GB2303606A

GB2303606A - Marine drive anode

Info

Publication number: GB2303606A
Application number: GB9619377A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip D Magee; Edward C Eick; Gary L Meisenburg
Original assignee: Brunswick Corp
Current assignee: Brunswick Corp
Priority date: 1993-06-28
Filing date: 1994-06-28
Publication date: 1997-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-28
Also published as: GB9619377D0; GB2303607A; GB2303605A; GB2303605B; GB2303607B; GB9619376D0; GB9619378D0; GB2303606B

Description

MARINE DRIVE ANODE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS is 2303606 This

a-jr)1-4cat-4on is related to allowed U.S. patent applicattions 5. N. 07/889,495 and S. N. 07/889, 530, cor=.espcr.d--.-.9 to G3-A-222.57264 and GS-A-22697686 respectively, inco=crated herein, by

BACKGROUND AND SU?M:k-RY

The invention relates to a marine drive, and more particularly to a sacrificial anode.

The invention arose during development efforts directed -.cward a surfacing marine drive enabling inc_reased tom end bboat- speed, though the inventon is not -it theret-c. Surfacing drives are known in the art, for exa.-,.m-le U.S. Patent 4,871,334, column 3, lines 35---.

E Sacrificial anodes f-cr galvanic prctection 0: =arine drIves are alsc known in the art.

The z--ese:,z invention mrcv-4des an i=proved anode and a-cde-mounz-na structure.

THE F;g. i is a s-,de elevation v--e-w cf a marine dr,.ve 1- the nczed parent applications.

2 is a partial sectional view cf a portion c.,, the structure of tion of the F-,g. 3 is an enlarged view of a port sruc4,,ure of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an exploded isormetric view of a pcrt--4on of the structure of Fig. 1.

F,,g. 5 is an exploded isometric view of a 0 the structure o, -ied in accordance portion c'. 10 Fig. 1 modif with the invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the struct-ure of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of an anode in accordance with the invention.

Fig. a is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

BAD ORIGINAL A 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows a marine drive 10 having two counter --- otat ing surf ace operating propellers 12 and 14.

The drive is mounted to the transom 16 of a boat 18 in the usual manner for a stern drive. The drive includes a housing 20, Fig. 2, having upper and lower spaced hori zontal bores 22 and 24, and an intersecting vertical bore 26 extending therebetween. An upper input shaft 28 is in upper horizontal bore 22 and is coupled through a univer sal joint 30 to an input shaft 32 driven by the engine (nol.: shown) in the boat. The universal joint enables 0 the drive. The inmut shaft tri.=ing and steering c. drives an upper gear assembly 34 which is known in the art, for example as shown in U.S. Pat-ents ',,630,719, A 15,679,682, and 4,069,121, incorporated herein by re-fer- ence. dcwnward-'v extending drivesha-ft 36 in vertical 26 -'s driven -1by input shaft 28 through unper gear asse-ibly 34 operatIvely cc.-,nec--ed tt-here--ez-ween. Input, cear 38 = shaf th 2S roltates about a hcrizor.za-l axis and dr-,ves gears 40 and 42 to rotate in oppcs-J---- directions a-cu-. a vertical ax-,s. Shift and clutch asse-nb-"v 44 0 one or the other of gears 40 and 42, causes engagement c.

r-i cause rotation cf& dr-iveshafz 36 in one or the -o in 41:.u other direction, to provide forward or reverse cperation, all' as in the noted incor-pcrated patents.

-Jon Vertical bore 26 has an upper threaded port46, Fig. 3. An upper adaptor spool 48 has a lower t.-.readed outer portion 50 mating with threaded portion 46 c0 vertical bore 26 and supporting gear 42 for rotation l about drilveshaft 36. Adaptor spool 48 has an upper outer surface 52 supporting an upper outer needle bearing 54 which supports gear 42 for rotation about adaptor spool 48. Adaptor spool 48 has an upper inner surface 56 supporting an upper inner needle bearing 58 which supports driveshafl: 36 for rotation in adaptor spool 48.

Adaptor spool 48 has a lower outer section 60, Fig. 3, of a first outer diameter 62 and threaded as r BAD -----, '' 1 noted at 50 and mating with upper threaded portion 46 of vertical bore 26. Adaptor spool 48 has a central outer section 64 above lower outer section 60 and of a central outer diameter 66 larger than lower outer diameter 62.

Adaptor spool 48 has an upper outer section 68 above central outer section 64 and of an upper outer diameter 70 less than central outer diameter 66 and less than lower outer diameter 62. Adaptor spool 48 has a lower inner section 72 of a lower inner diameter 74 within vertical bore 26. Adaptor spool 48 has an upper inner section 76 above lower inner section 72 and c..,L2 an upper inner diameter 78 less than lower inner diameter 74. Upper outer needle bearing 54 is between gear 42 and upper outer section 6S of adaptor spool AtS and supports . adapt -rO. Upper - cear 42 for rotaltion abcut spool 1 inner needle bearing 58 is between driveshaft, 36 and upper ---iner secti L-s drive- on 76 cio adaptor spool 98 and s.,:ppcr s..a,-%" 36 -for ro-ba'k--i-cn in adaptor spool 43. Lower outer section 60 and central outer section 6.11 of adaptor spool 43 meet at a d^-wnwar---'v facing annular shoulder 80 at the end ^02 c:O housing sidewall 8-' for-m-ing vertical bore ially equal to 26. Upper outer dianeter 70 is su-Ostan-"lower inner diameter 74 of adaptor spool 48.

Vertical bore 26 has a first section 86, Fig. 3, oil a ffirst inner dian. eter 88. Vertical bore 26 has a second section 90 above first section 86 and of a second inner diameter 92 larger than inner diameter 88. Sections 86 and 90 meet at an upwardly facing annular shoulder 94. Vertical bore 26 has a first thread 96 above second section 90 and of an inner diameter 98 at least as great as second inner diameter 92. Vertical bore 26 has above first thread 96 and of a third a third sectinner diameter 102 greater than second inner diameter 98. Vertical bore 26 has a second thread, provided by the noted thread 46, above third section 100 and of an inner diameter 104 at least as great as third inner diameter 102. A central tapered roller thrust bearing 106 is BAD 4OW 4 - is seated against shoulder 94 of vertical bore 26. An annular ring 108 has a threaded outer portion 110 mat-ing with thread 96 of vertical bore 26 and retains bearing 106 againsz shoulder 94. Vertical bore 26 has a fourth section 112 below first section 86 and of a fourth inner diameter 114 larger than first inner diameter 88. First and fourth sections 86 and 112 meet at a downwardly facing annular shoulder 116. A lower needle bearing 118 is seated against downwardly facing shoulder 116 and supports dr- vashaft 36 for rota'..-.ion. Central and upper bearings 1C6 and 58 are inserted into verzical bore 26 fron above, Fig. 4. Lower bearing 1IS is inserted into vertical bcre 26 fron below.

2riveshaft 36, Fig. 3, is a two piece nember for-med by an upper driveshaft segment 120 and a lower driveshaft seg-ment 122 coupled by a sleeve 124 in splined relation. Central bearing 106 and lower bear-ng IIS 53 supports the upper dr-ves,l,afz seg-ne,-,z 120. The upper t sagn.ent is also su-=--lcrzed bY anczher upper drivesha. 1 needle bear-'ng 1-26, Fig. 2, as in the nozed -inccr-Daraze--, patents.

Eriveshafth 36 has a lower pinic,n gear 128, Fig.

3, mounted =hereto by bolt 130 and washer 2,32. Needle bearing 118 is above pinion gear 123 and is supported -er race be-ween inner and outer races 134 and 136. Out 136 engages shoulder 116, and inner race 1311 engages shoulder 13a an lower d--iveshaf41- segment 122. Bearing 106 has an inner race 140 engaging shoulder 142 on lower drivesha,Lot segment 122. Bearing 106 has an outer race 144 stopped against shoulder 94 in bare 26. One or more shims 146 may be provided between outer race 144 and shoulder 94 to adjust axial positioning ill desired. Gear 42 rotates cn bearing 148 on race 150 seated on shoulder 152 of housing sidewall 154.

A pair of lower concentric counter-rotating inner and outer propeller shafts 156 and 158, Fig. 2, in r 3AD ORIGINAI. 0.

