Jain. 1U, 1939. T.

'4 HARRIS ` 2,143,693

PROPELLER SHAFT PRO'I‘IilCfI‘ORv
' Filed April e, 1938 z sheets-shea 1

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, jam. 10, 1939. T. HARRIS 2,143,693
PROPELLER SHAFT PROTECTOR
Filed Aprile, 1958 2 sheets-sneu 2

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A TTORNEYS.
 Patented Jan. 10, 1939 2,143,693'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,143,693
PROPELLER SHAFT PROTECTOR
Thomas Harris, Providence, R. I.
Application April 6, 1938, Serial No. 200,414
(Cl. 115-40)
5 Claims.
l This invention relates to a ship’s propeller showing the propeller fragmentally combined
shaft, strut bearings, stuñ‘ing boxes and the like; with a cutter collar and stufñng box;
and has for its primary object to provide a device Fig. l0 is a section on line lll-_l0 of Fig. 9;
which will prevent a rope or the like from dam Fig. 11 is a section on line Il-ll of Fig. 9;
5 aging a propeller shaft and bearing therefor. Fig. 12 is a sectional View of the fixed portion
Another object of the invention is to prevent of the stuffing box;
the burning out of a bearing for the propeller Fig. 13 is a perspective View of my collar which
shaft which might occur by reason of the rope slidably engages the rotatable portion of the stuff
winding tightly about the shaft and choking off ing box and rotatably engages the fixed portion.
circulation of water through the bearing. The propeller shaft and propeller at the end l0
Another object of the invention is to provide a thereof on ships and especially on small boats
means for preventing a rope which may be wound are frequently fouled by engagement with some
about a propeller shaft from building up sufli rope or the like which entangles the propeller
ciently to cause a pressure which will bend the and winds upon the propeller shaft to suffocate
“ shaft or damage the bearing. _ or block off circulation through the bearing which '.
Another object of the invention is to provide supports the propeller shaft and also builds up
for cutting any rope which may tend to jam or between the propeller and its bearing sufficiently
foul the propeller before the rope has a chance to exert such pressure upon the propeller as to
to do any damage to the propeller shaft. bend or spring the shaft and if continued to run
20 A further object of the invention is to so guard will burn out the bearing for the propeller shaft. N) O
the propeller shaft as to keep the rope spaced Often the location at which such fouling occurs
from the shaft that the shaft may rotate freely makes freeing of the propeller shaft extremely
and permit water to have free circulation with diiiicult as usually a man must go overboard and
the shaft bearing notwithstanding the fact that out the rope from the sh-aft in order to free the
25 the rope may be temporarily wound about the same; and as such propellers are usually several
guard, feet below the surface of the water, work of this
With these and other objects in View, the in character is diflicult and dangerous; and in order
vention consists of certain novel features of con to avoid such undesirable occurrences I have pro
struction, as will be more fully described, and vided a collar to space a rope from the shaft,
30 particularly pointed out in the appended claims. which collar will cut the rope to prevent any 30
ln the accompanying drawings: pressure being exerted on the propeller and in
Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating a frag turn on the shaft; and the following is a more
mental portion of a ship with the propeller en detailed description of the present embodiment of
gaging a rope; this invention, illustrating the preferred means
35 Fig. 2 is a sectional view through a propeller by which these advantageous results may be ac 35
shaft strut bearing; complished:
Fig. 3 is a section on substantially line 3-3 of With reference to the drawings, l5 designates
Fig. 2; the stern of a boat and I6 a propeller shaft pro
Fig. 4 is a section on substantially line 4-4 of jecting through the bottom of the boat and sup
40 Fig. 2;
ported in the bearing Il at the end of a strut I8 40
Fig. 5 is a View taken on substantially line 5-5 suitably bolted to the bottom of the boat as at
of Fig. 2 and showing the end of the collar adja I9. This bearing Il is bushed as at 20 with a
rubber bushing of octagonal shape so as to leave
cent the propeller blade; spaces 2| between it and the round shaft I6
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bearing with for the circulation of water therethrough, which
45 a fragmental part of a strut extending therefrom
occurs as the shaft is running and which if
and also showing the collar which is the subject choked off by reason of being blocked by a rope
of this invention; tightly wound about the shaft and between the
Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmental detail of the end of the bearing and the propeller hub Will
saw tooth edge of the collar; cause the bearing to heat and become “burned 50
5
Fig. 8 is a side elevation partly broken away out.”
and in section of a differently arranged propeller The propeller is designated 22 and consists of
shaft mounting projecting from the deadwood of a hub 23 keyed to the end of the shaft I6 and held
a boat or ship; thereon by a nut 24. There is usually a taper 25
55 Fig. 9 is a side elevation partly in section and 0n the end of the shaft with a corresponding ta
 2 . ¿143,693
per in the bore of the hub of the propeller so 6| in extending as a cord across the cylindrical
that these two ñt snugly together and are limited opening of the collar, ñts into a circular groove
as to axial movement. The blades' of the pro 64 in the hub portion 65 of the bearing 5l so that
pellers extending from the hub are designated 26. when the collar is loosened it may be rotated
A sleeve 21 which may be cast integral with about this hub 65 while maintaining its position 5
