Marine propulsion reversing transmission with hydraulic assist

Claim 2

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit, means adapted to be mounted to a boat hull and connected to said propulsion unit for providing horizontal and vertical swinging movement of said propulsion unit relative to said means adapted to be mounted on a boat hull, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a reversing transmission connecting said drive shaft to said propeller shaft and shiftable between a neutral condition and a drive condition and including a clutch dog mounted on said propeller shaft For common rotary movement with said propeller shaft and for axial movement relative to said propeller shaft, a mechanical linkage extending is said propulsion unit and connected to said reversing transmission for operating said reversing transmission in response to movement of said mechanical linkage, said linkage including a member carried by said propeller shaft for common rotary movement with said propeller shaft and for axial movement relative to said propeller shaft and connected to said dog for common movement therewith, a rod supported by said propulsion unit for movement transversely of said member, and means mechanically connecting said rod and said member for effecting movement of said member in one direction axially of said propeller shaft in response to movement of said rod in one direction transversely of said propeller shaft and for effecting movement of said member in the other direction axially of said propeller shaft in response to movement of said rod in the other direction transversely of said propeller shaft and for simultaneously permitting rotary movement of said member relative to said rod.

Claim 3

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a plunger mounted on said propulsion unit for movement axially of said propeller shaft, means on said plunger and on said member connecting said plunger and said member for rotary movement therebetween and for common movement axially of said propeller shaft, and interengaging means on said plunger and on said rod for effecting movement of said plunger in one direction axially of said propeller shaft in response to movement of said rod in one direction transversely of said propeller shaft and for effecting movement of said member in the other direction axially of said propeller shaft in response to movement of said rod in the other direction transversely of said propeller shaft.

Claim 4

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 1 including hydraulic means actuated in response to initial movement of said mechanical linkage for assisting in moving said mechanical linkage to operate said reversing transmission.

Claim 5

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit, means adapted to be mounted to a boat hull and connected to said propulsion unit for providing horizontal and vertical swinging movement of said propulsion unit relative to said means adapted to be mounted on a boat hull, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a reversing transmission connecting said drive shaft to said propeller shaft and shiftable between a neutral condition and a drive condition, a mechanical linkage extending in and supported by said propulsion unit and connected to said reversing transmission for operating said reversing transmission in response to movement of said mechanical linkage, said mechanical linkage including a rod movable in said propulsion unit and operably connected to said transmission and a member mounted in said propulsion unit in outward telescopic relation to said rod for movement parallel to said rod, and means connecting said member and said rod for providing initial lost movement therebetween and thereafter for providing common movement of said rod and said member in response to movement of said member, and hydraulic means actuated in response to initial movement of said mechanical linkage for assisting in moving said mechanical linkage to operate said reversing transmission, said hydraulic means comprising a cylinder fixed in said propulsion unit in encircling relation to said rod and said member and including spaced end portions having cylindrical wall surfaces and a radially inwardly extending boss located intermediate said cylinder end portions and including a cylindrical wall surface, said hydraulic means also including a piston in outwardly telescopic engagement with said member and in inwardly telescopic engagement with said cylinder, said piston including spaced end portions telescopically engaged with said cylindrical wall surfaces of said cylinder end portions, a recess having a length axially of said cylinder greater than the length of said boss and having an outer cylindrical surface telescopially engaged with said boss cylindrical wall surface, and a pair of spaced ports located adjacent to the axial ends of said piston recess for admitting pressure fluid to cause displacement of said piston relative to said cylinder, and means connecting said piston and said rod for common movement.

