ASSEMBLING

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to marine propulsion systems and, more specifically, to a blade retention system for use with a marine propeller assembly.

[0002] At least some known marine propulsion systems include a rotating propeller assembly driven by a power generation unit. The propeller assembly generally includes a central hub and a plurality of propeller blades extending from the central hub. In at least some known marine vessels, such as those capable of transcontinental voyages, the propeller assembly is relatively large having a diameter of several meters. In such assemblies, the weight of the propeller assembly is generally directly proportional to an amount of stress induced on a drive system of the marine propulsion system.

[0003] Recently, at least some known manufacturers have attempted to reduce the amount of stress induced on the drive system by reducing the weight of the propeller assembly, such as by introducing lightweight composite materials into the propeller assembly. For example, the propeller blades may be fabricated from composite material to reduce the weight of the propeller assembly. In at least some known propeller assemblies, the central hub and propeller blades are formed separately from each other and subsequently joined to form an integral structure. However, methods for joining propeller blades fabricated from traditional materials are typically unable to be utilized when joining propeller blades fabricated from composite material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0004] In one aspect, a propeller assembly is provided. The assembly includes a hub having an outer radial surface and a plurality of wedge retaining members removably coupled to the hub. The plurality of wedge retaining members are spaced circumferentially about the outer radial surface such that a dovetail slot is defined between adjacent wedge retaining members. The assembly also includes at least one propeller blade including a root portion having a dovetail profile. The root portion is coupled to the hub and positioned within the dovetail slot. The plurality of wedge retaining members are configured to restrict radial movement of the root portion within the dovetail slot.

[0005] In another aspect, a blade retention system for use with a marine propeller assembly is provided. The system includes a hub including an outer radial surface and a plurality of wedge retaining members removably coupled to the hub. The plurality of wedge retaining members are spaced circumferentially about the outer radial surface such that a dovetail slot is defined between adjacent wedge retaining members. The dovetail slot is configured to receive a root portion of a propeller blade, wherein the plurality of wedge retaining members are configured to restrict radial movement of the root portion within the dovetail slot.

[0006] In yet another aspect, a method of assembling a marine propeller assembly is provided. The method includes coupling a root portion of a propeller blade to an outer radial surface of a hub, the root portion having a dovetail profile. The method further includes positioning a first wedge retaining member and a second wedge retaining member on opposing sides of the root portion, and coupling the first wedge retaining member and the second wedge retaining member to the hub such that the first wedge retaining member and the second wedge retaining member are coupled to the root portion with an interference fit.

DRAWINGS

[0007] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary marine propeller assembly;

[0009] FIG. 2 is an axial view of an exemplary blade retention system that may be used in the marine propeller assembly shown in FIG. 1; and

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary hub that may be used in the blade retention system shown in FIG. 2. [0011] Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings provided herein are meant to illustrate features of embodiments of the disclosure. These features are believed to be applicable in a wide variety of systems comprising one or more embodiments of the disclosure. As such, the drawings are not meant to include all conventional features known by those of ordinary skill in the art to be required for the practice of the embodiments disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings.

[0013] The singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0014] "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not.

[0015] Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as "about", "approximately", and "substantially", are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged. Such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise.

[0016] As used herein, the terms "axial" and "axially" refer to directions and orientations that extend substantially parallel to a centerline of the propulsion shaft or the hub. Moreover, the terms "radial" and "radially" refer to directions and orientations that extend substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the propulsion shaft or the hub. In addition, as used herein, the terms "circumferential" and "circumferentially" refer to directions and orientations that extend arcuately about the centerline of the propulsion shaft or the hub. [0017] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a blade retention system for use with a marine propeller assembly. More specifically, the system described herein includes a hub and a plurality of wedge retaining members removably coupled to the hub. The hub itself does not include retaining features for coupling a plurality of propeller blades thereto. Rather, a root portion of the propeller blades is formed with a dovetail profile, and each propeller blade is positioned between adjacent wedge retaining members. The wedge retaining members engage the root portion of the propeller blades, and are contoured such that radial movement of the propeller blades relative to the hub is restricted. For example, the wedge retaining members include tapered side walls that engage the root portion of the propeller blades with an interference fit when the wedge retaining members are coupled to the hub. As such, the hub design enables the hub to be manufactured in a faster and simplified manner. In addition, the blade retention system enables the use of lightweight propeller blades in the propeller assembly, thereby reducing the weight of the propeller assembly.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a marine propeller assembly 100. In the example embodiment, marine propeller assembly 100 includes a hub 102, a plurality of wedge retaining members 104 removably coupled to hub 102, and a plurality of propeller blades 106 coupled to hub 102. Hub 102 includes a first face 108, a second face 110 (not shown in FIG. 1, facing away from the view in FIG. 1), and a hub body 112 extending between first face 108 and second face 110. First face 108 and second face 110 are also referred to herein as "leading end" and "trailing end," respectively. In the example embodiment, first face 108 is spaced axially aft of second face 110. Hub body 112 further includes a central bore 114 that is axisymmetric with an axis of rotation 116 of marine propeller assembly 100.

[0019] FIG. 2 is an axial view of an exemplary blade retention system 118 that may be used in marine propeller assembly 100 (shown in FIG. 1), and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of hub 102 that may be used in blade retention system 118. In the example embodiment, hub 102 includes an outer radial surface 120, and the plurality of wedge retaining members 104 are spaced circumferentially about outer radial surface 120 such that a dovetail slot 122 is defined between adjacent wedge retaining members 104. As described above, at least one propeller blade 106 is also coupled to hub 102. Propeller blade 106 includes a root portion 124 having a dovetail cross-sectional profile, and root portion 124 is coupled to hub 102 and positioned within dovetail slot 122. As will be described in more detail below, wedge retaining members 104 restrict radial movement of root portion 124 within dovetail slot 122 when subjected to a centrifugal load, for example.

[0020] Hub 102 also includes central bore 114 sized to receive a propulsion shaft 126 therethrough. In some embodiments, hub 102 is coupled to propulsion shaft 126 with a keyed joint 128, for example. Keyed joint 128 includes a keyway 130, a keyseat 132, and a key 134. Keyed joint 128 facilitates restricting relative rotation between hub 102 and propulsion shaft 126, and facilitates torque transmission between hub 102 and propulsion shaft 126. Alternatively, hub 102 is coupled to propulsion shaft 126 with an interference fit, or with an axial spline joint.

[0021] In one embodiment, outer radial surface 120 of hub 102 includes a plurality of receiving surfaces oriented such that outer radial surface 120 has a polygonal cross-sectional profile. More specifically, the plurality of receiving surfaces include a plurality of first receiving surfaces 136 and a plurality of second receiving surfaces 138 alternatingly arranged with each other circumferentially relative to a centerline (i.e., axis of rotation 116 (shown in FIG. 1)) of hub 102. The plurality of first receiving surfaces 136 receive the plurality of wedge retaining members 104 and the plurality of second receiving surfaces 138 receive root portions 124 of propeller blades 106.

[0022] First receiving surfaces 136 and second receiving surfaces 138 are sized based on the size of the component coupled thereto. For example, each wedge retaining member 104 includes an inner radial surface 140 oriented for coupling to first receiving surfaces 136, and root portion 124 of propeller blade 106 includes an inner radial surface 142 oriented for coupling to second receiving surfaces 138. Inner radial surface 140 of wedge retaining member 104 has a smaller width than inner radial surface 142 of root portion 124. As such, correspondingly, first receiving surfaces 136 have a smaller width and a smaller surface area than second receiving surfaces 138 to facilitate substantially flush engagement between hub 102 and wedge retaining members 104, and between hub 102 and root portions 124 of propeller blades 106.

