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Montblack wrote:
> On the stern of some paddle-wheelers are the paddles. One I have been on had
> its paddle-wheels run by pumps. Pump line ran out of the engine room and
> terminated in a smallish box next to/attached to the wheel's axle.
My guess is that this offers certain advantages such as preventing
the paddles from back-driving the drive train when the engine is
throttled down and also making it possible to use valves to reverse
the paddles direction.
Such a system will also be more efficient for low speeds than for
high speeds.
>
> Would that idea work for aircraft. Pump driven prop?
>
> One advantage would be aerodynamic streamlining of the cowl. The nose of the
> plane could be almost bullet shaped ...engine might be mid plane - anywhere
> really. Engine's prop shaft no longer an issue.
>
A drive shaft is a far more efficient means to transfer mechanical
energy from the engine to the prop.
Consider the P-39 Airacobra. Engine was behind the pilot, the
prop out in front.
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FF
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Re: Pump driven prop????
