Brunswick Corporation

James E Erickson

Jeremy J Kraus

Andres Perdomo Tornbaum

Robert A Podell

Derek J Fletcher

Wayne M Jaszewski

Matthew Z Seta

Ronald L Hall

Keith W Schmidt

Jolayne K Ingebritson

Tom Geng

Steven Lu

Kenneth G Gable

Randall J Poirier

Andrew K Logan

William E Hughes

Matthew W Jaeger

David J Gruenwald

Terry D Axton

Sean M Roberts

A device for supporting a propulsor on a marine vessel. The device includes a base that is fixable to the marine vessel and a pivot arm for coupling the propulsor to the base. An actuator is configured to pivot the pivot arm relative to the base into and between a retracted position and a deployed position. A fastener is engageable to couple the actuator to the pivot arm, where when the fastener is engaged the pivot arm is prevented from pivoting other than by the actuator, and where applying a predetermined force on the pivot arm disengages the fastener to allow the pivot arm to pivot other than by the actuator.

Devices and methods for making devices for supporting a propulsor on a marine vessel

A device for coupling a propulsor to a marine vessel. A rail is configured for attachment to the marine vessel. A carriage is moveable relative to the rail into first and second positions. A shaft has a first end pivotally coupled to the marine vessel and a second end for coupling to the propulsor. An actuator is configured to pivot the shaft relative to the marine vessel to thereby move the propulsor into and between stowed and deployed positions. A lock is manually operable to fix the carriage in the first position in which the actuator prevents manual pivoting of the shaft and alternatively in the second position in which the shaft is permitted to be manually pivoted.

Devices and methods for coupling propulsion devices to marine vessels

A device for coupling a propulsor to a marine vessel. The device includes a mounting bracket configured for attachment to the marine vessel. A support frame has a carriage and is configured for the propulsor to be coupled thereto, where the carriage is configured to slidably engage with the mounting bracket into a fixed position. A member is manually engageable to prevent the carriage from sliding out of the fixed position. The propulsor is coupled to the marine vessel by sliding the carriage into the fixed position and engaging the member, where the propulsor is operable to propel the marine vessel in water when the carriage is in the fixed position, and where the propulsor is configured for decoupling from the marine vessel by disengaging the member and sliding the carriage out of engagement with the mounting bracket.

Devices and methods of making devices for coupling propulsors to marine vessels

A method for operating a propulsion device having a propulsor with a propeller, the propulsion device having a base coupled to a marine vessel and being configured to propel the marine vessel in water. The method includes moving the propulsor from a deployed position towards a stowed position, where the propulsor is closer to the marine vessel in the stowed position than in the deployed position, and where the propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in the deployed position. The method further includes rotating the propeller so as to fit between sides of the base coupled to the marine vessel when the propulsor is in the stowed position.

Propulsion devices and methods of making propulsion devices that align propeller blades for marine vessels

A propulsion device for a marine vessel. The propulsion device includes a base configured to be coupled to the marine vessel. A propulsor is pivotally coupled to the base and pivotable into and between a deployed position and a stowed position. The propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water when in the deployed position. A lock device has a rigid member and is selectively engageable such that the rigid member prevents the propulsor from pivoting away from the stowed position.

Propulsion devices with lock devices and methods of making propulsion devices with lock devices for marine vessels

Boot strap puller

A propulsion device for marine vessel. A base is configured to be coupled to the marine vessel, the base having sides that extend downwardly from the marine vessel. A propulsor is pivotally coupled to the base and pivotable into and between a deployed position and a stowed position. The propulsor comprises a propeller having a hub with blades extending away therefrom. The propulsor is configured to propel the marine vessel in water when in the deployed position by rotating the propeller. An alignment device aligns the blades of the propeller between the sides of the base when the propulsor is in the stowed position.

A tiller system for steering a marine propulsion device. The tiller system includes a tiller arm rotatably coupled to the marine propulsion device. The tiller arm is rotatable from a down position to an up position through a plurality of lock positions therebetween. A toothed member is coupled to one of the tiller arm and the marine propulsion device. The toothed member defines a plurality of teeth corresponding to the plurality of lock positions for the tiller arm. A pawl is coupled to another of the tiller arm and the marine propulsion device, where the pawl engages with the plurality of teeth to prevent the tiller arm from rotating downwardly through the plurality of lock positions.

Systems and methods for incorporating tilt locking into tillers

A tiller system for steering an outboard motor. The tiller system includes a tiller arm that is rotatably coupled to the outboard motor. The tiller arm is rotatable from a down position to an up position through a plurality of lock positions therebetween. A tilt lock system is coupled between the tiller arm and the outboard motor and is configured to be activated and deactivated. When activated, the tilt lock system prevents the tiller arm from rotating downwardly through each of the plurality of lock positions. The tiller arm is further rotatable into an unlock position, whereby rotating the tiller arm into the unlock position automatically deactivates the tilt lock system such that the tiller arm is freely rotatable downwardly through the plurality of lock positions.

Tiller tilt lock and automatic release system

A tiller for an outboard motor has a throttle grip that is manually rotatable through first and second ranges of motion into and between an idle position in which the outboard motor is controlled at an idle speed, and first and second open-throttle positions, respectively, in which the outboard motor is controlled at an above-idle speed. A throttle shaft is coupled to the throttle grip and is configured so that rotation of the throttle grip causes rotation of the throttle shaft, which changes a throttle position of a throttle of the outboard motor. A rotation direction switching mechanism is manually positionable into a first position in which rotation of the throttle grip through the first range of motion controls the throttle of the outboard motor and alternately manually positionable into a second position in which rotation of the throttle grip through the second range of motion controls the throttle position.

Tillers for outboard motors having reversible throttle grip direction

A carburetor has a carburetor body having a venturi passage that conveys air from an air inlet to an air outlet. A throttle valve controls flow of the air in the venturi passage. The throttle valve is movable into a closed position, an open position, and at least one transition position between the closed position and the open position. A fuel bowl holds fuel for mixing with the air in the venturi passage. A main nozzle discharges the fuel from the fuel bowl to the air in the venturi passage when the throttle is in the open position. A secondary circuit that is smaller than the main nozzle discharges fuel from the fuel bowl to the air in the venturi passage when the throttle is in the closed position, the transition position, and the open position. A filter is configured to remove particulate matter from the fuel in the fuel howl prior to discharge via the secondary circuit. Methods are for making the carburetor and operating the carburetor.

Carburetors having filter arrangements

A hydraulic assist mechanism for use in conjunction with a gear shift device provides a hydraulic cylinder and piston combination connected by a linkage to a gear shift mechanism. Hydraulic pressure can be provided by a pump used in association with either a power trim system or a power steering system. Hydraulic valves are used to pressurize selected regions of the hydraulic cylinder in order to actuate a piston which is connected, by an actuator, to the gear shift mechanism.

Hydraulically assisted gear shift mechanism for a marine propulsion device

Water main valve lock

An exhaust elbow for a marine propulsion exhaust system is provided with a water trap section that defines a water collection cavity. Within the water trap section, a barrier extends downward into the water collection cavity to define first and second exhaust passages. When water begins to collect in the water collection cavity, the cross sectional area of the exhaust passage is reduced and the velocity of exhaust gases passing through the exhaust passage is increased. The water collection cavity is shaped to be easily cleared when exhaust gas pressure increases as the engine speed increases.

Growing community of inventors

Fond du Lac, WI, United States of America

James E Erickson