A curved body (830), for propelling fluids, crafts and harvesting fluid power, comprises a convex outer leading surface securely connected to a concave inner trailing surface to define an open vessel. Upon oscillation, ambient fluids are accelerated and ejected from the vessel to propel the vessel and the ambient fluids in opposite directions. Apparatus is secured to a motive power source directly or via actuating member (832), by fastening through aperture (834). The oscillating propulsor can be operated directly by a reciprocating motive power source, and indirectly by the reaction momentum imparted to a supporting base. Thrust may be vectored by rotation of the curved body (830) about the supporting base. Drag reduction using fluid dynamic shapes, intake openings, a fore fin (844), an aft fin (846), and a lubricant cavity, are embodied. Enhanced propulsion using multistage oscillating propulsors is embodied.

A self-adjusting variable pitch propeller comprises a central hub with an axial propeller centre line defining the rotational axis of the propeller. A plurality of blades extend radially from the hub. The hub exhibits a central bore arranged to receive a rotating drive shaft. Each blade is pivotally fixed to the hub and pivotal about a respective blade pivot axis which extends radially from the hub through the respective blade. Each blade exhibits a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side exhibiting a pressure side area and a suction side exhibiting a suction side area. The blades are mechanically interconnected to freely transfer pivotal movement of each blade to all other blades. The pivotal axis of each blade is positioned such that >50% of the suction side area and of the pressure side area is arranged between the trailing edge and the pivotal axis of the respective blade.

A self-adjusting variable pitch propeller included a central hub with an axial propeller centre line defining the rotational axis of the propeller. A plurality of blades extend radially from the hub. The hub exhibits a central bore arranged to receive a rotating drive shaft. Each blade is pivotally fixed to the hub and pivotal about a respective blade pivot axis which extends radially from the hub through the respective blade. Each blade exhibits a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side exhibiting a pressure side area and a suction side exhibiting a suction side area. The blades are mechanically interconnected to freely transfer pivotal movement of each blade to all other blades. The pivotal axis of each blade is positioned such that >50% of the suction side area and of the pressure side area is arranged between the trailing edge and the pivotal axis of the respective blade.

A Pulsed Locomotor (120), for propelling media, fluids and crafts, in fluids and on land, comprising a blade (124) securely connected to a drive shaft (122). Upon reciprocation, the ambient medium is forced towards the trailing edge of the blade (124) thereby causing a reactive locomotion of the apparatus, substantially along the plane of the blade. Apparatus is secured to motor M by fastening through aperture (130). The apparatus can be operated directly by motor M, and indirectly by the reaction momentum imparted to a supporting platform P. Thrust is directed by steering handle (128) about a bearing (126), rotatably coupling to platform P and base C. Lubricant L is supplied to outlets (134) via conduit (136) and inlet (132), to coat the apparatus with a lubricant cavity, for drag reduction. The blade (124) planes along a figure 8 reciprocation path s1e1s2e2s1. Crafts are embodied.

An outboard motor includes a driving gear that is driven and rotated, and a propeller shaft that extends in a front-rear direction below the driving gear. The outboard motor includes a first transmission gear that is engaged with the driving gear and surrounding the propeller shaft, a propeller-shaft bearing that rotatably supports the propeller shaft, a first-transmission-gear bearing that rotatably supports the first transmission gear, and a support including an intervening portion between the first transmission gear and the propeller shaft. The support supports the propeller-shaft bearing between the intervening portion and the propeller shaft, and supports the first-transmission-gear bearing at a more outward position than the intervening portion in a radial direction of the propeller shaft.

An outboard motor includes a driving gear that is driven and rotated, and a propeller shaft that extends in a front-rear direction below the driving gear. The outboard motor includes a first transmission gear that is engaged with the driving gear and surrounding the propeller shaft, a propeller-shaft bearing that rotatably supports the propeller shaft, a first-transmission-gear bearing that rotatably supports the first transmission gear, and a support including an intervening portion between the first transmission gear and the propeller shaft. The support supports the propeller-shaft bearing between the intervening portion and the propeller shaft, and supports the first-transmission-gear bearing at a more outward position than the intervening portion in a radial direction of the propeller shaft.

The present invention relates to a controllable pitch propeller capable of changing a blade pitch according to the sailing conditions of a ship and, specifically, to a controllable pitch propeller having an optimal hub-to-tip diameter ratio, the propeller being capable of reducing the size of a hub so as to have a high efficiency that is close to the propulsion efficiency of a fixed pitch propeller (FPP). In order to accomplish the aforementioned objective, the present invention relates a controllable pitch propeller which comprises a hub mounted at the propelling shaft of a ship, and a blade that is mounted at the circumference of the hub and that has a variable pitch, and which is technically characterized by a H/D ratio, of diameter (H) of the propeller and diameter (D) of the hub, of 0.170-0.2.

Provided is a driving apparatus of a variable pitch propeller having blades, each of which has a pitch angle changed in a rotational direction of a propeller shaft, and a pitch adjuster for adjusting the pitch angle. The pitch adjuster includes blade actuating shafts that are connected to eccentric stubs coupled to lower ends of the blades and are disposed inside the propeller shaft so as to allow linear reciprocation and to push or pull the eccentric stubs, and a power converter that converts a rotating motion of the propeller shaft into a linearly reciprocating motion of the blade actuating shafts.

A self-adjustable pitch marine vessel propeller attached to a shaft is driven by an engine of a marine vessel, and includes a substantially cylindrical hollow hub and a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the hub and being capable of rotating around an axis being in a radial direction relative to the hub. The propeller comprises an actuator movable linearly along the axis of the hub and at least one motion transmission means communicating with the actuator and each blade for converting the linear motion of the actuator into the rotational motion of each blade in a radial direction relative to the axis of the hub and a resilient member communicating with the actuator.

A novel watercraft propulsion device is disclosed that includes multiple propulsive elements improving power and efficiency over prior designs. A self-adjusting variable pitch propeller is combined with a water jet and an exhaust driven turbine to provide optimal thrust and efficiency across the range of engine power, load and watercraft speed. Propulsive elements are axially disposed around a central drive shaft and exhaust port with the combined water jet/exhaust turbine disposed closest to drive shaft and the variable pitch propeller attached to the exterior of the water jet housing. A rotating duct is fixed to the propeller blades and rotates with the blades to reduce cavitation. Combined apparatus provides increased performance and efficiency over all watercraft speeds/load as well as additional safety due to the ducted propeller. Propulsor with an inducer, conical impeller and a diffuser also shown.