Marine propulsion – Screw propeller – Shafting
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-12
2004-07-06
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Screw propeller
Shafting
C440S053000, C440S112000, C277S391000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06758707
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to marine vessels and more particularly to a marine inboard propulsion system.
BACKGROUND
Marine vessels such as small water skiing boats and the like typically utilize inboard propeller drive propulsion systems. Unlike an outboard type of propulsion drive, the inboard drive system includes a motor within the boat that includes a drive shaft extending through the hull to the stern. The drive shaft drives a propeller. The advantage of inboard drive as opposed to other types of marine propulsion systems is that the rotation of the propeller causes fewer vortex turbulents generated by the propeller at the surface of the water. This permits a rapid start of the boat while allowing a water skier to traverse across a fewer rear wake vortices generated by the propeller without the water turbulents generally associated with other types of marine drives, such as outboard and stern drive systems.
As seen in prior art
FIG. 1
, one typical implementation of a inboard drive system
10
includes a motor
11
that uses a drive coupling
13
to rotate a drive shaft
15
through a stuffing box
17
. As best seen in prior art
FIG. 2
, the stuffing box
17
is a cylindrical structure that allows the drive shaft
15
to pass though the hull
19
of the boat. The stuffing box
17
generally is a flexible hose or rubber housing
21
sealed by hose clamps
23
or the like. The stuffmg box
17
is typically filled or “stuffed” with stuffing rope to prevent water leakage into the boat around the drive shaft
15
. Although the stuffing box
17
may be integrally fastened to the hull
19
, a user must continually insure that the packing nut
26
and hose clamps
23
are secured tightly so as to prevent water from entering inside the boat hull. Moreover, the stuffing box
17
must be precisely aligned with that portion of the boat's hull allowing the shaft to pass though. Since the shaft log
22
is fixed into position, any misalignment provides additional friction and wear to the shaft as it passes though the rubber housing
21
and packing nut
26
.
In
FIG. 3
, as the drive shaft
15
extends from the transmission coupling, through the stuffing box
17
, to be supported by a strut
25
. In some instances the drive shaft
15
may be enclosed within protective oil lubricated cover or tube
27
to prevent water, mud and/or other liquids from entering the enclosure. Alternatively, the drive shaft
15
will extend directly through the strut
25
which provides support for the drive shaft
15
before reaching a propeller (not shown). The strut
25
typically includes a mounting blade
31
which acts to fix the strut
25
at some predetermined position on the hull of the boat. The strut further includes some type of water lubricated bearing (not shown) such as a cutless bushing to allow the drive shaft
15
to spin within the strut
25
using water as a lubricant. Problems typically associated with this type of arrangement include the friction and continual wear of the water lubricated bearing. Over time excessive play can develop within the strut to the extent that the drive shaft will move laterally and/or radially and is no longer held into a fixed position during rotation. Hence, the strut requires continual attention, repair and replacement of the water lubricated bearing to insure the most optimum and efficient transfer of power to the propeller
29
to help reduce the undesired effects of vibration and movement.
In view of these shortcomings in the prior art drive system, the need exists to construct a more efficient means for providing support of drive shaft during its rotation in an inboard drive marine vessel propulsion system. This will insure very little maintenance and an efficient means to transfer power to a marine propeller while aiding in the support of the driveline.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, according to the invention, there is provided a mounting support for use in an inboard drive marine propulsion system. A center support and rear strut include one or more bearing assemblies and well as a seal at both ends of a support housing for reventing water from entering the support housing. Roller bearings are used to enhance rotational movement of a drive shaft while providing very little or no lateral movement. This greatly reduces wear and maintenance of the mounting support items to provide more efficient and less expensive operation of the marine vessel.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 2840425 (1958-06-01), Howell
patent: 3362765 (1968-01-01), Pierce
patent: 3407779 (1968-10-01), Satterthwaite et al.
patent: 4334872 (1982-06-01), Gaston
patent: 4344630 (1982-08-01), Veres
patent: 4710142 (1987-12-01), Lovell
patent: 4832638 (1989-05-01), Sirois
patent: 5100350 (1992-03-01), Buzzi
patent: 5310372 (1994-05-01), Tibbetts
patent: 5911607 (1999-06-01), Lacko et al.
patent: 6302750 (2001-10-01), Foreman
patent: 6361388 (2002-03-01), Foreman
patent: 6482057 (2002-11-01), Schoell
Acme Marine Group, L.L.C.
Miller Johnson Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.
Morano S. Joseph
Olson Lars
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