Patent US3823684A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3823684A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Boat drive
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-03-02
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1993-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Boat Drive System comprising as an integral unit, a propeller, propeller driving shaft with suitable bearings and seals, a duct having an inlet and outlet end oriented essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boat within which said propeller rotates in a plane essentially normal to the longitudinal axis of the duct, and steering and reversing vanes within the discharge end of such duct. Said boat drive incorporates prior art ducted fan principal to improve efficiency, performance, safety, and reduce cost of boat drive systems available principally for pleasure craft.
Inventors
- 👤 J Baggs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:58
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H5/00; B63H5/07; B63H5/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A boat drive comprising means forming a duct, said duct defining the propulsion fluid flow path and having a forward facing inlet, said duct adapted to be oriented on and partially disposed within a boat hull, with the longitudinal axis of said duct essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said boat hull, a propeller drive shaft, said shaft extending through the wall of said duct at the top thereof and adjacent the forward inlet thereof, said shaft being disposed at an angle not exceeding 10* from the longitudinal axis of said duct, supporting bearings mounted on said duct means, said shaft being supported for rotation within said bearings, said shaft being sealed at its point of passage through said duct wall, the aft end of said shaft terminating at a point within said duct centrally located adjacent the aft end of said duct, said duct being cylindrical in shape at said shaft termination point and said duct converging aft of said shaft termination point to form a duct exit, a propeller mounted at the aft end of said shaft and having a small tip to duct wall clearance, and driven by said shaft, means for driving said shaft, controlling and reversing vanes mounted for rotation on a vertical axis in the wall of said duct exit, and a rudder mounted on a vertical axis on said duct exit wall, the axis of rotation of said rudder being positioned aft of said propeller and forward of the axis of rotation of said vanes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
A boat drive comprising means forming a duct, said duct defining the propulsion fluid flow path and having a forward facing inlet, said duct adapted to be oriented on and partially disposed within a boat hull, with the longitudinal axis of said duct essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said boat hull, a propeller drive shaft, said shaft extending through the wall of said duct at the top thereof and adjacent the forward inlet thereof, said shaft being disposed at an angle not exceeding 10* from the longitudinal axis of said duct, supporting bearings mounted on said duct means, said shaft being supported for rotation within said bearings, said shaft being sealed at its point of passage through said duct wall, the aft end of said shaft terminating at a point within said duct centrally located adjacent the aft end of said duct, said duct being cylindrical in shape at said shaft termination point and said duct converging aft of said shaft termination point to form a duct exit, a propeller mounted at the aft end of said shaft and having a small tip to duct wall clearance, and driven by said shaft, means for driving said shaft, controlling and reversing vanes mounted for rotation on a vertical axis in the wall of said duct exit, and a rudder mounted on a vertical axis on said duct exit wall, the axis of rotation of said rudder being positioned aft of said propeller and forward of the axis of rotation of said vanes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A boat drive as defined in claim 1, wherein propulsion fluid flow path forward of said propeller as defined by said duct diverges at an angle from 0* to 5* from boat keel line when installed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A boat drive as defined in claim 1, having said duct exit area between 40 and 60 percent of said duct area at the plane of said propeller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A boat drive as defined in claim 1 said controlling vanes operating in two modes to brake and reverse boat on which said boat drive is installed and to augment steering of said boat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A boat drive as defined in claim 1, said inlet of said duct being guarded with rail or rails.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A boat drive as defined in claim 1, said boat drive adding less than propeller diameter to the effective draft of boat on which drive is installed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A boat drive as defined in claim 1, comprising a pair of said controlling and reversing vanes, each mounted in opposite wall portions of said duct exit, and free to rotate in the forward running mode, and faired within said duct exit wall portions in the straight forward operating mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A boat drive as defined in claim 1, said supporting bearings comprising a pair of bearings, one of said bearings being disposed at the top of said duct wall and at said point of passage of said shaft through said duct wall, a seal in said last mentioned bearing for sealing said shaft, a second bearing for said shaft being mounted within said duct wall adjacent said propeller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A boat drive as defined in claim 1, said shaft driving means being a ''''V'''' gear drive, said ''''V'''' gear drive being mounted on said duct means exteriorly thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |