US2728320A

US2728320A - Control mechanism for outboard motors

Info

Publication number: US2728320A
Application number: US362642A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dale D Kloss
Original assignee: CHAMPION MOTORS CO
Current assignee: CHAMPION MOTORS Co
Priority date: 1953-06-18
Filing date: 1953-06-18
Publication date: 1955-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1972-12-27

Description

Dec. 27, 1955 oss 2,728,320

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed June 18, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTOF/VFVS' Dec. 27, 1955 KLQSS 2,728,320

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed June 18, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

147' TOP/V5 K5 United States Patent Dale D. Kloss, Minneapolis, Motors Co., Minneapolis, nesota Application June 13,1953, Serial No. 362,642

8 Claims. (Cl. 115-18) Minn, assignor to Champion Minn., a corporation of Min- My' invention relates generally to marine engines and more specifically to novel control mechanisms for marine engines of the outboard type normally used to power small craft.

Outboard motors as used at the present time usually consist of a power head and drive shaft and propeller housings depending therefrom, and are pivotally secured to anchoring brackets for pivotal steering movements about substantially vertical axes, the brackets being adapted to be rigidly mounted on the transoms of boats. Outboard motors are being produced in increasing numbers equipped with transmission mechanisms which are selectively variable as to drive condition. Otherwise stated, means is provided whereby the propeller may be disconnected from .the drive shaft altogether so as to remain neutral, or the same may be coupled to the drive shaft for forward or reverse driving movement; Mechanism for controlling the various driving or neutral conditions of the propeller normally includes a control handle or lever located adjacent the power head .within reach of the operator of the motor. However, such control handles or levers are generally mounted on the power head or parts carried thereby for common pivotal steering movements therewith. With such an arrangement, it is often difficult for the operator to locate the control handle quickly and easily without either groping for the same or looking away from the direction of travel, particularly'if the boat is making a turn at the time when it is desired toshift the control handle. The primary object of my invention is therefore the provision of a control element for outboard motors of the above type, which 'control element is mounted on the motor mounting bracket; whereby the control element will be positioned at the same'location with respect to the operator of the boat irrespective of the position of the motor about'its steering'axis."

Another object of my invention is the provision of a control element for a transmission mechanism as set-forth, the setting of which and the selected drive-condition'of themotor is unaffected by pivotal steering movements-of the motor.

Another object of my invention is the provisionof a control element and mounting therefor whichis remote from the power head whereby the same maybe leftintact when the power head is partially or wholly dismantled for servicing'or repair.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of novel control means for an outboard motor transmission mechanism as set forth which is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce, whichis highly efficient in operation, and which is rugged in construction and "durable in use.

The above and other highly important-objects and ad'- vantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings. .7

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in which like characters indicate like parts throughout the several viewsi Fig. 1 is a view in sideelevationof an outboard motot incorporatingmy invention, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section; H

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary detail' partly in side elevation and partly in vertical sectionof a portion of the motor of Fig. land the mounting bracket therefor;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in plane and horizontal section as seen from the line 33 of Fig. 2 v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical axial section taken through the propeller housing of the motorof Fig. 1

Fig.5 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and; partly in vertical section taken .substantia1ly on the j F 3 1, i..

Fig. 6 is a-view corresponding to Fig. 5, with some parts broken away and someparts shown in section; and

Fig. 7' is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 7-7 ofFig. 2 i p j v V Referring with greater detail to the drawings, an out board motor is indicated in its entirety by the numeral 1 and is shown as comprising a power head'2,-a drive shaft housing 3 depending from" the power head 2, a propeller shaft housing 4 anchored to the lower end of the drive shaft housing 3, and driving means such as a propeller 5. The power head includes an engine, not shown,*the crank shaft 6 ofwhich is journalledin suitable bearings 7, one of which is shown, see Fig.2. The crank shaft 6 of the engine is splined or otherwise secured to the upper end of a vertically disposed drive shaft 8 that exftends downwardly through the drive shaft housing ,3, and which has its lower end portion journalle'd in a bearing sleeve 9 in the propellerhousing l. I

My novel control mechanism is adapted for use with transmission mechanisms having various drive conditions such as, for instance, neutral and forward; neutral, forward and reverse; neutral and two speeds forward, etcetera. In the preferred arrangement illustrated in Fig, 4,- a transmission mechanism is shown as having, selectively/neutral, forward-and reverse drive conditions. A propeller shaft 10 is shown ascomprising front and rear shaft sections -11 and 12 respectively, thelatter. of which is mounted in an antifriction bearing 13 anchored in place in the propeller housing 4 by a snapring or the like 14 and an anchoring nut'lS. The shaft sections 11 and 12 are preferably secured togetherfor common rotation by key or spline means not shown The propeller 5 is mounted on therear shaft section 12 and is held against rotation by a conventional shear pin. 16 and against axial movement onzthe shaft section'12 by the usual retaining nut lZb A bevel gear 18 is splined or otherwise rigidly secured to the lower end of the drive shaft 8-andhas meshing engagement witha cooperating bevel gear 19 :that is-journalled in a sleeve bearing 20. With reference to Fig. 4 it will, be seen that'the bearing 20 ismounted in a propeller shaft housing section 21 removably secured to the main body portionofthe propeller shaft housing 4 by suitablemeans not shown. The gear-19 is provided with an axially extended hub element 22 the rear end of which abuts the front end of thetpropeller shaft section 11. As shown, the hub portion 22 has an external diameter slight 1y greater than the diameter of the shaft section 11 fora purpose which will hereinafter be described. A second bevel gear 23 is provided with: an elongated hub portion 24 which is journalled, by means of a sleeve bearing or the like 25, to the intermediate portion of the shaft section 11. Anant-ifriction bearing 26 embraces-the hub portion 24 and supports the gear 23. and the shaft section 11 in the'propeller shaft housing 4. Immediately rearwardly of. the hub portion 24 of the gear.23,-the propeller shaft section 11 is provided with a diametrically enlarged head or the like 27 the outer diameter of which is slightly less than the outer diameter ofthe hub-portion 24. With reference to Fig; 4 it will be noted that the driven gears Patented Dec. 27, 1955 portion 22 so as to be frictionally anchored thereon.

However, the convolutions of the spring 28 encompass the underlying surface portion of the shaft section 11 sufficient loosely to normally permit free rotation of the shaft section 11 with respect thereto. As illustrated in Fig. 4 and as above stated, the hub portion 22 is of greater diameter than the spring encompassed portion of the shaft section 11 so that the convolutions of the spring 28 which encompass the hub portion 22 are diametrically expanded with respect to those which encompass the shaft section 11. By this means, frictional anchoring of the spring 23 on the hub portion 22 is attained. A second helically wound clutch-acting spring 29 encompasses the rearly extended hub portion 24 of the bevel gear 23 and the diametrically enlarged portion 27 of the shaft section 11.

The outer diameter of the hub portion 24 is of greater diameter than the portion 27 of the shaft section 11 and the spring 29 is of a size relative to the enlarged portion 27 so as to normally permit free rotation of the shaft section 11 with respect thereto. The relative sizes of the hub portion 24 and the spring 29 are such that the convolutions of the spring 29 which encompass the hub portion 24 are diametrically expanded relative to those convolutions which encompass the enlarged portion 27 of the shaft section 11. Thus, the spring 29 is frictionally anchored on the hub section 24 in the same manner as is the spring 28 on the hub portion 22.

For the purpose of radially contracting sufhcient of the convolutions of the spring 28 overlying the cylindrical outer surface of the shaft section 11 to cause driving engagement therebetween, I provide a movable member in the nature of a pin or the like 3%) which is movable in a passage 31 which extends radially inwardly from the outer cylindrical surface of the shaft section 11 and communicates at its inner end with an axially extended passage 32 in the shaft sections 11 and 12. The radially outer end of the pin is preferably rounded and engages a portion of one or more convolutions of the spring 23 upon radially outward movement and moves said portion or portions radially outwardly from the underlying surface portion of the shaft 10. This movement causes the remaining portions of said convolution or convolutions and adjacent convolutions to contract radially against and grip the underlying outer cylindrical surface of the shaft section 11 whereby to impart rotary movement thereto in the same direction as that of the bevel gear 19. The direction of rotation of the gear 19 is such that when the convolutions of the spring 28 are contracted radially, as above described, said convolutions will tend to wrap themselves tightly around the shaft section 11 and exert sufiicient friction thereagainst to effect substantially a positive drive. A second pin 33 is axially movable in a passage 34 which extends radially inwardly from the outer surface of the portion 27 of the shaft section 11 and communicates at its inner end with the axial passage 32 in the shaft section 12, The pin 33 is similar to the pin 30 and has its rounded outer end engageable with a portion of one or more convolutions of the spring 29 upon radially outer movement to cause contraction of the convolutions of the spring 29 whereby to effect substantially a positive drive between the bevel gear 23 and the shaft 10.

Means for selectively moving the pins 30 and 33 in radially outward directionsto effect driving engagement between their respective gears and the shaft 12 comprises a shiftable selector element or rod 35 axially slidable in the passage 32 in the shaft sections 11 and 12. The rod 35 at its inner end is diametrically reduced as indicated at 36 to provide a cam-acting surface 37 engageable with the inner end of the pin 33, upon axial movement in one direction to move the pin 33 in a radially outward direction to tighten the spring 29 and effect driving engagement between the bevel gear 23 and the shaft 12. Intermediate its ends, the rod 35 is formed to provide a diametrically reduced portion 38 and an adjacent cam-acting surface 39 which engages the pin 3t) to move the same radially outwardly into tightening engagement with the spring 28. The relative distance between the pins 30 and 33 and the diametrically reduced portions 36 and 38 and their respective cam-acting

portions

37 and 39 is such, that when the selector rod 33 is in its position of Fig. 4, the pin 30 is moved radially outwardly into operative engagement with its respective spring 28. A relatively short axially inward movement of the selector rod 35 will permit the pin 30 to move radially inwardly to engage the diametrically reduced portion 38 and render the clutch spring 28 inoperative. At this point, the pin 33 is also in engagement with the diametrically reduced portion 36 whereby its cooperating clutch spring 29 is also disengaged from driving engagement with the shaft section 11. This position of the selector rod 35 is a neutral position wherein the propeller 5 remains stationary while the drive shaft 8 rotates. Further inward movement of the selector rod 35 will bring the cam-acting surface 37 into engagement with the pin 33 to move the same outwardly into convolution contracting engagement with the spring 29 to cause the drive shaft 1%) to rotate in a direction opposite to that which it rotates when the spring 28 is contracted. The above described transmission mechanism and selector cle ment is but one of several forms which may be used to provide various drive positions to the propeller, and is shown and described only for the purpose of illustration of the use of the invention.

A steering spindle 4%) extends through upper and

lower bearings

41 and 42 respectively in spaced parallel relationship to the drive shaft 8, said bearings being integrally formed with the drive shaft housing 3. At its upper end the steering spindle is provided with a head 43 which bears against suitable friction packing or the like 44 contained within the bearing 41 which defines a recess 45 for'the reception of said head and packing material. The steering spindle 40 also extends through a pair of spaced

bosses

46 and 47 of one of a pair of cooperating mounting

brackets

48 and 49 respectively which provide mounting means adapting the motor to be mounted to the transom of a boat not shown. The lower end of the spindle 40 is screw threaded to receive an adjusting nut 50. Interposed between the bottom surface of the bear ing 41 and the adjacent surface of the upper boss 46 is a washer 51. The spindle 40 adjacent its lower end is keyed or otherwise secured to the bracket element 43 as indicated at 52 whereby the motor 1 is adapted to partake of pivotal steering movements with respect thereto. Adjustment of the nut determines the amount of frictional contact between the head 43 and the friction packing 44 thereunder whereby the motor may be made to hold a predetermined course set by the operator, thus obviating the necessity of continual steering effort by the operator. The bracket element 48 is pivotally secured to the transom engaging bracket 49 for swinging movements of the motor about a horizontal axis in the conventional manner as indicated at 53, and a screw clamp for fastening the bracket element 49 to the transom of the boat is indicated in its entirety at 54.

The bracket element 48 is recessed at its upper end as indicated at 55 to receive the lower end portion of a hearing 56 which has journalled therein a cylindrical cam member 57, see Figs. 2, 5 and 6. The upper endof the cam member 57 is formed to provide a radially outwardly extending handle 58 which is movable between a plurality of predetermined operative positions as indicated by full and dotted lines in Fig. 3. The cam element 57 and handle 58 therefore comprise a control element for the shiftable selector element 35 whereby to position the same between neutral, forward and reverse positions. With reference particularly to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the cam element 57 is journalled for rotation about an axis in spaced parallel relationship to the vertical steering axis of the spindle 40. Means for frictionally holding the handle member 58 in desired set position comprises a segmental plate-like quadrant 59 that is mounted on the bearing 56 and which is provided with circumferentially spaced detent elements 60 that engage opposite side edges of the handle 58 to hold the same against accidental movement. The quadrant 59 is made from resilient material which flexes downwardly when the operator moves the handle 58 from one position to another, see Fig. 5. Operating linkage between the control element or handleequipped cam 57 and the shiftable selector element or rod 35 comprises a pair of cooperating

