Brunswick Corporation

David J Waldvogel

John A Groeschel

Randall J Poirier

John O Scherer, Iii

Wayne M Jaszewski

Stephen R Collins

Kevin M Moore

Niel M Schueller

David J Belter

Brett Bielefeld

Kass W Sawyer

Joshua S Smith

Laura K Mueller

David J Landowski

Kevin R Anderson

Steven J Amerling

Darin C Uppgard

Andrew S Waisanen

Jeffrey C Etapa

Benjamin C Wald

Aaron J Novak

Steven R Johns

Matthew S Krabacher

Carl J Prien

Douglas A Hull

A marine drive is for propelling a marine vessel in a body of water. The marine drive has a motor housing, the motor housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion which together define a motor cavity; an electric motor nested in the first housing portion, the electric motor being configured to cause rotation of an output shaft extending from the first housing portion; and a propulsor coupled to the output shaft so that rotation of the output shaft causes rotation of the propulsor. A vibration isolating joint couples first housing portion to the second housing portion. The vibration isolating joint comprising an isolating connector assembly has an elastomeric member which is clamped between the first housing portion and the second housing portion and being configured to limit transfer of vibrations from the first housing portion to the second housing portion, and a compression limiter which prevents over clamping of the elastomeric member during assembly of the motor housing.

Marine drives having noise and vibration isolating joint

A stern drive is for propelling a marine vessel in water. The stern drive has an upper drive unit with a lower mounting surface; a lower gearcase coupled to the lower mounting surface and a trailing end surface that is angled relative to the lower mounting surface; and a propeller shaft extending forwardly from the lower gearcase and being configured to rotate a propeller for pulling the marine vessel in the water. The upper drive unit and the lower gearcase are configured such that when a forward side of the lower gearcase impacts an underwater obstruction, the lower gearcase is caused to pivot relative to the upper drive unit until the trailing end surface impacts the lower mounting surface, which thereby causes the lower gearcase to completely uncouple from the upper drive unit.

Stern drives having breakaway lower gearcase

A marine drive is for propelling a marine vessel in a body of water. The marine drive comprises a motor housing defining a motor cavity; a motor disposed in the motor cavity; a propulsor shaft extending from the motor housing, wherein the motor is configured to cause rotation of the propulsor shaft; a propulsor which is rotated by the propulsor shaft to create a thrust force in the body of water; and a vent conduit having a first end connected to the motor cavity and a second end which vents the motor cavity to atmosphere.

Marine drive having vented lower unit

A propulsion device for rotating a propulsor to propel a marine vessel. The propulsion device includes a drive housing having a cavity that extends along a first central axis. A motor is positioned within the cavity. The motor rotates a shaft extending along a second central axis that is non-coaxial with the first central axis. The shaft is configured to rotate the propulsor to propel the marine vessel.

Propulsion devices having electric motors for marine vessels and methods for making the same

Stern drive

A method for controlling a marine propulsion device to have sufficient power available within a power system to meet demands, the marine propulsion device having an engine rotatably engaged with a transmission via a clutch. The method includes measuring the power available within the power system and measuring the demand for power on the power system. The method further includes determining a power difference between the demand and the power available within the power system, and comparing the power difference to a minimum threshold. The method further includes increasing a speed of the engine and increasing a slip of the clutch when the power difference is exceeds the minimum threshold.

Systems and methods for controlling power generation and transmission output speed for marine propulsion devices

A method for controlling a marine propulsion device having an engine rotatably engaged with a transmission via a clutch, and rotatably engaged with a charging device for charging a battery. The method includes measuring a voltage of the battery and comparing the voltage to a minimum threshold. The method further includes increasing a speed of the engine when the voltage is below the minimum threshold, and also increasing a slip of the clutch when the speed of the engine is increased in response to the voltage being below the minimum threshold.

