Brunswick Corporation

Gerald E Weitz

William Strong

John W Behara

In a marine drive (10), a nonrotational thrust sensing device (202 or 204) is placed between the stationary housing (26') and rotating propeller shaft (40' or 42') to measure the thrust output of a propeller (12 or 14) by measuring the equal and opposite force applied to the housing by the propeller shaft (40' or 42'). A thrust bearing (214 or 248) is situated between the rotating shaft and the nonrotating thrust sensing device. A thrust ring (246) and adapter (250) provide adoption of the thrust sensing device to a particular housing and shaft configuration. In a marine drive having counter rotating coaxial propeller shafts, first and second thrust sensors individually sense the thrust of inner and outer propeller shafts, respectively, to provide separate sensed thrust for each.

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Stillwater, OK, United States of America

Gerald E Weitz