Marine propulsion – Screw propeller – With means effecting or facilitating movement of propulsion...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-25
2001-11-27
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Screw propeller
With means effecting or facilitating movement of propulsion...
C114S1440RE
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322408
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to external connectors for marine propulsion steering, and more particularly to apparatus for connecting an outdrive unit to a steering mechanism and/or to another outdrive unit through a tie bar.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Outdrive units for marine propulsion often are provided with steering attachments within the boat. For greater precision and stability in steering, it is desirable to attach the steering mechanism to the outside of the outdrive housing away from the vertical axis about which the unit pivots in steering. When a plurality of outdrive units are mounted on the transom, they are joined together by one or more tie bars that are also attached to the outside of the outdrive housings. Various means have been used for attaching the steering and tie bars to the housing. It is common practice to replace a portion of the housing with a like portion to which attachment elements have been fastened. In the case of the BRAVO brand outdrive from MERCURY MARINE CORP, a rear cover plate bolted onto the housing to close off a lubricant chamber housing gears is removed. It is replaced with a plate carrying attachment elements for tie bars and/or steering. This necessitates draining the lubricant and exposing the chamber to contamination. Furthermore, the great stresses on the housing are all borne by the horizontal threaded bolt holes on the housing that are only designed to hold the plate in place as a closure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a bracket that can be attached to the outside of an outdrive housing without removing any portion of the housing, except some bolts. It is yet another object that the bracket be attached to the housing by bolts that are vertically oriented, and also by bolts that are horizontally oriented for better distribution of forces onto the housing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3756186 (1973-09-01), Nordling
patent: 4573930 (1986-03-01), Queen
patent: 4778418 (1988-10-01), Mondek
patent: 4964354 (1990-10-01), Latham
patent: 5466178 (1995-11-01), Inman
Latham Marine Inc. 2/95 Brochure.
Avila Stephen
Blum Alvin S.
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