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Ah don't worry about it, remember I am contracted out to the US Navy. I am sure I can find a way to charge it to them for the projects I am working on now. Just got to relate it to the work I am doing with the helios! Or maybe I just go on the library on base and see what I can find!
Careful Zegm, we're going to get into some real engineering here.
IO boats sometimes have cheaper composite props that are variable pitch for one size fits all technology. The bright side is that if you break a blade a new one screws right back in. I only wonder if the blade breaks away, does the hub unlock still and save the other blades?
If you were looking for remote control pitch control and you used a small hollow driveshaft/strut you could use hydraulics to control the pitch, either with exhaust air or a liquid system. Most variable valve controls on cars function based on the pressure from either the air pump or the exhaust. If you ran an exhaust line to the prop pressure would increase as rpm and throttle increase. A lot of trick would be involved in the return mechanism.
Additional exhaust out of the prop potentially adds thrust power, dilutes the exhaust, captures heavier than air particles in the water - potentially reducing chances of co and co2 exposure. The downside is that the wake and thrust become aerated like an outboard's.
In my experience with our io, moving up even one pitch size will create a noticeable difference in top end and low end throttle. Upgrading materials also results in the harder faster pull (al to ss)
Ok now I am looking at the Variable cam timing on my BMW and this has the mind going. We could put a hydraulic slip ring over the driveshaft somewhere after the transmission but before it leaves the hull. The driveshaft will be hollow to send this force down to the prop mechanism. Using the engine oil pressure (like the BMW) we now have the force to activate the mechanism to change the pitch (I will start thinking about this next). The next thing we need is some programming that takes into account the RPM,s the engine load, the speed and maybe a couple other variables. The computer will control the electronically activated hydraulic solenoid to change the pitch as the need arises! Using a computer we will have a variable rate pitch prop that will work for all conditions.
slow down Z. We need to see if we can sell this idea before some one takes it for free like they did with cold fusion :lol:
Upppppps, giving away too much information huh?
The more I think about this.................well, email me at my home address!