CN115702104A - Vertical input outboard motor forward-reverse angled drive lower unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a vertical input outboard motor angled drive lower unit apparatus and method for improved operation in shallow water, muddy water, marsh water or water blocked by vegetation or obstacles. The vertically applied unidirectional rotational power from the outboard motor engine is transferred into operator controlled forward and reverse rotational power applied at an acute angle to the horizontal water surface. The device is cooled by an external water flow that is not introduced to any ports that may be plugged. The thrust redirection plate reflects the otherwise wasted propeller thrust, especially when operating in reverse, to achieve more efficient operation and reduce agitation of the water surface. The angled skeg and the angled orientation of the output shaft and housing deflect the obstruction.

Description

Vertical input outboard motor drives lower unit forward-reverse angled

Cross References to Related Applications

This application requires my application titled "Vertical-Input Outboard-Motor Forward-Reverse Angled-Drive Lower Unit" filed on June 22, 2020 US 16/908,326, now the priority of patent US 10,858,087, the entire disclosure of said application is hereby incorporated by reference and priority is hereby claimed.

technical field

The present invention provides a vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit apparatus and method for improved operation.

Background technique

Conventional outboard motors have performance limitations when operating in shallow water, muddy water, swampy water, or water clogged with vegetation or obstructions. The propeller is mounted perpendicular to the water surface and must therefore be submerged for at least the full length of its diameter. The gearbox is located immediately in front of the propeller and must therefore be submerged, placing a large amount of material underwater where it creates resistance. Cooling is achieved by introducing water through the ports and circulating it, which can cause corrosion and damage when used in salt water or polluted water, and when used in muddy water or water filled with vegetation or obstacles, Causes blockage of water inlet port and overheating. When operating in reverse, a substantial portion of the reverse thrust is directed towards the water, where said reverse thrust encounters negligible air resistance and is wasted in churning the water, or towards the transom, wherein said portion of the thrust is canceled out. Conventional outboard motors are subject to fouling and damage from obstructions including thick vegetation and floating debris.

A typical shallow water outboard motor is known to have an output shaft and propeller extending downward into the water at an angle. These shallow water outboard motors have cumbersome gearboxes that sit well above the waterline where they experience overheating. The gearbox is attached to the outboard motor engine at the back of the engine and can only be driven by the engine with a horizontal rotary output, excluding the engine with a vertical rotary output. The gearing and linkage of these shallow water outboard motors makes shifting between forward and reverse awkward and cumbersome, and places the propeller at a relatively long distance from the steering pivot point, making steering awkward and tedious. cumbersome. These typical shallow water outboard motors exhibit the same drawbacks as conventional outboard motors when operating in reverse, where a significant portion of the reverse thrust is wasted in the air and transom as churning the surface, and experiences accumulation from obstructions. dirt and damage.

What is needed is an outboard motor lower unit providing engine power for vertically oriented rotation that provides output angled to the water surface, provides water cooling to prevent clogging or internal corrosion, provides forward to reverse simple and efficient shifting in both directions, provides a small distance from the steering pivot point to the propeller, protects against damage or fouling from objects in the water, and redirects otherwise wasted thrust (especially in reverse) into useful Thrust without stirring the water.

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides a vertical input outboard motor angle driven lower unit apparatus and method especially for improved operation in shallow water, muddy water, swamp water or water clogged by vegetation or obstructions. Transfers vertically applied unidirectional rotational power from the outboard electric motor engine into operator-controlled forward and reverse rotational power applied at acute angles to the horizontal water surface. The device is cooled by an external water flow that is not directed into any ports that may be blocked. Thrust redirection plates reflect otherwise wasted propeller thrust, especially when operating in reverse, for more efficient operation and less turbulence of the water surface. The angled skeg and the angled orientation of the output shaft and housing deflect obstacles.

Description of drawings

Reference will now be made to the drawings in which like parts are labeled with like numerals, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a partially exploded view of the vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit of the present invention.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a side sectional view of a vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective cutaway view of a vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a prior art conventional outboard motor in use.

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a typical prior art shallow water outboard motor in use.

Figure 10 is a schematic illustration of the vertical input outboard motor of the present invention driving the lower unit at an angle in use.

Figure 11 is a schematic illustration of a prior art conventional outboard motor in use.

Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the vertical input outboard motor of the present invention driving the lower unit at an angle.

Figure 13 is a schematic illustration of a prior art conventional outboard motor in use.

Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the vertical input outboard motor of the present invention driving the lower unit at an angle.

Figure 15 is a schematic illustration of a prior art conventional outboard motor in use.

Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of a typical prior art shallow water outboard motor in use.

Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the vertical input outboard motor of the present invention driving the lower unit at an angle.

Figure 18 is a schematic illustration of a prior art conventional outboard motor in use.

Figure 19 is a schematic illustration of a typical prior art shallow water outboard motor in use.

Figure 20 is a schematic diagram of the vertical input outboard motor of the present invention driving the lower unit at an angle.

Figure 21 is a schematic illustration of the vertical input outboard motor of the present invention driving the lower unit at an angle in use.

Detailed ways

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the vertical input outboard motor forward-reverse angled drive lower unit 10 is an outboard boat particularly suitable for operation in shallow water, muddy water, swampy water, or water clogged with vegetation or obstacles. The electric motor supplies the lower unit.

The vertical input outboard motor angle drives the lower unit 10 using the rotational force supplied by the outboard motor engine to the vertical input shaft 31 and transfers that force, or the force in a counter-rotational direction, to the propeller mount 39 , the propeller mount 39 is angled away from the vertical orientation of the vertical input shaft 31 . The propeller mounted on the propeller mount 39 is at an acute angle to the surface and possibly to the bottom of the water. The preferred angle is 30 degrees from horizontal. At this angle, the propeller will only need vertical clearance half its diameter, for example, a 10 inch diameter propeller will only need 5 inches of water. A thrust redirecting plate 61 is provided above the installed propeller and at a less acute angle to the water surface. When pushing the propeller back and down thereby propelling the boat forward, the thrust redirects the plate to reflect the peripheral portion of the force, preventing it from breaking through the water and being wasted. When pushing the propeller forward and up, pulling the boat back, the thrust redirection plate reflects the major portion of the force (which is initially directed towards the water and the transom of the boat) as a more effective thrust angled downward. An angled skeg 62 is provided to protect the angled drive of the vertical input outboard motor to drive the lower unit 10 and the installed propeller.

A vertical input outboard motor drives the lower unit 10 at an angle providing a housing 20 enclosing the shaft 30 and bearings 40 of the gear drive. The majority of the housing 20 rests at least partially below the waterline during use, which serves to keep the vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit drive lower unit 10 cool during use. This cooling provides an advantage over the prior art in which some components are located above the waterline and are substantially uncooled, or cooled by water introduced into the port, when in salt water or other corrosive or This is a less than ideal solution when operating in contaminated water or in muddy water, water clogged with vegetation, or water filled with other obstructions, where the inlet port can become blocked and cause overheating. An angled main housing 21 , a forward housing 22 , an input shaft housing 23 , an output shaft housing 24 and a rear housing 25 are provided.

The vertical input outboard motor angularly drives the lower unit 10 to provide a directional shift unit 50 which provides an improvement over the prior art. A shift actuator lever 51 provides operator control for shifting between forward and reverse gears. The other components of the directional shift unit 50 are housed within the rear housing 25 and are thus at least partially below the waterline and cooled.

Referring to Figures 5 to 7, the vertical input outboard motor angle drives the lower unit 10 providing the housing 20 as identified above and the geared shaft 30 and corresponding bearing 40 to direct the vertical input from the outboard motor engine. The straight oriented forward only unidirectional rotational force is transferred to the angularly oriented forward or counter rotational force of the mounted propeller. The vertical input shaft 31 with input shaft bearing 41 enclosed within the input shaft housing 23 receives power in the form of unidirectional rotational force from the engine of the outboard electric motor. The input gear 32 with input gear bearing 42 at the lower end of the vertical input shaft 31 rotates with the shaft and is arranged to transfer force at right angles to a correspondingly arranged gear. Bevel gears are suitable for this purpose, where other gearings are possible.

providing an intermediate shaft 33 with an intermediate shaft bearing 43 mainly enclosed in the angled main housing 21 below and at right angles to the vertical input shaft 31 , Thus extending horizontally and from a forward extremity to an aft extremity with respect to the direction of travel of the outboard motor in use. A forward gear 34 having a forward gear bearing 44 and a reverse gear 35 having a reverse gear bearing 45 are mounted around the intermediate shaft 33 in a freely rotatable manner. The forward gear 34 and the reverse gear 35 are each installed facing inward toward the middle of the intermediate shaft 33 and thus each face each other. Both the forward gear 34 and the reverse gear 35 are in contact with the input gear 32 and continuously rotate together with the input gear 32 . In use, the forward gear 34 rotates in the direction causing the propeller to rotate forward thrust, and the reverse gear 35 rotates in the opposite direction causing the propeller to rotate reverse thrust.

