Water shutter

Claim 2

A stern drive for propulsion of a boat comprising: (A) an inboard engine; (B) an outboard drive unit coupled to said engine; (C) an exhaust passageway coupled to receive exhaust from said engine, said exhaust passageway having a discharge end for discharging exhaust below the surface of the water on which said boat is operated; and (D) a valve mounted in said exhaust passageway for preventing the flow of water to said engine and allowing the passage of exhaust from said engine, said valve including: (1) a pivot shaft extending across said passageway; and (2) a valve member pivotally mounted on said shaft, said valve member having; (a) a generally planar metal plate member with a lug on each side extending generally perpendicular to the plane of said plate member, said lugs having holes therethrough for pivotal attachment to said shaft; and (b) an elastomer mechanically and chemically bonded to said metal plate member on both sides of said plate member, said elastomer forming a flexible lip around the periphery of said plate member to seal against the walls of said exhaust passageway when said valve member is positioned to close said exhaust passageway, said elastomer formed around said lugs to act as a bearing on said shaft.

Claim 3

The stern drive defined in claim 1 wherein said holes in said lugs include flanges around their periphery to provide support for said elastomer acting as a bearing.

Claim 4

A stern drive for propulsion of a boat comprising: (A) an inboard engine; (B) an outboard drive unit coupled to said engine; (C) an exhaust passageway coupled to receive exhaust from said engine, said exhaust passageway having a discharge end for discharging exhaust below the surface of the water on which said boat is operated; and (D) a valve mounted in said exhaust passageway for preventing the flow of water to said engine and allowing the passage of exhaust from said engine, said valve including: (1) a pivot shaft extending across said passageway; and (2) a valve member pivotally mounted on said shaft, said valve member having: (a) a generally planar stainless steel plate member with a lug on each side extending generally perpendicular to the plane of said plate member, said lugs having holes therethrough for pivotal attachment to said shaft, said plate member including a plurality of holes extending through said plate member around its periphery; and (b) an elastomer comprising silicon rubber mechanically and chemically bonded to said metal plate member on both sides of said plate member, said elastomer forming a flexible lip around the periphery of said plate member to seal against the walls of said exhaust passageway when said valve member is positioned to close said exhaust passageway, said plurality of holes around the periphery of said plate member providing a mechanical bond between said elastomer and said plate member, said elastomer covering only a portion of said metal plate member including a band around the periphery of said plate member and a further portion on one side of said pivot shaft to provide a counter balance for said valve member.

Claim 5

A stern drive for propulsion of a boat comprising: (A) an inboard engine; (B) an outboard drive unit coupled to said engine; (C) an exhaust passageway coupled to receive exhaust from said engine, said exhaust passageway having a discharge end for discharging exhaust below the surface of the water on which said boat is operated; and (D) a valve mounted in said exhaust passageway for preventing the flow of water to said engine and allowing the passage of exhaust from said engine, said valve including: (1) a pivot shaft extending across said passageway; and (2) a valve member pivotally mounted on said shaft, said valve member having: (a) a generally planar stainless steel plate member with a lug on each side extending generally perpendicular to the plane of said plate member, said lugs having holes therethrough for pivotal attachment to said shaft, said plate member including a plurality of holes extending through said plate member around its periphery; and (b) an elastomer comprising silicon rubber mechanically and chemically bonded to said metal plate member on both sides of said plate member, said elastomer forming a flexible lip around the periphery of said plate member to seal against the walls of said exhaust passageway when said valve member is positioned to close said exhaust passageway, said plurality of holes around the periphery of said plate member providing a mechanical bond between said elastomer and said plate member, said elastomer covering only a portion of said metal plate member including a band around the periphery of said plate member and a further portion on one side of said pivot shaft to provide a counter balance for said valve member.