the bearing l1 extends therefrom in spaced re thereon, in which case the outer cup portion of
lation to the shaft, as shown in Fig. 2, to a loca the stuiling box will be rotated to loosen up or
tion in close proximity to the path of rotation of take up upon the packing 56, as may be desired,
the propeller blade as at 28. This sleeve is per and after the packing is suñiciently squeezed so
forated as at 29 so as to permit free circulation that no leak will occur the bolts 6l will be tight
of water through it and through the bearing 25 ened to hold the collar in place, and likewise re
for lubricating the shaft which extends through tain the packing cupI 55 in place.
the bearing. The edge 30 of this sleeve is pro This collar 58 is provided with a cutting edge
vided with some suitable cutting edge, such for 65 similar to the cutting edge 30 of the collar
instance as saw teeth 3|, so that should a rope previously described, and is also provided with ~
32 of a lobster pot buoy 33, as indicated in Fig. 1, openings 66 for the circulation of water there
engage the propeller, as shown in Fig. 1, and the through. This collar performs the same func
rotation of the blades of Ithe propellertend to tion as previously described in conjunction with
wind the rope 32 about the shaft, this rope would the propeller 22 which it is closely adjacent to.
be spaced from the shaft as wound and would be By reason of the fact that the collar, although it
severed by being drawn into engagement with rotates, >does not move inwardly with the outer
the cutting edge 30 and thus prevent any bind cup 55 of the packing box, the collar maintains
ing action or building up of the rope so as to a ñxed distance from the propeller shaft at all
cause sufficient pressure to spring the shaft or times.
bend the propeller blades or so tightly bind about The foregoing description is directed solely to
the shaft as to prevent circulation of water wards the construction illustrated, but I desire it
through’the bearing. to be understood that I reserve the privilege of
While I have illustrated the collar 2l as formed resorting to all the mechanical changes to which
integral with the bearing I1 it will be readily the device is susceptible, the invention being
apparent that this collar might be made separate defined and limited only by the terms of the ap 30
from the bearing Il and secured thereto in some pended claims.
suitable manner. I claim:
In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a somewhat differ l. In combination, a propeller shaft, a stuffing
ent form of structure in which the deadwood of box about the same having a ñxed part and a ro
the boat is indicated at 35, the propeller shaft tatable take-up part, a propeller on said shaft, a
I6 extending through the deadwood 35 and collar provided with a cutting edge at one end
through a bearing 3S having a flange 3'! thereon concentric with and spaced from said shaft hav
to be bolted as at 38 to the deadwood of the boat. ing engagement with said take-up part, and
This bearing has a bushing 39 with an octagonal means for holding said collar against movement
bore for lubrication, while a stufñng box is usual and with it said take-up part. '
ly located closer to the engine to be accessible 2. In combination, a propeller shaft, a stuñing
from the inside of the boat. In this case the col box about the same having a fixed part and in
lar 40 is separate but has a close fit with the one rotatable take-up part, a propeller on said
bearing 36 to be secured thereto by screws 4I ex shaft, a collar provided with a cutting edge at
tending through bosses 42 in the collar. This one end and concentric with and spaced from
collar 45 of course is provided with openings 43 said shaft and having rotatable engagement with
for the circulation of water therethrough and a said ñxed part and slidable engagement with said
cutting edge adjacent the propeller. take-up part and rotatable therewith and lo
In the modification shown in Fig. 9 propeller cated with on-e end adjacent the path of said pro
shaft I6 is shown as passing through the bore 50 peller, and means for binding said collar on said
of the bearing 5I which is provided with a flange ñxed part to hold it and the take-up part against
52 to be secured from outside to the deadwood of movement,
the boat. This bearing has cast integral there 3. In combination with a propeller shaft and a
with a cup 53 of the stuihng box which is exter propeller thereon, a device for protecting said
nally threaded as'at 55 for the reception of the shaft and propeller, comprising a propeller shaft ` -
outside cup portion 55 which is internally bearing adapted to support said shaft and hav
threaded to ñt therewith. Packing 56 is provided ing a tubular collar extending therefrom and in
between the cup and about the shaft which is close proximity to the path of rotation of said
held in ñrm engagement with the shaft by turn propeller, the end face of said collar adjacent
ing up of the cup 55 on the thread 54. This cup the path of rotation of said propeller having a
55 Yhas a pair of lugs 51 extending radially out cutting edge constructed and arranged to cut a
wardly thereof. A collar 58 is slotted as at 59 to rope or the like coming in contact therewith.
_receive these lugs 5l so that when the collar is 4. The combination as deñned in claim 3 in
rotated the cup 55 will be rotated to take up upon which said cutting edge is saw like.
65 the'packing 5E. Collar 58 is provided with bosses 5. The combination as defined in claim 3 in 65
6|] for the reception of bolts 6l which are thread which said collar has apertures therealong to
ed asrat 62 into one of the bosses while the bolt admit water to said shaft and bearing between
has a head 53 engaging the other boss so that the propeller and bearing.
when turned the collar is contracted. The bolt THOMAS HARRIS. '