Power unit suspension system

Claim 1

In a power unit (1) for an inboard-outboard drive for boats having an engine bed (2), the power unit (1) including an engine (3) and a power transmission (4) connected to the engine for driving a propeller (5), and a suspension system for the engine (3) on the engine bed (2), said suspension system comprising suspension elements (6, 7), therebeing a said suspension element (7) supporting a rear portion of the engine (3) in compression between the engine and the engine bed (2) and a forward suspension element (6) between a forward portion of the engine (3) and the engine bed (2) which is in compression between the engine (3) and the engine bed (2) when the engine (3) is not operating but is in tension between the engine (3) and the engine bed (2) under the thrust of the propeller (5) when the engine (3) is operating; the improvement in which in said forward suspension element (6) comprises two fastener means (8, 9) one connected to the engine (3) and the other to the engine bed (2), mutually parallel abutment surfaces (13, 14) on the two fastener means (8, 9), said abutment surfaces being substantially flat and symmetrically arranged at an angle to a plane which is disposed parallel to the direction in which the engine (3) tensions the forward suspension element (6), and damping means (10) between said abutment surfaces (13, 14), said fastener means (8, 9) being so connected to said engine bed (2) and said engine (3) as to move said abutment surfaces (13, 14) toward each other to compress said damping means (10) when said engine (3) subjects said forward suspension element (6) to tension.