The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 1995
Filed:
May. 24, 1994
Michael A Karls, Hilbert, WI (US);
Brunswick Corporation, Lake Forest, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided to release a propeller from the driving engagement of a propeller shaft when the propeller hits an object with sufficient force to otherwise cause damage to the marine drive. A clutch with first and second clutch members disengagably drives the propeller with a plurality of clutch teeth on one of the clutch members and a corresponding plurality of clutch sockets on the other. The clutch teeth and clutch sockets engage to provide a nonslip direct drive from the propeller shaft to the propeller and disengage to allow the propeller shaft to rotate free of the propeller when the propeller strikes an object. The clutch members are biased together such that the clutch teeth engage the clutch sockets during normal boating operation. The torque required to disengage the clutch may be adjustable by an adjustable retaining nut, or by using a spring of different compression rate, or by changing the characteristics of the clutch teeth or clutch sockets. Preferably, the torque required to disengage the clutch is set to a level just below that which would cause damage to the marine drive.