Toroidal propeller
The propeller includes a hub supporting a plurality of elongate propeller elements in which a tip of a leading propeller element curves into contact with a trailing propeller element to form a closed structure with increased stiffness and reduced acoustic signature.
1. Toroidal propeller comprising:
a hub supporting a plurality of elongate propeller elements in which a tip of a leading propeller element curves into contact with a trailing propeller element to form a closed structure with increased stiffness and reduced acoustic signature.
2. The toroidal propeller of claim 1 having two or more propeller elements.
3. The toroidal propeller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongate propeller elements comprises three elongate propeller elements.
4. Toroidal propeller comprising:
a hub supporting a plurality of elongate propeller elements in which a terminal end tip of a leading propeller element curves into contact with a trailing propeller element to form a closed structure with increased stiffness and reduced acoustic signature, with a terminal end of the trailing propeller element curving into contact with the hub.
5. The toroidal propeller of claim 4 having two or more propeller elements.
6. The toroidal propeller of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of elongate propeller elements comprises three elongate propeller elements.
7. Toroidal propeller comprising:
a hub supporting a plurality of elongate propeller elements in which a tip of a leading propeller element of a first elongate propeller element of the plurality of elongate propeller elements curves into contact with a trailing propeller element of a second elongate propeller element of the plurality of elongate propeller elements, the second elongate propeller element being an adjacent elongate propeller element to the first elongate propeller element, to form a closed structure with increased stiffness and reduced acoustic signature,
wherein an initiation location at which the tip of the leading propeller element is initiated is at a different location than a termination location at which a tip of the trailing propeller element terminates.
8. The toroidal propeller of claim 7 having two or more propeller elements.
9. The toroidal propeller of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of elongate propeller elements comprises three elongate propeller elements.
10. Toroidal propeller comprising:
a hub supporting a plurality of elongate propeller elements, each elongate propeller element having a first terminal end that extends from the elongate propeller element adjacent thereto and a second terminal end that extends from the hub in which a tip of a leading propeller element curves into contact with a trailing propeller element to form a closed structure with increased stiffness and reduced acoustic signature.
11. The toroidal propeller of claim 10 having two or more propeller elements.
12. The toroidal propeller of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of elongate propeller elements comprises three elongate propeller elements.