US3863592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined damping and lift means for marine propulsion device
Assignee: Outboard Marine Corp
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Filing: 1973-03-09
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1993-03-09
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device including a hydropneumatic or gas spring type shock absorber which is connected between a support bracket and a swivel bracket carrying a propulsion unit to damp angular movement of the propulsion unit during tilting, such as during a sudden upward tilting movement of the propulsion unit caused by striking an underwater obstruction while the boat is traveling at a high forward speed. In one embodiment, the gas pressure of the gas spring unit is at a level whereby the tilting force applied by the gas spring unit to the propulsion unit is slightly less than that required to tilt the propulsion unit from an operating position to a raised elevated position, thereby substantially reducing the effort to manually tilt the propulsion unit to a raised position. In another embodiment, the gas pressure of the gas spring unit is at a level whereby the tilting force applied by the gas spring unit to the propulsion unit is greater than that required to tilt the propulsion unit from an operating position to a raised or elevated position so that, upon releasing the locking means releasably locking the propulsion unit in an operating position, the propulsion unit is automatically tilted to a raised or elevated position by the gas spring unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Gaylord M Borst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:22
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H20/00; B63H20/08; B63H20/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
315 words
A marine propulsion device comprising a support bracket adapted to be attached to a boat hull, a propulsion assembly including a swivel bracket and a propulsion unit carried by said swivel bracket, means connecting said propulsion assembly and said support bracket on a horizontal transverse axis for tilting movement of said propulsion assembly in a vertical plane between an operating position and a raised, non-operating position, and cylinder-piston means for facilitating manual tilting movement of said propulsion assembly upwardly about said axis when said support bracket is attached to a boat hull and for absorbing shock in the event said propulsion assembly strikes an underwater obstacle, said cylinder-piston means comprising a cylinder including a first end and a second end, means for pivotally connecting said first end of said cylinder to one of said support bracket and said propulsion assembly, a piston located in said cylinder for reciprocative movement therein between a position adjacent said first cylinder end when said propulsion assembly is in the operating position and a position adjacent said second cylinder end when said propulsion assembly is in said raised position, means affording restricted fluid flow from one side of said piston to the other in both directions to control the rate of tilting movement between said support bracket and said propulsion assembly, a piston rod connected to said piston and extending from said second end of said cylinder, means for pivotally connecting said piston rod to the other of said support bracket and said propulsion assembly whereby, in response to an upward tilg movement of said propulsion assembly, said piston rod extends and, in response to a downward tilting movement of said propulsion assembly, said piston rod retracts, a predetermined quantity of an incompressible liquid partially filling said cylinder, and a pressurized gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure filling the remainder of the otherwise unoccupied space inside said cylinder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
315 words
A marine propulsion device comprising a support bracket adapted to be attached to a boat hull, a propulsion assembly including a swivel bracket and a propulsion unit carried by said swivel bracket, means connecting said propulsion assembly and said support bracket on a horizontal transverse axis for tilting movement of said propulsion assembly in a vertical plane between an operating position and a raised, non-operating position, and cylinder-piston means for facilitating manual tilting movement of said propulsion assembly upwardly about said axis when said support bracket is attached to a boat hull and for absorbing shock in the event said propulsion assembly strikes an underwater obstacle, said cylinder-piston means comprising a cylinder including a first end and a second end, means for pivotally connecting said first end of said cylinder to one of said support bracket and said propulsion assembly, a piston located in said cylinder for reciprocative movement therein between a position adjacent said first cylinder end when said propulsion assembly is in the operating position and a position adjacent said second cylinder end when said propulsion assembly is in said raised position, means affording restricted fluid flow from one side of said piston to the other in both directions to control the rate of tilting movement between said support bracket and said propulsion assembly, a piston rod connected to said piston and extending from said second end of said cylinder, means for pivotally connecting said piston rod to the other of said support bracket and said propulsion assembly whereby, in response to an upward tilg movement of said propulsion assembly, said piston rod extends and, in response to a downward tilting movement of said propulsion assembly, said piston rod retracts, a predetermined quantity of an incompressible liquid partially filling said cylinder, and a pressurized gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure filling the remainder of the otherwise unoccupied space inside said cylinder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A marine propulsion device according to claim 1 wherein said fluid flow means comprises an aperture extending axially through said piston.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A marine propulsion device according to claim 1 wherein the pressure of said gas is at a level whereby the force applied on said piston by said liquid and said gas and acting to extend said piston rod is less than the tilting force required to tilt said propulsion unit from said operating position to said raised non-operating position, thereby reducing the force required to tilt said propulsion unit from said operating position to said raised position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