The intermediate shaft is rotatable in a forward direction by a forward gear 34 or in a reverse direction by a reverse gear 35 . The directional shift unit 50 controls which gear is engaged with the intermediate shaft rod 33 under the control of the operator using the shift actuator rod 51 which moves the gears enclosed in the rear housing 25. Shift wedge 52 . A shift clutch pawl 54 installed on the counter shaft 33 between the forward gear 34 and the reverse gear 35 meshes with the forward gear 34 or the reverse gear 35 and transfers the rotation of the engaged gear to the counter shaft 33 . A clutch pawl actuator pin 53 is mounted at the rearward end of the intermediate shaft 33 . The clutch pawl actuator pin 53 comes into contact with the shift wedge 52 and changes the position corresponding to the portion of the shift wedge 52 that is in contact. Translating the change in the position of the clutch pawl actuator pin 53 into a change in the position of the shift clutch pawl 54 causes the shift clutch pawl 54 to change between engaging either the forward gear 34 or the reverse gear 35, causing the countershaft lever 33 rotation direction shifts.

A driving bevel gear 36 with a driving bevel gear bearing 46 is mounted at the forward end of the intermediate shaft 33 . This driving bevel gear 36 rotates together with the intermediate shaft in the forward direction or the reverse direction according to the operation of the direction shift unit 50 .

The following provides the output shaft 38 with output shaft bearings 48 which are synchronized with and at an acute angle to the intermediate shaft 33 . As stated above, the preferred angle is 30 degrees from the horizontal, thus 120 degrees from the vertical of the vertical input shaft 31 .

A driven bevel gear 37 having a driven bevel gear bearing 47 is mounted at the forward upward end of the output shaft 38 . Collectively, the driving bevel gear 36 and the driven bevel gear 37 transfer the rotational force of the intermediate shaft 33 to the output shaft 38 at an acute angle. The diverted rotational force may be a force that produces forward thrust or a force that produces reverse thrust.

The rotational force applied to the output shaft 38 is transferred through the propeller mount 39 to the mounted propeller, thereby generating a corresponding forward or reverse thrust.

Referring to Figures 8 through 10, the distance from the steering pivot point to the propeller for an outboard motor that angularly drives the lower unit 10 using a vertical input outboard motor is close to that of a conventional outboard motor and significantly shorter than typical The stated distances for shallow water outboard motors. The shorter distance results in easier and better handling.

Referring to Figures 11 and 12, the use of a vertical input outboard motor to drive the outboard motor of the lower unit 10 at an angle will allow its gearbox housing to be lifted when it is desired or necessary, such as by using a "jackplate" to lift the motor. Much of it is above the water, reducing drag compared to conventional outboard motors whose entire gearbox is submerged.

Referring to Figures 13 and 14, an outboard motor using a vertical input outboard motor at an angle to drive the lower unit 10 will more easily navigate floating obstacles, where the angled skeg 62 and the lower section's The angled orientation generally protects the installed propeller from damage or fouling caused by deflecting obstacles.

Referring to Figures 15 through 17, an outboard motor that drives the lower unit 10 at an angle using a vertical input outboard motor will operate more efficiently in forward gear as opposed to a conventional outboard motor because the thrust redirecting plate 61 prevents thrust against Negligible air pressure directs thrust upwards, and is thus wasted, and the downward angled orientation of thrust can operate against the bottom in shallow water, and otherwise operate against the increased pressure of deeper water.

Referring to Figures 18 to 21, the reverse thrust of conventional and typical shallow water outboard motors is partially directed against the air (where the reverse thrust is wasted) or against the transom (where the reverse thrust is canceled out). but the reverse thrust of the outboard motor driving the lower unit 10 at an angle using the vertical input outboard motor is reflected by the thrust redirection plate 61 to direct otherwise wasted thrust into useful thrust. The thrust redirecting plate 61 also prevents the water surface from being stirred up when operating in reverse.

