(19)
(11) EP 0 175 533 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
27.08.1986 Bulletin 1986/35

(43) Date of publication A2:
26.03.1986 Bulletin 1986/13

(21) Application number: 85306384

(22) Date of filing: 09.09.1985
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR NL SE

(30) Priority: 17.09.1984 GB 8423433
15.02.1985 GB 8503934

(71) Applicant: VICKERS PLC
 ()

(72) Inventor:
  • May, Eric Raymond
     ()

   


(54) Multi-bladed propeller and shaft assembly


(57) A multi-bladed propeller and shaft assembly is provided in which air can be fed to the propeller blades to reduce the effects of cavitation. A shaft (10) leads to a multi-bladed propeller (15) and carries a sleeve (18) formed with inlet passages (20) and axial and radial passages (21, 24) leading to the respective blades (17). A slip ring (45) supported in an anti-rotation device (62) allows the shaft sleeve (18) to rotate within axially spaced bearings (46, 47) of the slip ring (45). Axially spaced air seals (49, 50) together define with the body (48) of the slip ring an annulus (51) within which inlet passages (20) rotate. Each seal (49 or 50) is formed as a multiplicity of arcuate segments (80) resiliently biased towards the sleeve (18) and having movably selaed end face portions (81, 82) to maintain pressure tightness. The body (48) further has a radial flow passage (57) for admission of air under pressure to the annular space (57) and a flexible fluid connector (56) connects the radial flow passage (57) to an air supply line (54) leading from the hull structure. The present shaft delivery slip ring avoids the need to feed air down the whole length of the propeller shaft or to feed air into the hub through a slip ring making wiping contact with the hub, which is structurally more complex.







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