The invention relates to a propeller arrangement (1) having a propeller part (2) and a shaft part (3), in particular for an underwater vacuum cleaner, wherein the propeller part (2) and the shaft part (3) are coaxially connected to one another via a latching connection (4), which latching connection (4) has at least two latching fingers (5) which can move elastically in a latching direction (R) radially with respect to an axis of rotation (1a) of the propeller arrangement (1), and a latching opening (6) for accommodating the latching fingers (5). The latching fingers (5) are formed integrally with the shaft part (3). The latching fingers (5) and the latching opening (6) form—in and/or against a direction of rotation (P) of the propeller arrangement (1) —a positive connection. This enables an easily detachable rotary connection between the propeller part (2) and the shaft part (3) in a simple manner.

A propeller includes a bushing, a propeller body, and a propeller damper. The bushing includes a first cylinder portion surrounding the propeller shaft and a first projection protruding outwardly in a radial direction of the propeller from an outer peripheral surface of the first cylinder portion. The propeller body includes a second cylinder portion surrounding the bushing and a second projection protruding inwardly in the radial direction from an inner peripheral surface of the second cylinder portion. The first and second projections are arranged along a rotation direction of the propeller. The propeller damper includes first and second dampers side by side along an axial direction of the propeller between the first and second cylinders. The first and second dampers are separated from each other by a separation portion, and are individually elastically deformable.

A propeller apparatus of a ship propulsion machine includes a tubular member inserted into an insertion hole so as to be movable in a circumferential direction with respect to a hub. First concave portions arranged in a circumferential direction are formed in an outer peripheral surface of the tubular member. Second concave portions arranged in the circumferential direction so as to respectively face the first concave portions are formed in an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole. Each of the elastic bodies has a spherical or columnar shape, a first portion of each of the elastic bodies is disposed in each of the first concave portions, a second portion of each of the elastic bodies is disposed in each of the second concave portions, and the elastic bodies are rotatably held between the first concave portions and the second concave portions facing each other.

Systems and methods are provided for using an additively manufactured vehicle, such as an UUV, with additively manufactured modules. The vehicle may be configurable such that additively manufactured modules or components may be detachably connected to the vehicle by hand, without the use of tools. Such modules may include connectors adapted to securely attach additional modules that may be detached by hand, without the use of tools. The additively manufactured modules may include ball bearings for rotating modules such as propellers and thrusters, and clips or tabs for detachable connection. The modules may include optical components for communications between a swarm of unmanned vehicles. Such optical modules for underwater vehicles may utilize nephelometry and/or turbidimetry to improve communications parameters based on scattered light measurements.

A field configurable autonomous vehicle includes modular elements and attachable components. The vehicle can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed vehicles for each mission. The main body of the vehicle is a spherical body.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a propeller, a driving device, and an elastic abutting member sleeve. The propeller includes a blade base, a blade mounted on the blade base, and a first installation foolproof member disposed on the blade base. The driving device includes a main body, a driving shaft rotatable relative to the main body, a locking member disposed on the main body, and a second installation foolproof member disposed on the locking member. The driving device is coupled with the propeller. The elastic abutting member is coupled with the driving shaft and disposed between the main body and the blade base and abuts against the main body and the blade base.

A system for rotating a propeller shaft within a gearcase via a driveshaft. A stub shaft is rotatable within the gearcase. A forward gear is rotatably coupled to the stub shaft. The forward gear is rotatable by the driveshaft and is engageable to become rotatably fixed to the stub shaft such that rotating the driveshaft rotates the stub shaft. A shock absorbing coupler is positioned within the gearcase. The shock absorbing coupler couples the stub shaft to the propeller shaft and is torsional such that shock is absorbable between the propeller shaft and the driveshaft.

The invention relates to a propeller arrangement (1) having a propeller part (2) and a shaft part (3), in particular for an underwater vacuum cleaner, wherein the propeller part (2) and the shaft part (3) are coaxially connected to one another via a latching connection (4), which latching connection (4) has at least two latching fingers (5) which can move elastically in a latching direction (R) radially with respect to an axis of rotation (1a) of the propeller arrangement (1), and a latching opening (6) for accommodating the latching fingers (5).

The latching fingers (5) are formed integrally with the shaft part (3). The latching fingers (5) and the latching opening (6) form—in and/or against a direction of rotation (P) of the propeller arrangement (1)—a positive connection. This enables an easily detachable rotary connection between the propeller part (2) and the shaft part (3) in a simple manner.

A marine propulsion device includes a propeller, a propeller shaft, a bushing, a damper, and a spacer. The propeller shaft supports the propeller. The bushing is between the propeller and the propeller shaft and is unitarily rotatable with the propeller shaft. The damper is fixed to the bushing to transmit rotation of the propeller shaft to the propeller. The spacer is spaced apart from the propeller in a back-and-forth direction in front of the bushing to position the bushing in place with respect to the propeller shaft.

A propeller apparatus of a ship propulsion machine includes a tubular member inserted into an insertion hole so as to be movable in a circumferential direction with respect to a hub. First concave portions arranged in a circumferential direction are formed in an outer peripheral surface of the tubular member. Second concave portions arranged in the circumferential direction so as to respectively face the first concave portions are formed in an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole. Each of the elastic bodies has a spherical or columnar shape, a first portion of each of the elastic bodies is disposed in each of the first concave portions, a second portion of each of the elastic bodies is disposed in each of the second concave portions, and the elastic bodies are rotatably held between the first concave portions and the second concave portions facing each other.