Many other changes and modifications can be made in the systems and methods of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore wish to limit my rights to the invention only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit apparatus comprising: (i) a vertical input shaft adapted to receive rotational force from the outboard motor engine at the upper end; (ii) an input gear, at said lower end of said vertical input shaft, adapted to transmit rotational force at a right angle; (iii) an intermediate shaft, below and at right angles to said vertical input shaft, having forward and rearward orientations; (iv) a forward gear mounted around said intermediate shaft, facing inward toward said middle of said intermediate shaft, adapted to engage said input gear and rotate in a first rotational direction; (v) a reverse gear mounted around said intermediate shaft, facing inward towards said middle of said intermediate shaft, adapted to engage said input gear and rotate in a second direction opposite to said first direction of rotation Rotate in direction; (vi) a drive bevel gear mounted on said intermediate shaft at said forward end, adapted to transmit rotational force at an acute angle; (vii) an output shaft, below and at an acute angle to said intermediate shaft, having a forward and a rearward orientation; (viii) a driven bevel gear mounted on said output shaft at said forward end, adapted to engage said drive bevel gear at an acute angle and cause rotation of said output shaft in a corresponding rotational direction; (ix) a propeller mount, at said rearward end of said output shaft, adapted to drive a mounted propeller in said direction of rotation applied to said output shaft; (x) a shift clutch pawl mounted on said countershaft between said forward gear and said reverse gear, adapted to move along said countershaft to engage either said forward gear or said countershaft said reverse gear meshes and is adapted to apply said directional rotational force from said meshed gears to said intermediate shaft; (xi) a clutch pawl actuator pin mounted at said rearward end of said intermediate shaft adapted to move said shift clutch pawl along said intermediate shaft in conjunction with said forward gear or said reverse gear engages; (xii) a shift wedge adapted to move the clutch pawl actuator pin such that the shift clutch pawl engages either the forward gear or the reverse gear; (xiii) a shift actuator rod extending upwardly from said shift wedge above said waterline, adapted to provide controlled positioning of said shift wedge; (xiv) an input shaft housing adapted to enclose said vertical input shaft; (xv) an angled main housing mounted to said input shaft housing at least partially below said waterline, adapted to enclose and cool a portion of said intermediate shaft and said output shaft; (xvi) a forward housing mounted to said angled main housing at least partially below said waterline, adapted to enclose and cool said forward ends of said intermediate shaft and said output shaft ; (xvii) a rear housing mounted to said angled main housing at least partially below said waterline, adapted to enclose and cool said rearward end of said intermediate shaft and said shift wedge ; (xviii) an output shaft housing mounted to said angled main housing, below said waterline, corresponding to the downward and rearward acute angle of said output shaft, adapted to enclose and cool said output shaft said rearward portion of the rod; (xix) a thrust redirection plate mounted at an acute angle on and above said output shaft housing adapted to reflect and redirect force from a propeller mounted to said propeller mount; and (xx) Angled skegs mounted above and below said forward housing, angled main housing, and output shaft housing adapted to prevent said vertical input outboard motor from angling driving lower unit and mounted The propeller is affected by obstacles and shallow water bottoms. 2. The vertical input outboard motor angled drive lower unit apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising said output below said intermediate shaft at an acute angle of 20° to 40° with said intermediate shaft Shaft. 3. The vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising said output below said intermediate shaft and at an acute angle of 25 degrees to 35 degrees to said intermediate shaft Shaft. 4. The vertical input outboard motor angled drive lower unit apparatus of claim 1, further comprising said output shaft below said intermediate shaft and at an acute angle of 30 degrees to said intermediate shaft. 5. The vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input gear, said forward gear and said reverse gear are bevel gears. 6. The vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input gear, said forward gear and said reverse gear are helical bevel gears. 7. The vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive bevel gear and said driven bevel gear are helical bevel gears. 8. The vertical input outboard motor angled drive lower unit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said thrust redirection plate further comprises a generally planar structure substantially forward and rearward and Extending laterally to extend beyond the operating area of a propeller mounted to the propeller mount. 9. The vertical input outboard motor angled drive lower unit apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said thrust redirecting plate further comprises extending at least 12 inches in the forward-aft dimension and at least 10 inches laterally generally planar structure. 10. The vertical input outboard motor angled drive lower unit apparatus of claim 1 wherein said angled skeg extends downwardly at an angle greater than said angle of said output shaft. 