rigid links

61 and 62 the former of which is in the nature of a control rod mounted in the drive shaft housing 3 and propeller shaft housing 4 coaxially with the steering spindle 40 for longitudinal reciprocatory movements with respect to said housings. The other of said rigid links 62 comprises a shaft portion 63 which is mounted for reciprocatory movements in the bracket element 48 coaxially with the axis of the control element 57, and has its upper end portion slidably contained in a central bore 64 in the control element or cam 57. The lower end portion 65 of the rigid link 62 is angularly disposed with the upper end portion thereof and is provided with a laterally projecting foot or the like 66 which encompasses the upper end portion of the control rod 61. Said upper end of the control rod 61 is screw threaded into an adjustable head 67 which is mounted for relative rotary and axial sliding movements in the central opening of a diametrically reduced portion 68 of the nut 50. The foot 66 encompasses the control rod 61 directly between the lower end of the head 67 and a pair of lock nuts 69 whereby the links 62 and control rod 61 partake of common reciprocatory movements.

The cam element 57 is provided with a helical cam slot 70 which receives a cam follower in the nature of a pin or the like 71 that projects radially outwardly from one side of the rigid link 62 adjacent its upper end. With reference to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the bearing 56 is provided with an axially extended slot 72 which receives the outer end portion of the cam follower pin 71 and prevents rotary movement of the upper end portion 63 of the link 62 when the control element handle 58 is moved from one position to another. The arrangement is such that handle imparted rotary movement of the cam element 57 will cause vertical movement to be imparted to the

rigid links

61 and 62 by engagement of the cam follower pin 71 with the cam-acting surfaces of the slot 70. The lower end portion of the control rod 61, within the removable propeller shaft housing section 21 is provided with a transversely extending pin 73 that is contained in a slot 74 of a bell crank lever 75 pivotally mounted in the propeller shaft housing section 21 as indicated at 76. Said bell crank 75 is provided with an outwardly opening socket or recess 77 which contains a ball-like end or head 78 integrally formed with the selector rod element 35, see Fig. 4. With this arrangement, upward movement of the control links 61 and 62 will impart forward movement to the selector rod 35, whereas downward movement of said

links

61 and 62 will impart rearward drive condition selecting movement to the selector rod 35. When the handle 58 of the control element is moved to its full line position of Fig. 3, indicated at A, the linkage comprising the rigid link 62 and the control rod 61 are at their uppermost limits of vertical movement and the selector element or rod 35 is moved forward to its position shown in Fig. 4, whereby to cause operative engagement of the clutch spring 28 with the shaft section 11. Thus the bevel gear 19 is rendered operative to turn the shaft 10 and propeller 5 thereon in one direction, the bevel gear 23 merely rotating freely on the shaft section 11 in the opposite direction. Movement of the handle element 58 to its dotted line position indicated at B will cause rearward movement to be im' parted to the selector rod 35 to a point where the pins 30 and 33 are both permitted to move to their radially inner positions with their inner ends resting upon the diametrically reduced portions 38 and 36 respectively. At this position of the handle 58 and the selector rod 35, neither clutch spring 28 or 29 is contracted. Thus both gears 19 and 23 are free to rotate independently of the shaft 10, and said shaft and the propeller 5 are stationary. When the handle 58 is moved to its dotted line position indicated at C in Fig. 3, the

rigid links

61 and 62 are moved to their lowermost position of reciprocating movement, thus causing the selector rod 35 to be moved rearwardly until the cam-acting portion 37 thereof moves its cooperating pin 33 radially outwardly to tighten the clutch spring 29 on the portion 27 of the shaft section 11. The diametrically reduced portion 38 of the control rod 35 is of such length that the pin 30 will be in a retracted clutch-inoperative position when the pin 33 is moved radially outwardly by the cam-acting portion 37. As above indicated, outward movement of the pin 33 will cause the shaft 10 and propeller 5 to be driven in the opposite direction to that caused by movement of the handle 58 to its position A of Fig. 3.

In order to prevent the motor from swinging forwardly about its horizontal pivot axis 53 when the propeller is shifted from a forward or neutral driving condition to a reverse driving condition, I provide releaseable latch mechanism in the nature of a latch hook 79 and a cooperating latch bar or pin 80. The latch hook 79 is mounted on the lower end of the bracket member 48 and is held in place by the nut 50, whereas the latch pin 80 extends transversely across spaced portions of the transom engaging bracket portion 49 forwardly of the lower end portion of the bracket member 48. Intermediate its ends, the latch hook 79 is provided with an aperture 81 through which the rigid link 62 projects. A stop pin 82 projects transversely through the link 62 immediately above the latch hook 79 whereby to move the same downwardly out of engagement with the pin 80 when the control handle 58 is moved to a forward driving position against bias of a coil compression spring 83 that encompasses the lower angular portion 65 of the rigid link 62 and which is interposed between the bottom surface of the latch hook 79 and a second stop pin 84' extending transversely through said angular portion 65. When the control handle 58 is moved in a direction to cause raising movements of the cooperating

links

61 and 62 whereby to place the transmision mechanism in a reverse drive condition, the spring 83 is permitted to urge the latch hook 79 into engagement with its pin 80 to prevent propeller imparted swinging movements to the motor 1 about the axis of the pivot bolt 53. It will be noted that, in the event that the control handle 58 is shifted from a forward or neutral position to a reverse position while the motor is pivotally raised to an inoperative horizontal position about the axis of the pivot 53, subsequent pivotal movement of the motor back to its vertical operative position will cause the latch hook 79 to be cammed by the pin 80 into a position of operative engagement therebetween, such camming action being made against yielding bias of the spring 83. With this arrangement, upward swinging movement of the motor during its operation in reverse drive is effectively prevented at all times.

With the control handle 58 mounted on the bracket means for mounting the motor to the transom of a boat, the control handle is always located within easy reach of the operator irrespective of the degree to which the motor is swung in steering the same. Furthermore, this location of the control mechanism permits the power head to be serviced whenever necessary or desired without removal of additional parts. It will be further noted that the pivotal connection between the control rod 61 and the foot 66 of the rigid link 62 permits the motor to be steered in any direction without interfering with the setting of the control handle 53, and the driving conditions may be varied between forward, reverse, and neutral without interfering with steering movements of the motor and in any steering position thereof.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and while I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my novel control means, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. An outboard marine motor comprising. a power head, a propeller, drive means between the power head and propeller, said drive means comprising a transmission mechanism of the type which isselectively variable as to drive condition, said transmission mechanism comprising a shiftable selector element mounted for movements between neutral and drive positions, bracket means adapted to be secured to the transom of a boat, means vertically pivotally mounting said outboard motor on said bracket means for pivotal steering movements, a manually operative transmission control element mounted on said bracket means for limited swinging movements between neutral and drive positions about an axis parallel to the axis of steering movement of the motor, and operating linkage between said control element and said selector element, said operating linkage including a pair of rigid links, means connecting said links together for common movements in one plane and for relative movement therebetween in another plane at an angle to said one plane, means coupling one of said links to said control element for movements in selector element operating directions, and means coupling the other of said links to said selector element.

2. An outboard marine motor comprising a power head, a propeller, drive means between the power head and propeller, said drive means comprising a transmission mechanism of the type which is selectively variable as to drive condition, said transmission mechanism comprising a shiftable selector element mounted for movements between neutral and drive positions, bracket means adapted to be secured to the transom of a boat, means vertically pivotally mounting said outboard motor on said bracket means for pivotal steering movements, a manually operative transmission control element mounted on said bracket means for limited swinging movements between neutral and drive positions about an axis parallel to the axis of steering movement of the motor, and operating linkage between said control element and said selector element, said operating linkage comprising a pair of rigid links one of which is mounted in said bracket means and the other of which is carried by the motor, means connecting said links together for relative pivotal movement therebetween responsive to pivotal steering movements of said motor and for common reciprocating movements longitudinally of the axis of pivotal steering movement, means coupling said one of the links to said control element to be moved thereby, and a coupling member connecting said other link to said selector element.

3. The structure defined in claim 6 in which the means for coupling said one of the links to the control element comprises a cam and a cooperating cam follower one of which is mounted on the control element and the other of which is mounted on said one of the links.

