US2955562A - Separated outboard motor for boats - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 11, 1960 Filed Ju'ne 6, 1958 W. MODES SEPARATED OUTBOARD MOTOR FOR BOATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 11, 1960 w. MODES 2,955,562

SEPARATED OUTBOARD MOTOR FOR BOATS Filed June 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WALTER MODES BYW I ATTOMY Patented Oct. 11, 1960 SEPARATED OUTBOARD MOTOR FOR BOATS WalterModes, 48 Valley View Terrace, Wayne, N. J. Filed June 6, 1958, Ser. No. 740,412

6 Claims. Cl. 115-3 This invention relates generally to drive means for boats, and more particularly has reference to a drive means for small boats such as pleasure craft over twelve feet in length, and cabin cruisers, etc.

. The main object of the present invention is to provide a generally improved drive means'for a boat of the type described. Outboard motors as conventionally .made have become increasingly powerful, and this has naturally added materially to the weight-of the motor, reducing their portability so that many of them requirea hand truck and hoist foreasein handling.

Still further, the heavy Weight of such a motor, when attached to the transom of the boat, makes the boat heavy at the stern, to such an extent as to sometimes cause an unoccupied boat to be swamped.

Further, when this type of outboard drive is installed on a cruiser, using the conventional inboard or fixed engine, dry dockingis eliminated for inspection and repair of propeller orsteering.

In view of the above, it is proposed to improve upon outboard motors and propulsion, by producing a motor in separable, main components. The prime mover, that is, theengine proper orpower head is one component and is placed inside the boat. The propulsion mechanism and steering means, commonly called the lower unit, remains as another component and is disposed in its usual outboard position.

- It is proposed; further, to provide a mechanism of the type described having an improved linkage between the inboard and outboard components, which linkage can be varied as desired by the manufacturer, but which will be designed to provide, under full control and with maximum efficiency, a highly 'efiicient'powerimeans for boats. e

-Another object is to provide an assemblyof the character described which will be adapted for mounting on boats of various sizes, transom angles, etc., due to the provision of a novel support bracket that is, in effect,

almost self-adjusting to the particular boat on which it is to be mounted.

Still another object is to provide a drive means for boats of a separable nature, wherein the separation of the componentsnot only breaks down the weight, so that no component is too heavy to handle individually, but also, provides a construction wherein the repair of any component can be effected with ease, without disturbing the remaining components. Inthis way, a particular component ofthe drivemeans that requires replacement or repaircan be removed, and can be placed in .goodrepair or if desired fully replaced, without requiring replacement of the-remaining components.

.Still another object is to provide a construction of the character. described which will, still have the .desirable feature found .in conventional ,outboard motors, of a. hinged lower .unit, with itsprotective skeg, accessibility and its resistance to underwater damage.

Other objects are to provide for jcomplete portability," although'where portability is of noconcern, installation can be made with drive shaft through transom; the elimination of holes for installation in the boat itself; a minimum strain upon the transom; an arrangement wherein the motor and the drive unit will not extend as far above the deck line as is true of conventional outboard motors; improved Weight distribution by location of the prime mover forwardly from the transom; the adaptability for mounting of the motor on higher transoms than is possible with conventional outboard motors; the adaptability for constructing the assembly in a manner such that a separate rudder installation is not required; and the adaptability of providing increased safety, in relation to the size and power rating of the motor.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the rear portion of "a boat equipped with boat driving means embodying the present invention, parts being shown in section and parts being shown in elevation.

' Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the supporting bracket assembly of the device, mounted in the boat, the boat being illustrated fragmentarily and in perspective.

Fig. 3 is a slightly enlarged, fragmentary, exploded perspective view showing the connection of the base and upright members of the supporting bracket.

Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged, detail sectional view substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 5 is an enlarged, sectional view substantially on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view, on the same scale as Fig. 5, taken on line 66 of Figure 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustable connecting means extending between the motor and driving unit.

Fig. 8 is a still further enlarged, transverse sectional view substantially on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified arrangement of drive connection between an inboard fixed engine and an outboard drive unit, the boat being in longitudinal section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, designated generally at 10 is a small watercraft, such as a cabin cruiser, large rowboat, etc. The boat includes the hull 12 having the transom 1-4.

The device constituting the present invention has been generally designated at 16, and is provided with a support bracket assembly generally designated at 17. The

. diate their ends with upstanding, generally rectangular ears 20 having transversely aligned openings 22. Bracing the members 18 in their proper positions is an X-b'race comprising rods 24, having flattened ends secured by rivets 25 or the like (see Fig. 4) to the respective members 18. Members '18 may be secured to the hull by means of the screws 26 or equivalent means, and can be left p'ermanently attached to the hull even though the motor proper is removed from time to time.

Adjacent the transom, members 18 are formed with upstanding, segmental plates 28.

The bracket assembly 17 also includes .a pair of transversely aligned, identical, upwardly projecting connect,- ing arms 30 formed at their lowerends with segmental plates 32 juxtaposed in face-to-face contact with the plates 28. Arms 30 are disposed in contact with the transom 14, and are pivotally connected to the respective, corresponding base members 18 by means of screws 34 and nuts 35. The screws extend through arcuate slots 36 of plates 32, and through openings 38 of plates 28.

Thus, arms 30 can swing to any of a plurality of selected, adjusted positions, in each of which they are in contact with the surface of the particular transom on which they are mounted. The bracket assembly, thus, is self-adjusting to different transom angles.

Extending in longitudinally contacting relation to the upper end portions of the arms 30 are clamp arms 40, and formed in the overlapping portions of the arms 30, 40, are registered longitudinal slots 42 receiving bolts 44. Clamp arms 40 are thus connected to the arms 30 for movement longitudinally of the arms 30. This permits adjustment of the clamp arms to selected heights above the bottom of the boat, thereby to provide for adjustment to different transom heights.

Above the arms 30, the clamp arms 40 are formed with outwardly offset, enlarged portions 46, having threaded openings receiving clamping bolts 48, having swiveled feet 49 adapted to bear against the transom, and having wing nuts 51 to facilitate rotation thereof.

Above the enlargements 46, the clamp arms 40 have rearwardly projecting extensions 50 integral at their rear ends with depending, elongated, downwardly tapering clamping jaws 52 disposed in aligned confronting relation to the swiveled feet of the respective clamp bolts 48. By reason of this arrangement, it will be seen that the arms 30 are permitted to swing against the transom, after which the extensions 50 and clamping jaws are positioned in straddling relation to the top of the transom, with the bolts 48 then being threaded toward the transom to firmly clamp the device to the transom.

A cross pin 54 is extended through transversely aligned openings in the clamping jaw 52, and provides a pivotal connection between the bracket assembly and the outboard drive unit, around which connection the outboard unit may swing in a vertical plane, under certain circumstances to be described hereinafter.

A short rod 56 has a flattened outer end extending between and pivotally connected to perforated ears 57 projecting rearwardly from a motor 58 or equivalent prime mover. A tubular member or sleeve 59 is provided, and as seen in Figure 5, rod 56 and member 59 have threads of opposite hand extending into a turnbuckle sleeve or nut 60 internally threaded complementarily to rod 56 and member 59.

An elongated connecting rod or shaft 61 is slidable at one end in the member 59.

Extending through transversely aligned openings of the shaft 63. and sleeve 59 is a shear pin 62, having weakened portions, so that ordinarily the shaft and sleeve are held against telescopic movement. However, in circumstances to be described in detail hereinafter, the pin is intended to shear, permitting the shaft 61 to telescope to a fur ther extent within the sleeve 59.

The shaft 61; is connected by a universal joint 65 to an arm 64 rigid with a disc 65 rotatable in a horizontally disposed recess 66 formed in the upper end of a vertically elongated, streamlined casting 68, having a vertical bore 70 in which is disposed a shaft 72, the upper end of which projects above the casting and above the transom and has a driven pulley 74, about which is trained a belt 76 trained also about a drive pulley 78 of the drive shaft 75 of the portable motor 58 mounted upon the bracket assembly inboard of the boat. Disc 65 rotates on the vertical shaft 72. Pulley 74 is slidably mounted on shaft 72. The motor 58 is illustrated more or less diagrammatically, and would, of course, be of any suitable design sufiicient to drive the mechanism. It is mainly important, for the purpose of the present invention, that the motor has a casing or housing provided with depending perforated ears 91 receiving transverse pins 93 extending through the ears 20 of base members 18 of the bracket assembly. One pin 93 can be used instead of two, so that the motor can be hinged on the bracket assembly.

The adjusting means shown in Figure 5 keeps the belt 76 under tension, and as will presently appear herein, the belt and pulley means shown is only one way of driving the shaft 72. Any of various other ways can be employed, such as flexible shafts, telescoping shafts with universals, etc.

In any event, as illustrated in Figure 1, shaft 72 at its lower end is secured to a bevel gear 80 meshing with a bevel gear 82, carried by a stub shaft 84 extending rearwardly and carrying propeller blades 36.

The casting 68, which may be appropriately termed the propeller shaft bearing, is bodily swingable about a vertical axis for steering the craft, that is, by swinging the casting to the right or left, the propeller is correspondingly swung, so as to steer the craft.

Shaft 72 is journaled in rearwardly projecting arms of a substantially C-shaped bracket 94, and above and rearwardly from the bracket, the casting has a perforated ear 96 through which is extended a steering cable 98. The C-shaped bracket 94 is pivotally connected to jaws 52 by pin 54.

Adjustment of the angle of the lower unit in the vertical plane may be accomplished by means of a rod 85 extending across the jaws 52. and removably seated in a selected pair of aligned holes 87 in the jaws.

The steering cable has knots 99 at opposite sides of the ear 96 to prevent displacement thereof. Other steering means could be provided alternatively, if desired, as for example a steering arm extending over the transom of the boat.

In lateral swinging of the casting 68 during steering, shaft 72 comprises the pivot axis, so that the distance between the drive pulley 78 and the driven pulley 74 remains constant, creating no slack in the belt 76. Pulley 74- slides on shaft 72 during the swinging operation if necessary on vertical swinging of the casting when the skeg 100 strikes an obstruction.

In any event, any of various well-known mechanical devices can be employed for the purpose of preventing the creating of slack in the belt 76 in the circumstances, as for example, a spring-biased tensioning roller or idler. If the casting swings vertically, drive is maintained, except if the angle of the casting in a vertical plane is too pronounced. At this time, the belt might slip off or go completely slack. This is desirable, however, since the drive should not continue in such circumstances.

During steering and normal driving of the outboard unit, no torque is exerted on the connecting assembly generally designated 67, since the disc 65, bracket 94, and casting 68 are all relatively rotatable about the axis of shaft 72. It will be seen that ordinarily, all the parts remain in their assigned position, since the shear pin 62, con necting sleeve 59 to shaft 61, causes these components to become a rigid connection between the casting 68 and the motor housing. Therefore, the casting will not swing upwardly, normally, on an axis defined by the pin 54.

If, however, the lower portion of the casting were to strike an underwater obstruction, the pin 62 will shear, and the casting will now be free to swing upwardly, since the shaft 61 will telescope in the sleeve 59.

In Figure 9, a modified mechanism for bringing the drive from a fixed engine 103 shown diagrammatically in the boat, to the outboard drive or lower unit 104 is illustrated. This mechanism includes a telescoping shafting such as aligned shafts 105, 106 and 107, with a universal joint 108 between shafts 106 and 107. The shafting passes through a swivel or ball and socket joint 109 mounted in an opening in the transom 110. From the joint 109, the drive is brought to the outside by a shaft 111 which extends into a gear box 113 and is connected to a rotatable shaft 112 through gearing in box 113 in the casting.114, shaft 112 driving shaft llz'carrying the propeller 115 by means of intermeshing bevel gears 80 and 82. The shaft 111 may be withdrawn from the gear box in case the outboard drive or lower unit kicks back considerably. Packing-nuts 116 may be placed around the shafting at the swivel joint and the top and bottom of the swivel joint may be protected by seals 117.

It will be understood that various modifications can be made in the device, and the illustrated structure is merely one example of various arrangements that could be employed. Instead of a belt and pulley drive means, there could be a flexible shaft type of drive. Alternatively, there could be a coupling inboard of the vessel, to a jack shaft, with said coupling joining horizontally disposed, coaxially aligned shafts of the outboard and inboard units. All these arrangements might be employed, and the possibility of employment of the same is thought to be sufiiciently obvious so as not to cause special illustration.

Further, the entire device could be concealed from view by a suitable deck covering or the like, overlying the motor and the outboard components of the device. Again, this is thought sufficiently obvious so as to not require illustration herein.

It is mainly important to note that the device meets all the objectshereinbefore stated, in that it is selfadjusting to different transom angles; comprises separate components any of which can be readily carried from place to place independently of the others; permits the repair or replacement of individual components without disturbing the remaining components; provides for mounting on higher transoms; and at the same time produces a highly compact assembly, considering the fact that the design is inherently adapted to permit outboard motors of rather substantial power to be employed. This, of course, is desired by many persons who operate small craft, as is evidenced by the fact that in recent years, outboard motors have become more and more powerful, and have been employed on cabin cruisers of substantial size, where previously only inboard motors were used.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: V

1. A driving assembly for a small boat comprising a prime mover, means for mounting the same inboard of a boat, a propeller assembly carried by said means outboard of the boat, and a driving connection between the prime mover and propeller assembly, said means including a bracket disposed inboard of a boat, said bracket including base members for mounting in the bottom of the boat, said means further including upstanding arms pivotally connected to the base members and adapted to extend upwardly in contact with a boat transom, the pivotal connection of the arms to the base members providing adjustment of the arms to difierent transom angles.

2. A driving assembly for a small boat comprising a prime mover, means for mounting the same inboard of a boat, a propeller assembly carried by said means ou-tboard of the boat, and a driving connection between the prime mover and propeller assembly, said means including a bracket disposed inboard of a boat, said bracket including base members for mounting in the bottom of the boat, said means further including upstanding arms pivotally connected to the base members and adapted to extend upwardly in contact with a boat transom, the pivotal connection of the arms to the base members permitting adjustment of the arms to different transom angles, said means further including clamps connected to the upper ends of the arms in straddling relation to the transom.

3. Adriving assembly for a small boat comprising a prime mover, means for mounting the same inboard of a boat, a propeller assembly carried by said means outboard of the boat, and a driving connection between the prime mover and propeller, assembly, said means including a bracket disposed inboard of a boat, said bracket including base members for mounting in the bottom of the boat, said means further including upstanding arms pivotally connected to the base members and adapted to extend upwardly in contact with a boat transom, the pivotal connection of the arms to the base members permitting adjustment of the arms to different transom angles, said means further including clamps connected to the upper ends of the arms in straddling relation to the transom, the connection of the clamps to the arms permitting adjustment of the clamps longitudinally of the arms to selected elevations to accommodate the same to diiferent transom heights.

4. A driving assembly for a small boat comprising a prime mover, means for mounting the same inboard of a boat, a propeller assembly carried by said means outboard of the boat,'and a driving connection between the prime mover and propeller assembly, said means including a bracket disposed inboard of a boat, said bracket including base members for mounting in the bottom of the boat, said means further including upstanding arms pivotally connected to the base members and adapted to extend upwardly in contact with'a boat transom, the pivotal connection of the arms to the base members permitting adjustment of the arms to different transom angles, said means further including clamps connected to the upper ends of the arms in straddling relation to the transom, said means further including a bracket pivotally depending from the clamp members, the propeller assembly being supported upon the last-named bracket outboard of the boat.

5. A driving assembly for a small boat comprising a prime mover, means for mounting the same inboard of a boat, a propeller assembly carried by said means outboard of the boat, and a driving connection between the prime mover and propeller assembly, said means including a bracket disposed inboard of a boat, said bracket including base members for mounting in the bottom of the boat, said means further including upstanding arms pivotally connected to the base members and adapted to extend upwardly in contact with a boat transom, the pivotal connection of the arms to the base members permitting adjustment of the arms to different transom angles, said means further including clamps connected to the upper ends of the arms in straddling relation to the transom, said means further including a bracket pivotally connected to the clamp members, the propeller assembly being supported upon the last-named bracket outboard of the boat, the propeller assembly being adapted to swing from side to side on the second-named bracket, for steering of the boat.

6. A driving assembly for a small boat comprising a prime mover, means for mounting the same inboard of a boat, a propeller assembly carried by said means outboard of the boat, and a driving connection between the prime mover and propeller assembly, said means including a bracket disposed inboard of a boat, said bracket including base members for mounting in the bottom of the boa-t, said means further including upstanding arms pivotally connected to the base members and adapted to extend upwardly in contact with a boat transom, the pivotal connection of the arms to the base members permitting adjustment of the arms to diflferent transom angles, said means further including clamps connected to the upper ends of thearms in straddling relation to the transom, said means further including a bracket pivotally connected to the clamp members, the propeller assembly being swingingly connected to the last-named 7 8 bracket outboard of the boat, the swingable connection References Cited in the file of this patent of the propeller assembly to the last-named bracket in- UNITED STATES PATENTS eluding a shaft rotatable in and driving said propeller assembly, the latter shaft being operatively connected to svfndsen et 1929 said driving connection so as to be driven thereby, the 5 1780075 Gnffith 1930 propeller assembly swinging laterally on said last-named shaft for steering the boat, the last-named shaft being FOREIGN PATENTS iournaledinsaid bracket 3,884 Great Britain Feb, 28, 1900

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