GB2106848A

GB2106848A - Outboard motor arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2106848A
Application number: GB08129781A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald C Henderson
Original assignee: Mathewson Corp
Current assignee: Mathewson Corp
Priority date: 1981-10-02
Filing date: 1981-10-02
Publication date: 1983-04-20
Also published as: GB2106848B

Abstract

An outboard motor for propelling a vessel comprises a power plant 10 stationarily fixed to the vessel with its drive shaft 18 in the horizontal athwartship position, a propeller assembly 12 comprising a propeller and a kinematic train for driving the same mounted to the vessel for rotation about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the drive shaft and for vertical movement relative to the drive shaft, said kinematic train including an input shaft, the axis of which coincides with the axis of rotation of the propeller assembly and is parallel to the drive shaft, pulleys 22, 56 fixed to the respective shafts and a belt 58 entrained about said pulleys. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Outboard motor system BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Outboard propeller mechanisms for vessels such as barges, scows and the like are old in the art and as illustrated, for example, in Patents 2,335,597; 2,485,813; and 2,902,967. In these patents, a power plant is mounted in a stationary position on the vessel with its drive shaft parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, and the propeller assembly is mounted so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis athwartship of the vessel to enable disposing the propeller in a perpendicular position extending downwardly into the water and while in position to rotate the propeller about a vertical axis for the purpose of steering and also to enable swinging the entire propeller assembly upwardly to withdraw it from the water.The driving connection for the power plant to the outboard propeller assembly, because of the right angular relation of the drive shaft to the input shaft, imposes limitations on the drive angles, limits the input horsepower and speed, occupies more space than is desirable, transmits shock loads and generally is a source of constant trouble. It is the purpose of this invention to simplify the drive between the power plant and the outboard propeller assembly in such a way as to enable economizing in space requirements and to enable complete freedom of movement of the propeller assembly without interfering with the continuity of drive between the power plant and the propeller assembly.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION As herein illustrated, the invention comprises an outboard motor system for propelling a vessel comprising a power plant embodying a drive shaft, means stationarily mounting the power plant on the vessel with the drive shaft in a horizontal athwartship position, an outboard propeller assembly comprising a propeller and kinematic means for driving the same, means mounting the outboard propeller assembly on the vessel for angular movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the drive shaft and for vertical movement relative to the drive shaft, said kinematic means including an input shaft rotatable about an axis coinciding with said second axis, rotation of which effects by way of said kinematic means rotation of the propeller and means drivably connecting the drive shaft to the input shaft which permits angular and vertical movement of the propeller assembly relative to the drive shaft without interrupting continuous drive from the drive shaft to the input shaft. The means for connecting the drive shaft to the input shaft comprise pulleys fixed to the respective shafts and a band entrained about said pulleys.

