Brunswick Corporation

John O Scherer, Iii

Randall J Poirier

David J Waldvogel

Wayne M Jaszewski

Stephen R Collins

Roger E Koepsel

Kevin M Moore

Roger W Schreiber

Andrew C Gunderson

Matthew Eric Derginer

John A Tuchscherer

Paul M Radavich

Philip Ross Walker

James E Clevenger

Josh S Smith

David J Belter

Kass W Sawyer

Laura K Mueller

Gary J Schaub

Sunil K R Patil

Jay P Dehling

A method of controlling steering of a marine vessel includes receiving a steering input from an operator-controlled steering input device, determining a desired turn rate for the marine vessel and a desired roll angle for the marine vessel based on the steering input, and controlling a steering angle of at least one trimmable propulsion device based on the desired turn rate and controlling a trim deployment of a pair of trim tabs and/or the trimmable propulsion device based on the desired roll angle so as to steer the marine vessel according to the steering input.

Marine steering system and method

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 method is for making a marine drive for propelling a marine vessel in water. The method includes providing a gearcase; installing a propeller shaft assembly that extends forwardly from the gearcase; coupling front and rear propellers to the propeller shaft assembly, forwardly of the gearcase, such that rotation of the propeller shaft assembly causes rotation of the front and rear propellers, respectively, which thereby propels the marine vessel in the water; and reducing deleterious effects of cavitation on the gearcase by the combination of forming the gearcase with a wide trailing end portion, in particular to maintain pressure alongside the gearcase, and configuring the front and rear propellers so that the front propeller absorbs more torque/thrust load than the rear propeller during said rotation.

Marine drives and methods of making marine drives so as to minimize deleterious effects of cavitation

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

A steering system on a marine vessel includes at least one outboard drive configured to propel the marine vessel, a steering actuator configured to rotate the at least one outboard drive, at least one trim device coupled to the marine vessel and movable with respect to a hull of the marine vessel to adjust a running angle thereof, and at least one trim actuator. A control system configured to determine a desired roll angle and at least one of a desired turn rate and desired turn angle for the marine vessel based on a steering instruction and control the steering actuator to rotate the at least one outboard drive based on the desired turn rate and/or the desired turn angle and control the at least one trim actuator to move the at least one trim device based on the desired roll angle to effectuate the steering instruction.

Stern drive

A steering system on a marine vessel includes at least one propulsion device, a steering actuator that rotates the propulsion device to effectuate steering, at least one trim device moveable to adjust a running angle of the vessel, and a trim actuator configured to move the trim device so as to adjust the running angle. The system further includes a control system configured to determine a desired roll angle and at least one of a desired turn rate and a desired turn angle for the marine vessel based on a steering instructions. The control system then controls the steering actuator to the rotate the at least one propulsion device based on the desired turn rate and/or the desired turn angle, and to control the trim actuator to move the at least one trim device based on the desired roll angle so as to effectuate the steering instruction.

A marine propulsion device includes an engine, a driveshaft powered by the engine, a propulsor shaft coupled in torque-transmitting relationship with the driveshaft, and a propulsor coupled to the propulsor shaft and rotatable to produce a thrust. A housing supports the propulsor shaft therein. The housing has fore and aft skegs projecting from a bottom surface thereof.

Marine propulsion device and lower unit therefor

A lower unit for a marine propulsion device includes a gearcase housing defined along a longitudinal center axis between a fore end and an aft end. A propulsor shaft extends through the gearcase housing along the longitudinal axis. A driveshaft extends non-parallel to the propulsor shaft and rotates in a direction of rotation when powered by an engine. The driveshaft is coupled in torque-transmitting relationship with the propulsor shaft. A skeg projects from a bottom surface of the gearcase housing proximate at least the aft end thereof. The skeg or the gearcase housing is cambered such that a moment acting in a direction opposite the driveshaft's direction of rotation is induced on the skeg or the gearcase housing as the lower unit moves through water. A marine propulsion device is also disclosed.

A marine drive has an internal combustion engine that rotates a propulsor shaft that is operatively coupled to a propulsor to impart a propulsive thrust in water. The marine drive has a gearcase housing having an upper portion above a lower portion, the lower portion supporting the propulsor shaft. An exhaust passage in the gearcase housing is configured to convey exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. An exhaust outlet on the upper portion of the gearcase housing is configured to discharge the exhaust gas from the exhaust passage to the water. The exhaust outlet faces the propulsor so that the exhaust gas is discharged into the water and towards the propulsor so as to aerate the water encountered by the propulsor.

Growing community of inventors

Oshkosh, WI, United States of America

John O Scherer, Iii