Propeller
part · 1836 · Industrial Revolution
A bladed screw that drives a ship or an aircraft.
Principles and materials it uses
- Screw — uses. A propeller “screws” itself into the water, like an Archimedes’ screw.
- Cast iron — is made of. Early propellers were cast iron, then bronze.
- Bronze — is made of. Bronze does not rust in seawater.
Where it is used
- Screw steamship — is part of. A propeller.
- Ocean liner — is part of. Propellers.
- Submarine — is part of. A propeller.
- Hovercraft — is part of. Air propellers.
- Airship — is part of. Air propellers.
- Aeroplane — is part of. Propeller aircraft.
- Quadcopter (drone) — is part of. Air propellers.
- Nuclear icebreaker — is part of. Propellers.
- Electric fan — is part of. The blades.
- Torpedo — is part of. Propellers.
- Outboard motor — is part of. A propeller.
- Icebreaker — is part of. Propellers.
- Bow thruster — is part of. A propeller in a tunnel.
- Turboprop — is part of. A propeller.
- Autogyro — is part of. A tractor propeller.
- Amphibious vehicle — is part of. A propeller.
- Blimp — is part of. Propellers provide thrust.
- Biplane — is part of. A tractor propeller.
- Seaplane — is part of. A propeller.
- Hydrofoil — is part of. A propeller.
History: what it evolved from and what it influenced
- Archimedes’ screw — evolved from. The first propellers by Smith and Ericsson were a variation on the Archimedes’ screw.