4. An outboard marine motor comprising a power head, a propeller, drive means between the power head and propeller, said drive means comprising a transmission mechanism of the type which is selectively variable as to drive condition, said transmission mechanism comprising a shiftable selector element mounted for movements between neutral and drive positions, bracket means adapted to be secured to the transom of a boat, means vertically pivotally mounting said outboard motor on saidbracket means for pivotal steering movements, a manually operative transmission control element mounted on said bracket means for limited swinging movements between neutral and drive positions about an axis in spaced parallel relation to the axis of steering movement of the motor, the mounting of said control element positioning it independent of said pivotal steering movements so that said control element may be maintained at a fixed position with respect to said bracket during steering movements of the motor and completely independent of the position of said motor about its steering axis and unafifected by pivotal steering movements thereof, and operating linkage connected to said control element to be moved thereby and to said shittable selector element of the transmission mechanism, said operating linkage comprising a control rod mounted on said motor in coaxial relationship with the pivotal steering axis thereof for common pivotal movement therewith and for axial selector controlling movements with respect thereto, a coupling member connecting one end ofv said control rod to said selector element, and coupling means between said control element and the other end portion of said control rod whereby to impart axial movementto said control rod upon swinging movement of said control element, and permitting pivotal movements of said control rod with respect to said control element.

5. An outboard marine motor comprising a power head, a propeller, drive means between the power head and propeller, said drive means comprising a transmission rnecha- I nism of the type which is selectively variable as to drive condition, said transmission mechanism comprisinga shiftable selector element mounted for movements between neutral and drive positions, bracket means adapted to be secured to the transom of a boat, means vertically pivotally mounting said outboard motor on said bracketmeans for pivotal steering movements, a manually operative transmission control element mounted on said bracket means for limited swinging movements between neutral and drive positions about an axis parallel to the axis of steering movement of the motor, and operating linkage connected to said control element to be moved thereby and to said shiftable selector element of the transmission mechanism, said operating linkage comprising a control rod mounted on said motor in coaxialrelationship with the pivotal steering axis thereof for common pivotal movement therewith andfor axial selector controlling movements with respect thereto, a coupling member connecting one end of said control rod to said selector element, and coupling means between said control element and the other end portion of said control rod comprising a rigid link mounted in said bracket means in spaced parallel relation to the axis of pivotal steering movement and for longitudinal reciprocatory movement with respect to said bracket means, the lower end of said link being mounted on said control rod for common reciprocatory movement therewith and for pivotal movements with respect thereto, and a cam and cam follower one of which is mounted on said control element and the other of which is mounted on said link.

6. An outboard marine motor comprising a power head, a propeller, drive means between the power head and propeller, said drive means comprising a transmission mechanism of the type which is selectively variable as to drive condition, said transmission mechanism comprising a shittable selector element mounted for movements between neutral and drive positions, bracket means adapted to be secured to the transom 'of a boat, means vertically pivotally mounting said outboard motor on said bracket means for pivotal steering movements, a manually operative transmission control element mounted on said bracket means independently of the outboard 'inotor' mounting means for movements between neutral and drive positions,

a releasable holding element operatively associated with said bracket means and said control element for holding the control element independent of said pivotal steering movements so that said control element may be main tained at a fixed position with respect to said bracket during steering movements of the motor and completely independent of the position of said motor about its steering axis and unaffected by pivotal steering movements thereof, and operating linkage between said control element and said shiftable selector element of the transmission mechanism.

7. The structure defined in claim 13 in which said operating linkage comprises, a pair of rigid links, means coupling one of said links to said control element to be moved thereby, a coupling member connecting the other of said links to said selector element, and means connecting said links together for relative pivotal movement therebetween responsive to pivotal steering movements of said motor and for common reciprocatory movements longitudinally of the axis of pivotal steering movement.

8. An outboard marine motor comprising a power head, a propeller, and drive means between the power head and the propeller; said drive means comprising a drive shaft, a propeller shaft, and a transmission mechanism of the type which is selectively variable as to drive condition; said transmission mechanism comprising a shiftable selector element mounted for movements between neutral and drive positions; bracket means adapted to be secured to the transom of a boat, means including a steering spindle mounting said outboard motor on said bracket means for pivotal steering movements about a steering axis coaxial with said steering spindle and parallel to said drive shaft, said steering axis being spaced from said drive shaft toward the transom of the boat, a manually operative transmission control element mounted on said bracket means for limited swinging movements between neutral and drive positions about a control axis parallel to said steering axis, said control axis being spaced from said steering axis toward the transom of the boat, and operating linkage between said control element and said selector element, said operating linkage comprising a pair of rigid links, one of said links being a control rod mounted on said motor in coaxial relationship with said steering axis for common pivotal movement therewith and for relative longitudinally reciproeating movement therebetween, the other of said links being a shaft portion mounted in said bracket in coaxial relationship with said control axis for longitudinally reciprocating movement relative to said bracket, means connecting said shaft portion to said control rod for relative pivotal movement therebetween and for common reciprocating movements, means coupling said shaft portion to said control element to be moved thereby, and a coupling member connecting said control rod to said selector element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS