Propeller drive shaft and bearing assembly

Claim 1

A PROPELLER DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR A SHIP HAVING A HULL, A BULKHEAD SPACED FROM SAID HULL AND DEFINING A TANK THEREWITH, AND A RIGID AXIALLY HORIZONTAL TUBE EXTENDING IN A FORE AND AFT DIRECTION AND SECURED AT OPPOSITE ENDS TO SAID HULL AND BULKHEAD WITH OPENINGS IN THE HULL AND BULKHEAD RESPECTIVELY REGISTERING WITH OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE TUBE; SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL DRIVE SHAFT SECTION ROTATABLY DISPOSED IN SAID TUBE AND EXTENDING ITS REAR END THROUGH THE HULL TO SUPPORT A PROPELLER AND EXTENDING AT ITS FORWARD END THROUGH THE BULKHEAD FOR DRIVING CONNECTION TO AN ENGINE, A PLURALITY OF SEMICYLINDRICAL BEARING PLATES DISPOSED IN SAID TUBE BETWEEN THE DRIVE SHAFT SELECTION AND SAID TUBE, SAID BEARING PLATES BEING REMOVABLE THROUGH A FORWARD END OF THE TUBE AND THE OPENING IN THE BULKHEAD, AND A GLAND ASSEMBLY AT THE BULKHEAD ADJUSTABLY SECURED THERETO FOR SEALING THE SHAFT AT SAID FORWARD END OF THE TUBE, SAID GLAND ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FLAT RING HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED HOLES, A PLURALITY OF STUDS MOUNTED IN SAID BULKHEAD AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HOLES IN THE RING, FIRST GEAR NUTS MOUNTED ON THE STUDS, AND IDLER GEAR NUTS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY THE RING AND ALTERNATING WITH FIRST NAMED GEAR NUTS, WHEREBY TURNING ANY ONE GEAR NUT ROTATES ALL GEAR NUTS FOR ADVANCING THE RING AXIALLY TO SEAL THE SHAFT SECTION TO THE OPENING IN THE BULKHEAD AND FOR RETRACTING THE RING TO RELEASE THE SEALING OF THE SHAFT SECTION TO THE OPENING IN THE BULKHEAD.