Trim indicator system

Claim 2

In a marine drive having an outboard drive unit carried on the transom of a boat for angular movement about a mounting axis and including members connected together at a pivot axis such that there is relative rotation between said members upon angular movement of said unit about said mounting axis, the improvement comprising: a. a source of electrical energy; b. an electrical indicator for indicating the angular position of said unit about said mounting axis, one side of said indicator being connected to one side of said source; and c. a variable resistor assembly interposed between two of said members at said pivot axis such that the resistance of said assembly is varied in accordance with the angular position of said unit about said mounting axis, said resistor assembly being interconnected between the other side of said source and the other side of said indicator.

Claim 3

The improvement as in claim 1 wherein said pivot axis is generally parallel to said mounting axis.

Claim 4

The improvement as in claim 1 wherein said pivot is coincidental with said mounting axis.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said variable resistor assembly includes a housing fixed to one of said members by means to provide initial adjustment of said assembly at installation.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the mounting axis is a horizontal tilt axis generally perpendicular to the fore-and-aft centerline of the boat.

Claim 7

The improvement as in claim 1 further comprising: a. means for positioning said drive unit about said mounting axis at any angular position within a given angular range; and b. a limit switch assembly interposed between a pair of said members at said pivot axis for disconnecting said means for positioning when the unit reaches a maximum predetermined angular position.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said limit switch assembly comprises: a. a housing fixed to one of a pair of said members and having a space therein; b. a contact rotor rotationally carried in said switch housing and fixed to the other of said pair of members, said rotor having two diametrically opposite contacts; and c. a pair of contact cards mounted in said switch housing on diametrically opposite sides of said switch rotor for contact by the respective switch rotor contacts, said cards being connected to the means for positioning to provide disconnecting.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 7 wherein said resistor card includes a connector on one end having a generally circular cutout to provide a zero resistance for said contact rotor.

Claim 10

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said limit switch assembly and said variable resistor assembly are on opposite ends of said pivot axis.

Claim 11

The improvement as claimed in claim 6 wherein said cariable resistor assembly and said limit switch assembly contained interchangeable parts.

Claim 12

The improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said variable resistor assembly comprises: a. a housing fixed to one of said two members and having a space therein; b. a contact rotor rotationally carried in said housing and fixed to the other of said two members, said rotor having two diametrically opposite contacts; and c. a pair of variable resistor cards mounted in said housing on diametrically opposite sides of said rotor for contact by the respective contacts, one of said cards being connected to the source and the other to the meter.

Claim 13

The improvement of claim 11 further comprising: a. means for positioning said drive unit about said mounting axis at any angular position within a given angular range; and b. a limit switch assembly interposed between a pair of said members at said pivot axis for disconnecting said means for positioning when the unit reaches a maximum predetermined angular position.

Claim 14

The improvement of claim 11 wherein said limit switch assembly comprises: a. a housing fixed to one of said pair of members and having a space therein; b. a contact rotor rotationally carried in said housing and fixed to the other of said pair of members, said rotor having two diametrically opposite contacts; and c. a pair of contact cards mounted in said housing on diametrically opposite sides of said rotor for contact by the respective rotor contacts, said cards being connected to the means for positioning to provide disconnecting.

Claim 15

The improvement of claim 13 wherein the space in said housing is sealed and contains potting compound therein.

Claim 16

The improvement of claim 14 wherein said rotor includes a circular head in said housing for minimal resistance to movement in said potting compound and wherein said contact rotor is supported on said head.

Claim 17

The improvement of claim 13 wherein the housing and contact rotor of the variable resistor assembly are respectively interchangeable with the housing and contact rotor of the limit switch assembly.

Claim 18

The improvement of claim 11 wherein said other member includes a shaft on said axis rotationally mounted in said one member, said shaft having an end face therein exposed outwardly with a nonround hole therein and said rotor further comprises: a. a second shaft formed to fit in the hole in said shaft; and b. a head portion fitting closely in the space in said housing such that when said housing is fixed to said one member, said second shaft is prevented from escaping from the hole in said first shaft.

Claim 19

The improvement of claim 17 wherein said hole is polygonal in shape and said second shaft is also polygonal in shape and includes outwardly extending ribs at each corner of the polygon for an interference fit into said hole.

Claim 20

The improvement of claim 11 wherein the space in said housing is sealed and contains potting compound therein.

Claim 21

The improvement of claim 14 wherein said rotor includes a circular head in said housing for minimal resistance to movement in said potting compound and wherein said contact rotor is supported on said head.

Claim 22

In a marine drive having an outboard drive unit carried by a mounting assembly on the transom of a boat on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the fore-and-aft boat centerline, the improvement comprising: a. a hydraulic system for positioning said drive unit about said axis at any angular position within a predetermined angular range; b. an indicator mounted within the boat for indicating the angular position of said drive unit; c. a source of electrical power having one terminal connected to said gauge and a second terminal connected to said hydraulic system; d. a variable resistor assembly interposed between a portion of said mounting assembly and a portion of said drive unit at one end of said axis such that the resistance of said assembly varies in accordance with the angular position of said unit, said assembly being electrically interconnected between the other terminal of said battery and the indicator; and e. a limit switch interposed between a portion of said mounting assembly and a portion of said drive unit at the other end of said axis and electrically interconnected between said source and said hydraulic system.

Claim 23

In a marine drive having an outboard drive unit carried by a mounting assembly on the transom of a boat on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the fore-and-aft boat centerline, the improvement comprising: a. a hydraulic system for positioning said drive unit about said axis at any angular position within a predetermined angular range; b. an indicator mounted within the boat for indicating the angular position of said drive unit; c. a source of electrical power having one terminal connected to said gauge and a second terminal connected to said hydraulic system; d. a variable resistor assembly interposed between a portion of said mounting assembly and a portion of said drive unit at one end of said axis such that the resistance of said assembly varies in accordance with the angular position of said unit, said assembly being electrically interconnected between the other terminal of said battery and the indicator; and e. a limit switch interposed between a portion of said mounting assembly and a portion of said drive unit at the other end of said axis and electrically interconnected between said source and said hydraulic system.