Claim 6

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit, means adapted to be mounted to a boat hull and connected to said propulsion unit for providing horizontal and vertical swinging movement of said propulsion unit relative to said means adapted to be mounted on a boat hull, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a reversing transmission connecting said drive shaft to said propeller shaft and shiftable between a neutral condition and a drive condition, a mechanical linkage extending in and supported by said propulsion unit and connected to said reversing transmission for operating said reversing transmission in response to movement of said mechanical linkage, said mechanical linkage including a rod movable in said propulsion unit and operably connected to said transmission and a member mounted in said propulsion unit in outward telescopic relation to said rod for movement parallel to said rod, and means connecting said member and said rod for providing initial lost movement therebetween and thereafter for providing common movement of said rod and said member in response to movement of said member, and hydraulic means actuated in response to initial movement of said mechanical linkage for assisting in moving said mechanical linkage to operate said reversing transmission, said hydraulic means comprising a cylinder fixed in said propulsion unit in encircling relation to said rod and said member and including spaced end portions having cylindrical wall surfaces and a radially inwardly extending boss located intermediate said cylinder end portions and including a cylindrical wall surface, said hydraulic means also including a piston in outwardly telescopic engagement with said member and in inwardly telescopic engagement with said cylinder, said piston including spaced end portions telescopically engaged with said cylindrical wall surfaces of said cylinder end portions, a recess having a length axially of said cylinder greater than the length of said boss and having an outer cylindrical surface telescopially engaged with said boss cylindrical wall surface, and a pair of spaced ports located adjacent to the axial ends of said piston recess for admitting pressure fluid to cause displacement of said piston relative to said cylinder, and means connecting said piston and said rod for common movement.

Claim 7

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said member also constitutes a part of said hydraulic means and has connected thereto valve means operable to control actuation of said hydraulic means in response to movement of said member.

Claim 8

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said hydraulic means further includes valve means on said member movable relative to said spaced ports to control pressure fluid flow relative thereto, and means for supplying pressure fluid to said spaced ports under the control of said valve means.

Claim 9

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for supplying pressure fluid comprises a pump driven by said drive shaft, a bore in said rod communicating with said pump notwithstanding rod movement relative to said pump, and means in said rod and said member communicating between said bore in said rod and said spaced ports notwithstanding relative movement between said rod and said member.

Claim 10

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means communicating between said bore in said rod and said spaced ports comprises an opening in said rod communicating with said bore, a recess in said member communicating with said opening notwithstanding relative movement between said actuating member and said rod, and wherein said valve means comprises lands located on said member to control fluid communication between said recess and said spaced ports in response to movement of said member relative to said piston during initial movement of said member relative to said rod.

Claim 11

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said member includes a pair of lands spaced on said member at the same spacing as said ports, said lands each having, in the direction of member movement, a length less than the length of said ports.

Claim 12

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said lands are centered with respect to said ports when said transmission is in neutral condition.

Claim 13

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said means connecting said rod and said piston for common movement permits relative movement between said member and said piston to control location of said lands relative to said ports.

Claim 14

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit, means adapted to be mounted to a boat hull and connected to said propulsion unit for providing horizontal and vertical swinging movement of said propulsion unit relative to said means adapted to be mounted on a boat hull, propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a reversing transmission connecting said drive shaft to said propeller shaft and shiftable between a neutral condition and a drive condition, a mechanical linkage extending in and supported by said propulsion unit and connected to said reversing transmission for operating said reversing transmission in response to movement of said mechanical linkage, said linkage including releasable means for preventing linkage movement from the position locating said transmission in neutral condition in the absence of a force above a predetermined amount, and including an axial bore in said propeller shaft, a part axially movable in said propeller shaft bore, a pocket in the wall of said propeller shaft bore, a first bore in sAid part located for registry with said pocket when said transmission is in neutral condition, a ball in said first bore in said part, and means yieldably urging said ball radially outwardly of said first bore in said part and partially into said pocket, whereby said ball is located partially in said pocket and partially in said first bore in said part when said transmission is in neutral condition, and hydraulic means actuated in response to initial movement of said mechanical linkage for assisting in moving said mechanical linkage to operate said reversing transmission.

Claim 15

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit, means adapted to be mounted to a boat hull and connected to said propulsion unit for providing horizontal and vertical swinging movement of said propulsion unit relative to said means adapted to be mounted on a boat hull, propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a reversing transmission connecting said drive shaft to said propeller shaft and shiftable between a neutral condition and a drive condition, a mechanical linkage extending in and supported by said propulsion unit and connected to said reversing transmission for operating said reversing transmission in response to movement of said mechanical linkage, said linkage including releasable means for preventing linkage movement from the position locating said transmission in neutral condition in the absence of a force above a predetermined amount, and including an axial bore in said propeller shaft, a part axially movable in said propeller shaft bore, a pocket in the wall of said propeller shaft bore, a first bore in sAid part located for registry with said pocket when said transmission is in neutral condition, a ball in said first bore in said part, and means yieldably urging said ball radially outwardly of said first bore in said part and partially into said pocket, whereby said ball is located partially in said pocket and partially in said first bore in said part when said transmission is in neutral condition, and hydraulic means actuated in response to initial movement of said mechanical linkage for assisting in moving said mechanical linkage to operate said reversing transmission.

Claim 16

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 12 wherein said means yieldably urging said ball radially outwardly of said first bore in said part includes an axial bore extending in said part from said first bore, another ball in said axial bore in engagement with said ball in said first bore, and means urging said other ball in said axial bore so as to radially outwardly displace said ball in said first bore.

Claim 17

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 13 wherein said means for displacing said other ball in said axial bore comprises a spring seated, at one end, against said other ball and fixed means in said axial bore engaged with the other end of said spring.

Claim 18

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit having at the lower end thereof, a gear box portion, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said gear box portion, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit and extending into said gear box portion, a hydraulic pump located in said gear box portion and driven by said drive shaft, a reversing transmission located in said gear box portion and connecting said drive shaft to said propeller shaft and shiftable axially of said propeller shaft between a neutral condition and a drive condition, a mechanical linkage extending on a movably supported by said propulsion unit and connected to said reversing transmission for mechanically shifting said reversing transmission in response to linkage movement, said mechanical linkage including an elongated rod mounted for vertical lengthwise movement and having a lower end extending into said gear box portion and operatively connected to said transmission for shifting thereof in response to lengthwise rod movement, said rod including a bore extending lengthwise therein and communicating with said pump notwithstanding lengthwise rod movement, hydraulic means communicating with said bore in said rod notwithstanding lengthwise rod movement and connected to said mechanical linkage and actuated in response to initial movement of said mechanical linkage for assisting in providing lengthwise rod movement to shift said reversing transmission, and means adapted to be mounted to a boat hull and connected to said propulsion unit for providing horizontal and vertical swinging movement of said propulsion unit relative to said means adapted to be mounted on a boat hull.

Claim 19

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit having at the lower end thereof, a gear box portion, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said gear box portion, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit and extending into said gear box portion, a hydraulic pump located in said gear box portion and driven by said drive shaft, a reversing transmission located in said gear box portion and connecting said drive shaft to said propeller shaft and shiftable axially of said propeller shaft between a neutral condition and a drive condition, a mechanical linkage extending on a movably supported by said propulsion unit and connected to said reversing transmission for mechanically shifting said reversing transmission in response to linkage movement, said mechanical linkage including an elongated rod mounted for vertical lengthwise movement and having a lower end extending into said gear box portion and operatively connected to said transmission for shifting thereof in response to lengthwise rod movement, said rod including a bore extending lengthwise therein and communicating with said pump notwithstanding lengthwise rod movement, hydraulic means communicating with said bore in said rod notwithstanding lengthwise rod movement and connected to said mechanical linkage and actuated in response to initial movement of said mechanical linkage for assisting in providing lengthwise rod movement to shift said reversing transmission, and means adapted to be mounted to a boat hull and connected to said propulsion unit for providing horizontal and vertical swinging movement of said propulsion unit relative to said means adapted to be mounted on a boat hull.

Claim 20

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 15 wherein said pump includes a member mounted for rotation coaxially with said propeller shaft.

Claim 21

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 16 wherein said reversing transmission includes an element mounted for rotation coaxially with said propeller shaft, driven by said drive shaft, and drivingly connected to said pump member.

Claim 22

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 15 wherein said hydraulic means includes a cylinder-piston assembly including a cylinder member and a piston member movable relative to each other and wherein said rod is fixedly connected to one of said cylinder and piston members.