11. A method of angularly driving a lower unit with a vertical input outboard motor comprising: (i) Provide vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit equipment, said vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit equipment comprising: (a) a vertical input shaft adapted to receive rotational force from the outboard motor engine at the upper end; (b) an input gear, at said lower end of said vertical input shaft, adapted to transmit rotational force at a right angle; (c) an intermediate shaft, below and at right angles to said vertical input shaft, having forward and rearward orientations; (d) a forward gear mounted around said intermediate shaft, facing inward toward said middle of said intermediate shaft, adapted to engage said input gear and rotate in a first rotational direction; (e) a reverse gear mounted around said intermediate shaft, facing inward towards said middle of said intermediate shaft, adapted to engage said input gear and rotate in a second direction opposite to said first direction of rotation Rotate in direction; (f) a drive bevel gear, mounted on said intermediate shaft at said forward end, adapted to transmit rotational force at an acute angle; (g) an output shaft, below and at an acute angle to said intermediate shaft, having a forward and a rearward orientation; (h) a driven bevel gear mounted on said output shaft at said forward end, adapted to engage said drive bevel gear at an acute angle and cause rotation of said output shaft in a corresponding rotational direction; (i) a propeller mount, at said rearward end of said output shaft, adapted to drive a mounted propeller in said direction of rotation applied to said output shaft; (j) a shift clutch dog mounted on said countershaft between said forward gear and said reverse gear, adapted to move along said countershaft to engage either said forward gear or said countershaft said reverse gear meshes and is adapted to apply said directional rotational force from said meshed gears to said intermediate shaft; (k) a clutch pawl actuator pin mounted at said rearward end of said intermediate shaft adapted to move said shift clutch pawl along said intermediate shaft in conjunction with said forward gear or said reverse gear engages; (l) a shift wedge adapted to move the clutch pawl actuator pin such that the shift clutch pawl engages either the forward gear or the reverse gear; (m) a shift actuator rod extending upwardly from said shift wedge above said waterline, adapted to provide controlled positioning of said shift wedge; (n) an input shaft housing adapted to enclose said vertical input shaft; (o) an angled main housing mounted to said input shaft housing at least partially below said waterline, adapted to enclose and cool a portion of said intermediate shaft and said output shaft; (p) a forward housing mounted to said angled main housing at least partially below said waterline, adapted to enclose and cool said forward ends of said intermediate shaft and said output shaft ; (q) a rear housing mounted to said angled main housing at least partially below said waterline, adapted to enclose and cool said rearward end of said intermediate shaft and said shift wedge ; (r) an output shaft housing mounted to said angled main housing, below said waterline, corresponding to the downward and rearward acute angle of said output shaft, adapted to enclose and cool said output shaft said rearward portion of the rod; (s) a thrust redirection plate mounted at an acute angle on and above said output shaft housing adapted to reflect and redirect force from a propeller mounted to said propeller mount; and (t) angled skegs mounted above and below said forward housing, angled main housing, and output shaft housing, adapted to prevent said vertical input outboard motor from angling driving the lower unit and mounted propellers are affected by obstacles and shallow water bottoms; (ii) mounting said vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit to an outboard motor engine with a vertical rotational power output; (iii) mounting said outboard motor engine and said vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit to the transom using a transom clamp steering bracket; (iv) using said shift actuator lever to shift between forward and reverse gears; and (v) operating said outboard motor engine mounted to said vertical input outboard motor to angularly drive a lower unit for forward and reverse propulsion of said boat. 12. The vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit method according to claim 11, wherein said vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit apparatus is further included below said intermediate shaft and connected to said The intermediate shaft is at an acute angle of 20° to 40° to the output shaft. 13. The vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit method according to claim 11, wherein said vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit apparatus is further included below said intermediate shaft and connected to said The intermediate shaft is at an acute angle of 25 degrees to 35 degrees to the output shaft. 14. The vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit method according to claim 11, wherein said vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit apparatus is further included below said intermediate shaft and connected to said The intermediate shaft is at an acute angle of 30 degrees to the output shaft. 15. The vertical input outboard motor angular drive lower unit method of claim 11 wherein said input gear, said forward gear and said reverse gear are bevel gears. 16. The vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit method of claim 11 wherein said input gear, said forward gear and said reverse gear are spiral bevel gears. 17. The method of angularly driving a lower unit with a vertical input outboard motor as claimed in claim 11, wherein said driving bevel gear and said driven bevel gear are helical bevel gears. 18. The vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit method of claim 11 , wherein said thrust redirection plate further comprises a generally planar structure substantially forward and rearward and Extending laterally to extend beyond the operating area of a propeller mounted to the propeller mount. 19. The vertical input outboard motor angle drive lower unit method of claim 11 , wherein said thrust redirection plate further comprises extending at least 12 inches in the forward-aft dimension and at least 10 inches laterally generally planar structure. 20. The vertical input outboard motor angled drive lower unit method of claim 11 wherein said angled skeg extends downwardly at an angle greater than said angle of said output shaft.

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