US2253757A - Propeller actuated machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 26, 1941. E. BUGAT-rl PROPELLER ACTUATED MACHINE Filed May 1e, 1939 s sheets-sheet 1 InvG-'far 09E 8068717,

Aug. 26, 1941; E. BUGATTI v PROPELLERKACTUATED MACHINE Filed May 16, 19259v 3 Sheets-Shaml 2 wm uw www Nw .EN

/V Yf/VTOI? Irons sus 1n,

Aug. 26, 1941. E. BUGATTI PROPELLER ACTUATED MACHINE Fild My 16, 1959 5 Sheets-'Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 26, 1941 OFFICE 2,253,151 Paorauaa AcrUA'rEn MACHINE Ettore Bugatti, Paris, France Application May 16, 1939, Serial No. 274,065 In Luxemburg May 18, v1938 13 Claims.

vabout corresponding axes located symmetrically with respect to each other on either side of the medianplane of the machine, and I provide means for simultaneously pivoting both of these propellers about their respective axes in opposite directions, and means for simultaneously pivoting both of these propellers about their respective axes in the same direction, these means being adapted to work simultaneously so as to permit of combining these displacements of the propellers.

Other features of the present invention will result from the following detailed description of some speciilc embodiments thereof.-

Preferred embodiments oi the present invention will be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows, partly in section, a propelling system for a motor boat made according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view of a device for controlling this propelling system according .to a first embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view of another embodiment of the control device;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view of still another embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical elevation View, partly in section, of a second embodiment of the propelling system according to the invention.

In the following description with reference to the drawings, it will be assumed that the invention is applied to a motor boat, such for instance as a speed boat.

The hull of this boat is made in' any suitable mounted in a propeller `bearing capable of pivoting about an axis, preferably vertical, whereby the shafts of said propellers can be turned both in the same direction about their respective axes, by means of a suitable steering system, which permits of controlling the direction in which the boat is moving, these propellers being, for instance, moved respectively by motors 2 and 2' which are operative' for their steering displacement.

According to the present invention, I provide, in cooperation with screw propellers I and l'. in addition to the steering system above referred to, means, independent of said steering system, for imparting conjugated pivoting displacements in opposite directions to the supports of said screw propellers, whereby it is, for instance, possible to vary the magnitude of the propelling efforts resultant, and, in particular, by rotating the propeller supports through 180, to reverse said resultant and, consequently, the direction in which the boat is moving.

It will be readily understood that the provision of such means will greatly facilitate the handling oi' the boat since it permits, while keeping the rate of working of the boat motor,

a. Either of reducing the speed, by pivoting the propeller supports through an angle ranging from 0 to 90, a rotation through 90 corresponding to the neutral position, since the resultant ofthe propelling efforts is equal to zero in this position of the screw propellers;l

b. Or of braking the boat by pivoting the propeller supports about their respective axes through angles greater than 90;

c. Or, again, of reversing nearly instantaneously the direction in which the boat'is moving by pivoting the propeller supports through respective angles of 180, this position being particularly interesting, especially in the case of motor boats intended to undergo sudden changes of direction.

For this purpose, concerning iirst the system for simultaneously turning both of the axes of the propellers in the same direction, it is devised in such manner, that it includes a steering control element 3 connected to said propellers I and I' through the intermediary of a mechanism which is adapted to impart to'the supports of saidl propellers, through means which will be hereinafter' more fully described, pivoting displacements i'n-' dependent of the pivoting displacements of said supports in opposed direction.

For instance, I make use of the arrangement disclosed by Fig. 1: Y

In this embodiment of the invention, the steering control member 3 is constituted by a kind of hand-wheel adapted to coact, through the medium of pinions 4 and 5, with a transverse shaft 6 at the respective ends of which I provide differential gears D and D', identical to each other, the casings of these differential gears being mounted in such manner that they can turn coaxially in the frame 1 of the whole.

I key one of the pinions 8 of each differential gear on said shaft 6, while ,I couple the other pinion 9 of said differential (which pinion is connected -to the above mentioned one through planet wheels I), for instance through the medium of a shaft II or II', of an endless screw I2 or I2', and of a helical wheel or Worm wheel I3 or I3', to the support of the corresponding propeller support I or I'.

With such an arrangement, when steering wheel 3 is operated, with a view to modifying the direction in which the boat is running, shafts II and I I' are rotated, in the same direction and at the same speed, if it is supposed that the cas ings of differential gears D and D' are then stationary. The axes of screw propellers I and I are then turned simultaneously in the same direction, and the desired modification of the direction of the efforts of said propeller screws is thus obtained.

Concerning now the above mentioned means for simultaneously turning both of the propeller screws in opposed directions, they are made in such manner that it is possible, through the action of an auxiliary motor, such for instance as electric motor I4, to turn in opposite directions the casings of differential gears D and D'.

For this purpose, said motor I4 drives, through an intermediate shaft I5, an endless screw I6, and a worm wheel I1 cooperating with said screw, a bevel pinion I8.

This pinion I6 meshes, on opposite sides, with two other bevel pinions I9 and I9', coaxial with each other and respectively rigid with pinions 20 and 20'. These pinions 20 and 20' themselves mesh with tooth wheels 2|. and 2| themselves rigid with the casings of the respective differential vgears D and D'.

In -this way, when motor I4 is working, shafts II and II', and therefore the supports of propellers I and I', are given rotary movements in opposite directions.

In order to control this motor I4, I may have recourse, for instance, to adevice permitting of starting said motor in the desired direction and of stopping it at will, according to the arrangement disclosed by Fig. 2.

In this embodiment, motor I4 is made in such manner that it runs in one direction or the other according as it is fed with current through one or the other of two conductors respectively designated by reference characters AV and AR, the first corresponding to the direction of rotation of the motor for which the propeller supports are brought into the position corresponding to the boat running in the forward direction, while the other corresponds to the direction of rotation of the motor for which the propeller supports are brought into the position corresponding to the boat running in the rearward direction.

` I provide, respectively on each of said conductors, circuit breakers i1 and i2, a contactor C being provided which permits either of sending at will the current into one or the other of said conductors, or on the contrary of leaving both of them unconnected. when in neutral position.

Preferably I provide a mechanism capable of automatically stopping motor I4 in the extreme position of the propeller supports. 'I'his mechanism may for instance Include a threaded portion of the shaft I5 of the motor, a longitudinally movable member 26 screwed on said threaded portion, and fingers 331 and 332 capable of occupying, for the extreme positions of said member 26 on which they are fixed, which extreme positions correspond to the extreme angular positions of the propeller supports, the opening of that of circuit breakers i1 or i2 which is in service.

With such an arrangement, the pilot will be able, through contactor C, to start motor I4 in one direction or the other and, in all cases, the motor will automatically stop when the propeller supports reach either of their extreme positions.

According to another embodiment, illustrated by Fig. 3, motor I4 is controlled by means of a device which causes the propeller supports to occupy a position corresponding to that given to a control member such as a lever 34, adapted to be locked in any desired position along a toothed sector 34.

'In this embodiment, conductors AV and AR are respectively connected to contacts 351 and 352 located opposite each other and carried by a piece 36 adapted to slide along a rod 31 coupled with lever 34, this piece 36 being urged toward an intermediate position by two springs 381 and 382 acting in opposite directions.

On a threaded portion ofshaft I5 (driven by the motor) I provide a runner 26 carrying a contact stud 39 located, with a suilicient clearance, between contacts 351 and 352 and adapted to close the AV circuit or the AR circuit according as it comes to-touch one or the other 'of these contacts.

This control system will operate in the following manner:

All the parts are rst supposed to be in the` lever 34 is displaced in one direction or the other,

the AV or the AR circuit is closed. 'I'he motor is started, and, owing to the presence of springs 381 and 382, it is possible immediately to bring said lever 34 into any desired position ranging between the extreme positions thereof. 'I'hat of these springs which is compressed maintains the corresponding contact against stud 39 until the displacement of runner 26 enables piece 36 to come back, under the action of thesprlng that was compressed when lever 34 was operated, into its mean position on rod 31. From this time on, any supplementary displacement of runner 26 causes the contact to be broken and stops the motor. Therefore the stopping of the motor is truly controlled by the position initially imparted to control lever 34.

