Power transmission system

Claim 2

A power transmission comprising: a rotatable output shaft; an output bevel gear on the output shaft; a first drive bevel gear having an axis normal to the axis of the output shaft in engagement with the output bevel gear; a second drive bevel gear coaxial with the first drive bevel gear and in engagement with the output bevel gear; common means for driving the first drive bevel gear and the second drive bevel gear in mutually opposite directions; and an over-running clutch between the means for driving and each of the drive bevel gears so that the drive bevel gears can rotate at relatively different rates and the axis of the output shaft can pivot around the axis of the drive bevel gears.

Claim 3

A power transmission as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for driving is coaxial with the first and second drive bevel gears for pivoting of the axis of the output shaft around 360*.

Claim 4

A power transmission as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for driving comprises a drive member coaxial with the drive bevel gears and first and second drive train means connecting the driving member to the first and second drive bevel gears respectively for driving them in opposite directions.

Claim 5

A power transmission as defined in claim 3 wherein each drive train means includes one of the over-running clutches for permitting the respective drive bevel gear to rotate relatively faster than the other drive bevel gear.

Claim 6

A power transmission as defined in claim 4 wherein each drive train means comprises; a first gear in engagement with the drive member; a second gear in engagement with a portion of the respective drive bevel gear; and means for supporting the first and second gears for rotation about an axis extending transverse to the drive member axis, and wherein the over-running clutch is between the first and second gears.

Claim 7

A steerable power transmission comprising: a fixed housing; an outer housing surrounding a portion of the fixed housing; means for pivoting the outer housing about an axis extending through the fixed housing; a drive member coaxial with the outer housing; means for mounting the drive member for rotation relative to the fixed housing and the outer housing; an output shaft extending through the outer housing; a driven bevel gear connected to the output shaft and having an axis transverse to the drive member axis; a first ring gear coaxial with the drive member; a second ring gear coaxial with the drive member, the first and second ring gears being in engagement with opposite sides of the driven bevel gear; means for mounting the first ring gear and second ring gear respectively for rotation relative to the fixed housing and the outer housing; means for connecting the drive member to the first and second ring gears respectively for driving them in mutually opposite directions of rotation; and a pair of over-running clutches for permitting either of the ring gears to run relatively faster than the other of the ring gears.

Claim 8

A steerable power transmission comprising: a fixed housing; an outer housing surrounding a portion of the fixed housing; means for pivoting the outer housing about an axis extending through the fixed housing; a drive member coaxial with the outer housing; means for mounting the drive member for rotation relative to the fixed housing and the outer housing; an output shaft extending through the outer housing; a driven bevel gear connected to the output shaft and having an axis transverse to the drive member axis; a first ring gear coaxial with the drive member; a second ring gear coaxial with the drive member, the first and second ring gears being in engagement with opposite sides of the driven bevel gear; means for mounting the first ring gear and second ring gear respectively for rotation relative to the fixed housing and the outer housing; means for connecting the drive member to the first and second ring gears respectively for driving them in mutually opposite directions of rotation; and a pair of over-running clutches for permitting either of the ring gears to run relatively faster than the other of the ring gears.

Claim 9

A steerable power transmission as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for pivoting the outer housing comprises a steering shaft coaxial with and extending through the drive member, and connected to the outer housing.

Claim 10

A transmission as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for connecting comprises, for each ring gear: a driving bevel gear on the drive member; a driven bevel gear in engagement with the driving gear; an output drive gear connected tO the driving gear and in engagement with one of the ring gears; and means for mounting the driven gear and output drive gear for rotation about an axis transverse to the axis of the drive member, and wherein the over-running clutch is between the driven gear and the output drive gear.

Claim 11

A steerable power transmission comprising: a fixed housing including an inner housing tube; an outer housing surrounding the inner housing tube; means for mounting the outer housing for rotation about an axis extending along the inner housing tube; a drive tube coaxial with the outer housing; means for mounting the drive tube for rotation relative to the fixed housing and the outer housing; a steering shaft coaxial with the drive tube and connected to the outer housing; an output shaft extending through the outer housing; a driven bevel gear connected to the output shaft and having an axis transverse to the drive tube axis; a first ring gear between the fixed inner housing tube and the outer housing and coaxial with the drive tube; a second ring gear between the fixed inner housing tube and the outer housing and coaxial with the drive tube, the first and second ring gears being in engagement with opposite sides of the driven bevel gear; means for mounting the first and second ring gears for rotation relative to the inner housing tube and the outer housing; drive train means for connecting the drive tube to the first ring gear for driving it in a first direction of rotation including an over-running clutch for permitting the first ring gear to run relatively faster than the drive tube; and drive train means for connecting the drive tube to the second ring gear for driving the second ring gear in a rotational direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the first ring gear and including an over-running clutch for permitting the second ring gear to run relatively faster than the drive tube.