Optionally, sprocket means may be employed and a chain entrained about the sprocket means. The propeller assembly which includes the propeller and kinematic means for driving the propeller is movable from a position in which the propeller is extending downwardly from the vessel into the water to an upstanding, rearwardly-inclined position above the vessel. The means for mounting the outboard propeller assembly comprise bearings mounted on the vessel and trunions fixed to the assembly rotatably engaged with the bearings. The means for effecting vertical movement relative to the vessel to enable raising and lowering the propeller assembly and, hence, the propeller relative to the bottom comprise pneumatic, hydraulic, electric or mechanical ratchet mechanisms.The kinematic means comprise, in addition to the input shaft, a transmission shaft journaled for rotation about an axis at right angles to the input shaft and a propeller shaft journaled for rotation at right angles to the transmission shaft to which the propeller is fixed and includes meshing pinion gears fixed, respectively, to the input and transmission shafts and meshing pinion gears fixed, respectively, to the transmission and propeller shafts. The propeller shaft and propeller attached thereto are rotatable about the axis of the transmission shaft. The propeller assembly comprises rotatably connected fixed and movable parts, the fixed part being rotatable about the input shaft, but constrained from rotation about the axis of the transmission shaft.The movable part is rotatable with the fixed part about the horizontal axis of the input shaft and rotatable about the axis of the transmission shaft relative to the fixed part. The axes of the input and transmission shafts lie in a common plane and the axes of the transmission and propeller shafts lie in a plane at right angles to the common plane in which the input and transmission shafts lie. The assembly includes an elongate gear box rotatably supported by the bearings at its opposite ends for rotation about said horizontal axis of the support shaft, bearings medially of its ends rotatably supporting the transmission shaft and bearings at the opposite ends for alternately rotatably receiving the input shaft to thus enable reversing the direction of rotation of the propeller.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation of the outboard motor system showing the power plant and outboard motor assembly with the latter shown in two positions of elevation relative to the bottom and in operable and inoperable positions; Figure 2 is a plan view; Figure 3 is an elevation as seen abaft the stern of a vessel; and Figure 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section -of the outboard propeller assembly.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 3, the outboard motor system as herein illustrated comprises essentially a power plant 10 and an outboard motor assembly 1 2. The power plant is attached to a rigid base 14, Fig. 1, which, in turn, is attached to the deck of a vessel, a portion of which is shown at 1 6 in a position such that its drive shaft 1 8 is disposed athwartship of the vessel in a horizontal position. As thus mounted, the power plant occupies a minimal amount of space on the deck providing a substantial saving in space over such prior installations wherein the power plant has been positioned with its drive shaft fore and aft parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the vessel.As illustrated, the power plant comprises a suitable gasoline, diesel engine or other prime mover 20 which drives the shaft 1 8 and the latter is provided with a pulley 22.

The propeller assembly 12, Fig. 4, is rotatably mounted for rotation in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis X-X spaced from and parallel to the axis of the drive shaft 1 8 by means of bearing blocks 24-24 containing bearing assemblies 26-26 for rotatably receiving trunions 28-28 secured to the opposite ends of a gear box 30 within which is journaled a kinematic train which is connected to the drive shaft 1 8 and provides the drive for a propeller 32 at the lower end of the assembly. The rotational movement of the propeller in the vertical plane permits the propeller assembly to be swung aft and upwardly out of the water. The extent of rotation of the propeller assembly is illustrated in Fig.

1 by the line b which, as shown is in excess of 180 so that when the assembly is raised to an upright position, it wiiil rest in this position without securing. The bearing blocks 24-24 are supported for vertical movement relative to the deck of the vessel on vertical, slidably-engaged channel members 21, 23, the bearing clocks being fixed to the channel 21 and the channel 23 being fixed to the frame 14. There are means 25-25 comprising hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders or mechanical ratchet mechanisms for effecting such vertical movement. As herein shown, the means 25-25 comprise hydraulic cylinders 25a-25a provided with pistons 25b-25b.

The vertical movement enables raising and lowering the position of the propeller while in the water to clear submerged objects and/or to clear the bottom where the water is shallow.

The kinematic train for transmitting drive from the drive shaft 1 8 to the propeller 32 comprises an input shaft 32, a transmission shaft 34 which may be comprised of several connected sections, and a propeller shaft 36.

