Propeller pitch indicator systems for electrically controllable pitch propeller systems on watercraft

Abstract

An electrically actuated propeller pitch control system includes a propeller hub, a propeller assembly, and a crosshead drive system. The propeller hub rotates about the central axis during operation of watercraft. The propeller assembly is coupled to rotate with the propeller hub during operation of the watercraft. The crosshead drive system includes an electric motor, a lead screw, and a pitch position indicator system configured to indicate a pitch angle of propeller blades.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrically actuated propeller pitch control system for use with watercraft, the propeller pitch control system comprising:
 a propeller hub configured to transfer rotational energy from a propulsion shaft to the propeller hub to cause the propeller hub to rotate about a central axis during operation of the watercraft,   a propeller assembly coupled to rotate with the propeller hub during operation of the watercraft, the propeller assembly including a plurality of propeller blades and a crosshead located within the propeller hub and coupled with the plurality of propeller blades, the crosshead configured to move selectively axially relative to the propeller hub without rotating relative to the propeller hub to change a pitch angle of the plurality of propeller blades, and   a crosshead drive system that includes an electric motor located within the propeller hub, a lead screw that extends through a hole formed in the crosshead, and a pitch position indicator system configured to indicate the pitch angle of the plurality of propeller blades, the electric motor being coupled with the lead screw to drive rotation of the lead screw about the central axis relative to the propeller hub to cause the crosshead to move selectively axially along the central axis relative to the propeller hub and thereby change the pitch angle of the plurality of propeller blades,   wherein the pitch position indicator system includes a crosshead follower and a position rod, the crosshead follower extends through the propeller hub and is coupled for axial movement with the crosshead, the position rod is coupled with the crosshead follower and extends away from the propeller hub, through the propulsion shaft, and into a hull of the watercraft, wherein the crosshead follower moves the position rod axially relative to the central axis in response to the crosshead moving axially along the central axis such that an axial location of a marker of the position rod is indicative of the pitch angle of the plurality of propeller blades.   
     
     
         2 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 1 , wherein the crosshead follower includes a base extending radially from the position rod and a plurality of pins extending axially away from the base, the base being coupled to an aft end of the position rod and wherein the plurality of pins are coupled with a forward-facing surface of the crosshead. 
     
     
         3 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of pins are spaced apart circumferentially about the central axis and the base is an annular disk. 
     
     
         4 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 2 , wherein the propeller hub includes a spigot located axially between the crosshead and the propulsion shaft, the spigot is formed to include a plurality of holes extending axially therethrough and circumferentially spaced apart from one another, and wherein each of the plurality of pins extends through a corresponding one of the plurality of holes formed in the spigot and each of the plurality of pins is configured to axially translate within the corresponding one of the plurality of holes in response to the crosshead moving axially along the central axis. 
     
     
         5 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 4 , wherein the propulsion shaft is formed to include a first axial passage extending axially therethrough, the position rod extends through the first axial passage for axial movement within the first axial passage and wherein the base of the crosshead follower is located in the first axial passage for axial movement within the first axial passage. 
     
     
         6 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 5 , wherein the spigot is formed to include a second axial passage extending therethrough along the central axis, the second axial passage being aligned with the first axial passage to define a continuous passageway that extends axially through the propeller pitch control system. 
     
     
         7 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 6 , wherein the crosshead drive system includes a lubrication conduit extending through the continuous passageway to direct lubrication therethrough toward the lead screw and an electrical conduit extending through the continuous passageway and connected with the electric motor to supply power to the electric motor. 
     
     
         8 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 1 , wherein the crosshead drive system includes a bearing having a first plate fixed with a forward-facing surface of the crosshead and a second plate coupled with the first plate to allow for circumferential rotation of the crosshead relative to the crosshead follower, the lead screw extends through the bearing, and wherein the crosshead follower includes a base extending radially from the position rod and a plurality of pins extending axially away from the base, the base being coupled to an aft end of the position rod opposite a terminal end of the position rod, and the plurality of pins being coupled with a forward-facing surface of the second plate. 
     
     
         9 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 8 , wherein the propulsion shaft is formed to include a first axial passage extending axially therethrough, the position rod extends through the first axial passage for axial movement within the first axial passage, and the base of the crosshead follower is located in the first axial passage for axial movement within the first axial passage, and wherein the crosshead drive system includes a lubrication conduit extending through the first axial passage to direct lubrication therethrough toward the lead screw and the bearing and an electrical conduit extending through the first axial passage and connected with the electric motor to supply power to the electric motor. 
     
     
         10 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 1 , wherein the crosshead drive system further includes an encoder configured to generate a signal indicative of a rotational position of the electric motor. 
     
     
         11 . An electrically actuated propeller pitch control system comprising:
 a propeller hub configured to couple with propeller blades and rotate about a central axis,   a crosshead located within the propeller hub,   a lead screw that extends through the crosshead and configured to rotate about the central axis relative to the propeller hub and the crosshead to cause the crosshead to move axially selectively along the central axis relative to the propeller hub,   an electric motor located within the propeller hub and coupled to the lead screw to drive rotation of the lead screw about the central axis, and   a pitch position indicator system that includes a crosshead follower extending through the propeller hub and coupled with the crosshead for axial movement therewith and a position rod coupled with the crosshead follower and extending axially away from the crosshead, and wherein a portion of the position rod provides a marker indicative of an axial position of the crosshead relative to the lead screw.   
     
     
         12 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 11 , wherein the crosshead follower includes a base extending radially from the position rod and a plurality of pins extending axially away from the base and through the propeller hub. 
     
     
         13 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of pins are spaced apart circumferentially about the central axis. 
     
     
         14 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 12 , wherein the propeller hub includes a spigot located axially between the crosshead and the position rod, the spigot is formed to include a plurality of holes extending axially therethrough and circumferentially spaced apart from one another, and wherein each of the plurality of pins extends through a corresponding one of the plurality of holes formed in the spigot, and each of the plurality of pins is configured to axially translate within the corresponding one of the plurality of holes in response to the crosshead moving axially along the central axis. 
     
     
         15 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 11 , wherein the pitch position indicator system includes a bearing coupled with the crosshead and the crosshead follower to allow for circumferential rotation of the crosshead relative to the crosshead follower. 
     
     
         16 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 15 , wherein the bearing includes a first plate fixed with the crosshead and a second plate coupled with the first plate and the crosshead follower. 
     
     
         17 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 11 , wherein the marker includes visual indicia to indicate the axial position of the crosshead relative to the lead screw. 
     
     
         18 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 17 , wherein the marker is a terminal end of the position rod. 
     
     
         19 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 11 , wherein the pitch position indicator system includes a sensor configured to detect a position of the marker relative to the central axis, and the position of the marker is indicative of the axial position of the crosshead relative to the lead screw. 
     
     
         20 . The propeller pitch control system of  claim 11 , further comprising a rotary position encoder located within the propeller hub and coupled to the electric motor, the rotary position encoder configured to detect rotation of the lead screw about the central axis to indicate the axial position of the crosshead relative to the lead screw.