle hole 742, and a plurality of exhaust through holes 744. Thus, this exhaust hole unit 70 achieves the same effects as the exhaust hole unit 40 of the aforesaid first embodiment.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A marine propeller comprising a propeller body, said propeller body comprising a propeller hub and a plurality of propeller blades, said propeller hub comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said propeller blades being extended outwardly from said outer surface of said propeller hub, wherein said marine propeller further comprises: at least one adjustable exhaust device, each said adjustable exhaust device comprising an exhaust hole unit cut through said outer surface and said inner surface of said propeller hub, an adjustment member mounted in said exhaust hole unit, and fastening means for securing said adjustment member to said exhaust hole unit in position, said exhaust hole unit comprising at least one exhaust through hole, said adjustment member comprising at least one shielding portion for shielding said at least one exhaust through hole, said adjustment member being movable relative to said exhaust hole unit to adjust the shielding area of said at least one shielding portion relative to said at least one exhaust through hole before being secured in position by said fastening means.

2. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening means is a fastening member detachably mounted at said adjustment member, said at least one shielding portion of said adjustment member being movable relative to said at least one exhaust through hole after detachment of said fastening member from said adjustment member.

3. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adjustment member is rotatable relative to said propeller hub to adjust the shielding area of said at least one shielding portion relative to said at least one exhaust through hole.

4. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 3, wherein said exhaust hole unit further comprises an axle hole; said adjustment member comprises a shaft inserted into said axle hole and rotatable relative to said propeller hub after detachment of said fastening member from said adjustment member, and an adjustment disc formed integral with said shaft, said adjustment disc comprising at least one through hole and said at least one shielding portion, said at least one through hole being kept in communication with said at least one exhaust through hole.

5. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 4, wherein said exhaust hole unit further comprises a recess located on said outer surface of said propeller hub, said recess defining therein a bottom wall; said axle hole and said at least one exhaust through hole extend through said bottom wall of said recess and said inner surface of said propeller body; said adjustment disc is set in said recess.

6. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of said exhaust hole unit and said adjustment member comprises a plurality of notches, and the other of said exhaust hole unit and said adjustment member comprises at least one block selectively engaged into said notches.

7. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 6, wherein said recess of said exhaust hole unit further comprises an inner peripheral wall; said at least one block is extended from said inner peripheral wall; said adjustment disc of said adjustment member comprises a peripheral wall; said notches are located on the peripheral wall of said adjustment disc of said adjustment member.

8. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 7, wherein said exhaust hole unit comprises two blocks disposed at two opposing sides; said notches of said adjustment member are equiangularly spaced around a circle.

9. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 4, wherein said exhaust hole unit comprises a plurality of exhaust through holes spaced around said axle hole; said adjustment disc of said adjustment member comprises a plurality of through holes spaced around said shaft and respectively kept in communication with said exhaust through holes of said exhaust hole unit, and one said shielding portion disposed between each two adjacent said through holes.

10. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 4, wherein said shaft of said adjustment member comprises a groove extending around the periphery thereof; said fastening means is a C-shaped retaining ring mounted in said groove of said shaft.

11. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exhaust hole unit further comprises a recess located on said outer surface of said propeller hub; said adjustment member is set in said recess.

12. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one adjustable exhaust device is arranged in such a manner that one said adjustable exhaust device is disposed between each two adjacent said propeller blades.

13. A marine propeller comprising a propeller body, said propeller body comprising a propeller hub and a plurality of propeller blades, said propeller hub comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said propeller blades being extended outwardly from said outer surface of said propeller hub, wherein said marine propeller further comprises: at least one adjustable exhaust device, each said adjustable exhaust device comprising an exhaust hole unit, an adjustment member mounted in said exhaust hole unit, and fastening means for securing said adjustment member to said exhaust hole unit in position, said exhaust hole unit comprising a through hole extending through said outer surface and said inner surface of said propeller hub and a plug fixedly mounted in said through hole, said plug comprising at least one exhaust through hole, said adjustment member comprising at least one shielding portion for shielding said at least one exhaust through hole, said at least one shielding portion being movable relative to said at least one exhaust through hole to adjust the shielding area of said at least one shielding portion relative to said at least one exhaust through hole before being secured in position by said fastening means.