Ships – Steering mechanism – Speed retarders
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-04-24
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Ships
Steering mechanism
Speed retarders
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220195
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to trolling plate assemblies for use with motorized watercraft, and more particularly relates to such an assembly wherein a robust linkage exists between the outdrive bracket and the thrust regulating plate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With recent advances in material science, and the consumer driven desire for larger and more powerful engines, recreational fishing vessels presently have more available power output than at anytime in the past. These vessels, however, are still used for trolling when fishing for certain types of game fish. As a consequence, unless a separate trolling motor is installed on the vessel, the primary propulsion system must be used. However, depending upon engine output and prop configuration, a desirable trolling speed of between 1.5 and 5 knots is often times impossible. Therefore, operators of such vessels must install a thrust mitigating device to decrease the propulsion efficiency of the watercraft. This device is generally referred to as a trolling plate.
Trolling plates are generally a structure that is attached to the secondary drive components of outboard or outdrive systems, usually by way of the anti-cavitation plate. These structures then are positioned directly in the thrust path of the prop, thereby reacting with the volume of water displaced by the prop in a rearward direction. As a consequence of placing the trolling plate in a trolling position and operating the drive system at idle or low speed, the propulsion system becomes inefficient, thereby decreasing the speed of the vessel.
Conventional trolling plates such as THE HAPPY TROLLER sold by Idea Development Company of Sequim, Washington, essentially rely on a mounting bracket attached to the secondary drive unit that has at its aft end a rotationally linked thrust reaction plate. The plate has an upper U-shaped portion that is adapted to receive a shaft horizontally and laterally positioned in the bracket. Slightly forward of this shaft is a spring loaded selector bar that selectively engages notch pairs formed in the U-shaped portion of the plate. This selector bar extends through the bracket so that when the plate reacts on the selector bar via the notches, it transmits forces to the bracket via the holes in the bracket that supports the selector bar.
While the described structure accomplishes the intended purpose of transmitting thrust forces from the prop to the drive unit, it does so via notches and holes formed in sheet material, usually aluminum, that may become worn over time, and are especially subject to excessive wear and potential failure when presented with high force thrusts that may emanate from high output engines or accidental over revving. It is thus desirable to have a trolling plate that is adapted to fit the secondary drive unit of an outboard or inboard/outboard drive system, but wherein thrust forces from the prop are transferred to the drive system by distinct linkages as opposed to using a notched plate to bracket to outdrive means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a trolling plate assembly that provides a user with the option of establishing a trolling position or a non-trolling position when the invention is mounted to a drive or outdrive unit of a water craft. Unlike traditional trolling plate assemblies, the present trolling plate assembly provides a robust linkage between an outdrive bracket and a thrust regulating plate pivotally mounted to the bracket. More particularly, the outdrive bracket has an upper surface, a lower surface, a forward portion, and a rear portion, and defines a passage at the rear portion from the upper surface to the lower surface. The thrust regulating plate, as previously noted, is pivotally linked to the outdrive bracket at the rear portion thereof wherein the plate is positionable to establish a trolling position that diminishes the effective thrust of the drive unit and a second position, wherein the thrust regulating plate has a first surface that faces at least partially towards the drive unit when in the trolling position, and a second opposing surface.
A selector subassembly comprising a user operable linkage is located at the passage and partially extends therethrough. The selector subassembly operates to selectively obstruct rotational movement of the thrust regulating plate. When selected to obstruct rearward rotational movement of the thrust regulating plate, forces presented to the regulating plate are transmitted to the outdrive bracket though the linkage. The selector subassembly may, but need not, positively engage a plate subassembly mounted to the first surface of the thrust regulating plate, as it need only contact the plate subassembly when the same is caused to pivot upon exposure to thrust created by the drive unit. The plate subassembly generally comprises a protruding member adapted to selectively engage or otherwise contact the user operable linkage.
It is to be understood that the invention concerns the establishment of a force transmitting linkage between the outdrive bracket and the thrust regulating plate that does not rely upon slots or notches in either the outdrive bracket or the thrust regulating plate. Thus, alternative embodiments may include the use of a plunger (spring-biased or gravity-biased) that depends from the upper surface of the bracket and selectively engages an ancillary structure affixed to the thrust regulating plate. When in the extended position, it contacts the ancillary structure by obstructing the free rotation thereof when the thrust regulating plate is in the trolling position, and when in the retracted position, permits free rotation of the thrust regulating plate from the trolling position.
Features of the invention include the incorporation of a selector bar for positively establishing the second position as has been done previously in the prior art. In a preferred form, the rear portion of the outdrive bracket includes a pair of upturned portions, each defining a slot, and the selector subassembly further comprises a selector bar disposed in the opposed slots and linked to the bracket by at least one biasing member wherein the selector bar is locatable in a portion of the thrust regulating plate when the same is in the second position. The user will then operate the selector bar to engage and disengage the thrust reaction plate into and from the non-trolling position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3603277 (1971-09-01), Manary
patent: 3965838 (1976-06-01), Uht
patent: 4549498 (1985-10-01), Meyer et al.
patent: 5005507 (1991-04-01), Dyer
patent: 5127353 (1992-07-01), Wieser
patent: 5493990 (1996-02-01), Dyer
patent: 5711241 (1998-01-01), Dyer
patent: 5715768 (1998-02-01), Anderson
Basinger Sherman
Graybeal Jackson Haley LLP
Issaquah Development Co.
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