Marine propeller with an adjustable exhaust structure

Abstract

A marine propeller with an adjustable exhaust structure is disclosed. Each adjustable exhaust device of the adjustable exhaust structure includes an exhaust hole unit with exhaust through holes cut through the outer surface and inner surface of the propeller hub of the marine propeller, an adjustment member with shielding portions mounted in the exhaust hole unit, and a fastening member for securing the adjustment member in position. The adjustment member is movable to adjust the shielding area of the shielding portions relative to the exhaust through holes when disengaged from the constraint of the fastening member. Thus, the exhaust volume is adjustable to fit different conditions without changing any component parts of the marine propeller, facilitating ease of use of the marine propeller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A marine propeller comprising a propeller body, said propeller body comprising a propeller hub and a plurality of propeller blades, said propeller hub comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said propeller blades being extended outwardly from said outer surface of said propeller hub, wherein said marine propeller further comprises: at least one adjustable exhaust device, each said adjustable exhaust device comprising an exhaust hole unit cut through said outer surface and said inner surface of said propeller hub, an adjustment member mounted in said exhaust hole unit, and fastening means for securing said adjustment member to said exhaust hole unit in position, said exhaust hole unit comprising at least one exhaust through hole, said adjustment member comprising at least one shielding portion for shielding said at least one exhaust through hole, said adjustment member being movable relative to said exhaust hole unit to adjust the shielding area of said at least one shielding portion relative to said at least one exhaust through hole before being secured in position by said fastening means. 
     
     
         2 . The marine propeller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said fastening means is a fastening member detachably mounted at said adjustment member, said at least one shielding portion of said adjustment member being movable relative to said at least one exhaust through hole after detachment of said fastening member from said adjustment member. 
     
     
         3 . The marine propeller as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said adjustment member is rotatable relative to said propeller hub to adjust the shielding area of said at least one shielding portion relative to said at least one exhaust through hole. 
     
     
         4 . The marine propeller as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said exhaust hole unit further comprises an axle hole; said adjustment member comprises a shaft inserted into said axle hole and rotatable relative to said propeller hub after detachment of said fastening member from said adjustment member, and an adjustment disc formed integral with said shaft, said adjustment disc comprising at least one through hole and said at least one shielding portion, said at least one through hole being kept in communication with said at least one exhaust through hole. 
     
     
         5 . The marine propeller as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said exhaust hole unit further comprises a recess located on said outer surface of said propeller hub, said recess defining therein a bottom wall; said axle hole and said at least one exhaust through hole extend through said bottom wall of said recess and said inner surface of said propeller body; said adjustment disc is set in said recess. 
     
     
         6 . The marine propeller as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein one of said exhaust hole unit and said adjustment member comprises a plurality of notches, and the other of said exhaust hole unit and said adjustment member comprises at least one block selectively engaged into said notches. 
     
     
         7 . The marine propeller as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said recess of said exhaust hole unit further comprises an inner peripheral wall; said at least one block is extended from said inner peripheral wall; said adjustment disc of said adjustment member comprises a peripheral wall; said notches are located on the peripheral wall of said adjustment disc of said adjustment member. 
     
     
         8 . The marine propeller as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said exhaust hole unit comprises two blocks disposed at two opposing sides; said notches of said adjustment member are equiangularly spaced around a circle. 
     
     
         9 . The marine propeller as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said exhaust hole unit comprises a plurality of exhaust through holes spaced around said axle hole; said adjustment disc of said adjustment member comprises a plurality of through holes spaced around said shaft and respectively kept in communication with said exhaust through holes of said exhaust hole unit, and one said shielding portion disposed between each two adjacent said through holes. 
     
     
         10 . The marine propeller as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said shaft of said adjustment member comprises a groove extending around the periphery thereof; said fastening means is a C-shaped retaining ring mounted in said groove of said shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The marine propeller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said exhaust hole unit further comprises a recess located on said outer surface of said propeller hub; said adjustment member is set in said recess. 
     
     
         12 . The marine propeller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one adjustable exhaust device is arranged in such a manner that one said adjustable exhaust device is disposed between each two adjacent said propeller blades. 
     
     
         13 . A marine propeller comprising a propeller body, said propeller body comprising a propeller hub and a plurality of propeller blades, said propeller hub comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, said propeller blades being extended outwardly from said outer surface of said propeller hub, wherein said marine propeller further comprises: at least one adjustable exhaust device, each said adjustable exhaust device comprising an exhaust hole unit, an adjustment member mounted in said exhaust hole unit, and fastening means for securing said adjustment member to said exhaust hole unit in position, said exhaust hole unit comprising a through hole extending through said outer surface and said inner surface of said propeller hub and a plug fixedly mounted in said through hole, said plug comprising at least one exhaust through hole, said adjustment member comprising at least one shielding portion for shielding said at least one exhaust through hole, said at least one shielding portion being movable relative to said at least one exhaust through hole to adjust the shielding area of said at least one shielding portion relative to said at least one exhaust through hole before being secured in position by said fastening means.