Marine propulsion and steering apparatus

Claim 2

A propulsion and steering apparatus for use on a vessel comprising: a. a rotational power source mounted upon the vessel in fixed relation thereto; b. a housing rotatably mounted to said vessel for rotation about the vertical axis of said housing; c. a propeller shaft rotatably mounted through said housing to rotate about its horizontal axis and being perpendicular to the vertical axis of said housing; d. a gear shaft in parallel spaced relation to said propeller shaft rotatably mounted through said housing to rotate about its horizontal axis and being perpendicular to the vertical axis of said housing; e. means for transmitting torque between said propeller shaft and said gear shaft comprising first and second sprockets disposed about and secured to said propeller shaft and said gear shaft respectively and an endless drive member coupled about said first and second sprockets; f. a first gear coupled to the power source; g. a second gear coupled to and extending from said gear shaft; h. coupling means for coupling gear surfaces rotatably disposed about said housing and coupled to said first and second gears; and i. steering means for positioning said apparatus coupled to said housing.

Claim 3

A propulsion and steering apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotational power source is a unidirectional power source.

Claim 4

A propulsion and steering apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a pair of concentric rack gears integral with one another.

Claim 5

A marine propulsion and steering apparatus for use on a marine vessel comprising: a. a rotational power source mounted upon the vessel in fixed relation thereto; b. a housing member rotatably mounted to said vessel for rotation about the vertical axis of said housing; c. a propeller member including a propeller shaft rotatably mounted through said housing to rotate about a horizontal axis and being perpendicular to the vertical axis of said housing member; d. a pinion gear shaft member including a pinion gear shaft in parallel spaced relation to said propeller shaft and being rotatably mounted through said housing member to rotate about its horizontal axis and being perpendicular to the vertical axis of said housinG member and a first pinion gear axially extending from an end of said pinion gear shaft; e. an endless drive member coupled about said propeller shaft and said pinion gear shaft whereby the rotation of said pinion gear shaft is transmitted to said propeller shaft; f. power means for coupling the rotational power of the power source including a second pinion gear coplanar with said pinion gear shaft member; g. inner and outer integral, circular rack gears rotatably disposed about said housing member, said inner rack gear coupled to said first pinion gear and said outer rack gear coupled to said second pinion gear; and h. steering means for rotating said housing member about its vertical axis for steering said apparatus.

Claim 6

A marine propulsion and steering apparatus for use on a marine vessel comprising: a. a rotational power source mounted upon the vessel in fixed relation thereto; b. a housing member rotatably mounted to said vessel for rotation about the vertical axis of said housing; c. a propeller member including a propeller shaft rotatably mounted through said housing to rotate about a horizontal axis and being perpendicular to the vertical axis of said housing member; d. a pinion gear shaft member including a pinion gear shaft in parallel spaced relation to said propeller shaft and being rotatably mounted through said housing member to rotate about its horizontal axis and being perpendicular to the vertical axis of said housinG member and a first pinion gear axially extending from an end of said pinion gear shaft; e. an endless drive member coupled about said propeller shaft and said pinion gear shaft whereby the rotation of said pinion gear shaft is transmitted to said propeller shaft; f. power means for coupling the rotational power of the power source including a second pinion gear coplanar with said pinion gear shaft member; g. inner and outer integral, circular rack gears rotatably disposed about said housing member, said inner rack gear coupled to said first pinion gear and said outer rack gear coupled to said second pinion gear; and h. steering means for rotating said housing member about its vertical axis for steering said apparatus.

Claim 7

A marine propulsion and steering apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said rotational power source is a unidirectional power source.

Claim 8

A marine propulsion and steering apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said steering means includes a circular gear disposed about and secured to said housing member and means for steering coupled to said circular gear whereby said housing member is rotatable through 360* of arc.

Claim 9

A propulsion and steering apparatus for propelling and steering a marine vessel comprising: a. a rotational power source secured to and in fixed relation to the marine vessel; b. a chain assembly housing being rotatably mounted to the vessel for rotation about the vertical axis of said housing; c. a propulsion member including a propeller shaft rotatably mounted through said chain assembly housing and adapted to rotate about its horizontal axis, said propeller shaft being perpendicular to the vertical axis of said chain assembly housing and a propeller depending from an end of said propeller shaft; d. a gear shaft in parallel, spaced relation to said propeller shaft and being rotatably mounted through said chain assembly housing and adapted to rotate about its horizontal axis and being perpendicular to the vertical axis of said chain assembly housing, said gear shaft having a first beveled gear depending from an axial end thereof; e. first and second sprockets disposed about and secured to said gear shaft and said propeller shaft respectively, and being within said chain assembly housing; f. a chain drive member coupled between said first and second sprockets; g. power means for coupling the rotational power of the power source including a second beveled gear coplanar with said gear shaft and first beveled gear; h. a circular rack gear member having inner and outer concentric rack gears rotatably disposed about said chain assembly housing, said inner rack gear coupled to said first beveled gear and said outer rack gear coupled to said second beveled gear; and i. steering means for rotating said chain assembly housing throug 360* of arc including a circular gear disposed about and secured to said chain assembly housing.

Claim 10

A propulsion and steering apparatus for propelling and steering a marine vessel comprising: a. a rotational power source secured to and in fixed relation to the marine vessel; b. a chain assembly housing being rotatably mounted to the vessel for rotation about the vertical axis of said housing; c. a propulsion member including a propeller shaft rotatably mounted through said chain assembly housing and adapted to rotate about its horizontal axis, said propeller shaft being perpendicular to the vertical axis of said chain assembly housing and a propeller depending from an end of said propeller shaft; d. a gear shaft in parallel, spaced relation to said propeller shaft and being rotatably mounted through said chain assembly housing and adapted to rotate about its horizontal axis and being perpendicular to the vertical axis of said chain assembly housing, said gear shaft having a first beveled gear depending from an axial end thereof; e. first and second sprockets disposed about and secured to said gear shaft and said propeller shaft respectively, and being within said chain assembly housing; f. a chain drive member coupled between said first and second sprockets; g. power means for coupling the rotational power of the power source including a second beveled gear coplanar with said gear shaft and first beveled gear; h. a circular rack gear member having inner and outer concentric rack gears rotatably disposed about said chain assembly housing, said inner rack gear coupled to said first beveled gear and said outer rack gear coupled to said second beveled gear; and i. steering means for rotating said chain assembly housing throug 360* of arc including a circular gear disposed about and secured to said chain assembly housing.

Claim 11

A propulsion and steering apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said rotational power source is a unidirectional power source.