[0023] In addition, propeller blades 106 have a swept profile such that a leading edge and a trailing edge of root portion 124 are circumferentially offset from each other relative to the centerline of hub 102. As such, referring to FIG. 3, the plurality of receiving surfaces, such as first receiving surfaces 136 and second receiving surfaces 138, extend helically about outer radial surface 120 relative to the centerline of hub 102. Extending first receiving surfaces 136 and second receiving surfaces 138 helically about outer radial surface 120 facilitates maintaining flush engagement between hub 102 and root portions 124 of propeller blades 106 when extending between the leading end and the trailing end of hub body 112 (shown in FIG. 1). Similarly, the plurality of wedge retaining members 104 (shown in FIG. 2) are shaped for extending helically along first receiving surfaces 136 when coupled to hub 102. More specifically, wedge retaining members 104 are arcuately shaped circumferentially and radially relative to the centerline of hub 102 when coupled thereto. As such, wedge retaining members 104 are shaped to facilitate flush and secure engagement with root portions 124 when extending between the leading end and the trailing end of hub body 112.

[0024] Referring again to FIG. 2, each wedge retaining member 104 includes a first tapered side wall 144 and a second tapered side wall 146 that each extend from inner radial surface 142. As described above, wedge retaining members 104 are positioned circumferentially about outer radial surface 120, and dovetail slots 122 are defined between adjacent wedge retaining members 104. More specifically, first tapered side wall 144 at least partially defines a first dovetail slot and second tapered side wall 146 at least partially defines a second dovetail slot on an opposing side of each wedge retaining members 104 from the first dovetail slot. For example, in the example embodiment, wedge retaining members 104 include a first wedge retaining member 148 and a second wedge retaining member 150 positioned circumferentially adjacent to each other. Second tapered side wall 146 of first wedge retaining member 148 and first tapered side wall 144 of second wedge retaining member 150 define a dovetail slot 152, and root portion 124 of propeller blade 106 is positioned within dovetail slot 152.

[0025] In addition, wedge retaining members 104 include at least one bore hole 154 extending therethrough. Bore hole 154 is sized to receive a fastener 156 that couples the plurality of wedge retaining members 104 to hub 102. An example fastener 156 includes, but is not limited to, a threaded fastener, such as a bolt. In some embodiments, bore hole 154 includes a countersunk portion 158, and fastener 156 includes a head portion 160 received within countersunk portion 158. As such, head portion 160 is recessed to facilitate limiting its impact on flow field dynamics of fluid passing over wedge retaining members 104.

[0026] Moreover, fastener 156 facilitates preloading first wedge retaining member 148 and second wedge retaining member 150 against root portion 124 with a retaining force when coupling first wedge retaining member 148 and second wedge retaining member 150 to hub 102. For example, tightening fastener 156 increases the retaining force provided by first wedge retaining member 148 and second wedge retaining member 150. As such, first wedge retaining member 148 and second wedge retaining member 150 are coupled to root portion 124 of propeller blade 106 with an interference fit, thereby restricting radial movement of propeller blade 106 relative to hub 102.

[0027] An exemplary technical effect of the systems and methods described herein includes at least one of: (a) assembling a hub and blade assembly in a simplified manner; (b) reducing the weight of a marine propeller assembly; and (c) enabling the use of propeller blades manufactured from composite material in the marine propeller assembly.

[0028] Exemplary embodiments of a marine propeller assembly and related components are described above in detail. The system is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of systems and/or steps of the methods may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein. For example, the configuration of components described herein may also be used in combination with other processes, and is not limited to practice with only turbofan assemblies and related methods as described herein. Rather, the exemplary embodiment can be implemented and utilized in connection with many applications where forming a hub and blade assembly in a simplified manner is desired.

[0029] Although specific features of various embodiments of the present disclosure may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. In accordance with the principles of embodiments of the present disclosure, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.

[0030] This written description uses examples to disclose the embodiments of the present disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice embodiments of the present disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the embodiments described herein is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent stmctural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.