Marine propulsion reversing mechanism

Claim 2

A marine propulsion device comprising a drive shaft housing, means adapted for mounting said drive shaft housing for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis relative to a boat, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a bevel gear including a hub rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing and in coaxial relation to and around said propeller shaft, means for rotating said bevel gear, means for selectively drivingly connecting said bevel gear to said propeller shaft including an elongated roller having an axis extending generally in the direction of the rotational axis of said propeller shaft and movable relative to said propeller shaft to a position of driving engagement between said bevel gear hub and said propeller shaft, and selectively operable means including a first part extending exteriorly from said drive shaft housing and movable relative thereto in opposite directions, a second part located between said propeller shaft and said bevel gear hub and movable relative to said propeller shaft in opposite directions axially of the propeller shaft for displacing said roller relative to said propeller shaft and to said position, and means connecting said first and second parts to positively axially displace said second part in one of said opposite directions in response to movement of said first part in one of said opposite directions and to positively axially displace said second part in the other of said opposite directions in response to movement of said first part in the other of said opposite directions.

Claim 3

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second part comprises a roller displacing member, and wherein said roller displacing means further includes means connected to said first part for shifting said roller displacing member relative to said propeller shaft.

Claim 4

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said roller displacing member is movable angularly relative to said propeller shaft and said member shifting means comprises an element movable axially relative to said roller displacing member and connected to said roller displacing member for common rotary movement with said roller displacing member, said element being engageable with said gear in response to axial element movement so as to releasably connect said roller displacing member to said gear for common rotary movement.

Claim 5

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said roller displacing member is movable angularly relative to said propeller shaft and said member shifting means comprises a lug, means mounting said lug on said housing for yieldable movement in a circular path co-axial with said propeller shaft, and an element connected to said roller displacing member for common rotary movement with said roller displacing member and for movement axially of said roller displacing member relative to a position effecting location of said roller in said position of driving engagement, said element including a projection located in spaced relation to said lug when saId element is in the position effecting location of said roller in said position of driving engagement and located for interfering engagement with said lug in response to axial movement of said element from said position effecting location of said roller in said position of driving engagement so as to cause relative rotation between said element and said propeller shaft and thereby to cause relative rotation between said roller displacing member and said propeller shaft so as to displace said roller from said position of driving engagement.

Claim 6

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said roller displacing member is movable axially and angularly relative to said propeller shaft and wherein said member shifting means includes means operable in response to axial movement of said roller displacing member for effecting angular movement of said roller displacing member, and means for axially shifting said roller displacing member.

Claim 7

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means for effecting angular movement of said roller displacing member comprises a lug on said gear and an element rotatable with said roller displacing member and engageable with said lug in response to axial movement of said roller displacing member to angularly displace said roller displacing member in response to rotation of said gear.

Claim 8

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said roller displacing means further comprises a sleeve engageable with said lug and further including means mounting said sleeve on said roller displacing member for common axial movement and for relative rotary movement therebetween and means for restraining relative movement between said roller displacing member and said sleeve so as to yieldably rotatably couple said roller displacing member to said gear through said rotation restraining means and said sleeve.

Claim 9

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 5 and including means for displacing said roller from said position comprising a pin projecting from said propeller shaft, means on said roller displacing member cooperating with said pin for causing, in response to axial movement of said roller displacing member, angular shifting of said roller displacing member relative to said propeller shaft so as to displace said roller from said position of driving engagement, and said means for axially shifting said roller displacing member.

Claim 10

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said member shifting means comprises a lug, means mounting said lug on said housing for yieldable movement in a circular path co-axial with said propeller shaft, and a projection on said roller displacing member located in spaced relation to said lug when said roller displacing member is in a position locating said roller in said position of driving engagement and located for interfering engagement with said lug in response to axial movement from the position locating said roller in said position of driving engagement so as to cause angular displacement of said roller displacing member relative to said propeller shaft, and means for axially shifting said roller displacing member.

Claim 11

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said roller displacing member comprises a roller retainer and further including means for displacing said retainer to move said roller away from said position of driving engagement.

Claim 12

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said retainer is angularly movable relative to said propeller shaft and said means for displacing said retainer to move said roller toward said position of driving engagement includes an element movable axially relative to said retainer and connected to said retainer for common rotary movement with said retainer, said element being engageable with said gear in response to axial element movement so as to releasably connect said retainer to said gear for common rotary movement.

Claim 13

A marine propulsion devIce in accordance with claim 10 wherein said retainer is angularly movable relative to said propeller shaft and said means for displacing said retainer to move said roller away from said position of driving engagement includes an element movable axially relative to said retainer and connected to said retainer for common rotary movement with said retainer and having a projection, and further including a lug, and means mounting said lug on said housing for yieldable movement in a circular path co-axial with said propeller shaft and located in position for engagement with said projection in response to axial movement of said element from a position which is effective to locate said roller in said position of driving engagement.

Claim 14

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said retainer is movable axially and angularly relative to said propeller shaft and said means for displacing said roller to and from said position includes means operable in response to axial movement of said retainer for effecting angular movement of said retainer, and means for axially moving said retainer.

Claim 15

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said retainer is axially and angularly movable relative to said propeller shaft and said means for displacing said retainer to move said roller toward said position of driving engagement includes means on said retainer engageable with said gear in response to axial retainer movement so as to releasably connect said retainer to said gear for common rotary movement.

Claim 16

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said retainer is axially and angularly movable relative to said propeller shaft and wherein said means for displacing said retainer for moving said roller away from said position of driving engagement includes a projection extending from said retainer, and further including a lug, and means mounting said lug on said housing for yieldable movement in a circular path co-axial with said propeller shaft and located in position for engagement with said projection in response to axial movement of said retainer from a position which is effective to locate said roller in said position of driving engagement.

Claim 17

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said retainer is angularly movable relative to said propeller shaft and said means for displacing said retainer to move said roller away from said position of driving engagement includes a pin extending from said propeller shaft, and means on said retainer including a cam slot receiving said pin for freely affording axial and angular retainer movement to a position which is effective to locate said roller in said position of driving engagement and for effecting angular retainer movement relative to said propeller shaft in response to axial movement of said retainer from the retainer position which is effective to locate said roller in said position of driving engagement.

Claim 18

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said retainer is angularly movable relative to said propeller shaft and includes an axially extending slot, and said means for displacing said retainer to move said roller away from said position of driving engagement includes an element movable axially relative to said retainer, a pin movable axially of said retainer and through said slot, and means on said propeller shaft including a cam recess receiving said pin for freely affording axial and angular pin movement to a position associated with location of said roller in said position of driving engagement and for effecting angular retainer movement relative to said propeller shaft in response to axial movement of said pin from the position associated with location of said roller in said position of driving engagement.

Claim 19

A marine propulsion unit in accordance with claim 17 including means for axially displacing said pin.

Claim 20

A marine propulsion unit in accordance with claim 17 including means for axially displacing said elemEnt.

Claim 21

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 19 wherein said means for axial displacement of said element is entirely located exteriorly of said propeller shaft.

Claim 22

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said retainer includes an axially extending slot and said means for displacing said retainer to move said roller away from said position of driving engagement includes an element movable axially relative to said retainer, a pin extending from said element and through said slot, and means on said propeller shaft including a cam recess receiving said pin for freely affording axial and angular pin movement to a position associated with location of said roller in said position of driving engagement and for effecting angular retainer movement relative to said propeller shaft in response to axial movement of said pin from the position associated with location of said roller in said position of driving engagement.

Claim 23

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said roller displacing member comprises a roller retainer including a pocket receiving said roller and means yieldably biasing said roller relative to said retainer to a position in engagement with one axially extending edge of said pocket.

Claim 24

A marine propulsion device comprising a drive shaft housing, means adapted for mounting said drive shaft housing for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis relative to a boat, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, first and second bevel gears rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing in spaced relation to each other and in co-axial relation to and around said propeller shaft, and means for selectively drivingly connecting said bevel gears and said propeller shaft to provide forward and reverse drive conditions, said selective connecting means including a first set of rollers each having an axis extending generally in the direction of the rotational axis of said propeller shaft and movable relative to a position of driving engagement between said first bevel gear and said propeller shaft to afford forward drive condition and a second set of rollers each having an axis extending generally in the direction of the rotational axis of said propeller shaft and movable relative to a position of driving engagement between said second bevel gear and said propeller shaft to afford rearward drive condition, and means for selectively displacing said first and second sets of rollers relative to said positions of driving engagement to simultaneously locate said first set of rollers in said position of driving engagement and said second set of rollers away from said position of driving engagement, whereby to provide the forward drive condition, to simultaneously locate said second set of rollers in said position of driving engagement and said first set of rollers away from said position of driving engagement, whereby to provide the rearward drive condition, and to simultaneously locate said first and second set of rollers away from said positions of driving engagement, whereby to provide a neutral position, said selective displacing means including a first part extending exteriorly from said drive shaft housing and movable relative thereto in opposite directions, and a second part located between said propeller shaft and said bevel gears and movable relative to said propeller shaft in opposite directions axially of the propeller shaft for displacing said rollers relative to said positions, and means connecting said first and second parts to positively axially displace said second part in one of said opposite directions in response to movement of said first part in one of said opposite directions and to positively axially displace said second part in the other of said opposite directions in response to movement of said first part in the other of said opposite directions.

Claim 25

A marine propulsion device comprising a drive shaft housing, means adapted for mounting said drive shaft housing for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis relative to a boat, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, first and second bevel gears rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing in spaced relation to each other and in co-axial relation to and around said propeller shaft, and means for selectively drivingly connecting said bevel gears and said propeller shaft to provide forward and reverse drive conditions, said selective connecting means including a first set of rollers each having an axis extending generally in the direction of the rotational axis of said propeller shaft and movable relative to a position of driving engagement between said first bevel gear and said propeller shaft to afford forward drive condition and a second set of rollers each having an axis extending generally in the direction of the rotational axis of said propeller shaft and movable relative to a position of driving engagement between said second bevel gear and said propeller shaft to afford rearward drive condition, and means for selectively displacing said first and second sets of rollers relative to said positions of driving engagement to simultaneously locate said first set of rollers in said position of driving engagement and said second set of rollers away from said position of driving engagement, whereby to provide the forward drive condition, to simultaneously locate said second set of rollers in said position of driving engagement and said first set of rollers away from said position of driving engagement, whereby to provide the rearward drive condition, and to simultaneously locate said first and second set of rollers away from said positions of driving engagement, whereby to provide a neutral position, said selective displacing means including a first part extending exteriorly from said drive shaft housing and movable relative thereto in opposite directions, and a second part located between said propeller shaft and said bevel gears and movable relative to said propeller shaft in opposite directions axially of the propeller shaft for displacing said rollers relative to said positions, and means connecting said first and second parts to positively axially displace said second part in one of said opposite directions in response to movement of said first part in one of said opposite directions and to positively axially displace said second part in the other of said opposite directions in response to movement of said first part in the other of said opposite directions.

Claim 26

A marine propulsion device comprising a drive shaft housing, means adapted For mounting said drive shaft housing for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis relative to a boat, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a bevel gear including a hub rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing and in co-axial relation to and around said propeller shaft, means for rotating said bevel gear, means for selectively drivingly connecting said bevel gear to said propeller shaft including an elongated roller having an axis extending generally in the direction of the rotational axis of said propeller shaft to a position of driving engagement between said bevel gear hub and said propeller shaft, a member located between said propeller shaft and said bevel gear hub and movable angularly relative to said propeller shaft for displacing said roller relative to said propeller shaft and to said position, and selectively operable means for angularly moving said roller displacing member relative to said propeller shaft and including a part extending exteriorly from said drive shaft housing.

Claim 27

A marine propulsion device comprising a drive shaft housing, means adapted For mounting said drive shaft housing for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis relative to a boat, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a bevel gear including a hub rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing and in co-axial relation to and around said propeller shaft, means for rotating said bevel gear, means for selectively drivingly connecting said bevel gear to said propeller shaft including an elongated roller having an axis extending generally in the direction of the rotational axis of said propeller shaft to a position of driving engagement between said bevel gear hub and said propeller shaft, a member located between said propeller shaft and said bevel gear hub and movable angularly relative to said propeller shaft for displacing said roller relative to said propeller shaft and to said position, and selectively operable means for angularly moving said roller displacing member relative to said propeller shaft and including a part extending exteriorly from said drive shaft housing.

Claim 28

A marine propulsion device comprising a drive shaft housing, means adapted for mounting said drive shaft housing for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis relative to a boat, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a bevel gear including a hub rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing and in co-axial relation to and around said propeller shaft, means for rotating said bevel gear, means for selectively drivingly connecting said bevel gear to said propeller shaft including an elongated roller having an axis extending generally in the direction of the rotational axis of said propeller shaft to a position of driving engagement between said bevel gear hub and said propeller shaft, a roller retainer located between said propeller shaft and said bevel gear hub and movable relative to said propeller shaft to displace said roller relative to said propeller shaft and relative to said position of driving engagement, and cooperating engageable means fixed on one of said propeller shaft and said housing and on said retainer and operable in response to engagement between said retainer and said one of said propeller shaft and said housing for moving said retainer so as to displace said roller away from said position of driving engagement.

Claim 29

A marine propulsion device comprising a drive shaft housing, means adapted for mounting said drive shaft housing for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis relative to a boat, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a bevel gear including a hub rotatably mounted in said drive shaft housing and in co-axial relation to and around said propeller shaft, means for rotating said bevel gear, means for selectively drivingly connecting said bevel gear to said propeller shaft including an elongated roller having an axis extending generally in the direction of the rotational axis of said propeller shaft to a position of driving engagement between said bevel gear hub and said propeller shaft, a roller retainer located between said propeller shaft and said bevel gear hub and movable relative to said propeller shaft to displace said roller relative to said propeller shaft and relative to said position of driving engagement, and cooperating engageable means fixed on one of said propeller shaft and said housing and on said retainer and operable in response to engagement between said retainer and said one of said propeller shaft and said housing for moving said retainer so as to displace said roller away from said position of driving engagement.