Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6341991
-
Patent Number
6,341,991
-
Date Filed
Thursday, September 23, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 29, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 123 195 P
- 440 53
- 440 52
- 440 76
- 440 77
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A marine propulsion housing arrangement includes an improved construction for inhibiting an influx of water into the housing and for protecting the components thereof. A marine outboard drive comprises a drive unit and at least a swivel bracket that supports the drive unit for pivotal movement with a steering shaft. At least one mount assembly is provided for unifying the drive unit and the steering shaft. The mount assembly includes at least one mount members affixed to the drive unit and a hub member united with the mount member. The hub member is connected to both the drive unit and the steering shaft so as to unify them. A mount cover generally covers both of the mount member and the hub member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a marine propulsion housing arrangement, and more particularly to an improved marine propulsion housing arrangement that can effectively prevent water from entering housing.
2. Description of Related Art
An outboard motor typically is mounted on a transom of an associated watercraft by means of a bracket assembly which comprises a swivel bracket and a clamping bracket. The drive unit generally includes a powering engine, a driveshaft, a propulsion device and a housing assembly. The housing assembly contains or supports the components therein. The drive unit as constructed is supported by the swivel bracket by means of mount assemblies.
FIGS. 1 and 2
illustrate an exemplary outboard motor with a conventional support structure that couples the swivel bracket to the drive unit. In particular,
FIG. 1
illustrates an elevational side view of a conventional outboard motor
16
mounted on a transom
18
of an associated watercraft
20
, and
FIG. 2
illustrates a cross-sectional plan view taken along the line
2
—
2
in FIG.
1
and showing a lower mount assembly
22
and cover members
24
.
A drive unit
26
of the outboard motor
16
comprises a power head
28
, a driveshaft housing
30
and a lower unit
32
. The power head
28
includes an engine
34
and a protective cowling
36
encircling the engine
34
. The driveshaft housing
30
depends from the power head
28
and supports a driveshaft which is driven by an output shaft of the engine
34
and extends vertically. The lower unit
32
depends from the driveshaft housing
30
and supports a propeller shaft, which is driven by the driveshaft, and a propeller
38
driven by the propeller shaft. There is a transmission mechanism including a bevel gear between the driveshaft and the propeller shaft. This transmission mechanism is shifted with a shift rod
39
so as to change a rotational direction of the propeller
38
to forward, neutral or reverse.
A swivel bracket
42
supports the drive unit
26
for pivotal movement about a generally vertically extending axis, i.e., an axis of a steering shaft
44
. The steering shaft
44
passes through a shaft housing
46
of the swivel bracket
42
. A clamping bracket
48
supports the swivel bracket
42
for pivotal movement about a generally extending axis, i.e., an axis of a pivot shaft
50
.
An upper mount assembly
54
and the lower mount assembly
22
are provided for connecting the driveshaft housing
30
and the steering shaft
44
. A steering shaft
57
is affixed to the upper mount assembly
54
and extends forwardly so that the drive unit
26
is steerable by an operator of the outboard motor
16
.
The lower mount assembly
22
, as shown in
FIG. 2
, comprises a pair of mount members
58
and a hub member
60
. The respective mount members
58
are formed with inner tubes
62
, outer tubes
64
and elastic bushings
66
. The elastic bushings
66
are formed between the inner and outer tubes
62
,
64
. The hub member
60
has a boss
68
with a vertically extending bore
70
. The steering shaft
44
passes through the bore
70
. At both sides of the boss
68
, a couple of holes
72
are provided. These holes
72
extend horizontally and fore to aft.
A front portion of the driveshaft housing
30
has a pair of recesses
73
, which axes extends horizontally and fore to aft. The mount members
58
are seated in these recesses
73
. A pair of bolts
74
are inserted into the inner tubes
62
of the mount members
58
and the bores
72
of the hub member
182
and then nuts
76
are placed at the other sides of the bolt heads. By tightening the bolts
74
and the nuts
76
, both of the members
58
,
60
are united with each other.
The lower mount assembly
22
completes with a pair of outer holders
78
that have recesses
80
. The recesses
80
of outer holders
78
are then fitted onto the outer tubes
64
and fastened to the driveshaft housing
30
with bolts (not shown). Thus, the lower mount assembly
22
is affixed to the driveshaft housing
30
.
The steering shaft
44
is joined with both of the upper and lower mount assemblies
54
,
22
by spline connections. Accordingly, the drive unit
26
is steerable within the shaft housing
46
of the swivel bracket
42
.
The pair of cover members
24
are attached onto the outer holders
78
only for concealing outer appearance of the connections that involve the mount members
58
, outer holders
78
and bolts
74
. These cover members cover the hub member
60
. In addition, the steering shaft
44
is tubular with open upper and lower ends to allow the shift rod
39
to passes therethrough.
The associated watercraft
20
often changes its drive condition between forward and reverse. The outboard motor also is frequently trimmed up and down, and the watercraft often rises and falls as it speeds up or down or as the trim angle changes. Water surrounding the outboard motor
16
consequently can enter the steering shaft
44
from its bottom opening as shown by the arrow
82
in FIG.
1
. The water, then, may go up through the steering shaft
44
and reach the power head
28
. If this occurs, components such as an engine
34
within the power head
28
can be stained or salted by the water and then corrode or rust.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A need therefore exists for an improved marine propulsion housing arrangement that can inhibit water from entering a steering shaft.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a marine outboard drive comprises a drive unit carrying a propulsion device. A steering shaft extends generally vertically. At least one mount assembly includes at least one mount member affixed to the drive unit and to a hub member that is united with the mount member. The hub member connects to both the drive unit and the steering shaft so as to unify the drive unit and the steering shaft. The outboard drive further comprises a swivel bracket that supports the steering shaft for pivotal movement about a steering axis. A mount cover is provided to generally cover both the mount member and the hub member.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a marine outboard drive comprises a drive unit carrying a propulsion device. A tubular steering shaft has an open bottom end. At least one mount assembly is connected to both the drive unit and the steering shaft so as to couple together the drive unit and the steering shaft. The outboard drive further comprises a swivel bracket that supports the steering shaft for pivotal movement about a steering axis. A cover member covers generally encloses the bottom end of the steering shaft between the cover member and the drive unit.
Further aspects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As noted above,
FIG. 1
illustrates an elevational side view of an exemplary conventional outboard motor and
FIG. 2
illustrates a cross-sectional plan view taken along the line
2
—
2
in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 2
shows a conventional lower mount assembly and cover members. These figures are provided in order to assist the reader's understanding of the conventional arrangements and for the reader to better appreciate the aspects, features and advantages associated with the present invention.
FIG. 3
is an elevational side view showing an outboard motor in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. An associated watercraft is sectioned and shown in phantom.
FIG. 4
is an enlarged cross-sectional, side elevational view taken along the line
4
—
4
of FIG.
5
and shows supporting structure of a drive unit of the outboard motor. A portions of a swivel bracket at which a piston rod of a trim adjustment fluid motor contacts is shown in a different cross-section. Also, a lower mount assembly disposed on the port side is partially shown. Further, a cover member positioned at the starboard side is partially seen.
FIG. 5
is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view taken along the line
5
—
5
in FIG.
4
and shows the same supporting structure, particularly a lower mount assembly, and a mount cover. A hub member of the lower mount assembly and a forward portion of the mount cover are shown partially. Also, the principal positions of a tilt fluid motor and trim adjustment fluid motors are schematically shown in phantom.
FIG. 6
is a top plan view showing the mount cover.
FIG. 7
is a side elevational view showing the inner face of a starboard side cover member of the mount cover illustrated in FIG.
6
.
FIG. 8
is a bottom plan view showing the mount cover of FIG.
6
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
With reference to
FIGS. 3
to
5
, an outboard motor, designated generally by reference numeral
100
, includes a housing arrangement configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Although the present invention is shown in the context of an outboard motor, various aspects and features of the present invention also can be employed with other types of marine outboard drive units (e.g., a stern drive unit).
In the illustrated embodiment, the outboard motor
100
comprises a drive unit
102
and a bracket assembly
104
. The drive unit
102
includes a power head
106
, a driveshaft housing
108
and a lower unit
110
. The power head
106
is disposed atop the drive unit
102
and includes an internal combustion engine
112
, a top cowling
114
and a bottom cowling
116
. The engine
112
powers a propulsion device of the outboard motor
100
, which will be described shortly. In the illustrated form, the engine
112
has an output shaft extending generally vertically. The top and bottom cowlings
114
,
116
generally completely enclose the engine
112
.
The driveshaft housing
108
depends from the power head
106
and supports a driveshaft which is driven by the output shaft of the engine
112
. The driveshaft extends generally vertically through the driveshaft housing
108
. The driveshaft housing
108
also defines internal passages which form portions of an exhaust system through which exhaust gasses from the engine
112
are discharged. An exhaust guide
117
, which also is a section of the exhaust system, is provided at the top of the driveshaft housing
108
, as schematically shown in FIG.
3
.
The lower unit
110
depends from the driveshaft housing
108
and supports a propeller shaft which is driven by the driveshaft. The propeller shaft extends generally horizontally through the lower unit
110
. In the illustrated embodiment, the propulsion device includes a propeller
118
that is affixed to an outer end of the propeller shaft and is driven by the propeller shaft. A bevel gear transmission is provided between the driveshaft and the propeller shaft. The transmission couples together the two shafts which lie generally normal to each other (i.e., at a 90° shaft angle). The transmission has a mechanism to shift rotational directions of the propeller
118
to forward, neutral or reverse. The mechanism includes a shift rod
120
(see
FIGS. 4 and 5
) that will be described later.
The lower unit
110
also defines an internal passage that forms a discharge section of the exhaust system. At engine speeds above idle, the majority of the exhaust gasses are discharged to the body of water surrounding the outboard motor
100
through the internal passage and finally through a hub
121
of the propeller
118
, as well known in the art.
The bracket assembly
104
comprises a swivel bracket
122
and a clamping bracket
124
. The swivel bracket
122
supports the drive unit
102
for pivotal movement about a generally vertically extending axis, i.e., an axis of a steering shaft
126
. The steering shaft
126
passes through a shaft housing
128
of the swivel bracket
122
. The clamping bracket
124
, in turn, is affixed to a transom
130
of an associated watercraft
132
and supports the swivel bracket
122
for pivotal movement about a generally horizontally extending axis, i.e., an axis of a pivot shaft
134
.
As used through this description and claims, the terms “fore,” “forward,” “front,” or “forwardly” mean at or to the side where the swivel bracket
122
is located and the terms “aft,” “rear,” “reverse,” or “back” mean at or to the opposite side of the front side, unless indicated otherwise.
As best seen in
FIG. 4
, a tilt and trim hydraulic system
140
is provided between the swivel bracket
122
and the clamping bracket
124
. The hydraulic system
140
includes a tilting fluid motor
142
and a pair of trim adjustment fluid motors
144
. These fluid motors
142
,
144
are disposed as schematically shown in
FIG. 5
in phantom. That is, the fluid motors
142
,
144
are generally positioned between two spaced apart members
146
of the clamping bracket
124
. The tilting motor
142
is located at the center position and trim adjustment motors
144
are placed at both sides of the tilting motor
142
. The illustrated embodiment of the tilt and trim adjustment system
140
is an exemplary form which such a system can take, and other systems can also be used with the present invention. In addition, in some applications, the present housing arrangement can be used in an outboard drive that does not employ a hydraulic tilt and trim system or that simply employs a hydraulic tilt and trim assist system for manual trim adjustments and tilt-up.
In the illustrated embodiment, as best seen in
FIGS. 4 and 5
, the tilting motor
142
includes a tilt cylinder member
147
, a piston slidably supported in the tilt cylinder member
147
and a piston rod extending from the piston and outwardly from the cylinder member
147
. The tilt cylinder member
147
is affixed to the clamping bracket
124
with a trunnion
150
for pivotal movement about a generally horizontally extending axis, i.e., an axis of a pivot shaft
152
. The piston rod
148
, in turn, is affixed to the swivel bracket
122
with a trunnion
154
for pivotal movement about a generally horizontally extending axis, i.e., an axis of another pivot shaft
156
. The tilting fluid motor
142
, thus, tilts up and down the swivel bracket
122
and the drive unit
102
when the piston in the tilt cylinder member
147
reciprocally moves therein.
The trim adjustment motors
144
include trim cylinder members
158
, pistons slidably supported in the trim cylinder members
158
and piston rods
160
extending from the pistons and outwardly from the cylinder members
158
. The trim cylinder members
158
are unified with the cylinder member
147
of the tilting motor
142
and hence affixed to the clamping bracket
142
commonly with the tilt cylinder member
147
. Meanwhile, the piston rods
160
contact thrust taking members
162
affixed to the swivel bracket
122
. The trim adjustment motors
144
, thus, trim up and down the swivel bracket
122
and the drive unit
102
when the pistons in the trim cylinder members
158
reciprocally move therein.
The trim adjustment motors
144
moves the drive unit
102
within a trim adjustment range and the tilting motor
142
moves the unit
102
within a tilt range which continues from the trim range and higher than this range to a fully tilted up position.
The tilt and trim hydraulic system
140
further includes a reversible electric motor
164
, a reversible hydraulic pump
166
and valving passages for pressurizing the pistons in both of the tilting motor
142
and the trim adjustment motors
144
. The pistons reciprocally move in the respective cylinder members
147
,
158
under the pressurize produced by the pump within the system.
As seen in
FIGS. 3
to
5
, a structure for supporting the drive unit
102
, specifically the driveshaft housing
108
to the swivel bracket
122
, will now be described. An upper mount assembly
170
and a lower mount assembly
172
are provided for supporting the driveshaft housing
108
. That is, the upper and lower mount assemblies
170
,
172
connect together the driveshaft housing
108
and the steering shaft
126
. Because the steering shaft
126
is received in the shaft housing
128
, as noted above, the driveshaft housing
108
is pivotally supported by the swivel bracket
122
.
The upper mount assembly
170
has a pair of mount members
174
that are affixed to the exhaust guide
117
on both sides of the driveshaft housing
108
in a suitable manner. A steering arm
176
is uniformly provided with the upper mount assembly
170
and extends forwardly so that the drive unit
102
is steerable by an operator (either manually or remotely) of the outboard motor
100
. The upper mount assembly
170
is joined with the steering shaft
126
by a spline connection. Thus, the upper mount assembly
170
is detachable axially relative to the steering shaft
126
, but pivots with the steering shaft
126
relative to the shaft housing
128
. Since the upper mount assembly
170
is conventional and hence well known in the art, a further description is not believed to be necessary to permit those skilled in the art to practice the invention.
The lower mount assembly
172
, as best seen in
FIG. 5
, comprises a pair of mount members
180
and a hub member
182
. The respective mount members
180
include inner tubes
184
, outer tubes
186
and elastic bushings
188
. The elastic bushings
188
are internally disposed between the inner and outer tubes
184
,
186
and baked with them. Thus, each mount member
180
functions as an integral unit.
The hub member
182
has a boss
190
where a vertically extending bore
192
is formed. The steering shaft
126
passes through the bore
192
. On both sides of the boss
190
, a pair of through holes
194
is provided. These holes
194
generally extend horizontally and fore to aft in the illustrated embodiment.
A front portion of the driveshaft housing
108
has a pair of recesses
196
, which axes also extend horizontally and fore to aft in the illustrated embodiment. The mount members
180
are seated within these recesses
196
. A pair of bolts
198
are inserted into the inner tubes
184
of the mount members
180
and the through holes
194
of the hub member
182
and then nuts
200
are attached to the front ends of the bolts with the bolt heads (and washers) disposed on the aft side of the mount members
180
. By tightening the bolts
198
and the nuts
200
, the members
180
,
190
are united with each other. Of course other types of fasteners can also be used to connect the hub member
182
to the mount members
180
.
As seen in
FIG. 5
, this construction provides a space
201
formed between a front portion of the driveshaft housing
108
and a back portion of the hub member
182
.
The lower mount assembly
172
completes with a pair of outer holders
202
that have recesses
204
. The recesses
204
of the outer holders
78
are, then, fitted onto the outer tubes
186
and fixed to the driveshaft housing
108
with bolts
206
(see FIG.
4
). Thus, the lower mount assembly
172
is affixed to the driveshaft housing
108
.
Like the upper mount assembly
170
, the lower mount assembly
172
is joined with the steering shaft
126
by a spline connection. Thus, the lower mount assembly
172
is detachable axially relative to the steering shaft
126
but can rotate with the steering shaft
126
.
As best seen in
FIG. 4
, the steering shaft
126
is tubular and has a bore
207
therethrough. The shift rod
120
extends from the power head
106
to the lower unit
110
and passes through the bore
207
of the steering shaft
126
. The shift rod
120
is provided for shifting the transmission so as to change the rotational direction of the propeller
118
to forward, neutral or reverse. A speedometer cable
208
also passes through the bore
207
of the steering shaft
126
. That is, rotational speed of the propeller
118
is sensed by a speed sensor disposed in proximity to the propeller shaft and then transmitted to a display device on a control panel of the associated watercraft
132
or on the top cowling
114
of the outboard motor
100
to indicate a current speed.
Because the shift rod
120
and the speedometer cable
208
extend from the steering shaft
126
to the lower unit
110
, the bottom end
209
of the steering shaft
126
is unclosed and a front portion
210
of the driveshaft housing
108
extends forwardly below the steering shaft
126
. Also, a space
210
s
is created between the bottom end
209
of the steering shaft
126
and a top surface
211
of the front portion
210
of the driveshaft housing
108
to provide clearance between these components.
An improved mount cover
212
is provided for covering the space
210
s
, as well as the lower mount assembly
172
. The cover
212
inhibits an influx of water through the space
210
s
and the bore
207
and into the power head
106
when the water splashes upwardly, such as when the outboard motor
100
and the associated watercraft are quickly decelerated.
With reference now to
FIGS. 3 through 8
, the mount cover
212
is formed with a pair of cover members
214
,
216
, which in a preferred mode are made of synthetic resin; however, the covers
214
,
216
can be made of other suitable material as well (e.g., plastic or corrosion-resistant metal). The cover members
214
,
216
preferably have generally symmetrical shapes relative to each other. The cover member
214
is positioned on the port side, while the cover member
216
is positioned on the starboard side.
As seen in
FIG. 7
, the respective cover members
214
,
216
have a pair of engagement sections
218
,
220
at their side portions, which are spaced apart vertically relative to each other. The respective outer holders
202
, in turn, have a pair of engagement sections
222
at stays
223
. The engagement sections
222
are also spaced apart vertically relative to each other. The cover members
214
,
216
are, therefore, affixed to both of the outer holders
202
by engaging the sections
218
,
220
of the cover members
214
,
216
to the sections
222
with snap actions; i.e., the sections
218
,
220
of the cover members
214
,
216
snap onto the outer holders
202
.
Both of the cover members
214
,
216
are mated with each other at the respective front ends. Each cover member
214
,
216
, as best seen in
FIG. 7
, has an upper bolt hole
224
and a lower bolt hole
226
which are spaced generally vertically relative to each other. At the front portion
210
of the driveshaft housing
108
also has a bolt hole
228
. A pair of bolts
229
are, then, inserted into the bolt holes
224
,
226
,
228
and tightened to connect together the cover members
214
,
216
and to connect the front portion
210
of the driveshaft housing
108
. When affixed as described above, lower ends
232
of the cover members
214
,
216
are positioned lower than the top surface
211
of the driveshaft housing
108
so that the space
210
s
generally closed.
As best seen in
FIG. 7
, each front portion
234
of the cover members
214
,
216
, which exists between the bolt holes
224
,
226
, becomes abruptly lower toward the front end, while each middle portion
236
, which exists between the bolt hole
224
and a rear portion, becomes moderately lower toward the front portion
234
. The rear portion
238
, in turn, has no slope thereon. Because of the sloped portions
234
,
236
, the mount cover
212
will not interfere with the swivel bracket
212
and the clamping bracket
124
. In addition, in some rare instances, the elastic bushing
188
can be elastically deformed or contracted, by relatively large thrust force by the propeller
118
. Under this condition, the driveshaft housing
108
and also the mount cover
212
advance forward. However, because of the sloped configuration of the mount cover
212
, the mount cover
212
does not interfere with or contact the tilt and trim hydraulic system
140
.
As seen in
FIG. 4
, the steering shaft
126
extends at the middle portions
236
of the cover members
214
,
216
in the side elevational view. The middle portions
236
are positioned higher than the bottom end
209
of the steering shaft
126
. Also, the rear portions
238
are positioned higher than the lower mount assembly
172
. Thus, the mount cover
212
circumferentially covers the bottom end
209
of the steering shaft
126
and the lower mount assembly
172
.
When the associated watercraft
132
moves forwards or in reverse by rotation of the propeller
118
, water may be splashed over the drive unit
102
. However, since the bottom end
209
of the steering shaft
126
is covered as described above, the splashed water is effectively inhibited from entering the bore
207
of the steering shaft
126
. Accordingly, nothing in the power head
106
will be damaged by such splashed water.
Also, the mount cover
212
is affixed to the driveshaft housing
108
directly at its front end portion and indirectly via the outer holders
202
at both sides. Thus, the mount cover
212
is sufficiently rigid. The mount cover
212
is still detachable to be replaced easily with new one if broken. Also, the mount cover
212
can protect enough the components of the lower mount assembly
172
and keep good appearance of the outboard motor
100
likewise the conventional cover members.
Various configurations of the mount cover
212
are applicable inasmuch as it covers both of the mount members
180
and hub member
182
of the mount assembly
172
. In addition, the mount cover
212
can be formed with any number of pieces and also can be made of any material such as metal including aluminum alloy if a replaced material has rigidity equal to or larger than the synthetic resin.
Also, various fastening constructions for the mount cover
212
are applicable. For instance, the engagement by the members
218
,
220
,
222
can be replaced by bolt connection. The lower ends
232
of the cover members
214
,
216
can be positioned higher than the top end
211
of the driveshaft housing
108
.
Further, the features of the present invention is practicable in the outboard drive section of an inboard/outboard drive.
Of course, the foregoing description is that of preferred embodiments of the invention, and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A marine outboard drive comprising a drive unit carrying a propulsion device, a steering shaft having a steering axis, a hub member supporting said steering shaft, a pair of mount members, each one of said mount members being affixed to a side of said drive unit, a pair of coupling members coupling the respective mount members with said hub member, a swivel bracket supporting said steering shaft for pivotal movement about said steering axis, and a pair of cover members together covering generally said mount members, said hub member and said coupling members, and both of said cover members being affixed to said drive unit at least at a location disposed forward of the steering axis.
- 2. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said steering shaft has a bottom end, and said cover members extend lower than the bottom end.
- 3. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 2, wherein said drive unit includes a lower portion defining a top end located under the bottom end of said steering shaft, and said cover members extend lower than the top end of said lower portion.
