Ratier Metal Propeller with Pitch Variable in Flight

Abstract

One of the serious sources of difficulties in variable pitch propellers is the turning moment or torque due to the centrifugal force which tends to bring the mean plane of the blades into the plane of rotation. This moment, which is found elsewhere only in propellers with removable blades, is so great that the aerodynamic forces, as regards their effect on the torsion, become entirely negligible in comparison with it. This report presents the Ratier Company's solution to changing the pitch of airplane propellers.