Patent ID: 9475558
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: B63H

Claim Text:
1. A marine propulsion linkage for connecting a propeller to a motive power source, comprising: a shaft adapted for rotation about a first axis having a first end and elongated along said first axis from said first end to a second end, said first and second ends terminating said shaft; a means for coupling said shaft to said propeller adjacent said second end; a casing generally co-axial with and circumscribing at least a portion of said shaft between said first and second shaft ends; an anti-cavitation body defining a partial cylinder having a longitudinal axis, a radius of curvature defined by a displacement of said body with respect to said longitudinal axis, a degree of rotation defined by the angular extent of said body about said longitudinal axis and terminating at first and second edges of angular extent, said longitudinal axis angled with respect to said first axis and forming an anti-cavitation chamber adjacent to said propeller and operatively enclosing a vacuum between said anti-cavitation body and a surface of a water body; first and second wings adjacent to said first and second edges of angular extent, respectively, angularly offset from said partial cylinder to extend radially outward therefrom and operatively angled into said water body, wherein said first and second wings are adapted to operatively run below said water body surface and thereby improve a seal between said anti-cavitation body and said water body surface to better maintain said generated vacuum therein; a mounting support rigidly coupled to said casing, said anti-cavitation body removably rigidly coupled to said mounting support; and a means for making small angular adjustments between said anti-cavitation body and said casing, whereby an angle between said anti-cavitation body and said casing is adjustable to constrain said propeller immediately adjacent to and partially above a normal level for said surface of said water body.