Flexible propeller and uses for small vessels

摘要

The present invention relates to a flexible propeller that has the feature of generating propulsive force in only one direction, irrespective of the direction of rotation. The flexible propeller may be used in a mechanism similar to a sterndrive, being actuated by two cables and that are wound around a threaded spindle on the sterndrive shaft, one clockwise and the other anticlockwise, and capable of being actuated alternately longitudinally, causing the flexible propeller to rotate in alternate directions, first in one direction and then in the other. The sterndrive in turn may be used in compact structures that can be fitted to catamarans, kayaks or other types of small vessels, without the need for major alterations to the original vessel.

主权项

1. Flexible propeller and uses for small vessels characterized by presenting a propeller (96) with two blades, made of flexible material, which has two perpendicular holes inside, one hole to accommodate a rigid shaft (97) and the other, along the leading edge of the blades, to accommodate a rigid rod (100), which is inserted through the slot (101) present near the tip of the blade, passing through the hole (98) or (99) of the shaft (97), and then, the end of the blade is inserted on the rod (100), which is positioned, without dropping, along the leading edge of the propeller (96) which, by being made of flexible material, can be deflected around the rod (100) by pressure of the fluid, assuming a helical shape and generating a propulsive force F whose direction coincides with the axis (97) and is always pointing from the trailing edge of the blades to the leading edge of it, regardless of the direction of rotation of the propeller (96).