Brunswick Corporation

Other

Charles F Alexander

Daniel F McCormick

Gary L Meisenburg

Phillip D Magee

Edward C Eick

David A Schmitz

David A Gussert

An improved hydraulic system for a twin propeller marine propulsion unit. A vertical drive shaft is operably connected to the engine of the propulsion unit and carries a pinion that drives a pair of coaxial bevel gears. An inner propeller shaft and an outer propeller shaft are mounted concentrically in the lower torpedo section of the gear case and each propeller shaft carries a propeller. To provide forward movement for the watercraft, a sliding clutch is moved in one direction to operably connect the first of the bevel gears with the inner propeller shaft to drive the rear propeller. A hydraulically operated multi-disc clutch is actuated when engine speed reaches a pre-selected elevated value to operably connect the second of the bevel gears to the outer propeller shaft, to thereby drive the second propeller in the opposite direction. The hydraulic system for actuating the multi-disc clutch includes a pump connected to the inner propeller shaft, and the pump has an inlet communicating with a fluid reservoir in the gear case and has an outlet which is connected through a hydraulic line to the multi-disc clutch. A strainer, a pressure regulator and a valve mechanism are disposed in the lower gear case and are located in series in the hydraulic line. At idle and slow operating speeds the valve is held by a solenoid in a position where the fluid is dumped to the reservoir, so that the pressure of the fluid being directed to the multi-disc clutch is insufficient to engage the clutch. At engine speeds above a preselected value, the solenoid is deenergized and the valve is then biased to a position where the fluid is delivered to the multi-disc clutch to engage the clutch and cause operation of the second propeller.

Marine propulsion unit with hydraulic pump

A maneuvering control system is provided which utilizes pressurized liquid at three or more positions of a marine vessel in order to selectively create thrust that moves the marine vessel into desired locations and according to chosen movements. A source of pressurized liquid, such as a pump or a jet pump propulsion system, is connected to a plurality of distribution conduits which, in turn, are connected to a plurality of outlet conduits. The outlet conduits are mounted to the hull of the vessel and direct streams of liquid away from the vessel for purposes of creating thrusts which move the vessel as desired. A liquid distribution controller is provided which enables a vessel operator to use a joystick to selectively compress and dilate the distribution conduits to orchestrate the streams of water in a manner which will maneuver the marine vessel as desired. Electrical embodiments of the present invention can utilize one or more pairs of impellers to cause fluid to flow through outlet conduits in order to provide thrust on the marine vessel. In one embodiment of the present invention, a cross thrust conduit is associated with a marine vessel to direct fluid flow in a direction perpendicular to a centerline of the marine vessel and a pair of outlet conduits are associated with the marine vessel to direct flows of fluid in directions which are neither parallel nor perpendicular to a centerline of the marine vessel. In this embodiment, reversible motors are used to rotate associated impellers in either forward or reverse directions. In any of the embodiments of the present invention, a joy stick control can be used to select or deselect each of the outlet conduits and, in certain embodiments, to select the direction of operation of an associated reversible motor.

Waterjet docking control system for a marine vessel

Hydraulic system for a dual propeller marine propulsion unit

A skeg assembly for a marine propulsion unit includes a generally U-shaped saddle that is removably attached to the lower torpedo section of the gearcase of the propulsion unit, and a thin wedge-shaped skeg extends downwardly from the saddle. During planing conditions of the boat, the water line is slightly below the lower torpedo section so that the saddle is out of the water. The side surfaces of the skeg having opposed water intake openings each of which is bordered rearwardly by a laterally projecting shoulder that terminates in a sharp vertical edge and the intake openings are bordered forwardly by a curved surface that connects the side surfaces of the skeg. The water intake openings communicate with a water passage in the skeg which, in turn, communicates with a water passage in the torpedo section so that water can be delivered to the cooling system of the propulsion unit.

Skeg construction for a marine propulsion unit

A twin propeller marine propulsion unit for a watercraft. A vertical drive shaft operably connected to the engine is journaled for rotation in a lower gear case and carries a beveled pinion that drives a pair of coaxial bevel gears. An inner propeller shaft and an outer propeller shaft are mounted concentrically in the lower torpedo-shaped section of the gear case and each propeller shaft carries a propeller. To provide forward movement for the watercraft, a sliding clutch, is moved in one direction to operably connect a first of the bevel gears with the inner propeller shaft to thereby drive the rear propeller. When the engine speed reaches a pre-selected elevated value, a hydraulically operated multi-disc clutch is actuated to operably connect the second of the bevel gears to the outer propeller shaft, to thereby drive the second propeller in the opposite direction. With this construction only a single propeller is driven at low engine speeds and the second propeller is driven when the engine speed reaches the pre-selected value.

Twin propeller marine propulsion unit

In a Vee bottom planing boat running chines dry at top speed, running trim angle is increased by reducing wetted planing surface area by removing wetted planing surface at areas of least dynamic pressure and by shifting a portion of the trailing edge of the wetted planing surface forwardly, in combination, until running trim angle is slightly less than porpoising trim angle and such that the boat can be made to porpoise by trimming the drive when the boat is running at 70% to 100% of top speed.

Reduced drag stable Vee bottom planing boat

A marine drive (10) has two counter-rotating surface operating propellers (12 and 14). The drive has a vertical X-dimension (254) in the range of about 13 inches to 19 inches in combination with a shaft-spacing dimension (258) in the range of about 8 inches to 15 inches in combination with a surfacing dimension .gtoreq. zero. In one embodiment, the shaft-spacing dimension is 13.5 inches, the vertical X-dimension is 16 inches, and the surfacing dimension is 2 inches.

Counter-rotating surfacing marine drive with defined X-dimension

A marine trolling propulsion system (2) has a lower submerged housing (4) including an electric motor (5) driving a propeller (6) through a reducing traction drive provided by rolling contact of threee balls (57-59) between split inner races (36 and 38) and an outer race (60) to drive a transfer member (68) which rotates the propeller (6). The inner race halves (36 and 38) are axially loaded by Belleville washers (72) providing constant axial force with axial deflection, and a limited maximum loading force capability to intentionally provide overload slip protection. The inner race halves (36 and 38) are keyed to the intermediate floating shaft (14) on raised hexagonal shoulders (32 and 34) permitting rocking of the inner race halves (36 and 38) and self-seating and alignment of the inner race halves to the balls (57-59). Couplers (16 and 124) are provided between the electric motor shaft (12) and an intermediate floating axial shaft (14) and between the transfer member (68) and the propeller shaft (70) which enable different axes of rotation to accommodate manufacturing variations. The transfer member (68) is also coupled to the propeller shaft (70) by structure (118, 126, 128) enabling the transfer member (68) to rock about the center of the propeller shaft (70) such that propeller thrust is transmitted equally to the balls (57-59).

Marine trolling motor with traction drive

A dust pan form and design that permits the user to clean-up more effectively dust or debris from a surface. The dust pan has the particular feature of having an element that is flexible and transparent so as to conform to the surface being cleaned while permitting the use to see through the element to the surface.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Charles F Alexander