Finally, it is possible, according to still another embodiment, to control motor I4 through a device which automatically ensures a rotation of of the propeller supports.

This embodiment is illustrated by Fig. 4 and it is made as follows:

I provide, respectively on each of theconductors AV and AR, conductors 221 and 22: which cooperate with a control member such for instance as a push button (231 for conductor AV and 232 for conductor AR) which permits of closing the contact against the action of a spring 241 or 242.

For this purpose, two rods 401 and 402 are respectively connected to each push button. Rod 401 is provided with a notch 4I1 and rod 4II2 is provided with a notch 4 l2.

. aasavsv The contactors 221 and 221 constitute the ends of arms 301 and 33a, respectively pivoted to pieces 21x and 21a. These pieces are slidable vertically in guiding members 421 and 421, respectively, which also serve to guide, but in the horizontal direction, rods 401 and 401.

The above mentioned pieces 211 and 211 are respectively provided with notches or slots 21a1 and 21a2 the upper edges of which are bevelled so as to form a tooth which coacts with the notches 4I1 and 4I1 of rods 401 and 40.

Fingers 431 and 431 xed to each of the pieces 211.and 211 respectively, coact with a corresponding notch provided in arms 301 and 301, in such manner as to limit the angle existing between arm 301 or 3011, on. the one hand, and piece 211 or 211, respectively, on the other hand.

Finally, contactors 221 and 222 are subjected to the action oi' springs 231 and-231, which tend to apply them-against the current feed studs 321 and 321, respectively, so as to close the circuits lnwhlch they are inserted.

In order to control contactors 221 and 221, I provide4 a runner 23 which is mounted on a threaded portion of shaft I5 and which includes inclined surfaces. These inclined surfaces cooperate, when the runner 26 comes into either of its extreme positions, with the lower ends o f pieces 211 and 211. The distance between said pieces is chosen in such manner that the displacement of the runner between these extreme positions corresponds to a pivoting movement of 180 of the propeller supports.

Rods 401 and 402 are arranged in line with each other and their ends bear in an insulating piece 23a. Between the ends of rods 401 and 402, there is mounted an insulating piece y23 the 4length of which is chosen in such manner that when one of the push buttons is depressed inwardly, the other push button cannot be moved inwardly.

The device above described will work in the following manner:

If one of the two circuits, for instance circuit AV, is to be closed, the corresponding push button (231) is pushed inwardly, into the position into notch 4I1, under the action of spring 231.'

At the same time, contacter 221 is applied against 1 contact 321. Circuit AV is now closed.

In the position illustrated by Fig. 4, push button 231 is locked in the depressed position, and the other push button, 231, cannot be moved inwardly as long as push button 231 is in this position.

When the AV circuit has just been closed, runner 23 was in the extreme position on the left hand side, close to piece 21. The working of the motor causes said runner 26 to come into the position on the right hand side as shown by Fig. 4. 'I'he number of revolutions of the motor shaft that is necessary for bringing member 28 from one extreme position to the other corresponds to what is necessary for pivoting the supports of 'propellers I and I' through an angle of 180.

A short time before it reaches its extreme position on the right hand side, runner 26 begins to act on piece 211, the inclined surface 251 of said runner lifting piece 211. At the beginning of the upward movement of piece 211, rod 401 is disengaged by tooth 4I1, whereby push button 231 can be returned into its position' of vrest by the action of spring 241. However, the beginning of the movement of piece 211 has not for its effect to disengage contact 221 from stud 321 because,

in view of the fact that lug 431 is free to move in the corresponding notch of arm 301, at the beginning of the upward movement of piece 211, arm 301 and contact 221 are driven by piece 211, against the action of spring 231, in order to break circuit AV, only when said lug 431 has reachedthe end of the corresponding notch provided in arm 301.

Therefore, push piece 231 is released from its locked position before the AV circuit is broken.

Then, the supports of propellers I and I' can again be brought into positions at 180 from those they now occupy by acting on push button 231. The operation in this case is the same as that above described with reference to the action of push button 231.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the system for driving the propeller supports.