Claim 12

A steerable power transmission comprising: a fixed housing including an inner housing tube; an outer housing surrounding the inner housing tube; means for mounting the outer housing for rotation about an axis extending along the inner housing tube; a drive tube coaxial with the outer housing; means for mounting the drive tube for rotation relative to the fixed housing and the outer housing; a steering shaft coaxial with the drive tube and connected to the outer housing; an output shaft extending through the outer housing; a driven bevel gear connected to the output shaft and having an axis transverse to the drive tube axis; a first ring gear between the fixed inner housing tube and the outer housing and coaxial with the drive tube; a second ring gear between the fixed inner housing tube and the outer housing and coaxial with the drive tube, the first and second ring gears being in engagement with opposite sides of the driven bevel gear; means for mounting the first and second ring gears for rotation relative to the inner housing tube and the outer housing; drive train means for connecting the drive tube to the first ring gear for driving it in a first direction of rotation including an over-running clutch for permitting the first ring gear to run relatively faster than the drive tube; and drive train means for connecting the drive tube to the second ring gear for driving the second ring gear in a rotational direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the first ring gear and including an over-running clutch for permitting the second ring gear to run relatively faster than the drive tube.

Claim 13

A transmission as defined in claim 9 wherein each of the drive train means comprises: a driving bevel gear on the drive tube; a driven bevel gear in engagement with the driving gear; an output drive gear connected to the driving gear and in engagement with one of the ring gears; and means for mounting the driven gear and output drive gear for rotation about an axis fixed by the inner housing tube and transverse to the axis of the drive tube, and wherein the over-running clutch is between the driven gear and the output drive gear.

Claim 14

A boat comprising: a hull; a motor mounted in the hull; a steerable power transmission connected to the motor and including a vertically extending pivotable portion extending below the hull; a drive propeller on the pivotable portion of the transmission; an output gear connected to the propeller; a pair of drive gears engaging the output gear on opposite sides thereof; common means for rotating the drive gears in mutually opposite directions; an over-running clutch between the common means for rotating and each of the drive gears for permitting either of the drive gears to rotate relatively faster than the means for rotating; and means for pivoting the pivotable portion and the axis of the propeller about a vertical axis.

Claim 15

A boat comprising: a hull; a motor mounted in the hull; a steerable power transmission connected to the motor and including a vertically extending pivotable portion extending below the hull; a drive propeller on the pivotable portion of the transmission; an output gear connected to the propeller; a pair of drive gears engaging the output gear on opposite sides thereof; common means for rotating the drive gears in mutually opposite directions; an over-running clutch between the common means for rotating and each of the drive gears for permitting either of the drive gears to rotate relatively faster than the means for rotating; and means for pivoting the pivotable portion and the axis of the propeller about a vertical axis.

Claim 16

A boat as defined in calim 11 wherein the axis of the propeller can pivot through 360* about a vertical axis and wherein: the output gear comprises a bevel gear connected to the propeller; and the drive gears each comprise a bevel gear engaging the output bevel gear and rotatable about the vertical axis.

Claim 17

A boat as defined in calim 11 wherein the axis of the propeller can pivot through 360* about a vertical axis and wherein: the output gear comprises a bevel gear connected to the propeller; and the drive gears each comprise a bevel gear engaging the output bevel gear and rotatable about the vertical axis.

Claim 18

A boat as defined in claim 12 wherein the common means for rotating comprises a drive member coaxial with the vertical axis; and further comprising drive train means including one of the over-running clutches between the drive member and each of the drive bevel gears.

Claim 19

A boat as defined in claim 13 wherein each drive train means comprises: a first gear in enGagement with the drive member; a second gear in engagement with a portion of the respective drive bevel gear; and means for supporting the first and second gears for rotation about an axis extending transverse to the drive member axis, and wherein the over-running clutch is between the first and second gears.

Claim 20

A boat as defined in claim 14 wherein the means for pivoting comprises a shaft coaxial with and extending through the drive member, and connected to the pivotable portion adjacent the lower end thereof.

Claim 21

A boat comprising: a hull; a motor fixed in the hull; and a steerable power transmission connected to the motor comprising: a fixed housing connected to the hull and including a vertically extending inner housing tube; an outer housing surrounding the inner housing tube; means for mounting the outer housing on the fixed housing for pivoting around a vertical axis; a drive member coaxial with the outer housing; means for mounting the drive member for rotation relative to the fixed housing and the outer housing about the vertical axis; an output shaft extending through the outer housing; means for propelling the boat connected to the output shaft and having an axis transverse to the vertical axis; a driven bevel gear connected to the output shaft and having an axis transverse to the vertical axis; a first bevel gear coaxial with the drive member; a second bevel gear coaxial with the drive member, the first and second bevel gears each being in engagement with an opposite side of the driven bevel gear; means for mounting the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear, respectively, for rotation relative to the fixed housing and the outer housing; means for connecting the drive member to the first and second bevel gears, respectively, for driving them in mutually opposite directions of rotation; and a pair of over-running clutches for permitting either of the first or second bevel gears to run relatively faster than the second or first bevel gear, respectively.

Claim 22

A boat comprising: a hull; a motor fixed in the hull; and a steerable power transmission connected to the motor comprising: a fixed housing connected to the hull and including a vertically extending inner housing tube; an outer housing surrounding the inner housing tube; means for mounting the outer housing on the fixed housing for pivoting around a vertical axis; a drive member coaxial with the outer housing; means for mounting the drive member for rotation relative to the fixed housing and the outer housing about the vertical axis; an output shaft extending through the outer housing; means for propelling the boat connected to the output shaft and having an axis transverse to the vertical axis; a driven bevel gear connected to the output shaft and having an axis transverse to the vertical axis; a first bevel gear coaxial with the drive member; a second bevel gear coaxial with the drive member, the first and second bevel gears each being in engagement with an opposite side of the driven bevel gear; means for mounting the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear, respectively, for rotation relative to the fixed housing and the outer housing; means for connecting the drive member to the first and second bevel gears, respectively, for driving them in mutually opposite directions of rotation; and a pair of over-running clutches for permitting either of the first or second bevel gears to run relatively faster than the second or first bevel gear, respectively.

Claim 23

A boat as defined in calim 16 wherein the drive member comprises a tube, and further comprising a steering shaft coaxial with and extending through the drive tube and connected to the outer housing at its lower end.

Claim 24

A boat as defined in calim 16 wherein the drive member comprises a tube, and further comprising a steering shaft coaxial with and extending through the drive tube and connected to the outer housing at its lower end.

Claim 25

A boat as defined in claim 17 wherein the means for connecting for each bevel gear comprises: a driving bevel gear on the drive tube; a driven bevel gear in engagement with the driving gear; an output drive gear connected to the driving gear and in engagement with one of the first or second bevel gears, respectively; and means for mounting the driven gear and output drive gear on the inner housing tube for rotation about an axis transverse to the axis of the drive tube, and wherein the over-running clutch is between the driven gear and the output drive gear.

Claim 26

A balanced steerable power transmission comprising: a fixed housing; a rotatable drive member within the fixed housing; a steerable housing around the portion of the fixed housing and mounted for pivoting about an axis extending along the fixed housing; an output shaft fixed in location on the steerable housing and rotatable relative thereto; an output gear on the output shaft; and a pair of similar drive trains between the drive member and the output gear, each drive train having: an input portion coupled to the drive member and fixed in location by the fixed housing; an output portion in equal driving engagement with the output gear irrespective of the pivotal location of the output shaft around the pivot axis of the steerable housing, including a ring gear between the fixed housing and the steerable housing and means for mounting the respective ring gear for rotation about the pivot axis of the steerable housing, the respective ring gears in the two drive trains being in driving engagement with opposite sides of the output gear on the output shaft and coupled to the dRive member for rotation in mutually opposite sense; and an overruning clutch in each drive train for permitting either of the respective ring gears to rotate relatively faster than the other ring gear.

Claim 27

A balanced steerable power transmission comprising: a fixed housing; a rotatable drive member within the fixed housing; a steerable housing around the portion of the fixed housing and mounted for pivoting about an axis extending along the fixed housing; an output shaft fixed in location on the steerable housing and rotatable relative thereto; an output gear on the output shaft; and a pair of similar drive trains between the drive member and the output gear, each drive train having: an input portion coupled to the drive member and fixed in location by the fixed housing; an output portion in equal driving engagement with the output gear irrespective of the pivotal location of the output shaft around the pivot axis of the steerable housing, including a ring gear between the fixed housing and the steerable housing and means for mounting the respective ring gear for rotation about the pivot axis of the steerable housing, the respective ring gears in the two drive trains being in driving engagement with opposite sides of the output gear on the output shaft and coupled to the dRive member for rotation in mutually opposite sense; and an overruning clutch in each drive train for permitting either of the respective ring gears to rotate relatively faster than the other ring gear.