These shafts are journaled in the gear box 30 with the axis of the input shaft 32 coinciding with the axis X-X of rotation of the gear box, the axis of the transmission shaft 34 at right angles to the axis of the input shaft 32, and with the axis of the propeller shaft 36 at right angles to the axis of the transmission shaft 34. The gear box contains end openings 38-38 and a medial opening 40 at right angles to the end openings. A bearing cage 42 is mounted in the end opening at the right side as shown in Fig. 4 for rotatably receiving the input shaft 32. The bearing cage 42 is removably mounted in the end opening for removal therefrom and transfer to the bearing opening at the opposite side.This enables changing the direction of rotation of the input shaft 32 and, hence, the direction of rotation of the propeller without requiring a change of direction of the drive shaft 1 8. Bearing cages 44 and 46 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the opening 40 for rotatably receiving the transmission shaft 34. The axes of the shafts 32 and 34 lie in a common plane and bevel gears 48 and 50 fastened, respectively, to the shafts 32 and 34 provide a driving connection between the shafts. A transmission shaft housing 52 is attached to the gear box comprising a downwardly-extending fixed part 52a bolted to the gear box and a downwardly-extending rotatable part 52b rotatably supported in the fixed part by a bearing assembly 52c for rotation about an axis coinciding with the axis of the transmission shaft 34.At the upper end of the rotatable part 52b, there is an annular gear 53. A worm gear 55 is supported in mesh with the annular gear 53, rotation of which will rotate the part 53b about the axis of the shaft 34. A reversible motor M connected to the worm gear provides for rotation thereof in reverse direction. At the lower end of the part 52b there is a propeller mounting 54 in which the propeller shaft 36 is rotatably mounted in conventional fashion and in which there are meshing gears which connect the lower end of the transmission shaft 34 to the propeller shaft 36 to provide for drive from the transmission shaft 34 to the propeller shaft 36. Rotation of the shaft housing 52b enables rotating the propeller about the axis of the transmission shaft 34 which, in turn, provides for steering the vessel.

For transmitting the drive from the drive shaft 1 8 to the input shaft 32, a pulley 56 is fixed to the input shaft 32 in alignment with the pulley 22 fixed to the drive shaft 1 8 and an endless belt 58 is entrained about the two pulleys. The belt 58 is desirably comprised of a somewhat elastic material which has sufficient tensile strength to transmit the drive from one shaft to the other, but will yield under shock sufficiently to reduce shock loads which may be imposed on the system by grounding or striking submerged objects. In other words, by taking advantage of the damping charac teristics inherent in an elastic material, for example, rubber or rubber-like materials used for the belt construction, the magnitude of shock loads may be substantially reduced.A spring-biased idler 60 is held against the belt 58 to take up slack and this maintains a nonslip drive for all heightwise positions of the propeller assembly relative to the drive shaft 18.

The use of pulleys and a belt for transmitting the drive from the power plant to the propeller assembly has the further advantage of greater flexibility in matching a variety of input, horsepower and speed changes by simply changing the diameter of the input pulley, that is, the pulley 22. A further advantage of the damping capacities inherent in rubber or rubber-like materials provides for isolation of the torsional influence of the driver pulley 22.

As will be observed in Fig. 2, the belt drive permits the vertical movement of the propeller assembly for the purpose of clearing obstructions or raising the propeller with respect to the bottom for shallow depths without interfering with the continuity of drive between the driving pulley and the driven pulley 22 and 56, respectively.

By arranging the input shaft of the propeller assembly in the gear box so that its axis of rotation coincides with the axis of rotation of the trunions mounting the propeller assembly, a very simple and efficient drive is provided which eliminates right angle gear sets that are currently required to allow the outboard drive assembly to pivot about its mounting axis in the horizontal plane to clear submerged objects upon contact and further allows for vertical adjustment to control draft without concern for drive angle limitations imposed by shaft drive systems, and allows for greater flexibility in positioning the driver on different horizontal planes by eliminating drive shaft angle considerations and the angular limitations imposed by universal constant velocity joints and the like.

The belt drive greatly simplifies installation of the prime mover by eliminating concern for alignment of the drive shaft 1 8 and the input shaft 32 in the vertical axis.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and includes all modifications or improvements which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An outboard motor system for propeliing a vessel comprising a power plant provided with a drive shaft, means mounting the power plant stationarily on the vessel with its drive shaft in a horizontal athwartship position, a propeller assembly including a kinematic train for driving the propeller, means mounting the propeller assembly on the vessel for rotation in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the drive shaft and means for maintaining a driving connection between the drive shaft and the kinematic train throughout rotation of the propeller assembly in said vertical plane.

