Shaft coupling apparatus particularly for marine inboard-outboard propulsion systems

Claim 2

A coupling for connecting the engine shaft of an engine carried by a boat hull to the drive shaft of an aft mounted drive means; said coupling comprising a circular coupling plate having an inner shaft opening means for receiving and connection to one of said shafts with a plurality of equicircumferentially spaced interconnecting projections, said plate having a plurality of coupling openings, a flywheel secured to the second of said shafts and extending outwardly of said circular plate, a plurality of circumferentially distributed resilient mounts secured one each within each opening in said coupling plate, each of said resilient mounts having a resilient tubular bushing extending axially of the coupling plate with an outer diameter essentially corresponding to the opening and having an inner sleeve having end faces inwardly of the ends of the bushing, an annular clamping plate abutting the outer face of said bushings, clamping bolt means extending through said clamping plate and said sleeves and into said flywheel and forcing said clamping plate against said bushings and said bushings against said flywheel to compress said bushings and to deform said bushing outwardly of the annular plate and thereby provide a firm resilient interconnection of the first shaft to said mounting member.

Claim 3

A coupling for connecting the shaft of an engine carried by a boat hull to the shaft of an aft mounted drive means; said coupling comprising an annular coupling member having an inner shaft opening means for receiving and connection to one of said drive shafts, a mounting member secured to the second of said shafts, a plurality of circumferentially distributed resilient mounts secured within said annular coupling member, each of said resilient mounts having a resilient tubular bushing extending axially of the coupling member and having an inner sleeve having end faces inwardly of the ends of the bushing, a clamping plate abutting the outer face of said bushings, clamping bolt means extending through said clamping plate and said sleeves and provides a clamping interconnection to the mounting member, whereby said clamping plate compresses said bushings to provide a firm resilient interconnection of the first shaft to said mounting member, a pair of telescoped housing members secured one each to the drive means and to the engine, a projection and recess coupling between said telescoped housing members, said projection and recess having corresponding inclined side walls, and resilient members clamped between the side walls of the projection and the side walls of the recess to interconnect said housings.

Claim 4

A coupling for connecting the shaft of an engine carried by a boat hull to the shaft of an aft mounted drive means; said coupling comprising an annular coupling member having an inner shaft opening means for receiving and connection to one of said drive shafts, a mounting member secured to the second of said shafts, a plurality of circumferentially distributed resilient mounts secured within said annular coupling member, each of said resilient mounts having a resilient tubular bushing extending axially of the coupling member and having an inner sleeve having end faces inwardly of the ends of the bushing, a clamping plate abutting the outer face of said bushings, clamping bolt means extending through said clamping plate and said sleeves and provides a clamping interconnection to the mounting member, whereby said clamping plate compresses said bushings to provide a firm resilient interconnection of the first shaft to said mounting member, a pair of telescoped housing members secured one each to the drive means and to the engine, a projection and recess coupling between said telescoped housing members, said projection and recess having corresponding inclined side walls, and resilient members clamped between the side walls of the projection and the side walls of the recess to interconnect said housings.

Claim 5

A coupling for connecting the engine shaft of an engine carried by a boat hull to the drive shaft of an aft mounted drive means; said coupling comprising an annular coupling plate having an inner shaft opening means for receiving and connection to one of said drive shaft, a flywheel secured to the engine shafts, a plurality of circumferentially distributed resiLient mounts secured within said annular coupling plate, each of said resilient mounts having a resilient tubular bushing extending axially of the coupling member and having an inner sleeve having end faces inwardly of the ends of the bushing, a clamping plate abutting the outer face of said bushings, clamping bolt means extending through said clamping plate and said sleeves and provides a clamping interconnection to the mounting member, whereby said clamping plate compresses said bushings to provide a firm resilient interconnection of the first shaft to said mounting member, a flywheel cover mounted in relatively fixed relationship to said flywheel and including an outwardly projecting tubular flange extending coaxially of the coupling toward said drive means, a bearing cap secured to the drive means and including a tubular flange projecting coaxially into the fly flange and in close spaced relation to said flywheel flange, the flange of said flywheel housing including an annular recess with an inner peripheral opening extending axially of the flange and having an outer removable wall including the one side wall of said recess, said bearing cap tubular flange having an annular projection centrally located in said recess, a pair of resilient ring members disposed within said recess one each to the opposite side of said projection whereby a resilient firm interconnection is established upon tightening of the bolt means.

Claim 6

A coupling for connecting the engine shaft of an engine carried by a boat hull to the drive shaft of an aft mounted drive means; said coupling comprising an annular coupling plate having an inner shaft opening means for receiving and connection to one of said drive shaft, a flywheel secured to the engine shafts, a plurality of circumferentially distributed resiLient mounts secured within said annular coupling plate, each of said resilient mounts having a resilient tubular bushing extending axially of the coupling member and having an inner sleeve having end faces inwardly of the ends of the bushing, a clamping plate abutting the outer face of said bushings, clamping bolt means extending through said clamping plate and said sleeves and provides a clamping interconnection to the mounting member, whereby said clamping plate compresses said bushings to provide a firm resilient interconnection of the first shaft to said mounting member, a flywheel cover mounted in relatively fixed relationship to said flywheel and including an outwardly projecting tubular flange extending coaxially of the coupling toward said drive means, a bearing cap secured to the drive means and including a tubular flange projecting coaxially into the fly flange and in close spaced relation to said flywheel flange, the flange of said flywheel housing including an annular recess with an inner peripheral opening extending axially of the flange and having an outer removable wall including the one side wall of said recess, said bearing cap tubular flange having an annular projection centrally located in said recess, a pair of resilient ring members disposed within said recess one each to the opposite side of said projection whereby a resilient firm interconnection is established upon tightening of the bolt means.

Claim 7

The coupling of claim 3 wherein said recess and projection having essentially similar depths and similar inclined side walls.

Claim 8

A coupling for connectiing the shaft of an engine carried by a boat hull to the shaft of an aft mounted drive means; said coupling comprising an annular coupling circular plate having an inner shaft opening means for receiving and connection to one of said drive shafts, a plurality of circumferentially distributed resilient mounts secured within said annular coupling plate, a flywheel secured to the second of said shafts, connecting means interconnecting said resilient mounts to said flywheel, said flywheel extending radially outwardly of said coupling plate, a fly-wheel cover including an outwardly projecting tubular flange extending toward said drive means, a bearing cap secured to the drive means and including a tubular flange projecting in close spaced relation into said flywheel flange, the flange of said flywheel housing including an annular recess with an inner peripheral opening extending axially of the flange and having an outer removable wall including the one side wall of said recess, said bearing cap flange having an annular projection centrally located in said recess, a pair of resilient ring members disposed within said recess one each to the opposite side of said projection whereby a resilient firm interconnection is established upon tightening of the bolt means, said cap including at least three radial machined surfaces lying in a common plane normal to the axis of the drive means shaft, said removable outer wall having corresponding coplanar machined surfaces circumferentially located in alignment with said machined surfaces on said cap, said housings being in precise proper alignment with all of said machined surfaces on the cap and the flywheel flange being in a common plane for establishing precise alignment of the engine shaft and the drive means shaft.

Claim 9

A coupling for connectiing the shaft of an engine carried by a boat hull to the shaft of an aft mounted drive means; said coupling comprising an annular coupling circular plate having an inner shaft opening means for receiving and connection to one of said drive shafts, a plurality of circumferentially distributed resilient mounts secured within said annular coupling plate, a flywheel secured to the second of said shafts, connecting means interconnecting said resilient mounts to said flywheel, said flywheel extending radially outwardly of said coupling plate, a fly-wheel cover including an outwardly projecting tubular flange extending toward said drive means, a bearing cap secured to the drive means and including a tubular flange projecting in close spaced relation into said flywheel flange, the flange of said flywheel housing including an annular recess with an inner peripheral opening extending axially of the flange and having an outer removable wall including the one side wall of said recess, said bearing cap flange having an annular projection centrally located in said recess, a pair of resilient ring members disposed within said recess one each to the opposite side of said projection whereby a resilient firm interconnection is established upon tightening of the bolt means, said cap including at least three radial machined surfaces lying in a common plane normal to the axis of the drive means shaft, said removable outer wall having corresponding coplanar machined surfaces circumferentially located in alignment with said machined surfaces on said cap, said housings being in precise proper alignment with all of said machined surfaces on the cap and the flywheel flange being in a common plane for establishing precise alignment of the engine shaft and the drive means shaft.

Claim 10

A coupling for connecting the crankshaft of an engine carried by a boat hull to the drive shaft of an aft mounted drive means; said coupling comprising an annular coupling member having an inner shaft opening means for receiving said drive shaft with circumferentially spaced interconnecting projections establishing a direct drive therebetween, a flywheel secured to the shafts, a plurality of equicircumferentially distributed resilient mounts secured within said annular couplilng member, each of said resilient mounts having a resilient tubular bushing extending axially of the couplng member and having an inner sleeve having end faces inWardly of the ends of the bushing, a clamping plate abutting the outer face of said bushings, clamping bolt means extending through said clamping plate and said sleeves and provides a clamping interconnection to the mounting member, whereby said clamping plate compresses said bushings to provide a firm resilient interconnection of the first shaft to said mounting member, said flywheel extends radially outwardly of said coupling member, a flywheel cover including an outwardly projecting tubular flange extending toward said drive means and having an outer removable end wall, axially extended bolt means interconnecting said end wall to said flywheel cover, a bearing cap secured to the drive means and including a tubular flange projecting into said flywheel flange in close spaced relation thereto, the flange of said flywheel cover including an annular recess on the surface with a frustoconical cross section having a small inner base and a large peripheral opening extending axially of the flange, said removable wall including one side wall of said recess, said bearing cap flange having an annular projecting wall centrally located in said recess, said projecting wall being essentially an equilateral triangular of a depth closely approximating the depth of said frustoconical recess and of a substantially smaller width, and resilient mount and seal members disposed within said recess one each to the opposite side of said projecting wall whereby a resilient firm interconnection is established upon attachment of said removable wall.

Claim 11

A coupling for connecting the crankshaft of an engine carried by a boat hull to the drive shaft of an aft mounted drive means; said coupling comprising an annular coupling member having an inner shaft opening means for receiving said drive shaft with circumferentially spaced interconnecting projections establishing a direct drive therebetween, a flywheel secured to the shafts, a plurality of equicircumferentially distributed resilient mounts secured within said annular couplilng member, each of said resilient mounts having a resilient tubular bushing extending axially of the couplng member and having an inner sleeve having end faces inWardly of the ends of the bushing, a clamping plate abutting the outer face of said bushings, clamping bolt means extending through said clamping plate and said sleeves and provides a clamping interconnection to the mounting member, whereby said clamping plate compresses said bushings to provide a firm resilient interconnection of the first shaft to said mounting member, said flywheel extends radially outwardly of said coupling member, a flywheel cover including an outwardly projecting tubular flange extending toward said drive means and having an outer removable end wall, axially extended bolt means interconnecting said end wall to said flywheel cover, a bearing cap secured to the drive means and including a tubular flange projecting into said flywheel flange in close spaced relation thereto, the flange of said flywheel cover including an annular recess on the surface with a frustoconical cross section having a small inner base and a large peripheral opening extending axially of the flange, said removable wall including one side wall of said recess, said bearing cap flange having an annular projecting wall centrally located in said recess, said projecting wall being essentially an equilateral triangular of a depth closely approximating the depth of said frustoconical recess and of a substantially smaller width, and resilient mount and seal members disposed within said recess one each to the opposite side of said projecting wall whereby a resilient firm interconnection is established upon attachment of said removable wall.

Claim 12

The coupling apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cap includes three radial machined surfaces lying in a common plane normal to the axis of the drive means shaft, said flywheel cover having corresponding coplanar machined surfaces circumferentially located in alilgnment with said machined surfaces on said cap, and adjustable mount means for selectively raising and lowering of the engine to permit precise alignment of the several corresponding machined surfaces on the cap and the flywheel flange and establishing precise alignment of the engine shaft and the drive means shaft with all of said machined surfaces in a common plane.

Claim 13

In a marine propulsion system including a boat hull having a transom, an internal-combustion engine carried by said boat hull and mounted forward of the transom, a jet housing unit mounted on said boat hull adjacent said transom and having a pump means extending rearwardly through a transom opening, said internal-combustion engine and said pump means having respective drive shafts, said engine drive shaft being connected to a flywheel means, the improvement in a coupling assembly for interconnecting said drive shafts, said coupling assembly comprising a plurality of circumferentially distributed resilient bushings secured to the face of the flywheel, a coupling plate carried by said bushings and having an inner shaft opening accommodating and receiving the pump drive shaft, means circumferentially interconnecting said pump drive shaft and said coupling plate, a pump housing member for said pump drive shaft opening toward the engine, an engine housing member telescoped over the pump housing member, a projecting wall and recess coupling between said housing members, said projecting wall and recess having corresponding inclined side walls to define a pair of similar oppositely inclined clamping chambers with means to axially move at least one of said side walls, and annular resilient means encircling said housing members within said clamping chambers and clamped between the inclined side walls of the projection and the corresponding inclined side walls of the recess.

Claim 14

In a marine propulsion system including a boat hull having a transom, an internal-combustion engine carried by said boat hull and mounted forward of the transom, a jet housing unit mounted on said boat hull adjacent said transom and having a pump means extending rearwardly through a transom opening, said internal-combustion engine and said pump means having respective drive shafts, said engine drive shaft being connected to a flywheel means, the improvement in a coupling assembly for interconnecting said drive shafts, said coupling assembly comprising a plurality of circumferentially distributed resilient bushings secured to the face of the flywheel, a coupling plate carried by said bushings and having an inner shaft opening accommodating and receiving the pump drive shaft, means circumferentially interconnecting said pump drive shaft and said coupling plate, a pump housing member for said pump drive shaft opening toward the engine, an engine housing member telescoped over the pump housing member, a projecting wall and recess coupling between said housing members, said projecting wall and recess having corresponding inclined side walls to define a pair of similar oppositely inclined clamping chambers with means to axially move at least one of said side walls, and annular resilient means encircling said housing members within said clamping chambers and clamped between the inclined side walls of the projection and the corresponding inclined side walls of the recess.

Claim 15

The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 8 wherein each of said bushings is a tubular member extending axially of the coupling plate and having an inner sleeve having ends located inwardly of the ends of the bushing, a clamping plate abutting the outer face of said bushings, clamping bolt means extending through said clamping plate and said bushings and tightEned to clamp the bushings and plate to the flywheel, whereby said clamping plate compresses said bushings to provide a firm resilient interconnection of the pump shaft to the flywheel.

Claim 16

The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 9 wherein said flywheel extends radially outwardly of said coupling, said engine housing member being a flywheel cover including an outwadly projecting tubular flange extending toward said pump housing member and terminating in an outer cap, said pump housing member including a tubular flange projecting into said flywheel flange in close spaced relation thereto, axially extended bolt means interconnecting said end cap to said flywheel housing flange to draw the cap over the pump tubular flange, the flange of said flywheel housing including an annular recess having a frustoconical cross section with a small base and a large peripheral opening extending axially of the flange, said tubular flange of the pump housing member having an annular projection defining said projecting wall centrally located in said recess, said projecting wall being essentially an equilateral triangular of a depth closely approximating the depth of said frustoconical recess and of a substantially smaller width, said resilient means including a pair of square ring seal members disposed within said recess one each to the opposite side of said projecting wall whereby a resilient firm interconnection is established upon tightening of the bolt means.

Claim 17

The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 10 wherein said pump means tubular flange is a cap-shaped member having a lateral wall normal to the shaft, said lateral wall including at least three radial machined surfaces lying in a common plane normal to the axis of the pump drive shaft, said flywheel flange cap having corresponding coplanar machined surfaces circumferentially located in alignment with said machined surfaces on said lateral wall, said engine having adjustable front mount means for selectively raising and lowering of the engine to permit precise alignment of the several corresponding machined surfaces on the lateral wall and the flywheel flange cap and establishing precise alignment of the engine drive shaft and the pump drive shaft with all of said machined surfaces in a common plane.