- 0) lower horizontal bore 24 are driven by driveshaft 36. inner propeller shaft 156 has a fore gear 160 driven by pinion gear 128 to drivingly rotate inner propeller shaft 156. outer propeller shaft 158 has an alft gear 162 driven by pinion gear 128 to drivingly rotate outer propeller shaft 158 in the opposite rotational direction k-han inner propeller shaft 156. Reference is made to allowed incorporated U.S. application S.N. 07/889,530, 'Oiled May 27, 1992. The dual propeller shaf"k- assembly is mounted in horizontal bore 24 by a spool assembly 164, at right hand threads 166 and retaining ring 168 having left.-and threads!70. The right- hand threads prevent right 4 ng -.and rotat-onal locsen_ of the spool assembly, and the hand threads 170 prevent left hand rotational loos ening of spool assembly. Forward thrust _Js trans z ' from the outer crOneller shaft 158 zo the inner e rr ed =ronel ler snaft 156 at t1hrust bearing 172 against annular!der 1. 14 on inner propeller shaft 156. Pro s..cu oneller 12 _s mounted on inner propeller shaft 136 in splined relaZion at 176 between tapered ring 178 and ' readed nuz SO. Propeller 14 Js mounted on outer prope'ler shaft Dd in szi-nea -re-lat-ion at 132 Joetween tapered ring _'94 and threaded nut 186.

111e vertical distance between adaptor spool 48 and lower Izearing IIS is about equal to the radius of propellers 12 and 14. Lower horizontal bore 24 of hcus ing 20 is in the portion commonly called the torpedo 188, Figs. 1 and 4. Torpedo 188 is slightly above the bottom of boat 18 and hence is slightly above the surface of %-he water, thus reducing drag. This raising of the torpedo above the surface of the water is accomplished without a like raising of the engine in the boat nor the usual transom mounting location for the drive. In the preferred embodiment, the engine is raised 2 to 3 inches above its standard location. Housing 20 is a one-piece unitary integrally cast housing replacing'prior two piece housings. Propeller shafts 156, 158 are spaced from BAD ORIGINAL j L, bearing 222.

bearing 21S.

43 closes off oil passage 204, 206.

Figs. 5-8 show a modification in accordance with the invention. Sacrificial anode 230 is mounted to drive housing 231 above propellers 12 and 14 and has a volume of approximately 30 cubic inches, which is signif icantly greater than standard anodes. The increased volume provides enhanced g alvanic protection. The drive housing has reamardly extending anode-mcunting section 232 above the propellers. Anode-mounting section 232 has a cavity 234, Fig. 6, opening downwardly toward the propellers. Anode 230 and cavity 234 have substantially the same volume, and anode 230 substantially fills cavity 234.

In the preferred embodiment, anode 230 is a generally brick-like block member having a height of about 1 inch, a fore-to-aft length of about 8 inches, and upper input shaft 28 by a distance along driveshaft 36 in the range of about 8 to 15 inches.

Cooling water for the engine is supplied through water intake 192 in skeg 194, and flows through skeg passage 196 and then through torpedo nose passage 198 and then through housing passage 200 to the engine in the usual manner. After cooling the engine, the water and engine elaust are exhausted in the usual manner through an exhaust elbow and exhausted through the hous- ing and discharged at exhaust outlet 202 above torpedo !88 and into the path of the propellers in the upper portion cf their rotation, as in U.S. Patent 4,871,334. oil is circulated from the lower gears upwardly through passage 204 and passage 206 to the upper gears, and returned to the lower gears at passage 208 feeding passages 212 and 212. oil is supplied from passage 210 through spool assembly passage 214 to bearings 2!6 and Passage 212 supplies oil tz the front of Central cuter section 64 cf adaptcr spool to divert flow to passage f BAD Cl' - 1 a righ4k.--to-left width of about 4 inches. Cavity 234 likewise has a height of about 1 inch, a fore-to-aft length of about 8 inches, and a right-to-left width of about 4 inches. The anode material is anodic aluminum alloy sold under the tradaname Martyr II by Custom Metal -rial Park, Alloye-rs Ltd., 638 Derwent Way, Annacis Indus'. New Westminster, British Columbia, B3M SP8. The anode weighs approximately 3 lbs.

Anode 230 is tapered along each of its dimen sions. The anode has a height tapering fore-to-aft- such t- the height 236, Fig. 7, at the front c-0 the anode is hat Igreater than the height 238 at the rear of the anode. Height 236 is approximately 1.2 inch, and height 238 is amproximately 1 inch. The anode has a ---Jghz---o-left- 4dt'- 240 a width tazering llore-to-aft such that t.ne w---- k_ ti.e 4:

-han 242 at '-he -rorz oE the anode is areat-er -he w-.d-. 1 L 0 - 4 d -n le',v 3.3 inch- rear c 1-h e an c d e W_---240 is a-mrcx--na es, an.' -w4dz.,. 2-2 is approximnately 2.4 inches. T 'n widths az t"-.e bc-,-=c.-, c.LE the block are larcer; 'Acr- exam ple, width 244 is approximazely 3. -1 inches, and t.ne w--, at the frcn-- bottom of the block is azzrcx-4-.azelv 3.9 h taper-.ng inches. The ancde has a fore-to-aft lenat i.

upwardly such that the length 248 at tine of the anode is greater than the lengk'--h 250 at the of the anode. Lengz.n 248 is approximately 8.2 inc-es, and length 250 is approximately 7.7 inches.

Anode 230 is received in cavity 234 in substan tially flush relation such that the underside 252, Fig.

8, of anode 230 is substantially flush with the underside 254 of anode-mounting section 232. Anode 230 and cavity 234 have substantially the same shape and dimensions.

All of anode 230 is entirely above underside 254 of anode-mounting section 232. Cavity 234 has a top hori zontal wall 256 engaged by the topside 258 of anode 230 in abutting relation. Top wall 256 has a righ'b---to-left width tapering fore-to-aft such that the i%idth at the front is greater than the width at the rear. Anode 230 BAD ORIGINAL J0 L_ is t_apered, as above described, to mat-ch the taper of top wall 256. Cavity 234 has vertical sidewalls 260 and 262 having a height tapering fore-to-aft- suc.n that the height at the front is greater than the height at the rear. Anode 230 is tapered, as above described, to match the taper cf& sIdewalls 260 and 262.

Anode 230 is mounted to anode ing section 232 cf, the drive housing by a pair of bolts 2641 and 266, upwardly '-hrcugh anode Figs. 6 and 8. BolIC 264 exl h- 230 and ancde-.-,icunt-ing section 232 and is sec=red to a cover 263 cve: ancde-mcun---,ng sec----cn 232 and covering dly e=ending pcrt the rear-war.ion c-4: t.-.e drive hous;ing.

Bolt 266 extends upwardly through anode 230 and is se - 270.

cured to ancde-=--ur,---ng section 2332 at icck nut Anc-de- 22G has a pair of vertical bcres 272 and 274 thera- I- i - = 4 r: -- war- ly Az)erture 280 has a ',arwer dJame-e:

than amerz,.:re 284. Cover 268 has a bcss 234, 6, ex,:e-id-r,g dzwnwar-,'-'y into aperture 230 and receiving bolt 264 in threaded relation.

rsde 252 of anode I-- is preferred that the unde- 230 be flush with underside 254 of anode - mount ing section 232 part-Scularly in surfacing drive applications because the rightward and leftward extensicns 286 and 288, Fig. 8, of undersurface 254 provide a planing plate during initial boa-- acceleration to aid 'the boat getting up on plane, and then act as a splash plate, as noted in com- moniv owned co-pending G.B. patent application no.

(Agents ref - J. 2263 5 G2), filed on even date herewith, corresponding to U.S. S.N. 08/84346). The smooth undersurface provided by underside 252 flush - -) O'iGINAL with underside 254 aids the planing and minimizes turbu lence.