In this embodiment, the supports of propellers I and I' are also driven, through endless screws I2 and I2' and worm wheels I3 and I3', by shafts II'. and II'. These shafts are rigid with worm wheels 3a and 3a', respectively. An electric motor I4a is supported by a frame 1a, adapted to pivot on supports 50 about an axis in line with the axes of shafts II and II'. The shaft of this motor I4a carries, keyed thereon, a pinion I3 adapted to mesh with two pinions I3 and I0' iournalled in frame 1a. These pinions I3 and I0' are rigid with endless screws 20a and 20a', coaxial therewith. These endless screws 20a and 20a' mesh with the above mentioned worm wheels It should be noted that one of these endless screws is on one side of the corresponding worm wheel while the other is on the opposite side of the other worm Wheel. For instance, as shown by the drawings, endless screw 20a is behind the vertical Yplane of the drawings, while endless screw 20a is in front of said plane.

Frame 1a carried a sleeve 5I fltted with pinions 52 meshing with a, chain 53 driven by the steering wheel 3.

The .device above described will work in the following manner:

Supposing that motor I4a is not running, a rotation of steering wheel 3 will produce, through chain 53, pinions 52 and sleeve 5I, a rotation of the motor frame 1a about the common axis of shafts II and II'. 'Ihe whole of the structure carried by said frame will pivot about said axis. Through worm wheels 9a and 9a this movement will be transmitted to shafts II and II which will turn both in the same direction.

On the other hand, if motor I4a is caused to i turn in one direction or the other, it drives pinions I9 and. I3 both in the same direction, and this causes shafts II and II to be driven in opposite direction, dueto the above noted'location of endless screws 20a and 20a' on opposite sides `of the corresponding worm wheels 9a and 9a.'

respectively. This causes the supports of propellers I and I' to be turned inv opposed directions simultaneously.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the control of the working of motor I4 is obtained through a device analogous to that of Fig. 3, including a control lever 34 coupled with a sliding rod 31. This rod carries two Acontacts 351 and 35m2 mounted on springs 541 and 541 and cooperating with a contact stud 39 carried by a nut 26 mounted on a threaded portion of shaft I I'.

It will be readily understood that the elastic mounting of contacts 35a1 and 35a1 on rod 31 is exactly the equivalent of the mounting of conjected tothe antagonistic actions of springs 381 and 382 in the embodiment of Fig. 3.

In a general manner, while 'I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be practical and efficient embodiments of the present invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of two propellers respectively adapted to pivot about corresponding axes located symmetrically with respect to each other on either side of the median plane of said machine, two differential gears including each a casing journalled with respect to said machine, and at least two sun wheels and a planet wheel journalled in said casing and cooperating together, mechanical means coupling one of said sun wheels with one of said propellers for causing said last mentioned propeller to turn about its axis above mentioned when said last mentioned sun wheel is rotated with respect to said machine, control means for simultaneously rotating the two other sun wheels of the respective differential gears, and control means for simultaneously rotating the two caslngs 0f the respective differential gears, one of said control means being adapted to drive the two elements it rotates both in the same direction and the other control means being adapted to drive the two elements it rotates in opposed directions.

2. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of two propellers respectively adapted to pivot about respective pivoting axes transverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetrically with respect to each other on either side of the median plane of said machine, two differential gears including each a.

casing journalled with respect to said machine and at least two sun wheels and a planet wheel ,l

the corresponding propeller by pivoting it about f the corresponding pivoting axis when said last mentioned sun wheel is turned with respect to said machine, control means for simultaneously turning the two other sun wheels of the respective differential gears both in the same direction, and control means for simultaneously rotating the two casings of lthe respective differential gears in opposed directions.

3. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least 4one group of two propellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivoting axes transverse to their axes of revolution and 1ocated symmetrically with respect to each other on either side of the median plane of said machine, a frame carried by said machine, two differential gears, associated with said two propellers, respectively, including each a casing journalled in said frame and at least two sun Wheels and a planet wheel vjournalled in said casing and cooperating together, mechanical means coupling one sun wheel of each differential gear with the corresponding propeller for causing said propeller to turn about its pivoting axis when said last mentioned sun wheel is turned with respect to said frame, hand control means for simultaneously turning the two other sun wheels of the respective differential gears both in the same direction, an electric motor, means for connecting said motor with said differential gear casings adapted to turn said casings in opposite directions when said motor is running, and means for controlling said motor.

4. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of two propellers respectively adapted to ,turn about respective pivoting axes transverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetrically with respect to each other on either side of the median plane of said machine, two shafts in line with each other journalled in said machine and connected with said propellers respectively so that rotation of each of said shafts causes the corresponding propeller to turn about its pivoting axis, a frame journalled in said machine about the same axis as said two shafts, a motor carried by said frame, transmission means between said motor and each of said shafts arranged in such manner that the working of said motor causes said shaftsto turn in opposed directions about their common axis, these transmission means being such that rotation of said frame about said common axis causes both of said shafts to turn together with said frame both in the same direction, control means for rotating said frame, and control means for said motor.

5. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of two propellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivoting axes transverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetrically with respect to each other on either side of the median plane of said machine, two shafts in line with each other journalled in said machine and connected with said propellers respectively so that rotation of each of said shafts causes the corresponding propeller to turn about its pivoting axis, a frame journalled ir. said machine about the same axis as said two shafts, a motor carried by said frame, an endless screw and worm wheel transmission between said motor and each of said shafts arranged in such manner that said motor drives said respective shafts in opposed directions and that the rctation of the motor, together with the frame that carries it, about the common axis of these two shafts causes said shafts 'to turn together in the same direction, control means for rotating said frame, and means for controlling said motor.

6. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of two propellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivoting .axes transverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetrically with respect to each otherv on either side of the median plane of said ma-v chine, mechanical means for turning each of said propellers about the corresponding pivoting axis, control means for simultaneously driving said two mechanical means in the same direction, an electric motor adapted to drive said mechanical means in opposite directions simultaneously, said electric motor being capable of running inl op' posite directions, means for controlling said electric motor, and means for automatically stopping said electric motor after a. predetermined displacement thereof.

7. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of two propellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivoting axes transverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetrically with respect to each other on either side of the median plane of said machine, me-

chanical means for turning each of said propellersvabout the corresponding pivoting axis, control means for simultaneously driving said two mechanical means in the same direction, an electric motor adapted to drive said mechanical means in opposed directions simultaneously, means for controlling said electric motor, and

means, operative by said motor, for automatically stopping it after a ilxed number of revolutions in one direction or the other.

8. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group ofV rtwo propellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivoting axes transverse to their axes of revolution and located symmetrically with respect to each other on either side of the median plane of said machine, mechanical means for turning each of said propellers about the corresponding pivoting axis, control means for simultaneously driving said two mechanical means in the same direction, an electric motor adapted to drive said mechanical means in opposed directions simultaneously, means for starting said electric motor, in one direction or the other, and adjustable means for automatically stopping said electric motor alter any desired number of revolutions in one direction or the other.

9. A machine which comprises, in combination, at least one group of two propellers respectively adapted to turn about respective pivoting axes transverse to their respective axes of revolution andlocated symmetrically with respect to each other on either side of the median plane of said corresponding exactly to the passage of each of said propellers from a given position withrespect to its pivoting axis to another position making an angle of therewith.

10. A vessel having two propeller mountings spaced apart from one another, respectively, and

adapted to pivot about vertical axes located symrespectively whereby said propeller mountings are rotated about their vertical axesby movement oi' said shafts, a control element geared to said shafts to move the same whereby, upon operation of said control element, to pivot said propeller mountings about their respective vertical axes in the same direction, and a second control element independent of the rst-riamedl control element and lgeared to said shafts to move the same whereby, upon operation oi' said second control element, to pivot said propeller mountings about their respective vertical axes in opposite directions.

11. A vessel as claimed in claim 10, the movements of said transverse shafts being movements of rotation about their common axis, the gearing between said shafts and said propeller mountings including an endless screw on each of said shafts, and a pair of helicoidal wheels on said propeller mountings and in mesh with said screws.

12. A vessel as claimed in claim 10, said propeller mountings including a propeller and a motor, said propeller and motor being aiiixed to said mountings and being rotatable about said vertical axis therewith.

13. A vessel as claimed in claim 10, the rstnamed control element being manually operable, said second control element including a motor and switch means for controlling the same.

, ETTORE BUGATTI.

Images