2. An outboard motor system according to claim 1 wherein the means for maintaining a drive connection between the drive shaft and the kinematic train comprises a pulley fixed to the drive shaft, an input shaft coinciding with the axis of rotation of the propeller assembly comprising a part of a kinematic train, a pulley fixed to said input shaft and a belt entrained about said puleys.

3. An outboard motor system for propelling a vessel comprising a power plant provided with a drive shaft, means mounting the power plant stationarily on the vessel with its drive shaft in a horizontal athwartship position, a propeller assembly including a kinematic train for driving the propeller, means mounting the propeller assembly on the vessel for rectilinear movement in elevation relative to the drive shaft and means for maintaining a driving connection between the drive shaft and the kinematic train throughout vertical movement of the propeller assembly relative to the drive shaft.

4. An outboard motor system according to claim 3 wherein the means for maintaining the drive connection between the drive shaft and the kinematic train comprises a pulley fixed to the drive shaft, an input shaft coinciding with the axis of rotation of the propeller assembly comprising a part of the kinematic means, a pulley fixed to said input shaft and a belt entrained about said pulley.

5. An outboard motor system for propelling a vessel comprising a power plant provided with a drive shaft, means mounting the power plant stationarily on the vessel with its drive shaft in a horizontal athwartship position, a propeller assembly including a kinematic train for driving the propeller, means mounting the propeller assembly on the vessel for rotation in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the drive shaft and for rectilinear movement in elevation relative to the drive shaft and means for maintaining a driving connection between the drive shaft and the kinematic train throughout rotation and rectilinear movement of the propeller assembly.

6. An outboard motor system according to claim 5 wherein the means for maintaining the driving connection between the drive shaft and the kinematic means comprises a pulley fixed to the drive shaft, an input shaft coinciding with the axis of rotation of the propeller assembly comprising a part of the kinematic means, a pulley fixed to said input shaft and a belt entrained about said pulley.

7. An outboard motor system for propelling a vessel comprising a power plant provided with a drive shaft, means mounting the power plant stationarily on the vessel with its drive shaft in a horizontal athwartship position, a propeller assembly including a kinematic train for driving the propeller, means mounting the propeller assembly on the vessel for rotation in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the drive shaft, said propeller assembly comprising a part carrying the propeller which is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said horizontal axis to enable steering when the assembly is disposed in a vertical position with the propeller submerged, means mounting the propeller assembly on the vessel for rotation about a vertical plane about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the drive shaft and means for maintaining a driving connection between the drive shaft and the kinematic train throughout rotation of the propeller assembly in said vertical plane.

8. An outboard motor system for propelling a vessel comprising a power plant provided with a drive shaft, means mounting the power plant stationarily on the vessel with its drive shaft in a horizontal athwartship position, a propeller assembly comprising a part rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said horizontal axis to enable steering the vessel when the assembly is disposed in the vertical position with its propeller submerged, means mounting the propeller assembly on the vessel for vertical movement relative to the drive shaft and means for maintaining a driving connection between the drive shaft and the kinematic train throughout vertical movement of the propeller assembly relative to the drive shaft.

9. An outboard motor system for propelling a vessel comprising a power plant embodying a drive shaft, means stationarily mounting the power plant on the vessel with the drive shaft athwartship and in a horizontal position, an outboard propeller assembly comprising a propeller and kinematic means for driving the same, means mounting the outboard propeller assembly on the vessel for angular movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the drive shaft, said kinematic means including an input shaft rotatable about an axis coinciding with said second axis, rotation of which effects by way of said kinematic means rotation of the propeller, and means drivably connecting the drive shaft to the input shaft which permits angular movement of said propeller assembly relative to the power plant without interrupting continuous drive from the drive shaft to the input shaft.

1 0. An outboard motor system for propelling a vessel comprising a power plant embodying a drive shaft, means stationarily mounting the power plant on the vessel with the drive shaft athwartship and in a horizontal position, a propeller assembly including kinematic means for driving the same, means mounting the propeller assembly for rotation about a second horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the drive shaft, said kinematic means including an input shaft, the axis of which coincides with said second horizontal axis and means drivably connecting the input shaft to the drive shaft which permits angular movement of said propeller assembly relative to the power plant without interrupting continuous drive from the drive shaft to the input shaft.

11. An outboard motor system for propelling a vessel comprising a power plant embodying a drive shaft, means stationarily mounting the power plant on the vessel with the drive shaft in a horizontal athwartship position, an outboard propeller assembly comprising a propeller and kinematic means for driving the same, means on the vessel supporting the outboard propeller assembly for angular movement about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the drive shaft, said kinematic means comprising an input shaft journaled to rotate about an axis coinciding with the horizontal axis of the drive shaft, a transmission shaft journaled to rotate about an axis at right angles to the input shaft, a propeller shaft journaled to rotate about an axis at right angles to the plane of the input and transmission shaft, said propeller being fixed to the propeller shaft, and means drivably connecting the drive shaft to the input shaft, the input shaft and transmission shaft and the transmission shaft to the propeller shaft.

1 2. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 10 wherein the means drivably connecting the drive shaft to the input shaft comprises pulleys fixed to the respective shafts and a band entrained about said pulleys.

1 3. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 10 wherein the propeller assembly including the kinematic means are rotatably about said horizontal axis from a position extending downwardly from the vessel into the water to an upstanding, rearwardly-inclined position above the vessel.

14. An outboard motor system according to claim 10 wherein the means mounting the propeller assembly including the kinematic means comprises bearing means mounted on the vessel and trunions fixed to the propeller assembly rotatably engaged with said bearing means.

1 5. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 14 wherein the bearing means provide for vertical movement of the propeller assembly relative to the vessel to enable raising and lowering the propeller relative to the bottom.

16. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 14 wherein there is means supporting the bearing means for vertical movement relative to the vessel and hydraulic cylinders arranged to effect such vertical movement.

17. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 11 wherein the kinematic means comprises meshing pinion gears fixed, respectively, to the input and transmission shaft and meshing pinion gears fixed, respectively, to the transmission and propeller shafts.

1 8. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 11 wherein the propeller shaft and propeller attached thereto are rotatable about the axis of the transmission shaft.

19. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 9 wherein the propeller assembly comprises rotatably connected first and second parts and said first part is rotatable about said horizontal axis, but contrained from rotation about an axis at right angles thereto.

20. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 19 wherein the second part is rotatable with the first part about the horizontal axis and is also rotatable about an axis at right angles thereto.

21. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 11 wherein the axes of the input and transmission shafts lie in a common plane and the axes of the transmission and propeller shafts lie in a common plane at right angles to the common plane in which the input and transmission shafts lie.

22. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the position of the input shaft can be reversed with respect to the transmission shaft to enable effecting rotation of the propeller alternately in a right-hand or left-hand direction without reversing the power plant.

23. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 11 wherein the propeller assembly comprises an elongate gear box rotatably supported at its opposite ends for rotation about its horizontal axis, bearings medially of the ends which support the transmission shaft at right angles to the axis of the gear box, and bearings at each of the ends of the gear box for alternately rotatably receiving the input shaft to thus enable reversing the driving connection between the input shaft and the transmission shaft.

24. An outboard motor assembly according to claim 11 wherein the propeller assembly comprises an elongate gear box, hollow trunions fixed to the ends of the gear box rotatably supporting the gear box, said gear box containing medially of its ends an opening at right angles to its longitudinal axis and at its ends symmetrically-arranged openings, bearing members supporting the transmission shaft in said medial opening with its axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the gear box and a bearing member situated in one of the end bearings for receiving the input shaft, said latter bearing member being removably secured in said opening and transferrable to the opening at the opposite end.

25. An outboard motor system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.