It is recognized that various equivalents alternatives and modifications are possible within scope of the appended claims.

r BAD ORIGINAL A A

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A marine drive for propelling a boat comprising a housing having a lower torpedo portion with at least one propeller shaft driving at least one propeller, an anode mounted to said housing above said propeller, said housing having an anode-mounting section extending rearwardly therefrom above said propeller, said anodemounting section having a cavity opening downwardly toward said propeller, said anode being received in said cavity in substantially flush relation such that the underside of said anode is substantially flush with the underside of said anode-mounting section.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said anode and said cavity have substantially the same shape and substantially the same dimensions.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein all of said anode is entirely above said underside of said anode-mounting section.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said cavity has a top horizontal wall engaged by the topside of said anode in abutting relation.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said top wall has a rightto-left width tapering fore-toaft such that the width at the front is greater than the width at the rear, and wherein said anode is tapered to match the taper of said top wall.

6. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said cavity has vertical sidewalls having a height tapering fore-to-aft such that the height at the front is greater than the height at the rear, and wherein said anode is tapered to match the taper of said sidewalls.

7. A marine drive for propelling a boat comprising a housing having a lower torpedo portion with at least one propeller shaft driving at least one propeller, an anode mounted to said housing above said propeller, said anode having a volume in the range of about 30 cubic inches.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said housing has an anode-mounting section extending rearwardly therefrom above said propeller, said anodemounting section having a cavity opening downwardly toward said propeller and receiving said anode therein. 5

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said anode and said cavity have substantially the same volume, and wherein said anode substantially fills said cavity.

10. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said anode is a generally brick-like block member having a height of about 1 inch, a fore-to-aft length of about 8 inches, and a width of about 4 inches.

11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein said cavity has a height of about 1 inch, a fore-to-aft length of about 8 inches, and a width of about 4 inches.

12. A marine drive for propelling a boat comprising a housing having a lower torpedo portion with at least one propeller shaft driving at least one propeller, an anode mounted to said housing above said propeller, said anode being a tapered block member having at least one tapered dimension, said housing having an anode-mounting section extending rearwardly therefrom above said propeller, said anode-mounting section having a cavity opening downwardly toward said propeller and receiving said anode therein.

13. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said anode has a height tapering fore-to-aft such that the height at the front of the anode is greater than the height at the rear of the anode. 30

14. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said anode has a right-to-left width tapering fore-to-aft such that the width at the front of the anode is greater than the width at the rear of the anode.

15. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said anode has at least two tapered dimensions, said anode having a height tapering fore-to-aft such that the height at the front of the anode is greater than the height at the rear of the anode, said anode having a right-to-left width tapering fore-to-aft such that the width at the front of the anode is greater than the width at the rear of the anode.

16. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said anode has a fore-to-aft length tapering upwardly such that the length at the bottom of the anode is greater than the length at the top of the anode.

17. The invention according to claim 12 wherein each of the height, width and length of the anode is tapered, said anode having a height tapering foreto-aft such that the height at the front of the anode is greater than the height at the rear of the anode, said anode having a right-to-left width tapering fore-to- aft such that the width at the front of the anode is greater than the width is at the rear of the anode, said anode having a fore-to-aft length tapering upwardly such that the length at the bottom of the anode is greater than the length at the top of the anode.

18. A marine drive for propelling a boat comprising a housing having a lower torpedo portion with at least one propeller shaft driving at least one propeller, an anode mounted to said housing above said propeller, said housing having an anode-mounting section extending rearwardly therefrom above said propeller, and a cover over said anode-mounting section, said anode being mounted to said housing by a pair of bolts, including a first bolt extending upwardly through said anode and said anodemounting section and secured to said cover, and a second bolt extending upwardly through said anode and secured to said anode-mounting section.

19. The invention according to claim 18 wherein said anode-mounting section has a cavity opening downwardly toward said propeller, said anode being received in said cavity in substantially flush relation such that the underside of said anode is substantially flush with the underside of said anode-mounting section, and wherein said anode has a pair of vertical bores therethrough receiving said bolts, each bore having an increased diameter at its lower end for receiving a bolt head in flush relation with the underside of said anode.

20. The invention according to claim 18 wherein said anode-mounting section has a cavity opening downwardly toward said propeller, said cavity having a top wall with a pair of apertures therethrough, including a first aperture receiving said first bolt extending upwardly therethrough, and a second aperture receiving said second bolt extending upwardly therethrough, said first aperture having a larger diameter than said second aperture, said cover having a boss extending downwardly into said first aperture and receiving said first bolt in threaded relation.