Marine propulsion – Inboard engine mount – Having thru-hull sealing means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-19
2001-10-16
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Inboard engine mount
Having thru-hull sealing means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302755
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Boats which are propelled by propulsion systems, such as stern drive systems, commonly have an aperture in the transom through which extends a part of the stern drive system to enable transmission of power from an engine within the boat hull to a propulsion unit positioned rearwardly of the transom. Mounting of the stern drive system through the transom has required a seal to prevent entry of water through the aperture into the boat hull. Various arrangements have been employed in the past for providing a seal between the stern drive and the boat transom to prevent entry of water into the interior of the boat. Unfortunately, it is believed that each of such prior sealing arrangements may be somewhat vulnerable to single failures, that is, if the seal develops a single rupture, the boat could sink. Further, typical seals have involved various parts, such as trims, castings, and screws, and have been relatively burdensome to assemble and to remove when removal is required, as for instance, when removing the stern drive system for repair or replacement.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a seal having structural redundancies that provide independent dual sealing, that is, a seal that would require separate failures of each of the structures that respectively provide independent sealing before the overall transom seal would be compromised. It is further desirable to provide a seal that may be readily assembled during manufacturing operations and that further may be easily removable during servicing or maintenance operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, the present invention fulfills the foregoing needs by providing a boat having a transom including an inner wall and an outer wall defining an opening therein. A stern drive system has a part thereof extending through the transom opening, and a seal is positioned between respective peripheries of the part and the transom opening to respectively provide independent sealing relative to the interior of the boat of the outer and inner walls defining said opening.
The present invention may further fulfill the foregoing needs by providing a transom seal assembly for sealing an opening in a boat transom. A propulsion system has a part thereof extending through the transom opening and the seal assembly is positioned between the part and the transom opening to provide respective individually secure dual watertight seals relative to the interior of the boat.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for sealing an opening in a boat transom is provided. The opening is configured to allow at least a part of a propulsion system to pass therethrough. The method allows for positioning a seal assembly between the part and the transom opening; and further allows for providing in the seal assembly respective individually secure dual watertight seals relative to the interior of the boat.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3669057 (1972-06-01), Shimanckas
patent: 3859951 (1975-01-01), Woodfill
patent: 4040378 (1977-08-01), Blanchard
patent: 4478585 (1984-10-01), Brandt et al.
patent: 4940434 (1990-07-01), Kiesling
Ferguson Arthur R.
Johnson Stephen R.
Avila Stephen
Bombardier Motor Corporation of America
Ziolkowski Timothy J.
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