AU619189B2

AU619189B2 - Boat propulsion device

Info

Publication number: AU619189B2
Application number: AU17664/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David D. Jones; David T. Livingston
Original assignee: US Marine Corp; U S Marine Corp
Current assignee: Brunswick Corp
Priority date: 1987-06-15
Filing date: 1988-06-14
Publication date: 1992-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-14
Also published as: AU1766488A

Description

Our Ref: #1046 JC:JH Fee: $160.00 p

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619,189 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE ZSPECIFICATION (ORiGINAL) FOR OFFICE USE Class Application Number: Lodged: *Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Foim Int. Class TO BE COMPLETED U.S. MARINE CORPORATION BY APPLICANT' Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: 105 Marine Drive, Hartford, Wisclonsin 53027, United States of Ametrica DAVID D. JONES DAVID T. LIVINGSTON SANDERCDr;K, SMITH BEADLE 207 Rive4,sdale Road, Box 410) Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: BOAT PROPULSION DEVICE The folowing statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me- Signature. U.S. MARINE CORPORATION NO ATTESTATION OR SEAL Vfce President General Manager Signature(s) of declarant(s).

To: The Commissioner of Patents, Australia SANDERCOCK, SMITH BEADLE, P.O. Box 410, Hawthorn, 3122, Australia cables: Sandpat Melbourne telex: 34491, Sandpat The field of the present invention is a boat propulsion device and more particularly concerns the mounting, steering and trimming/tilting of a boat propulsion device having an engine inside a boat and attaching through a bottom surface of the boat to a drive under the boat which swings under the boat for steering and trimming/tilting.

Prior boat propulsion devices which provide steering and trimming of a drive include the stern drive and the outboard.

The stern drive has an engine inside the boat and a drive a' Sthe rear of the boat. The outboard is a unit assembly of 10 engine and drive mounted outside the boat. Other prior propulsion devices that have an engine inside the boat and a drive under the boat do not provide the drive with steering and trimming. In US Patent 2209302 issued to L.J. Johnson et S"al steering of a drive and tilting of a drive described. In US Patents 2976836 and 3164122 issued to L.J. Fageol steering and trimming of the entire boat propulsion device as a unit is described.

The stern drive and outboard are satisfactory propulsion devices, but they are large, complex and costly. The other prior drives described above are not particularly desirable since they do not provide an arrangement which provides steering and trimming equivalent to the stern drive.

The present invention provides a propulsion device for a boat comprising a mounting assembly for mounting the propulsion device through a hole in a bottom surface of the boat, an engine positioned above and secured to said mounting assembly, a drive unit positioned, in vertical alignment with the engine, below and secured to said mounting assembly for providing a drive connection between the engine and a drive device below the boat, said drive unit including a steering L d c but thy Th o assembly having a steering assembly member which is rotatable about a vertical axis aligned with srid hole to alter the direction of drive of the drive device and a triming assembly for providing a limited range of swinging movement about a horizontal axis to swing the drive device in an upward or downward movement.

The mounting arrangement of such a boat propulsion device may support a drive under and extending to the rear of the boat to provide an advantageous drive connection vertically through the boat hull. This arrangement achieves an improved orientation of the engine spaced relatively close to the boat transom and results in a more efficient use of the interior of Ithe boat. In fact, the vertical placement of the engine significantly enhances the arrangement of interior seating at 15 the stern of the boat.

i°~ Included with the drive positioning under the seat is a steering assembly which accomplishes the steering of the drive on the axis of the vertical engine tlhlereby eliminating the difficulty associated with different axes. Also employed with the drive steering is a trimming assembly which achieves drive trim and tilt under the boat without the necessity of lifting an entire outboard or the equally massive stern drive. The trim is accomplished with a horizontal pivot across which a trim adjusting system changes the trim and tilt angle. The drive transmission with ultimate design simplicity passes through the horizontal pivot with a flexible coupling resulting in a drive transmission configuration not realized with the conventional drives. The drive transmission flexible coupling also is conveniently enclosed and supported by drive shaft bearings.

The device of the present invention provides other advantages in the boat mounting, steering and trli/tilt mechanism which interfaces with the engine and the Orive in 2-

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-3 1415 t f 4r I t Ia manner which simpliLfies installation and maintenance.

The mounting, rotatably on bearings, supports the drive and connects the steering arm inside the boat with easy accessibility for operation from the boat steering system, seals the mounting hole and maintains rigid alignment of the engine to the drive thereby avoiding separ-ate mechanism compensating for bending of the hull.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure la is a general side elevation view of the boat propulsion device of the invention; Figure lb is a general end elevation view of the boat propulsion device and boat of Figure la; Figure Ic is a general bottom elevation view of a boat propulsion device and boat of Figure la; Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the boat propulsion device of the invention; Figure 3 is a right side elevation view of the boat propulsion device of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a back elevation view o'f the boat propulsion device of the invention; shown with Figure 2; Figure 5 is a cross-section view of the boat propulsion device as shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a cross-section view of the boat propulsion device as shown in Figure 2; Figure 7 is a fragmentary bottom elevation view j cspe. 023/usmarine 91 7 06 4 similar to Figure Ic showing the steering range of the boat propulsion device; and Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation view similar to Figure la showing the trim/tilt range of the boat propulsion device.

L-drive A boat propulsion device or L-Drive 10 is shown mounted on a water craft or boat 11 in Figures 1 through 6.

The boat propulsion device 10 includes an engine 12, a 10 mounting assembly 13 and a propeller drive 14.

o ao fiv The engine 12 may be of either a 2 or 4 cycle internal combustion type. In the preferred embodiment an eighty five horsepower engine as used on the US Marine Force outboard is used. For increased horsepower, the one 15 h.!ndred twenty five horsepower engine as used on the US :1 Marine Force outboard may be used. The engine 12 is o. prevented from movement by attachment to the mounting assembly 13. In the preferred embodiment the engine 12 is attached with the engine on a vertical axis and connected for power transmission as will be described.

The mounting assembly 13 as shown in Figures 2 through includes an engine mounting portion 15 for attachment of the engine 12 to the mounting assembly 13, a boat mounting portion 16 for attachment of the mounting assembly to the boat 11, and a drive mounting portion 17 for attachment of the drive 14 to the mounting assembly 13.

The engine mounting portion 15 as shown in Figures 3 jcspe.023/usmarine 91 7 r:: 4aand 5 is a spaced set of four engine pads or mounts 18 which extend or project downward onto the engine adapter plate 19. The adapter plate 19 includes a mounting bolt pattern (not shown) which matches the attachment bolt pattern (not shown) on the engine 12 to align the engine crankshaft.

The drive 14 as shown in Figure 2 through 5 includes a steering assembly 20, a trimming assembly 21 with a trim adjusting system 22, a propeller drive lower unit 23, a lower unit adapter 24, and a drive shaft means 25. The drive 14 9 f oe 9 9 *ase e a e a a jcspe.023/usmarine 91 7 1986/2 rotates from side-to-side about a vertical axis 26 or S-S in trhe mounting assembly 13 to steer and pivots up-and-down about a horizontal axis 27 or T-T to trim/tilt.

The boat mounting portion 16 includes a central member 28, a boat connecting member or mounting flange 29, and a resilient member 30 between the central member 28 and the mounting flange 29. The central member 28 has a lower portion 31 forming a lower clamping surface 32 and an upper portion 33 forming an upper clamping surface 34. The mounting flange 29 has an inner retaining surface 35 and an outer mounting jI flange surface 36. The resilient member 30 is positioned clamped n cbetween the lower clamping surface 32, rt the upper clamping surface 34 and the inner retaining surface I The resilient member 30 generally supports the L-Drive 10 and 0 *a .15 provides a limited amount of vibration isolation. The flange surface 36 attaches to the boat 11. The drive mounting portion 17 is the steering member 37 which is rotatably supported in spaced bearings 38 in the central member 28 shown in Figures S and 6.

qo 20 20 The steering assembly 20 includes a steering member 37 and a steering arm 40 for rotating the steering ,t member 37 to steer the boat 11. The steering member 37 as S shown in Figures 3 and 5 is formed with an upper generally tubular portion or hollow spindle 42 which extends up through the mounting assembly 13 to a position above the Smounting assembly 13 and within the engine mounting portion The steering member 37 rotates on the axis S-S.

The steering arm 40 is attached to the top of the hollow spindle 42 of the steering member 37 with a key or spline (not shown) so that they rotate as one unit. The steering arm extends out generally horizontal from the hollow spindle 42 within the engine mounting portion 15 between two of the engine mounts 18 as shown in Figure 2. The two engine mounts 18 are i I 1986/2 Positioned spaced to provide rotat-Ional steering ravige for the steering arm 40 and the height of the engine mounts 18 also provides height clearance for the steering arm 40. The steerino arm 40 is connected with a boat steering system which rotates the steering member 37 to steer the drive 14.

The steering assembly 20 also includes a lower depending portion, yoke or downward trunnion 48 which provides the horizontal trimming pivot for the trimming assembly 21.

The trimming assembly 21 incIL,.Jes an upward age* oo~o trunnion 43 on the lower unit adapter 24 which pivotally .oo~ mounts the adapter 24 to *the downward trunnion 4.5 on the steering a0 member 37 At trimming pivot 4.4. The overlapping or engaging ova~~ sides of the trunnions and 4.5 each contains a pivot pin 46 at a 0 15 trunnion pivot 4.4. The trimming assembly 21 also utilizes a trim adjusting system 22 which includes a hydraulic trim cylinder '.7 0 on each side of the drive 14, connected between a cylinder upper v pivot 48 on the steering member 37 and a cylinder lower pivot 't9 0 *0 on the lower unit 23. Operation of the hydraulic trim cylinder pivots the drive 14 up-and-down about aligned pivot pins 4.6 for trim/tilt. Although two trim cylinders 47 are shown, one 900 **gocylinder 4.7 may be used.

000000The lower unit 23 as shown in Figure 2 through 4 includes the propeller 50, a propeller shaft including reversing clutch and gearing (not shown), an anticavitation plate 51 and a trim fin 52 under the anticavitat ion plate 51. The lower unit 23 is of known construction used in an outboard. The preferred lower unit 23 is an eighty-five horsepower lower unit used in the Force Outboard.

The lower unit adapter 24. as shown in Figure mounts to the top of the lower unit 23 to detachably interface or adapt from the lower unit 23 to the trimming assembly 21 at the trimming pivot 44.

-6- 1 1986/2 The drive shaft means 25 as shown in Figures 5 and 6 includes a first or upper vertical drive shaft 53, a second or lower drive shaft 54, and a flexible coupling or universal joint connecting adjacent ends of the drive shafts 53 and 54. The upper drive shaft 53 is between the engine crankshaft 56 and the trimming pivot 44 and the lower drive shaft 54 is between the trimming pivot 44 and the lower unit 23 attaching to the lower unit gearing (not shown) as is known. The upper drive shaft 53 includes an external spline 57 which slidably engages the internal spline 58 in the engine crankshaft 56. The lower drive shaft 54 is generally vertical when the propeller shaft is S horizontal. The upper drive shaft 53 is positioned on the rtr vertical axis S-S. The lower driveshaft 54 angles down from Sto the upper drive shaft 53 at the universal joint 55 during trim/tilt. The upper and lower drive shafts 53 and 54 are coplanar with a plane that is perpendicular to the axis T-T S'of the trimming pivot 44.

c' tA drive shaft upper bearing support 59 is also provided as a depending portion of the engine mounting portion 15. The i i upper bearing support 59 is formed as a hollow member extending downward from the adapter plate 19 into the space between the t t" hollow spindle 42 and the upper drive shaft 53. The lower end of Si the upper support 59 contains an upper shaft bearing positioned adjacent the unusuas joint 55 for support of the upper drive shaft 53. The upper shaft bearing 60 aligns the upper drive shaft 53 with the engine crankshaft 56.

A lower driveshaft bearing support 61 is also provided as a hollow member extending upward from the lower unit adapter 24 into the space between the upward trunnion 45 and the lower drive shaft 54. The upper end of the upper bearing support 59 contains a lower drive shaft bearing 62 positioned adjacent the universal joint 55 for support of the lower drive shaft 54.

The steering assembly and trimming assembly -7i 1986/2 generally include a central passageway therein forming a closed compartment or enclosure 63 around the drive shaft means 25 and particularly the universal joint 55 as shown in Figure 5. The enclosure 63 extends from within the steering member 37 down to within the lower unit adapter 24. A tubular upper end portion 64 within the steering member 37 forms the upper portion of the enclosures 63 and a tubular lower end portion 65 between the upward trunnion 45 forms a lower end of the enclosure 63. A flexible cover or universal joint bellows 66 extends between the upper end portion 64 and the lower end portion 65 to cover the

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r universal joint 55. The bellows 66 is a resilient tubular connector which is slipped over the end portions 64 and 65 and fastened therewith by a hose clamp 67. The enclosure protects t,he universal joint 55 from water.

The L-Drive 10 also includes a shift assembly (not shown) for operating the clutch (not shown) in the lower t unit 23, an engine water cooling system including a drive 4 4r 4 shaft driven pump (not shown) and an engine exhaust system re 68.

The Boat The boat 11 as shown in Figures la, Ib, and Ic t* 1 1 includes a planing hull 70 and a generally vertical upright transom 71. The hu1170 includes a bottom planing surface 72 and cavity 73 adjacent the transom 71. The cavity 71 extends upwardly into the hull 70 and has an open end "extending through a notch 74 in the transom 71.

The cavity 73 includes a first portside wall 75, a second starboard side wall 76 and a third forward wall 77.

The forward wall 77 is preferably vertically upright similar to the transom 71. The forward wall 77 is positioned as far rearward as possible against the drive 14 to provide maximum bottom planing surface 72 forward of the drive 14. A hole 78 as shown in Figure 4 is formed in the top 79 of the cavity 73 to S-8- -B i 1986/2 attach the mounting assembly 13.

Operation of the Steering and Trimming System Steering and trimming of the L-Dri.ve 10 is easily accomplished. To steer the boat 11, the driver turns the boat steering wheel which operates the boat steering system to turn the drive 1~4. To trim the boat 11, the operator operates the boat hydraulic system to power the hydraulic Itrim cylinder 47 to lift or lower the drive 14. The steering of the drive 14 is about the horizontal axis T-T.

The steering is totally independent from the trimming or tilting. In other words, the operator can steer at any trim position and the operator can trim at any steered position.

The steering of the drive 14 is further described I too w ith respect to Figure 3 and 5. When the steering arm 4~0 is moved uy the steering system of the boat 11, it rotates the steering member 37 to steer the drive 14. Steering the t 6A drive 14 redirects the propeller thrust. The redirected propeller thrust changes the direction of the boat 11 o thereby directing or steering the boat in the desired path.

to 20 In Figure 7 (a bottom elevation view), the drive 14a (shown in phantom lines) illustrates steering to starboard and the drive l4b (shown in phantom lines) illustrates steering to Tetrimming of the drive is further described respect to Figures G. When the drive 14 is being trimmed it swings up-and-down about the horizontal pivot axis 27 or T-T. Swinging of the drive 14 changes the angle of the propeller thrust direction to lift or lower the bow of the boat. The range of angular direction of the propeller thrust from a boat stopped condition to an on plane condition generally defines the range of trim. The range of tilt is upwardly from the maximum up or out trim position to the highest position available. The tilt range 1986/2 is used to change the propeller and to lift the drive 14 when removing the boat 11 from the water on a trailer of for transporting storage. The propeller thrust is generally 'not used or available i the tilt-range therefore steering does not occur. In Figure 8, the drive 14a (shown in phantom) shows a generally operating trim position and the drive l4b (shown in phantom) shows a generally up-tilt position.

While an embodiment and application of the invention has been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications are possible without departing from the invention concepts herein.

S Therefore, the invention is not to be restricted other than I by the scope and equivalency of the following claims.

4C The claims form part of the disclosure of this specification.

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Claims

1. A propulsion device for a boat comprising a mounting assembly for mounting the propulsion device through a hole in a bottom surface of the boat, an engine positioned above and secured to said mounting assembly, a drive unit positioned, in vertical alignment with the engine, below and secured to said mounting assembly for providing a drive connection between the engine and a d-ive device below the boat, said drive unit including a steering assembly having a steering assembly member which is rotatable about a vertical axis aligned with said hole to alter the direction of drive of the drive device and a trimming assembly for providing a limited range of swinging movement about a horizontal axis to swing the drive S device in an upward or downward movement. 0 00 a a 0*009 0 9* 91 9, 90&9 09 99 9 9 L, 9 09 '999 o 0 00J1 9 0

2. The propulsion device defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting assembly including a central member and said steering assembly includes a bearing rotatably supporting scid steering assembly in said central member for rotation about said generally vertical axis.

