Variable Pitch Hub
By Goose, Section Wind Posted on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 02:31:44 PM MST
Homemade....Variable Pitch

Here is something I made about 4 years ago, and has been in storage ever since.  I have a new design now.  This one will get scrapped. big pic 1 big pic 2 And here is one of the reasons my projects are in storage for awhile.  This is the fun part of my responsibility. big pic 3 big pic 4 big pic 5 i had to remove your pics as they are over 100k so i made them links please resize in the future Kurt

Variable Pitch Hub | 23 comments (23 topical)

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#1) by The Crazy Noob on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 09:15:15 AM MST

Can you give more details about the hub? --- "If the honey bee goes extinct, man would have no more than four years to live." -- Not A. Einstein, nevertheless something to think about!

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#2) by Bruce S on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 10:57:35 AM MST

I've got gray and biscuits on , let's eat:--) Bruce S

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#3) by makenzie71 on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 10:58:47 AM MST

What were you going to use as blades?  How were you going to operate the pitch mechanism? ^ditto

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#8) by Goose on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 02:32:02 PM MST

It will work with lead weights swinging as it turns faster.  Where the pencil is in the picture, there will be a spring compressing as the hub turns faster.  Don't know about blades yet.  I was planing on making fiberglass foam core, but I might try to carve a set out. Goose [ Parent ]

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#4) by The Professor on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 11:17:07 AM MST

Looks much like Marshall Price's plan in Mother Earth News. Currently $25. I bought this plan set about a month ago. Looks to be a pretty good plan for a 12ft diameter mill with a variable pitch hub. He had his running for several years before the article was written. I think this was in 1984.     Just painted the tips red last night. 9ft dia. 2 x 6 lumber

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#6) by Goose on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 02:27:32 PM MST

Yep,   From Mother Earth news,  drawn up by Marshall Price.  I modified, instead of using ball bearings, I used Timken taper roller bearings. Nice blades!  That will be a new thing for me, carving out the blades.  Hopefully they will look as good as yours. Goose [ Parent ]

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#10) by jmk on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 07:33:32 PM MST

I like your blades too. Are those airplain parts up on the shelf in the background. Looks like a spar to a horizontal stab? jmk [ Parent ]

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#13) by The Professor on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 10:07:02 AM MST

Ultralight airplane parts in the back ground,for a geodesic wood and fabric Ritz Standard. 36ft. span. An unfinished project, I console myself by thinking that I have lived this much longer to raise 2 kids and build many other projects.    Link to 4 pics of the pieces.     http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/vula/photos/browse/3de4 [ Parent ]

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#5) by twombo on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 11:56:43 AM MST

Looks like that young fella has a good shooting form.  Nice work "Pop"!! Looks like you are making good investment choices! Mike

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#9) by Goose on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 02:36:34 PM MST

Ya, he's doing pretty good for a 6 year old.  He shot those with my .17 rim fire.  He begs me everyday to get a gun bigger then the daisy.  Maybe a pellet gun for his B-day. Goose [ Parent ]

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#11) by twombo on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 10:03:48 PM MST

Yeah, that little .17 will busta bunny. I'm wanting one myself. I have a couple jazzed up 10-22s, but, would like a little more snap for the big old jacks around here. You can see the confidence in his eyes... very cool little partner! Keep up the good work! Nice variable pitch work too.  Betcha that little tiger will be making hot blue chips soon too! Regards Mike [ Parent ]

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#15) by Goose on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 10:49:25 AM MST

Ya, that little .17 can hit a dime no problem anywhere inside a 150 yards. Goose [ Parent ]

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#7) by Goose on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 02:28:37 PM MST

Sorry Kurt, I had them resized to 100k, but they didn't look very good.  Thanks for making a link for me. Goose

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#12) by txcowdog on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 11:36:18 PM MST

That is a great looking hub and a considerable amount of work. How much fabricaton time do you have invested in that hub?

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#14) by Goose on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 10:46:53 AM MST

up to that point, only a few hours.  The prints Mother Earth sells are pretty good. The new one I want to build will take longer, cause It is my own design.  I will try to get a picture on the board when I get home from work. Goose [ Parent ]

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#17) by Goose on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 08:40:12 PM MST

OK, Maybe somebody can tell me if this will or will not work.  I don't have the governer figured out completely yet, but there will be 3 racks 120degrees apart in the center sliding in and out with fly weights.  To get the right preload on the gears, I was thinking of making the outside of the bearing blocks offset with the bearings(like a cam).  When you rotate the bearing block it will move the gear closer to the rack.  I've had this drawn up with Acad for awhile now, and I am just learning with SolidWorks, so I haven't finished it yet. Goose [ Parent ]

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#16) by wlcoldiron on Tue Sep 26, 2006 at 06:44:27 PM MST

Jacobs used tapered bearings in his flyball governer design. The bearings do not rotate fully causing the rollers to only wear in a small area. this causes the outer race to have high and low wear areas. Mike hackleman's book shows some close ups of what happens. large surface area bushings will be better than the tapered roller bearings for this application.  wlc

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#18) by redsand on Tue Nov 07, 2006 at 10:27:11 AM MST

This seems to be a great hub. The blades are of what material? Carve them from what? Any other problems that might be expected? your design looks solid enough. Though don't take it from me. I am a novice without much experience.

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#19) by smidy on Mon Dec 25, 2006 at 11:28:29 PM MST

hi I have a prop from a small aeroplane, probably a Cessna, with variable pitch blades. if there is any intrest I can take a picture of the hub. I think those hubs should be well worth thinking of for variable pitch windmills canīt be done?? lets do it!!

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#20) by hvirtane on Tue Dec 26, 2006 at 03:59:38 AM MST

That aeroplane prop would be interesting to see. if you can, please take pictures and post here. Some time ago I made draft drawings for a pitch control system:   - Hannu [ Parent ]

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#21) by smidy on Tue Dec 26, 2006 at 07:58:04 AM MST

okay lets se if I can post pictures and and last if you want I can take some messurements tomorow canīt be done?? lets do it!!

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#22) by hvirtane on Wed Dec 27, 2006 at 03:31:35 AM MST

Hi, the pictures are nice. Thank you a lot. But could you put here more pictures about the inside of the hub? - Hannu [ Parent ]

Re: Variable Pitch Hub (3.00 / 0) (#23) by smidy on Wed Dec 27, 2006 at 12:29:14 PM MST

for hannu Yes I think I can take some more pictures tomorow, eventual remove the blade that is in up position in the pictures. It´s not so much to se really, it´s a pretty simple construction: where the blade enters the hub it´s changing shape from airfoil to round and have two ballberings, pretty big about 10-15 cm diameter. Where the "blade" ends inside the hub it´s a tapered hole with a pin in ,so you are able to turn the blade when moving the pin back or forward for "+ or -" pith angle canīt be done?? lets do it!!

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