Claim 23

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 18 wherein said mechanical linkage includes a part mounted in said propulsion unit for movement parallel to said rod, extending upwardly from the upper end of said rod, and being adapted to be displaced by a remote operator, and further including means connecting said pArt and said rod for providing initial lost movement therebetween and thereafter for providing common movement of said rod and said part in response to movement of said part.

Claim 24

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 19 wherein said cylinder piston assembly includes a fluid cavity between said piston member and said cylinder member, and said part includes a portion providing a valve between said bore in said rod and said fluid cavity.

Claim 25

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 20 wherein said portion of said part functions as a valve during lost movement between said part and said rod and in response to relative movement between said part and said one of said cylinder member and said piston member which is fixed to said rod.

Claim 26

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a hydraulic pump driven by said drive shaft, a reversing transmission connecting said drive shaft to said propeller shaft and shiftable axially of said propeller shaft between a neutral condition and a drive condition, a mechanical linkage extending on and movably supported by said propulsion unit and connected to said reversing transmission for mechanically shifting said reversing transmission in response to linkage movement, said mechanical linkage including an elongated rod having an upper end and extending upwardly from an operating connection with said transmission and movable transversely of said propeller shaft, said rod including a bore communicating with said pump notwithstanding rod movement, said mechanical linkage also including a member mounted in said propulsion unit for movement parallel to said rod, extending upwardly from said upper end of said rod, and being adapted to be displaced by a remote operator, and means connecting said member and said rod for providing initial lost movement therebetween and thereafter for providing common movement of said rod and said member in response to movement of said member, hydraulic means communicating with said bore notwithstanding rod movement and connected to said mechanical linkage and actuated in response to initial movement of said mechanical linkage for assisting in moving said mechanical linkage to shift said reversing transmission, and means adapted to be mounted to a boat hull and connected to said propulsion unit for providing horizontal and vertical swinging movement of said propulsion unit relative to said means adapted to be mounted on a boat hull.

Claim 27

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said propulsion unit, a hydraulic pump driven by said drive shaft, a reversing transmission connecting said drive shaft to said propeller shaft and shiftable axially of said propeller shaft between a neutral condition and a drive condition, a mechanical linkage extending on and movably supported by said propulsion unit and connected to said reversing transmission for mechanically shifting said reversing transmission in response to linkage movement, said mechanical linkage including an elongated rod having an upper end and extending upwardly from an operating connection with said transmission and movable transversely of said propeller shaft, said rod including a bore communicating with said pump notwithstanding rod movement, said mechanical linkage also including a member mounted in said propulsion unit for movement parallel to said rod, extending upwardly from said upper end of said rod, and being adapted to be displaced by a remote operator, and means connecting said member and said rod for providing initial lost movement therebetween and thereafter for providing common movement of said rod and said member in response to movement of said member, hydraulic means communicating with said bore notwithstanding rod movement and connected to said mechanical linkage and actuated in response to initial movement of said mechanical linkage for assisting in moving said mechanical linkage to shift said reversing transmission, and means adapted to be mounted to a boat hull and connected to said propulsion unit for providing horizontal and vertical swinging movement of said propulsion unit relative to said means adapted to be mounted on a boat hull.

Claim 28

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 22 wherein said pump includes a member mounted for rotation coaxially with said propeller shaft.

Claim 29

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 23 wherein said reversing transmission includes an element mounted for rotation coaxially with said propeller shaft, driven by said drive shaft, and drivingly connected to said pump.

Claim 30

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 22 wherein said hydraulic means includes a cylinder-piston assembly including a cylinder member and a piston member movable relative to each other and wherein said rod is fixedly connected to one of said cylinder and piston members.

Claim 31

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 25 wherein said cylinder piston assembly includes a fluid cavity between said piston member and said cylinder member and said part includes a portion providing a valve between said bore in said rod and said fluid cavity.

Claim 32

A marine propulsion device in accordance with claim 26 wherein said portion of said part functions as a valve during lost movement between said part and said rod and in response to relative movement between said part and said one of said cylinder member and said piston member which is fixed to said rod.