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:
Mar. 28, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 27, 2004
George E. Phillips, Oshkosh, WI (US);
Wayne M. Jaszewski, Jackson, WI (US);
Gregory L. Fugar, Oshkosh, WI (US);
George E. Phillips, Oshkosh, WI (US);
Wayne M. Jaszewski, Jackson, WI (US);
Gregory L. Fugar, Oshkosh, WI (US);
Brunswick Corporation, Lake Forest, IL (US);
Abstract
A marine propulsion system is provided with inner and outer bellows, or tubes, which are rigidly attached to both the transom bracket and the driveshaft housing of the sterndrive system. Neither the inner nor outer tubes rotate with the driveshaft. Both the inner and outer tubes, or bellows, allow the driveshaft to rotate relative to the transom bracket about either a steering axis or trim axis. An exhaust passage is defined between the outer surface of the inner tube and the inner surface of the outer tube. This structure provides an efficient positioning of the two tubes while protecting the universal joint within the inner tube from the exhaust gases. Encompassing the inner tube within the outer tube increases the possible area that can be used for the exhaust passage in comparison to providing two individual tubes, one for the universal joint and the other as an exhaust passage.