Brunswick Corporation

Other

Michael E Frazzell

Michael A Karls

Roger E Koepsel

Richard H Snyder

Ronald M Steiner

John J Litjens

James M Schiek

James L Bloemers

William P Lang

William J Gius

A floating marine propeller wrench (18) is provided for removing a marine propeller nut (16), and comprises a floating member composed of a material selected to have a specific gravity less than or equal to 1.0, to enable floatation, yet strong enough to apply torque of at least 50 lb.ft. to the nut. The floating member is composed of chemically coupled long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene, particularly ten percent glass by weight, one percent foaming agent by weight, and the balance polypropylene. The material is also selected to provide a user detectable slight deflection (70) of a handle portion (24) when approximately 50 lb.ft. is applied to the nut by a socket portion (22), to provide a combined floating marine propeller wrench and torque meter.

Torque rated floating marine propeller wrench

A marine emergency spare propeller kit includes a plastic floating spare propeller (4) mounted on a carry handle (20) having an axial shaft (22) extending through the propeller hub (10) and retained thereon by a plastic floating nut (8) which is threaded identically to the propeller drive shaft (6) of the marine drive (2). Carry handle 20 also conveniently transports the damaged propeller after replacement by the spare.

Marine propeller carry handle and emergency spare kit

A marine drive (2) is provided with an anti-ventilation plate (22) having a forward horizontal portion (24) and an aft portion (26) extending downwardly at an angle (28) to horizontal and noncoplanar with the forward portion (24). An adjustable anti-ventilation plate (30, 58) is also provided. The preferred form of the adjustable anti-ventilation plate is particularly simple and readily added to existing structure.

Anti-ventilation plate

A marine drive water pump impeller (1) is provided for a marine rotary vane positive displacement water pump. A filament wound annular drive hub (3) is cured with resin polymer. A rubber annular base (6) having a plurality of flexible radial vanes (7), is molded in place around the drive hub (3). The resin polymer and the rubber are compatible and enable substantial bond strength therebetween. The hub (3) is wound in the circumferential hoop direction, providing substantial hub strength. The invention overcomes frozen water pump problems in marine drives used in freezing environments.

Marine drive water pump impeller

A marine propeller mounting arrangement includes a sleeve member (14) for mounting on a propeller shaft (11), a propeller (10) having an inner hub (17) which fits over the sleeve member (14) and a cushion member (16) fitting between the sleeve member (14) and the propeller inner hub (17). The sleeve member (14) includes radially extending projections (26) registering with channels (31) in the hub to positively drive the propeller (10), even in the event of failure of the cushion member (16). The propeller (10) has an outer hub (28) surrounding the inner hub (17) to define an exhaust gas passageway through the propeller (10).

Shock absorbing propeller

Water inlets (16) are formed on the sides of the gearcase (13) of a marine propulsion unit. Ramps (26) and (27) are formed in the gearcase (13) ahead of the inlets (16) to direct flow to the inlets (16). The ramp (26) ahead of the upper ports (16) has a greater depth to provide a substantial flow of water at positive pressure, while the ramp (27) ahead of the lower ports (16) has a lesser depth to avoid disturbances in flow when the unit is operated at high speeds where the upper inlets (16) are normally above the resting surface of the water.

Water inlet for outboard propulsion unit

Marine drives having water cooled engines utilize a water pump mounted over the drive shaft and internal to the drive shaft housing to provide engine cooling, the pump having stamped metal housing parts and a flexible impeller.

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Michael E Frazzell