Nautical Term: Plummer blocks
Definition of Plummer blocks
Plummer blocks are heavy, tapered components designed to support the shaft of a maritime engine or propeller, such as the propeller shaft. These blocks are typically made of cast iron or steel, and are named after their inventor, Samuel Plummer, who patented the design in the United States in 1829.
As an example, consider a sailing ship’s engine room. The engine drives a large propeller that is attached to the ship’s propeller shaft. The propeller shaft is a heavy, cylindrical component that transmits the power from the engine to the propeller. The propeller shaft is supported by a series of large, heavy, tapered components called Plummer blocks, which are typically made of cast iron or steel. These Plummer blocks are carefully installed and secured to the engine room’s structure, and they effectively support and transmit the power from the engine to the propeller, through the propeller shaft and the Plummer blocks.
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