3. The propulsion device defined in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said drive unit includes an upper drive shaft drivably connected through said mounting assembly, said upper drive shaft being positioned through a drive shaft passageway formed in said steering assembly member of said steering assembly. I 9 O

4. The propulsion device defined in claim 3 wherein said upper drive shaft and said steering member are concentrically positioned for relative rotation with said mounting assembly. A propulsion device as claimed in any or. of claims 1 to 4 in which said drive device is a propeller drive for positioning under a bottom surface of the boat. 11 iv Address for Service: SANDERCOrt;, SMITH BEADLE 207 Rive::sdale Road, Box 410) Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: !i BOAT PROPULSION DEVICE T he following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- i

6. The propulsion device defined in any one of claims 1 to wherein said steering assembly and said trimming assembly have a common passageway therebetween, said passageway forming a drive shaft enclosure.

7. The propulsion device defined in claim 6 further including a lower end portion between a depending portion of the steering assembly, an upper end portion between an upwardly extending portion of the trimming assembly and a drive shaft flexible housing sealably connected between said upper end portion and lower end portion.

8. A propulsion device according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which a drive shaft means drivably couples said engine with S said drive device through said drive shaft enclosure. @4 The propulsion device defined in claim 8 wherein said A4 ;15 drive shaft means includes an upper drive shaft, a lower drive shaft and a universal joint connecting said upper and lower drive shafts, said upper and lower drive shafts and said universal joint positioned within said drive shaft enclosure for providing drive power transmission therethrough during 20 said steering and said trimming. The propulsion device defined in claim 9 wherein said universal joint is positioned within a flexible portion of said steering and trimming assembly, said flexible portion S t providing flexing during said trimming.

11. The propulsion device defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein said mounting assembly includes a boat connector for attaching to a boat bottom surface, and a retaining member removably positioned between a drive mounting portion and the boat connector. 4- 12 4isI l^ 1 the engine, below and secured to said mounting assembly for providing a drive connection between the engine and a drive device below the boat, said drive unit including a steering J S 4 -A :i

12. The propulsicn device defined in claim 11 wherein the retaining member is resilient for providing sealing and vibration isolation from the device to the boat.

13. The propulsion device defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein an engine mounting portion includes upwardly extending mounts providing vertical height clearance and rotational clearance therebetween to permit turning of a steering arm within a desired steering range.

14. The propulsion device defined in claim 13 wherein said drive unit includes an upper drive shaft coaxial to a vertical steering axis, said drive shaft coaxially coupling with an output end of the engine crankshaft. b° 15. The propulsion device defined in claim 14 wherein said coupling is within an engine mounting portion. i «15 16. The propulsion device defined in claim 14 wherein said coupling is an internal spline within said crankshaft output end and an engaging external spline on the upper end of the driveshaft..

17. The propulsion device defined in claim 13 further including a universal joint connected at the lower end of the upper drive shaft, a universal joint providing a drive angle change at about said horizontal trimming axis.

18. The propulsion device defined in claim 13 wherein said engine mounting portion includes an engine adapter member removably attached between said upwardly extending mounts and the mounting means of said engine.

19. A propulsion device defined in any one of the preceding claims in which said steering assembly has a depending first trunnion, said trimming assembly has an upwardly extending second trunnion, said first trunnion engaging with said second 13 Ii I L- c *I h l l advantages in the boat mounting, steering and tri'n/tilt mechanism which interfaces with the engine and the Orive in -2- trnina omn oiotlpvtmen o rvdn tunnolatr conton hoizontbual pioetmenfor povdinghu swinging upad moivement jofn sadurive deicego said stering adtmi ng abu asedl havizngal rivoeashafto enlouriterin Th prvaropling deic defioned in clai 9rwerein slaidsi which the drive device has a generally vertical first portion depending from said mounting assembly and extending into the steering assembly and trimming assembly, and a generally horizontal second portion extending outwardly from the downward end of said first portion, said first and second A ~portions providing an L-shape to the drive unit. S22. A propulsion device for a boat substantially as herein described above with reference to-the accompaftying drawings. 0 0 0DATED this July 30, 1991 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: 1 A U.S. MARINE CORPORATION -14-