A marine propulsion device according to claim 1 including locking means acting between said swivel bracket and said support bracket for releasably locking said propulsion unit in said operating position, and wherein the pressure of said gas is at a level whereby the force applied on said piston by said liquid and said gas and acting on said piston to extend said piston rod is greater than the tilting force required to tilt said propulsion unit from said operating position to said raised non-operating position, whereby, when said locking means is released, said piston rod extends to thereby tilt said propulsion unit towards said raised non-operating position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
A marine propulsion device according to claim 1 wherein said piston includes one side in opposing relation to said first end of said cylinder and a second side in opposing relation to said second end of said cylinder and further including by-pass flow means in said cylinder for selectively permitting fluid flow from said second side to said first side of said piston in response to extension of said cylinder piston assembly when the differential pressure across said piston exceeds predetermined level in response to a sudden upward tilting movement of said propulsion unit and for preventing fluid flow from said firsT side to said second side of said piston in response to contraction of said cylinder piston assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A marine propulsion device according to claim 5 wherein said by-pass flow means comprises a pressure relief valve means in said piston.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said piston has a first side in facing relation to said first cylinder end and a second side in facing relation to said second cylinder end and said cylinder-piston assembly further includes passage means in said piston having means for affording fluid flow through said passage means from said second side to said first side of said piston and preventing fluid flow through said passage means from said first side to said second side of said piston.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
206 words
A marine propulsion device comprising a support bracket adapted to be attached to a boat hull, a propulsion assembly including a swivel bracket and a propulsion unit carried by said swivel bracket, a tilt pin connecting said propulsion assembly and said support bracket on a horizontal transverse axis for tilting movement of said propulsion assembly in a vertical plane between an operating position and a raised, non-operating position, cylinder-piston means for facilitating manual tilting movement of said propulsion assembly upwardly about said axis when said support bracket is attached to a boat hull and for absorbing shock in the event said propulsion assembly strikes an underwater obstacle, said cylinder-piston means comprising a cylinder-piston assembly pivotally connected between said support bracket and said propulsion assembly, said cylinder-piston assembly being substantially fully contracted when said propulsion assembly is in the operating position and being substantially fully extended when said propulsion assembly is in the raised position, and extending generally vertically throughout movement of said propulsion assembly between the operating and raised positions, a predetermined quantity of an incompressible liquid partially filling said cylinder-piston assembly, and a pressurized gas at a predetermined pressure higher than atmospheric pressure filling the remainder of the otherwise unoccupied space inside said cylinder-piston assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
206 words
A marine propulsion device comprising a support bracket adapted to be attached to a boat hull, a propulsion assembly including a swivel bracket and a propulsion unit carried by said swivel bracket, a tilt pin connecting said propulsion assembly and said support bracket on a horizontal transverse axis for tilting movement of said propulsion assembly in a vertical plane between an operating position and a raised, non-operating position, cylinder-piston means for facilitating manual tilting movement of said propulsion assembly upwardly about said axis when said support bracket is attached to a boat hull and for absorbing shock in the event said propulsion assembly strikes an underwater obstacle, said cylinder-piston means comprising a cylinder-piston assembly pivotally connected between said support bracket and said propulsion assembly, said cylinder-piston assembly being substantially fully contracted when said propulsion assembly is in the operating position and being substantially fully extended when said propulsion assembly is in the raised position, and extending generally vertically throughout movement of said propulsion assembly between the operating and raised positions, a predetermined quantity of an incompressible liquid partially filling said cylinder-piston assembly, and a pressurized gas at a predetermined pressure higher than atmospheric pressure filling the remainder of the otherwise unoccupied space inside said cylinder-piston assembly.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |