US5388555A — Outboard engine assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 178 words

An outboard engine assembly having forward, rearward, and side portions comprising: an engine; a vertical shaft extending downwardly; a propeller operatively connected to said vertical shaft; case means for housing said engine and said vertical shaft therein; attachment means for supporting said engine and said case means on a boat hull; and vibroisolating means disposed between said attachment means and said boat hull for isolating vibrations from said engine to the boat hull; wherein said vibroisolating means comprises upper and lower vibroisolating means, said lower vibroisolating means comprising a laterally extending rigid member, said case means having a first space accommodating said vertical shaft and a second space defined rearwardly of said first space and accommodating said rigid member extending laterally therethrough, and wherein said attachment means comprises upper and lower support members, said rigid member and said lower support member being joined to each other by connecting members, said case means further including third spaces positioned laterally of said first space and accommodating said connecting members, and stiffeners disposed one on each side of said third spaces.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 178 words

An outboard engine assembly having forward, rearward, and side portions comprising: an engine; a vertical shaft extending downwardly; a propeller operatively connected to said vertical shaft; case means for housing said engine and said vertical shaft therein; attachment means for supporting said engine and said case means on a boat hull; and vibroisolating means disposed between said attachment means and said boat hull for isolating vibrations from said engine to the boat hull; wherein said vibroisolating means comprises upper and lower vibroisolating means, said lower vibroisolating means comprising a laterally extending rigid member, said case means having a first space accommodating said vertical shaft and a second space defined rearwardly of said first space and accommodating said rigid member extending laterally therethrough, and wherein said attachment means comprises upper and lower support members, said rigid member and said lower support member being joined to each other by connecting members, said case means further including third spaces positioned laterally of said first space and accommodating said connecting members, and stiffeners disposed one on each side of said third spaces.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 1, wherein said engine generates a primary inertial couple in a plane orthogonal to the direction in which thrust forces are produced by said propeller.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 1 wherein said engine has a substantially vertical crankshaft and a plurality of horizontal cylinders, said vertical shaft being coupled to said crankshaft.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 165 words

An outboard engine assembly having forward, rearward, and side portions comprising: an engine; a vertical shaft extending downwardly from said engine; a propeller operatively connected to said vertical shaft; case means for housing said engine and said vertical shaft therein; attachment means for supporting said engine and said case means on a boat hull, said attachment means comprising upper and lower support members; and vibroisolating means disposed between said attachment means and said boat hull for isolating vibrations from said engine to the boat hull, said vibroisolating means comprises upper and lower vibroisolating means, said lower vibroisolating means and said lower support member being joined to each other by connecting members; said case means having a first space accommodating said vertical shaft, a second space defined rearwardly of said first space and accommodating said lower vibroisolating means which is laterally inserted, third spaces positioned laterally of said first space and accommodating said connecting members, and stiffeners disposed one on each side of said third spaces.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 165 words

An outboard engine assembly having forward, rearward, and side portions comprising: an engine; a vertical shaft extending downwardly from said engine; a propeller operatively connected to said vertical shaft; case means for housing said engine and said vertical shaft therein; attachment means for supporting said engine and said case means on a boat hull, said attachment means comprising upper and lower support members; and vibroisolating means disposed between said attachment means and said boat hull for isolating vibrations from said engine to the boat hull, said vibroisolating means comprises upper and lower vibroisolating means, said lower vibroisolating means and said lower support member being joined to each other by connecting members; said case means having a first space accommodating said vertical shaft, a second space defined rearwardly of said first space and accommodating said lower vibroisolating means which is laterally inserted, third spaces positioned laterally of said first space and accommodating said connecting members, and stiffeners disposed one on each side of said third spaces.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 4, wherein said lower vibroisolating means comprises a laterally extending rigid member, said second space accommodating said rigid member extending laterally therethrough.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said stiffeners are integrally formed with said case means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 4 wherein said engine has a substantially vertical crankshaft and a plurality of horizontal cylinders, said vertical shaft being coupled to said crankshaft.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 191 words

An outboard engine assembly having forward, rearward, and side portions comprising: an engine; a vertical shaft extending downwardly from said engine; a propeller operatively connected to said vertical shaft; case means for housing said engine and said vertical shaft therein; attachment means for supporting said engine and said case means on a boat hull, said attachment means comprising upper and lower support members; and vibroisolating means disposed between said attachment means and said boat hull for isolating vibrations from said engine to the boat hull; said case means having a cavity defined by walls including a plane substantially orthogonal to the direction in which thrust forces are produced by said propeller; said vibroisolating means comprising a rigid member housed in said cavity and extending substantially orthogonal to said direction, and a resilient member disposed around said rigid member; said attachment means comprising a support member having a pair of laterally spaced arms coupled to opposite ends, respectively, of said rigid member; said resilient member being shaped such that the surface area of a surface thereof which contracts a surface in said cavity across said direction increases as said thrust forces increase.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 191 words

An outboard engine assembly having forward, rearward, and side portions comprising: an engine; a vertical shaft extending downwardly from said engine; a propeller operatively connected to said vertical shaft; case means for housing said engine and said vertical shaft therein; attachment means for supporting said engine and said case means on a boat hull, said attachment means comprising upper and lower support members; and vibroisolating means disposed between said attachment means and said boat hull for isolating vibrations from said engine to the boat hull; said case means having a cavity defined by walls including a plane substantially orthogonal to the direction in which thrust forces are produced by said propeller; said vibroisolating means comprising a rigid member housed in said cavity and extending substantially orthogonal to said direction, and a resilient member disposed around said rigid member; said attachment means comprising a support member having a pair of laterally spaced arms coupled to opposite ends, respectively, of said rigid member; said resilient member being shaped such that the surface area of a surface thereof which contracts a surface in said cavity across said direction increases as said thrust forces increase.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 8, wherein said surface of the resilient member has lands and recesses.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 58 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said surface of the resilient member has areas disposed outwardly of said arms for contacting said surface in said space when said thrust forces are relatively small, and an area disposed between said arms for contacting said surface in said space when said thrust forces are increased.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 8 wherein said engine has a substantially vertical crankshaft and a plurality of horizontal cylinders, said vertical shaft being coupled to said crankshaft.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 138 words

An outboard engine assembly having forward, rearward, and side portions comprising: an engine; a vertical shaft extending downwardly from said engine; a propeller operatively connected to said vertical shaft; case means for housing said engine and said vertical shaft therein; attachment means for supporting said engine and said case means on a boat hull, said attachment means comprising upper and lower support members; vibroisolating means disposed between said attachment means and said boat hull for isolating vibrations from said engine to the boat hull; said vibroisolating means comprising a rigid member extending laterally and a resilient member disposed around said rigid member; and a mount case mounted on a lower portion of said engine and having a downwardly opening cavity defined therein, said rigid member and said resilient member being inserted upwardly into and housed in said cavity.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 138 words

An outboard engine assembly having forward, rearward, and side portions comprising: an engine; a vertical shaft extending downwardly from said engine; a propeller operatively connected to said vertical shaft; case means for housing said engine and said vertical shaft therein; attachment means for supporting said engine and said case means on a boat hull, said attachment means comprising upper and lower support members; vibroisolating means disposed between said attachment means and said boat hull for isolating vibrations from said engine to the boat hull; said vibroisolating means comprising a rigid member extending laterally and a resilient member disposed around said rigid member; and a mount case mounted on a lower portion of said engine and having a downwardly opening cavity defined therein, said rigid member and said resilient member being inserted upwardly into and housed in said cavity.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 38 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 12, wherein said attachment means comprises upper and lower support members, said upper support member having a pair of laterally spaced arms coupled to opposite ends, respectively, of said rigid member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 46 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 13, wherein said engine has an oil pan attached to a lower surface of said mount case, and oil return passages extending vertically through said mount case out of interference with said cavity and communicating with said oil pan.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 52 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 14, wherein said cavity is of a substantially rectangular shape defined by a laterally extending flat wall surface substantially parallel to said rigid member and flat wall surface substantially perpendicular to the flat wall surface, said oil return passages being disposed laterally of said cavity.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 73 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 14, wherein said cylinders are arranged in a pair of banks angularly spaced in a V shape, said engine having a cylinder head and a crank chamber, said oil return passages including a first oil return passage extending from said cylinder head, and a second oil return passage extending from said crank chamber, said first oil return passage being independent of said second oil return passage.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 40 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 12, wherein said engine has an oil pan attached to a lower surface of said mount case, and oil return passages extending vertically through said mount case and communicating with said oil pan.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 52 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 17, wherein said cavity is of a substantially rectangular shape defined by a laterally extending flat wall surface substantially parallel to said rigid member and flat wall surfaces substantially perpendicular to the flat wall surface, said oil return passages being disposed laterally of said cavity.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 73 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 18, wherein said cylinders are arranged in a pair of banks angularly spaced in a V shape, said engine having a cylinder head and a crank chamber, said oil return passages including a first oil return passage extending from said cylinder head, and a second oil return passage extending from said crank chamber, said first oil return passage being independent of said second oil return passage.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 30 words

An outboard engine assembly according to claim 12 wherein said engine has a substantially vertical crankshaft and a plurality of horizontal cylinders, said vertical shaft being coupled to said crankshaft.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 149 words

A V-shaped four-cylinder four-stroke engine comprising: a pair of banks each composed of two cylinders, said cylinders of the banks having axes angularly spaced in a V shape at an angle of θ and being ignitable at unequal intervals; first, second, third, and fourth pistons slidably fitted in said cylinders, respectively; and a crankshaft having first, second, third, and fourth crankpins successively from an end thereof which are connected respectively to said first, second, third, and fourth pistons; said first and second crankpins being angularly spaced from each other by an angle of π-2θ; said first and third crankpins being angularly positioned 360° out of phase with each other, and said second and fourth crankpins being angularly positioned 360° out of phase with each other; the arrangement being such that reciprocating masses in said second and third cylinders are larger than reciprocating masses in said first and fourth cylinders.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 149 words

A V-shaped four-cylinder four-stroke engine comprising: a pair of banks each composed of two cylinders, said cylinders of the banks having axes angularly spaced in a V shape at an angle of θ and being ignitable at unequal intervals; first, second, third, and fourth pistons slidably fitted in said cylinders, respectively; and a crankshaft having first, second, third, and fourth crankpins successively from an end thereof which are connected respectively to said first, second, third, and fourth pistons; said first and second crankpins being angularly spaced from each other by an angle of π-2θ; said first and third crankpins being angularly positioned 360° out of phase with each other, and said second and fourth crankpins being angularly positioned 360° out of phase with each other; the arrangement being such that reciprocating masses in said second and third cylinders are larger than reciprocating masses in said first and fourth cylinders.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 32 words

A V-shaped four-cylinder four-stroke engine according to claim 21, wherein said first and fourth piston pins comprise respective hollow piston pins, and said second and third piston pins comprise solid piston pins.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 43 words

A V-shaped four-cylinder four-stroke engine according to claim 21, wherein said first and fourth piston pins comprise respective hollow piston pins, and said second and third piston pins comprise hollow pins having a wall thickness greater than said first and fourth piston pins.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-02-13	1998-08-15	1999-02-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-02-13	2002-08-15	2003-02-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-02-13	2006-08-15	2007-02-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Outboard engine assembly

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