Propelling means

Claim 2

A combination of a boat and a boat propelling means, with a motor having a motor drive shaft, said combination comprising: an impeller housing having a hollow chamber therein, said housing being adapted to fit into the bottom of the boat, wherein said housing includes inlet and outlet passageways which communicate with said hollow chamber; a heat exchanger located beneath the bottom of the boat for cooling motor fluid, a portion of said heat exchanger being in contact with said impeller housing, said heat exchanger having an opening therethrough which connects with the inlet passageway in said impeller housing, so as to allow fluid to enter into said hollow chamber; an impeller mounted in said hollow chamber in such a manner that, when said impeller is rotated, fluid entering the inlet passageway in said impeller housing is forced through said outlet passageway, thereby resulting in propulsion of the boat; and coupling means transmitting the rotation of the motor drive shaft to said impeller.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger has a first cavity therein, and wherein said heat exchanger includes a first cover plate for said first cavity and a plurality of cooling fins located in said first cavity, said first cover plate being recessed with respect to the surrounding upper surface of said heat exchanger and having openings therein which permit a flow of fluid from the motor through said first cavity and back to the motor, said heat exchanger further having a fluid inlet located forward of said first cavity and communicating with said first cover plate, and a fluid outlet located rearward of said first cavity, wherein in operation fluid enters said fluid inlet, flows over said first cover plate between said first cover plate and the bottom of the boat, and then exits through said fluid outlet, thereby cooling the fluid flowing through said first cavity from the motor.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2, wherein said fluid outlet of said heat exchanger communicates with one of the following: (1) the exterior of said heat exchanger, and (2) the inlet passageway in said impeller housing.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2, wherein said fluid outlet of said heat exchanger communicates with both the exterior of said heat exchanger and the inlet passageway in said impeller housing.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 2, wherein said heat exchanger has a second cavity defined therein, and wherein said heat exchanger includes a second cover plate for said second cavity and a plurality of cooling fins located in said second cavity and wherein said second cover plate includes openings therein which permit a flow of fluid from the motor or said first cavity through said second cavity and back to the motor.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1, including a muffler/heat exchanger, which comprises first and second elongated tubes, said first tube being slightly smaller in diameter than said second tube and supported within said second tube in such a manner that there exists a space between said first and second tubes, and wherein said muffler/heat exchanger further includes first connecting means connecting said first tube to the exhaust outlet of the motor and second connecting means connecting said space between said first and second tubes to the hollow chamber in said impeller housing, such that the action of the impeller drives fluid throughout said space.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6, wherein said muffler/heat exchanger includes a reasonance chamber having an intake port and outlet port, and third connecting means connecting said first tube to said intake port, and wherein said first tube includes an opening therein in the vicinity of said third connecting means, so that fluid driven into said space by the action of the impeller is introduced into said reasonance chamber along with the exhaust from the motor.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 7, including means for selectively partially closing said opening in the first tube.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a generally T shaped member which is rotatably positioned in a central hub portion of said impeller housing, wherein the depending portion of the T-shaped member is threaded about its free end, so that said impeller may be threaded thereon, and wherein the cross portion of said T-shaped member includes a recess for receiving a mating drive member attached to the motor drive shaft.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 9, wherein said coupling means includes a bearing for supporting said T-shaped member in the central hub of the impeller housing, so as to permit rotational movement of said coupling means therein, and wherein said coupling means further includes a pair of water-tight seals surrounding, and in intimate contact with, the depending portion of said T-shaped member, producing a water-tight fit between said coupling means and said impeller housing.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 10, wherein said coupling means further includes a fluid relief channel which connects the interface between said pair of seals and the exterior of said impeller housing.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 1, including a tube-like fluid exit means channeling the flow of fluid forced from the outlet passageway in said impeller housing to the rear of the boat, and a propulsion housing, which is adapted to be connected to said fluid exit means, said propulsion housing including an inlet port permitting fluid from said fluid exit means to enter said propulsion housing, and at least two outlet ports, a first outlet port being oriented relative to the boat such that when fluid is ejected therefrom, a forward movement of the boat is produced, and a second outlet port being oriented relative to the boat such that when fluid is ejected therefrom, a reverse movement of the boat is produced, and wherein said propulsion housing includes valve means selectively connecting said inlet port with one of said first and second outlet ports, wherein said second outlet port is further oriented relative to the boat and the inlet passageway to said impeller housing that the stream of fluid ejected from said second outlet port is directed away from the inlet passageway to said impeller housing, thereby significantly reducing the possibility of a vortex being created in the fluid in the vicinity of the inlet passageway to said impeller housing when the boat is in a reverse mode.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 12, including means for channeling the stream of fluid ejected from said second outlet port to near the forward end of the boat.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 1, including means for steering the boat and controlling the operation of the motor, comprising: a control shaft mounted for in and out movement and for rotational movement; first means on said control shaft for receiving a steering line connected to a boat steering assembly, wherein when the steering line is operatively connected to said receiving means, the boat may be steered by rotation of said shaft; a motor control lever mounted in a predetermined relationship with said control shaft and further mounted to be rotatable about a fixed point, said motor control lever including means for receiving a motor control line, wherein when the motor control line is operatively connected to said motor control lever, rotation of said motor control lever results in a change in motor speed; and second means mounted on said control shaft to mate with a portion of said motor control lever, said second means having such a contour that in and out movement of said control shaft results in a rotation of said motor control lever and hence a corresponding change in motor speed.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 14, including a boat direction reversing lever, mounted in a predetermined mating relationship with said control shaft and further mounted so as to be rotatable about said fixed point, wherein when said boat reversing lever is in a first rotational position, due to said control shaft being in a first position, the boat moves in the forward direction, and when said boat direction lever is in a second rotational position, which is spaced apart rotationally from said first rotational position, due to said control shaft being in a second position, the boat moves in the reverse direction.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 1, including a plurality of motor mount means positioned between a first mounting surface on the motor and a second mounting surface on the impeller housing for reducing motor vibration, wherein each motor mount means includes: a first portion, secured between said first and second mounting surfaces, constructed to significantly reduce motor vibrations over a first frequency range; a second portion, secured between said first and second mounting surfaces, constructed to significantly reduce motor vibrations over a second frequency range which is different than said first frequency range; and a third portion which is secured only to said first mounting surface, extending therefrom to within a distance of said second mounting surface which is small compared to the distance between said first and second mounting surfaces, wherein said third member is constructed to be substantially nondeformable.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 16, wherein said first and second portions comprise hard rubber having substantially different durometer ratings and wherein said third portion comprises a material which is substantially non-deformable.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 17, wherein said second portion has a durometer rating equal to approximately one-half ±30% of the durometer rating of said first portion.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 18, wherein said first, second and third portions are separate elements, and wherein the space between adjacent elements is relatively small compared to their size.

Claim 21

Combined control means for steering a vehicle and controlling the operation of a motor, comprising: a control shaft mounted for in and out movement and for rotational movement; first means on said control shaft for receiving a steering line connected to a vehicle steering assembly, wherein when the steering line is operatively connected to said receiving means, the vehicle may be steered by rotation of said shaft; a motor control lever mounted in a predetermined relationship with said control shaft and further mounted to be rotatable about a fixed point, said motor control lever including means for receiving a motor control line, wherein when the motor control line is operatively connected to said motor control lever, rotation of said motor control lever results in a change in motor speed; and second means mounted on said control shaft to mate with a portion of said motor control lever, said second means having such a contour that in and out movement of said control shaft results in a rotation of said motor control lever and hence a corresponding change in motor speed.

Claim 22

Combined control means for steering a vehicle and controlling the operation of a motor, comprising: a control shaft mounted for in and out movement and for rotational movement; first means on said control shaft for receiving a steering line connected to a vehicle steering assembly, wherein when the steering line is operatively connected to said receiving means, the vehicle may be steered by rotation of said shaft; a motor control lever mounted in a predetermined relationship with said control shaft and further mounted to be rotatable about a fixed point, said motor control lever including means for receiving a motor control line, wherein when the motor control line is operatively connected to said motor control lever, rotation of said motor control lever results in a change in motor speed; and second means mounted on said control shaft to mate with a portion of said motor control lever, said second means having such a contour that in and out movement of said control shaft results in a rotation of said motor control lever and hence a corresponding change in motor speed.

Claim 23

The combination of claim 20, including a vehicle direction reversing lever, mounted in a predetermined mating relationship with said control shaft and further mounted so as to be rotatable about said fixed point, wherein when said vehicle reversing lever is in a first rotational position, due to said control shaft being in a first position, the vehicle moves in the forward direction, and when said vehicle direction lever is in a second rotational position, spaced apart rotationally from said first rotational position, due to said control shaft being in a second position, the vehicle moves in the reverse direction.