A system for suspending a lubricant in a marine propulsion device having a gearcase, the gearcase defining a gearset cavity for containing a propeller shaft gearset rotated by a driveshaft. The system includes a pump device configured to pump the lubricant away from the gearset cavity, and a reservoir located away from the gearset cavity and configured to receive the lubricant from the pump device. An input passage conveys the lubricant from the pump device to the reservoir, and an output passage conveys the lubricant from the reservoir to the gearset cavity. The reservoir is configured to retain a portion of the lubricant circulating between the gearset cavity and the reservoir.

Systems and methods for suspending a lubricant in a marine propulsion device

A system for suspending a lubricant in a marine propulsion device having a gearcase, the gearcase defining a gearset cavity for containing a propeller shaft gearset rotated by a driveshaft. The system includes a pump device configured to pump the lubricant away from the gearset cavity, and a reservoir located away from the gearset cavity and configured to receive the lubricant from the pump device. An input passage conveys the lubricant from the pump device to the reservoir, and an output passage conveys the lubricant from the reservoir to the gearset cavity. The reservoir is configured to retain at least 15% of the lubricant circulating between the gearset cavity and the reservoir.

A stern drive is for propelling a marine vessel in water. The stern drive is configured to power a propulsor located below the surface of the water. The stern drive comprises an internal combustion engine that powers a driveshaft that axially extends through a transom of the marine vessel; an exhaust manifold that conveys exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine; and an elongated exhaust conduit that redirects the exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold transversely with respect to the driveshaft. The elongated exhaust conduit conveys the exhaust gas to an upstream exhaust outlet that discharges the exhaust gas through the transom below the surface of the water and then to a downstream exhaust outlet that is spaced apart from and is located vertically higher than the upstream exhaust outlet. The elongated exhaust conduit functions as a water lift muffler during operation of the stern drive.

Stern drives and water lift exhaust systems for stern drives

A stern drive for a marine vessel comprises a gimbal housing that is configured for connection to the transom of the marine vessel; a gimbal ring that is steerable with respect to the gimbal housing about a vertical steering axis; a drive leg that is trimmable with respect to the gimbal ring about a horizontal trim axis, wherein the drive leg supports a propulsor for propelling the marine vessel; a trim actuator that is configured to trim the drive leg about the trim axis; and a cradle that decouples the drive leg from the transom of the marine vessel and pivots with and supports the drive leg and as the trim actuator trims the drive leg about the trim axis.

Stern drives for marine vessels

A stern drive is for a marine vessel. The stern drive comprises a gimbal housing that is configured for connection to the marine vessel, a gimbal ring that is steerable with respect to the gimbal housing about a vertical steering axis, a driveshaft housing that is connected to the gimbal ring, and a trim actuator that is configured to trim the driveshaft housing about a horizontal trim axis. The trim actuator has a first end that is pivotably connected to the gimbal ring at a horizontal first pivot axis and a second end that is pivotably connected to the driveshaft housing at a horizontal second pivot axis. A resilient driveshaft housing vibration isolator is located along the second pivot axis. The resilient vibration isolator isolates vibration forces on the driveshaft housing. A resilient gimbal ring vibration isolator is located along the trim axis. The gimbal ring vibration isolator isolates vibration forces on the gimbal ring.

Stern drives having vibration isolation

A mounting assembly for a stern drive engine including a mounting base, an engine mounting foot or bracket for securing an engine to a watercraft, and a lock ring for securing the engine mounting bracket in a constant position relative to the mounting base. The mounting base includes a threaded mounting bolt to receive a first adjustment nut, the engine mounting bracket, the lock ring and a second nut. The bottom surface of the locking ring engages a top surface of the engine mounting bracket with a downwardly extending arm or arms of the lock ring extending through an aperture in the engine mounting bracket to engage the first adjustment nut. The threaded bolt of the mounting base extends through apertures of the engine mounting bracket platform and mounting ring, and a second nut engages the top surface of the lock ring, preventing rotation of the first adjustment nut, and ultimately limiting movement of the marine stern drive engine.

Growing community of inventors

Fond du Lac, WI, United States of America

David J Waldvogel