- 4. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein a top surface of each cover members, at least in part, slope downward toward a front side of the outboard drive.
- 5. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said propulsion device includes a propeller and a shift mechanism arranged to shift a rotational direction of said propeller, said shift mechanism has a shift rod, said steering shaft has a tubular shape, and said shift rod extends through the steering shaft.
- 6. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 5, wherein the cover members, together with said drive unit, covers a bottom end of said steering shaft.
- 7. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover members are coupled together on the front side of the steering axis.
- 8. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 7, wherein said drive unit includes a lower portion defining a front end located forwardly than a bottom end of said steering shaft, and said cover members are affixed to said drive unit at said front end.
- 9. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover members interface with the drive unit at least at a location disposed forward of the hub member.
- 10. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein each cover members is connected to the respective mount member.
- 11. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 10, wherein each mount member and corresponding cover member have interengaging portions that connect the cover member to the mount member.
- 12. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover members are coupled together at a first location on the front side of the steering axis.
- 13. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 12, wherein both of said cover members are further affixed to one another at another location forward of the steering axis.
- 14. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 13, wherein said second location is located above said first location.
- 15. A marine outboard drive comprising a drive unit carrying a propulsion device, a steering shaft having a steering axis, a hub member holding the steering shaft, a pair of mount members, a pair of coupling members coupling the respective mount members with the hub member, each one of the mount members being affixed to a side of the drive unit to couple the steering shaft to the drive unit, and a pair of cover members together covering generally the mount members, the hub member and the coupling members, both of the cover members being affixed to one another and to the drive unit at a location disposed forward of the steering axis.
- 16. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 15, wherein both of the cover members are further affixed to one another at a second location also forward of the steering axis.
- 17. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 16, wherein the second location is located above the first location.
- 18. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 15, wherein the drive unit includes a lower portion defining a front end located forwardly than a bottom end of the steering shaft, and the cover members are affixed to the drive unit at the front end.
- 19. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 18, wherein the cover members are affixed to the drive unit atop the front end.
- 20. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 15, wherein the steering shaft has a bottom end, and the cover members extend lower than the bottom end.
- 21. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 20, wherein the drive unit includes a lower portion defining a top end located under the bottom end of the steering shaft, and the cover members extend lower than the top end of the lower portion.
- 22. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 15, wherein the cover members, at least in part, defines a slope descending forwardly.
- 23. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 15, wherein the propulsion device includes a propeller and a shift mechanism arranged to shift a rotational direction of the propeller, the shift mechanism has a shift rod, the steering shaft has a tubular shape, and the shift rod extends through the steering shaft.
- 24. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 15, wherein each mount member and corresponding cover member have interengaging portions that connect the cover member to the mount member.
- 25. A marine outboard drive comprising a unit housing having an outer surface and at least one recessed area lying next to a portion of the outer surface and being recessed relative to said portion of the outer surface, a steering shaft rotatable about a steering axis, at least one mounting mechanism disposed in the recessed area and coupled to the steering shaft and to the unit housing, and cover members disposed at the recessed area to cover the mounting mechanism, the cover members being configured to lie flush with at least said portion of the outer surface of the unit housing and being affixed to one another in front of the steering axis.
- 26. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 24, wherein at least one of the cover members is affixed to the unit housing in front of the steering axis.
- 27. A marine outboard drive comprising a unit housing having an outer surface and at least one recessed area lying next to a portion of the outer surface and being recessed relative to said portion of the outer surface, a steering shaft rotatable about a steering axis, at least one mounting mechanism disposed in the recessed area and coupled to the steering shaft and to the unit housing, and a cover member disposed at the recessed area to cover the mounting mechanism, the cover member being configured to lie flush with at least said portion of the outer surface of the unit housing, the cover member being affixed to the unit housing in front of the steering axis.
- 28. A marine outboard drive comprising a unit housing having an outer surface and at least one recessed area lying next to a portion of the outer surface and being recessed relative to said portion of the outer surface, a tubular steering shaft rotatable about a steering axis, at least one mounting mechanism disposed in the recessed area and being coupled to the steering shaft and to the unit housing, the unit housing carrying a propulsion device, a transmission assembly arranged to change a drive condition of the propulsion device, the transmission assembly being disposed in a lower portion of the unit housing located below a bottom end of the steering shaft, a manipulating member extending through the steering shaft and beyond the bottom end thereof into the lower portion of the unit housing for shifting the transmission assembly between drive conditions, and cover members disposed at the recessed area to cover the mounting mechanism, the cover members being configured to lie flush with at least said portion of the outer surface of the unit housing, the cover members also covering a portion of the manipulating member that extends from the steering shaft into the lower portion of the unit housing.
- 29. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 28, wherein the cover members are joined together in front of the steering axis.
- 30. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 28, wherein the mounting mechanism includes a pair of mounts disposed in the recessed area to couple the steering shaft with the unit housing.
- 31. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 28, wherein the propulsion device includes a propeller, and the transmission changes a rotational direction of the propeller.
- 32. A marine outboard drive comprising a unit housing having an outer surface and at least one recessed area lying next to a portion of the outer surface and being recessed relative to said portion of the outer surface, a tubular steering shaft rotatable about a steering axis, a pair of mounts disposed in the recessed area to couple the steering shaft with the unit housing, the unit housing carrying a propeller disposed below a bottom end of the steering shaft, a shift assembly arranged to shift a rotational direction of the propeller, the shift assembly being disposed in a lower portion of the unit housing located below a bottom end of the steering shaft, a shift rod extending through the steering shaft and beyond the bottom end thereof into the lower portion of the unit housing for connection with the shift assembly, and a cover member disposed at the recessed area to cover the mounts, the cover member being configured to lie flush with at least said portion of the outer surface of the unit housing, the cover member also covering a portion of the shift rod as it extends from the steering shaft into the lower portion of the unit housing.
- 33. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 32, wherein the cover members are joined together in front of the steering axis.
- 34. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 32, wherein at least one of the cover member is affixed to the unit housing in front of the steering axis.
- 35. A marine outboard drive comprising a unit housing having an outer surface and a recessed area defined in the outer surface, a tubular steering shaft, at least one mount disposed in the recessed area to couple the steering shaft with the unit housing, a mount bracket adapted to mount on a watercraft and arranged to support the steering shaft for steering movement, the unit housing carrying a propulsion device, a transmission assembly arranged to change a drive state of the propulsion device, the transmission assembly being disposed in a lower portion of the unit housing located below a bottom end of the steering shaft, a manipulating member extending through the steering shaft and beyond the bottom end thereof into the lower portion of the unit housing for coupling with the transmission assembly, and cover members disposed at the recessed area to cover the mount, the cover members being configured to lie flush with at least a portion of the outer surface of the unit housing, the cover members being joined together in an area existing beyond the steering shaft toward the associated watercraft, and the cover members also covering a portion of the manipulating member as it extends from the steering shaft into the lower portion of the unit housing.
- 36. A marine outboard drive comprising a unit housing having an outer surface and a recessed area lying next to a portion of the outer surface and being recessed relative to said portion of the outer surface, a steering shaft rotatable about a steering axis, at least one mounting mechanism disposed in the recessed area to couple the steering shaft with the unit housing, and cover members disposed at the recessed area to cover the mounting mechanism, the cover members being configured to lie flush with at least said portion of the outer surface of the unit housing, the cover members and one of the unit housing and the mount having interengaging structures such that the cover members clipping onto the unit housing or the mount.
- 37. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 36, wherein the interengaging structures are disposed to the rear of the steering axis.
- 38. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 37, wherein the cover members are joined together in front of the steering axis.
- 39. A marine outboard drive as set forth in claim 37, wherein at least one of the cover members is affixed to the unit housing in front of the steering axis.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
10-272185 |
Sep 1998 |
JP |
|
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