US4037558A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marine drive units
Assignee: ENFIELD IND ENGINES Ltd
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Filing: 1974-03-26
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Granted: 1977-07-26
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Expires: 1994-03-26
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a marine drive unit of the through or over transom drive type, in which the power leg is pivoted on the axis of a transverse shaft at the heart of the drive transmission so that the power leg can tilt upwardly and rearwardly about that axis whilst the drive gears remain meshed, without utilising any universal joints.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence Frank Nossiter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:33
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H20/00; B63H20/14; B63H20/22; B63H20/08; B63H20/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
344 words
In a marine drive unit for transmitting drive between an inboard engine of a vessel and a propeller thereof, which comprises:- a first casing adapted to be mounted on the transom of the vessel and rotatably mounting a horizontal lay shaft which extends transversely of the fore-and-aft axis of the vessel; an input shaft adapted to be drivingly connected to the inboard engine and extending in the fore-and-aft direction; a pair of first drive transmitting elements mounted rotatably, and in spaced relation, on said lay shaft and in constant mesh with a driving element carried by the input shaft so as to contra-rotate with respect to one another; a second drive transmitting element fast with said lay shaft; a power leg shaft extending orthogonally with respect to said input shaft and said lay shaft and having a drive element in constant mesh with said second drive transmitting element; a second casing through which the power leg shaft extends, the second casing being pivotal with respect to said first casing about said lay shaft and rotatable about the axis of the power leg shaft; a propeller drive shaft mounted in the second casing and drivingly connected to the power leg shaft; clutch means selectively operable to drivingly connect one or the other of said first drive transmitting elements to the lay shaft to transmit rotational drive from the input shaft to the propeller shaft in a desired rotational sense, the improvement wherein; the second casing extends through a slot in the first casing; said slot extends arcuately about the axis of said lay shaft; the second casing is formed with an extension having a part-spherical flange which is received within the first casing and is co-operable with a complementary spherical inner surface of the first casing; and the center of curvature of said complementary inner surface being coincident with the point of intersection between the lay shaft and the power leg shaft whereby the second casing may pivot about the axis of the lay shaft and rotate about the axis of the power leg shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
344 words
In a marine drive unit for transmitting drive between an inboard engine of a vessel and a propeller thereof, which comprises:- a first casing adapted to be mounted on the transom of the vessel and rotatably mounting a horizontal lay shaft which extends transversely of the fore-and-aft axis of the vessel; an input shaft adapted to be drivingly connected to the inboard engine and extending in the fore-and-aft direction; a pair of first drive transmitting elements mounted rotatably, and in spaced relation, on said lay shaft and in constant mesh with a driving element carried by the input shaft so as to contra-rotate with respect to one another; a second drive transmitting element fast with said lay shaft; a power leg shaft extending orthogonally with respect to said input shaft and said lay shaft and having a drive element in constant mesh with said second drive transmitting element; a second casing through which the power leg shaft extends, the second casing being pivotal with respect to said first casing about said lay shaft and rotatable about the axis of the power leg shaft; a propeller drive shaft mounted in the second casing and drivingly connected to the power leg shaft; clutch means selectively operable to drivingly connect one or the other of said first drive transmitting elements to the lay shaft to transmit rotational drive from the input shaft to the propeller shaft in a desired rotational sense, the improvement wherein; the second casing extends through a slot in the first casing; said slot extends arcuately about the axis of said lay shaft; the second casing is formed with an extension having a part-spherical flange which is received within the first casing and is co-operable with a complementary spherical inner surface of the first casing; and the center of curvature of said complementary inner surface being coincident with the point of intersection between the lay shaft and the power leg shaft whereby the second casing may pivot about the axis of the lay shaft and rotate about the axis of the power leg shaft.
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) | 1980-07-25 | 1981-01-24 | 1981-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-25 | 1985-01-24 | 1985-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-25 | 1989-01-24 | 1989-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |