Anti-entanglement propeller for underwater operation

Abstract

A propeller for attachment to a rotatable output shaft of a submersible motor includes a hub having a first end, and an opposite second end, an outer curved surface, at least two blades extending radially outward from the outer curved surface and a central axial bore for receipt of the output shaft therethrough. The hub includes an arrangement of discharge channels extending between the first and second ends to allow waterflow and debris (e.g., grass, weeds and other stringy items) to pass through the hub and exit the second end without becoming entangled around the base of the motor output shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A propeller for attachment to a rotatable output shaft of a submersible motor comprising:
 a hub including a first end, an opposite second end, an outer curved surface between the first and second ends, and a central axial bore for receipt of the output shaft therethrough;   at least two blades extending radially outward from the outer curved surface of the hub; and   a plurality of discharge channels extending from the first end to the second end of the hub, and each of the plurality of discharge channels being open at the first and second ends of the hub and having an unobstructed passage therethrough, and each of the plurality of discharge channels being structured and disposed to direct waterflow and debris therethrough from the first end and exiting the second end of the hub to avoid becoming entangled around the output shaft during operation of the motor and propeller, wherein the propeller is drivingly rotated by the output shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The propeller as recited in  claim 1  wherein the outer curved surface of the hub is cylindrical. 
     
     
         3 . The propeller as recited in  claim 1  wherein the hub further includes an inner curved surface concentric with the outer curved surface. 
     
     
         4 . The propeller as recited in  claim 3  wherein the plurality of discharge channels extend from the first end to the second end of the hub and between the outer curved surface and the inner curved surface. 
     
     
         5 . The propeller as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a stop pin fitted transversely through the output shaft; and 
 a transverse slot formed in the hub for receiving the stop pin and limiting axial movement of the hub on the output shaft towards the motor, thereby preventing the hub from contacting the motor. 
 
     
     
         6 . The propeller as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of discharge channels has an oval cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The propeller as recited in  claim 6  wherein the transverse cross-sectional configuration of each of the plurality of discharge channels is uniform along the length of each of the plurality of discharge channels from the first end to the second end of the hub.