US2148555A

US2148555A - Propeller

Info

Publication number: US2148555A
Application number: US178273A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elias S Hicks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-12-06
Filing date: 1937-12-06
Publication date: 1939-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 1956-02-28

Description

E. S HICKS PROPELLER Feb. 28, 1939 Filed Dec 6, 1937 Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Elias S. Hicks, Portland, Oreg.

Application December 6, 1937, Serial No. 178,273

3 Claims.

This invention relates to propellers and is particularly adapted to be used in connection with aeroplane and boat propellers, air conditioning fans and even pumps.

I The primary object of the invention is to increase the eiiiciency of propeller and fan blades.

It has been found by experimentation that if the trailing edge of a propeller blade is designed to come in line with the center line of the propeller that a greater efficiency is obtained. It is believed also that the reason for this greater efficiency is that turbulence in the wake of the blade is lessened. By actual tests it has been proven that these turbulences cause a counter l acting force or drag and that these forces are lessened by the construction used in my invention, namely, placing the propeller blade completely forward of the center line drawn through the center of the propeller.

:0 Due to the construction employed in'my invention the efliciency of the propeller or blade is maintained regardless of speed. It is believed that this is due to the fact that the turbulences or drag have been eliminated in my construction.

: Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my new and improved fan or propeller.

Figure 2 is a detail fragmentary section view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, illustrating the i0 blades mounted on the hub. 1

Figure 3 is a front detail fragmentary sectional view of Figure 2, showing the mounting" and holding of the blades within the hub.

In the drawing: 35 I, 2, 3 and Mare the propeller or fan blades mounted upon a suitable hub 5. In some instances it is notnece'ssary to have a hub 5 separate from the blades such as would be used in small fan or boat propellers.

The invention resides, I believe in the fact that the trailing edge 6 of the blades are approximately in line through the center of the hub. The forward edge of the blade I should conform in shape and width to the revolutions required of that 5 particular fan. The widths ofthe blade may vary as well as the pitch. The main portion 8 of the blade has a different pitch than the portion 9 and here again the proportion of the areas Y relative to each other may be varied depending 50 upon the uses to which the fan may be used. The angle of the blade is changedat 9 and has the velocity of the air against the face of the blade at l0, Figure 2, besides up in the direction of the arrow it causes a pulling action of the intake air indicated by the dotted arrow which increases the efliciency suction and supply of air similar to a steam injection, therefore the for- 5 ward edge of the blade at I does not have to do all of the work in supplying the air stream.

In the construction shown in the drawing a main hub body 5, has .a slit ll cut therein for receiving the ends l2 of the blades. Face plates 1 !3 are then clamped on either side of the hub by suitable belts or fastening means M which pass through the ends l2 of blades clamps the whole in a solid assembly. As stated before the construction of the hub is immaterial but the invention resides in the shape of the blades including the trailing angle relative to the blade. Said trailing angle creates a greater suction of the air stream at the same time due to the fact that the trailing edge; of the blade does not extend past and is forward the center line of the propeller, eddy or turbulent currents of air are eliminated permitting a greater intake at all speeds of the air stream that is being forced forward or through the fan or propeller itself.

My invention is adapted to many forms of embodiment and I do not wish to be limited to the particular form of embodiment shown in the drawing and claims.

I claim:

1. A fan or propeller comprising a hub having a plurality of blades attached thereto, each blade having a leading portion and a trailing portion, the leading edge of the leading portion being curved and the free edge of the trailing portion being on a line passing through the center of the hub, the trailing portion being at a plane angle to the plane of the leading portion.

2. A fan or propeller comprising a hub having a plurality of blades attached thereto, each blade having a leading portion and a trailing portion, the leading edge of the leading portion being curved and the free edge of the trailing portion being substantially on a line radial of the hub, the pitch of the trailing portion being increased with respect to the pitch of the leading portion.

3. A construction as defined in' claim 1, wherein the transverse dimension of the trailing portion is gradually increased from the hub toward the free end of the blade; 6 ELIAS S. HICKS.