Marine propulsion – Screw propeller – With means effecting or facilitating movement of propulsion...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-01
2002-09-24
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Screw propeller
With means effecting or facilitating movement of propulsion...
C440S057000, C114S150000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06454620
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to an extended sterndrive transom assembly with trim and steering cylinders and, more particularly, to a system which advantageously positions trim and steering cylinder components and related hydraulic devices for more effective control of the outdrive unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of sterndrive marine propulsion systems are well known to those skilled in the art. In addition to the sterndrive systems available in commercial quantities from manufacturers, such as the Mercury Marine division of Brunswick Corporation, several aftermarket products are available which can be installed for use in conjunction with sterndrive systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,203, which issued to Lohse on Jun. 10, 1975, discloses a sterndrive for boats. Two hydraulic cylinders, one on each side of the sterndrive and disposed between the tilt housing and the dirigible unit, steer the latter on the axis of the vertical drive shaft. The tilt housing is carried by lateral trunnions rotatable in bearings of the transom mounting on a transverse axis generally passing near the center of the universal joint in the horizontal driveshaft which extends through the transom. A trim adjustment and power tilt cylinder is disposed between the tilt housing and the transom mounting. The dirigible unit is suspended by the vertical driveshaft from an upper gear housing which, in turn, is removably secured to the tilt housing. The vertical driveshaft is protected from thrust and impact stresses by a steering support tube constituting a part of the dirigible unit and surrounding the shaft within a sleeve of the upper gear housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,463, which issued to Arneson on Feb. 24, 1987, describes a marine outdrive apparatus. The outdrive is attachable to the transom of a boat having an inboard engine. The marine outdrive includes a tubular support casing securable to and extendable rearwardly of the boat's transom and having a ball socket at its rear end. The ball socket receives a ball at the front end of a tubular, propeller shaft carrier having a conical outer surface. A driveshaft connectable to the inboard engine is journalled in the support casing. A propeller shaft is journalled in the propeller shaft carrier and has a propeller mounted thereon at the rear end of the propeller shaft carrier. A universal joint couples the two shafts together, the center of such joint substantially coinciding with the point about which the ball pivots within the socket. Hydraulic steering cylinders are attached to the propeller shaft carrier to pivot the latter about a steering axis extending through the pivot point of the ball. A hydraulic trim cylinder extends between the transom and the propeller shaft carrier to swing the propeller shaft carrier about a laterally extending trim axis extending through the pivot point of the ball. The upper end of the trim cylinder is pivotally mounting on the transom at a location above and vertically aligned with the pivot point of the ball or at a location above and forwardly of such pivot point. Improved fins are provided on the propeller shaft carrier near the propeller to stabilize the boat. The driveshaft of the inboard motor can be directly connected to the joint or offset from the joint and coupled thereto by a vertically extending transmission.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,604, which issued to Borgersen on May 26, 1998, describes a boat propeller drive unit. The drive unit comprises a frame-like carrier intended to be fixedly joined to a boat transom, and a propeller rig which is suspended in a fork for trim and tilting movement relative to the fork about a horizontal axis. The fork, in turn, is mounted in the carrier for pivoting about a vertical steering axis. A pair of hydraulically operated piston cylinder devices are pivotally joined at opposite ends to the rig and to the legs of the fork.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,529, which issued to Binversie et al on Dec. 13, 1994, describes a trim assembly. A marine propulsion device comprises a transom bracket adapted to be mounted on a boat transom, a swivel bracket supported on the transom bracket for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal tilt axis, a propulsion unit mounted on the swivel bracket for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally vertical steering axis, a cylinder which is mounted on one of the swivel brackets and the transom bracket and which has a tapered inner surface defining an open end, a piston slidably housed by the cylinder, a rod having a first end connected to the piston and a second end extending from the open end of the cylinder, a mechanism for transmitting thrust forces from the other of the transom brackets the swivel bracket to the second end of the rod, and an end cap surrounding the rod and having a tapered outer surface engaged with the tapered inner surface of the cylinder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,510, which issued to Rump on Mar. 26, 1991, describes a steering mechanism for a marine propulsion device. The invention provides a hydraulic steering assembly for a marine propulsion unit in which the axis of the cylinder travels parallel to the axis of the propulsion unit tilt axis during pivotal steering of the propulsion unit. The steering assembly provides two, two-bar link arms interconnecting the tilt tube and cylinder rod.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,290, which issued to Hall on Oct. 7, 1986, describes a marine propulsion steering assist device. The device comprises a propulsion unit pivotable about a first steering axis to steer a marine vehicle. It also comprises a trim tab mounted on the propulsion unit and pivotable about a second steering axis for assisting in steering the vehicle. The invention comprises a hydraulic sensing arrangement for sensing torque on the propulsion unit relative to the first steering axis to pivot the trim tab in response to the torque.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,871, which issued to Hall et al on Feb. 12, 1985, describes a hydraulic system for marine propulsion device with sequentially operating tilt and trim means. A marine propulsion device comprises a first pivot connecting a stem bracket to a transom bracket for pivotal movement therebetween about a first pivot axis which is horizontal when the transom bracket is boat mounted, a second pivot connecting the swivel bracket to the stem bracket for pivotal movement of the swivel bracket with the stem bracket and relative to the stern bracket about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis. A propulsion unit includes, at the lower end thereof, a rotatably mounted propeller and connected to the swivel bracket for steering movement therebetween and for common pivotal movement. A trim cylinder piston assembly is pivotally connected to the stem bracket and to the swivel bracket and includes first and second ends. A tilt cylinder piston assembly is pivotally connected to the transom bracket means and to the stem bracket and includes first and second ends. A hydraulic system is provided for sequentially operating the tilt and trim cylinder piston assemblies.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,107, which issued to Buddrus on Nov. 12, 1974, describes a hydraulic marine propulsion and guidance system. The system is intended for use with a marine vessel and consists of a fluid pressure generating system and a helm pressure generating unit located within the vessel, a tilting fluid actuator mounted to the transom of the vessel, a lift clevis operatively connected to the shaft of the tilting actuator, and a rotary fluid actuator mounted within the lift clevis. A steering clevis is operatively connected to the shaft of the rotary fluid actuator and a fluid motor propeller assembly is secured to the steering clevis. An additional fluid pump is located within the vessel and fluid conduits are operatively connecting the same to the tilting actuator such that as the pump is operated the shaft of the tilting actuator rotates the lift clevis in turn tilting the fluid motor propeller assembly. Further fluid conduits are operatively connecti
Leroux John C.
Moses George
Schaub Gary J.
Theisen Thomas G.
Basinger Sherman
Brunswick Corporation
Lanyi William D.
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