Eltra Corporation

Other

Calvin V Kern

Lawrence P Zepp

Bruce W Mitton

James J Villano

A hydraulic system for trimming a marine outboard drive, and wherein a single actuator for moving the propulsion unit is used for both trim and tilt. The actuator is connected to a hydraulic pump. A pump pressure amplifier is connected to the actuator. The amplifier has first and second ports connecting the actuator and to the hydraulic pump. The amplifier includes a switch for bypassing the amplifier to pass the hydraulic fluid from the pump to the actuator without amplification. The switch is operable for bypassing the amplifier for rapidly tilting the propulsion unit and operable for connecting the amplifier within the hydraulic circuit to develop increased pressure for trimming the propulsion unit. The hydraulic amplifier includes a piston movable within a cylinder. Movement of the hydraulic amplifier piston to one end of the hydraulic amplifier, cylinder actuates the switch to bypass the amplifier and movement in the other direction away from that end, switches and amplifier to its amplification mode, the amplifier continuing in its amplification mode until the amplifier piston reaches a limit switch placed in its path to bypass the amplifier hydraulic circuit.

Hydraulic trim tile system for outboard propulsion units using a

A pinion gear assembly for a starter motor which may be assembled utilizing a simple and convenient assembly process. The pinion gear assembly includes a pinion gear, a cup, a rubber washer, and a spline follower. The closed end of the cup has an opening which passes the body and teeth of the pinion gear, but does not pass intertooth fillets at one end of the pinion gear, thus keeping the pinion gear retained in the cup. The rubber washer is retained between the pinion gear and the spline follower, and acts to absorb shock and allow some movement to align teeth of the pinion gear with teeth of a mating ring gear or flywheel. In assembly, the spline follower is held in alignment with the pinion gear, and the material of the cup is pressed radially inward over the rear surface of the spline follower, forming retaining step portions for retaining the spline follower in the proper alignment. Notches may be provided adjacent the portions which are pressed radially inward to allow this deformation without shearing or tearing the material of the cup, so as not to disturb a corrosion protecting coating on the cup. The cup may be further provided with indentations forming protrusions which cooperate with grooves in the outer periphery of the spline follower, to restrain the spline follower from rotation with respect to the cup and pinion gear.

Starter drive assembly

Means are disclosed for dissipating supercharge pressure in a hydraulic system including a reversible pump (18) directly connected to a hydraulic cylinder (22). Supercharge pressure results from unequal areas on either side of a piston (24) of a single-ended hydraulic cylinder (22). When the piston moves towards the blind end of the cylinder (22), more fluid is displaced from the cylinder than is admitted to the cylinder on the opposite side of the piston. Means responsive to a pressure at a first port (82) of the pump (18) opens a passage between the second port (76) of the pump (18) and a fluid reservoir (16), allowing fluid in excess of the pump's intake requirements to pass to the reservoir (16). In a first embodiment of the invention, a rocker mechanism (60) is actuated by a piston (66) responsive to pressure at the first port (82) pressing against a first end (20) of the rocker mechanism (60), the second end (74) of the rocker mechanism (60) displacing a check ball (38) of a keep-full valve. In a second embodiment of the invention, passages (126, 128) are provided in a pilot piston (106) for pilot-operated check valves (42, 44), so that when the piston (106), in response to pressure at the first port (82), opens a check valve (42), to allow fluid to return from the cylinder (22), passages (126, 128) in the piston (106), opening upon the face (129) of the pilot piston (106) adjacent the check valve, become aligned with a passage (130) to the reservoir (16), allowing excess or supercharge oil to flow to the reservoir (16).

Anti-supercharge pressure valve

An actuating mechanism for sliding doors provided on the passenger side of conventional panel-type trucks, commonly called vans, is intended to be either installed in the vehicle at the time of its original manufacture, or installed at any later time, without substantial modification of the vehicle. A winch assembly (44) including two separate winding drums (74, 86) on a common shaft (87) and driven by the shaft through springs (162, 174) and a positive driver (170), is mounted over the rear wheel well of such a vehicle. A guide assembly (50) including a pulley (54) and a pivoting guide member (62) is installed in an aperture cut in the door frame. A single pulley (56) is installed at the lower rear corner of the door opening, and a guide tube (58) is installed in the door. A flexible cable (52) is connected to an arm added to the latch operating mechanism, and extends through the guide tube (58), around the pulley (56), through the guiding assembly (50) to the winch assembly (44), for opening the door. A second cable (60) is attached to the rear edge of the door, passed around the pivoting guide (62) of the guide assembly, and fastened to the winch assembly (44) for closing the door. As the door closes, the pivoting guide (62) guides the flexible cable (60) to a position perpendicular to the rear edge of the door to pull the rear edge of the door into latched position. A switch (55) operated by the pivoting guide (62) connects an additional winding on an electric motor (138) to provide a high force for latching the door, allowing low force to be used for sliding the door to reduce the chance of personal injuries while closing the door.

Sliding door actuating mechanism

A hydraulic cylinder having a piston position memory element is disclosed, and is particularly adapted for use with propulsion units for watercraft. A valve seat (76,242) is frictionally retained in a bore of a cylinder (24,200) and cooperates with a valve (72,266) in a piston (70,244) to stop the piston (70,244) in a preset position by blocking the flow of fluid through the valve (72,266). In a first embodiment, a poppet valve 60 is provided to allow a piston (70) to move to dissipate the energy of a collision of a watercraft propulsion unit with a stationary object, the piston (70) being provided with a valve (72) to allow the piston (70) to return to its original position. The valve seat (76) having remained in its original position and being provided with an unrestricted aperture (78) stops the piston (70) in its original position. In a second embodiment, a piston (244) includes concentrically mounted valves (260,266), a first valve (260) allowing a drive unit for a watercraft to deflect in response to a collision with a stationary object, and a second valve (266) allowing the drive unit to return to its original position, being stopped in original position by a valve seat (242) which has remained in original position, being provided with unrestricted apertures (254), and stops the flow of fluid through the second valve (266). A hydraulic system utilizing the first embodiment in a system including a pump assembly (20), a cylinder assembly (24) a base assembly (26) and a pressure amplifier assembly (28) is also disclosed.

Position-retentive valve seat for hydraulic cylinder

A starting motor pinion gear assembly comprises a powdered metal pinion disposed and retained within a castellated drawn metal cup having axially extending tangs which are staked between adjacent pinion teeth. The tangs are staked against a plurality of fillets or projections which extend radially outwardly from the bottom land of the pinion and form a discontinuous web between the pinion teeth adjacent one end of the pinion. Also disposed within the drawn cup is a splined drive collar which engages a mating spline on the output shaft of the starting motor and a torque limiting friction clutch. The pinion gear assembly mounts on the output shaft of the starting motor and momentarily engages a ring gear on the flywheel of an internal combustion engine to effect cranking of the engine.

Growing community of inventors

Maumee, OH, United States of America

Calvin V Kern