Marine propulsion – Screw propeller – Shafting
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-07-03
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Screw propeller
Shafting
C440S074000, C440S076000, C440S078000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254443
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a new and improved replaceable tower support for a bearing and drive shaft, and having particular use for propeller drive shafts in the housing of motor boat outdrives.
Usually, when the bearing support for a propeller drive shaft becomes worn, the entire housing for the drive shaft and worn bearing support must be replaced with a new housing and bearing race and the original drive shaft, and represents an expensive proposition. Typical publications concerning these types of motors are noted in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,276,036; 4,798,548; 4,948,384; 4,986,775; 5,018,999; 5,094,639; and, 5,407,508.
However, none of these patents disclose or infer the capability for replacement of only a worn ball bearing race and/or support member from the housing of a marine outdrive without requiring replacement of the entire housing and its components. The capability of effecting such a replacement would represent a considerable saving since a marine outdrive housing has a wear lifetime significantly longer than either of the above two components, and is much more expensive.
THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a marine outdrive housing and replaceable support tower for bearings and a race seated thereon, the bearings being suitable for engaging a drive shaft such as a propeller drive shaft positioned in the marine outdrive. The tower comprises a hollow, elongate structure whose lower end will usually rest on a machined portion of the housing floor, or the tower may be mounted within the interior portion of the marine outdrive. The upper end of the tower is circularly shaped, and typically will project into the propeller shaft cavity to enable direct engagement with drive gears.
Mounting the tower structure into the housing may involve any one of the following steps: 1. heating the outdrive housing to about 350° F.-450° F. and chilling the bearing tower, for example to about freezing, e.g., 30° F.-32° F., followed by press fitting the tower into the housing as an interference fit; or, 2. threading the housing and tower, and screwing the tower into the housing; or, 3. securing the tower with a mechanical device such as a pin and bolt. However, since steps 2 and 3 require machining, they tend to be more expensive than press fitting.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4767225 (1988-08-01), Iio
patent: 4792315 (1988-12-01), Karrasch et al.
patent: 4917639 (1990-04-01), Onoue
patent: 4925414 (1990-05-01), Newman
patent: 5112259 (1992-05-01), McElroy, Jr. et al.
patent: 5171177 (1992-12-01), Hubbell
patent: 5411423 (1995-05-01), Higby
Krawitz Willie
L & L Tech, Inc.
Morano S. Joseph
Olson Lars A.
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