In an apparatus for controlling an outboard motor mounted on a boat and having an internal combustion engine and a variable pitch propeller, characteristics defining a desired pitch angle of the propeller that makes fuel consumption minimum relative to a navigation speed of the boat are memorized and the pitch angle of the propeller is controlled to the desired pitch angle that is corresponding to the navigation speed detected by a navigation speed detector in accordance with the characteristics.

In an apparatus for controlling an outboard motor mounted on a boat and having an internal combustion engine and a variable pitch propeller, characteristics defining a desired pitch angle of the propeller that makes fuel consumption minimum relative to a navigation speed of the boat are memorized and the pitch angle of the propeller is controlled to the desired pitch angle that is corresponding to the navigation speed detected by a navigation speed detector in accordance with the characteristics.

The object of the invention is a method and an apparatus in an electric propulsion arrangement of a sailing vessel, wherein the sailing vessel has a traction device provided with an electric motor and with a propeller mechanism, the electric motor of traction device is arranged to be used, if necessary, in forward drive and reverse drive as well as during sailing as a generator for charging the accumulators of the sailing vessel. The propeller mechanism comprises a propeller hub with blades, a hollow propeller shaft fixed at its first end to the propeller hub, a shaft controlling the pitch angles of the propeller blades, said control shaft rotating inside the propeller shaft, and a servomotor rotating the control shaft. The servomotor is fixed to the second end of the propeller shaft to be rotatable along with the propeller shaft.

The object of the invention is a method and an apparatus in an electric propulsion arrangement of a sailing vessel, wherein the sailing vessel has a traction device provided with an electric motor and with a propeller mechanism, the electric motor of traction device is arranged to be used, if necessary, in forward drive and reverse drive as well as during sailing as a generator for charging the accumulators of the sailing vessel. The propeller mechanism comprises a propeller hub with blades, a hollow propeller shaft fixed at its first end to the propeller hub, a shaft controlling the pitch angles of the propeller blades, said control shaft rotating inside the propeller shaft, and a servomotor rotating the control shaft. The servomotor is fixed to the second end of the propeller shaft to be rotatable along with the propeller shaft.

A device with a variable pitch propeller for an outboard motor that allows for controllable pitch and can be mounted to a standard outboard motor without significant modifications. The device includes a variable pitch propeller having a front side and a rear side. The variable pitch propeller can be mounted to a shaft of the outboard motor at the front side thereof. A pitch control assembly is coupled to the rear side of the variable pitch propeller for controlling the pitch of the variable pitch propeller. The pitch control assembly includes a servo linear actuator. The pitch control assembly is further mounted to the outboard motor through a mounting member.

A device with a variable pitch propeller for an outboard motor that allows for controllable pitch and can be mounted to a standard outboard motor without significant modifications. The device includes a variable pitch propeller having a front side and a rear side. The variable pitch propeller can be mounted to a shaft of the outboard motor at the front side thereof. A pitch control assembly is coupled to the rear side of the variable pitch propeller for controlling the pitch of the variable pitch propeller. The pitch control assembly includes a servo linear actuator. The pitch control assembly is further mounted to the outboard motor through a mounting member.

A movable-blade operation system for a hydraulic machine according to an embodiment includes an oil hydraulic cylinder installed within a rotational shaft, a bidirectional pump, a pump drive motor, a control unit, and an oil head installed in the hydraulic machine. The bidirectional pump selectively feeds pressurized hydraulic oil to one of a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber. The oil head couples the rotational shaft rotatably, and the hydraulic oil fed from the bidirectional pump to the first cylinder chamber and the second cylinder chamber flows through the oil head. The bidirectional pump, the pump drive motor, and the control unit are installed outside the hydraulic machine.

A movable-blade operation system for a hydraulic machine according to an embodiment includes an oil hydraulic cylinder installed within a rotational shaft, a bidirectional pump, a pump drive motor, a control unit, and an oil head installed in the hydraulic machine. The bidirectional pump selectively feeds pressurized hydraulic oil to one of a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber. The oil head couples the rotational shaft rotatably, and the hydraulic oil fed from the bidirectional pump to the first cylinder chamber and the second cylinder chamber flows through the oil head. The bidirectional pump, the pump drive motor, and the control unit are installed outside the hydraulic machine.

A propeller drive arrangement includes a propeller shaft, a planetary gear comprising a first planetary gear member, a second planetary gear member and a third planetary gear member which are drivingly connected, and an outer shaft arranged coaxially with and radially outside of the propeller shaft. The outer shaft is drivingly connected to one or more propeller blades for varying the pitch angle, and the propeller shaft is drivingly fixed to one of the planetary gear members and another one of the planetary gear members is arranged to drive the outer shaft by a driving torque exerted on the propeller shaft. The propeller drive arrangement has a pitch controlling member for varying the pitch angle of the one or more propeller blades, in a first state, to rotationally fix the third planetary gear member to the second planetary gear member so that the propeller shaft and the outer shaft are arranged to rotate with the same rotational speed, and, in a second state, to engage the third planetary gear member to a housing so that the third planetary gear member is rotationally fixed with respect to the housing.

A propeller drive arrangement includes a propeller shaft, a planetary gear comprising a first planetary gear member, a second planetary gear member and a third planetary gear member which are drivingly connected, and an outer shaft arranged coaxially with and radially outside of the propeller shaft. The outer shaft is drivingly connected to one or more propeller blades for varying the pitch angle, and the propeller shaft is drivingly fixed to one of the planetary gear members and another one of the planetary gear members is arranged to drive the outer shaft by a driving torque exerted on the propeller shaft. The propeller drive arrangement has a pitch controlling member for varying the pitch angle of the one or more propeller blades, in a first state, to rotationally fix the third planetary gear member to the second planetary gear member so that the propeller shaft and the outer shaft are arranged to rotate with the same rotational speed, and, in a second state, to engage the third planetary gear member to a housing so that the third planetary gear member is rotationally fixed with respect to the housing.