Claims
- 1. A transmission for a watercraft comprising:a housing; an input shaft rotatably supported by the housing; an output shaft rotatably supported by the housing; a first gear attached to and concentric with the input shaft for rotation therewith; a ring gear; a first planetary gear engaged between the first sun gear and the ring gear, the first planetary gear having an axis of rotation affixed to a carrier; a forward clutch disposed between the input shaft and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a reverse clutch disposed between the housing and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a second sun gear; a second planetary gear engaged between the second sun gear and the ring gear, the second planetary gear attached to the output shaft for rotation therewith; a first gear clutch disposed between the second sun gear and the housing and operable for selective engagement therebetween; and a second gear clutch disposed between the output shaft and the sun gear for selective engagement therebetween.
- 2. The transmission of claim 1, further comprising:a geroter pump attached to the input shaft for providing pressurized hydraulic fluid to each of the forward clutch, reverse clutch, first gear clutch and second gear clutch, and a valve in fluid communication between the geroter pump and each of the forward clutch, reverse clutch, first gear clutch and second gear clutch for controlling the selective engagement of the respective clutch.
- 3. The transmission of claim 2, further comprising:a double acting solenoid valve in fluid communication between the geroter pump and each of the forward clutch and the reverse clutch for alternatively selecting engagement of one of the forward clutch and the reverse clutch.
- 4. The transmission of claim 2, further comprising:a controller connected to each respective valve for controlling the selective engagement of each respective clutch.
- 5. The transmission of claim 4, further comprising logic in the controller operable to simultaneously engage the first gear clutch and the second gear clutch and to disengage the forward clutch and the reverse clutch.
- 6. The transmission of claim 2, further comprising at least one seal ring disposed to be in sealing contact with the input shaft proximate the geroter pump.
- 7. The transmission of claim 1, further comprising:the input shaft having an input end adapted for connection to an engine and an output end; the output shaft having an output end adapted for connection to a propeller and an input end; the input end of the output shaft being journalled to the output end of the input shaft.
- 8. The transmission of claim 2, further comprising:a double acting solenoid valve in fluid communication between the geroter pump and each of the first gear clutch and the second gear clutch for alternatively selecting engagement of one of the first gear clutch and the second gear clutch; wherein the double acting solenoid valve is spring biased toward the second gear position.
- 9. A transmission for a marine stern drive propulsion apparatus, the transmission comprising:a first housing adapted for attachment to an engine; an input shaft rotatably supported by the first housing; a first sun gear attached to and concentric with the input shaft for rotation therewith; a ring gear; a first planetary gear engaged between the first sun gear and the ring gear, the first planetary gear having a axis of rotation affixed to a carrier; a forward clutch disposed between the input shaft and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a reverse clutch disposed between the housing and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a second housing adapted for attachment to the first housing; an output shaft rotatably supported by the second housing and adapted for connection to a propeller drive shaft, the output shaft connected to the ring gear for rotation therewith.
- 10. The transmission of claim 9, further comprising:a second sun gear; a second planetary gear engaged between the second sun gear and the ring gear, the second planetary gear having an axis of rotation attached to the output shaft for rotation therewith; a first gear clutch disposed between the sun gear and the housing and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a second gear clutch disposed between the output shaft and the sun gear for selective engagement therebetween.
- 11. A transmission for a marine stern drive propulsion apparatus, the transmission comprising:a first housing adapted for attachment to a motor; an input shaft rotatably supported by the first housing; a first housing output gear rotatably supported by the first housing; a forward-reverse shifting apparatus supported in the first housing for selective engagement between the input shaft and the first housing output gear in one of a forward and a reverse directions; a second housing attached to the first housing; an output shaft rotatably supported by the second housing; a connection between the first housing output gear and the output shaft for providing rotation of the output shaft in response to rotation of the first housing output gear.
- 12. The transmission of claim 11, wherein the connection between the first housing output gear and the output shaft further comprises a first-second gear shifting apparatus for selective engagement between the first housing output gear and the output shaft at one of a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio.
- 13. The transmission of claim 11, wherein the forward-reverse shifting apparatus further comprises:a first sun gear attached to and concentric with the input shaft; a first planetary gear engaged between the first sun gear and the first housing output gear, the first housing output gear comprising a ring gear; and wherein the connection between the first housing output gear and the output shaft further a first-second shifting apparatus comprising: a second sun gear; and a second planetary gear having an axis of rotation attached to the output shaft, the second planetary gear engaged between the first housing output gear and the second sun gear.
- 14. A marine propulsion apparatus comprising:an engine having an output; a transmission housing attached to the engine and adapted for passing through the transom of a boat; an input shaft rotatably supported by the transmission housing and connected to the engine output for rotation therewith; a output shaft rotatably supported by the transmission housing; a vertical drive housing rotatably connected to the transmission housing; a drive shaft rotatably supported by the vertical drive housing and connected to the output shaft; a propeller connected to the drive shaft; a first sun gear attached to and concentric with the input shaft for rotation therewith; a ring gear disposed in the transmission housing; a first planetary gear engaged between the first sun gear and the ring gear, the first planetary gear having a axis of rotation affixed to a carrier; a forward clutch disposed between the input shaft and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a reverse clutch disposed between the transmission housing and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a second sun gear disposed in the transmission housing; a second planetary gear engaged between the second sun gear and the ring gear, the second planetary gear having an axis of rotation attached to the output shaft for rotation therewith; a first gear clutch disposed between the sun gear and the transmission housing and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a second gear clutch disposed between the output shaft and the sun gear for selective engagement therebetween.
- 15. The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:a double universal joint connected between the output shaft and the drive shaft, the double universal joint comprising a first yoke in splined connection with the output shaft; and a connector for removeably retaining the first yoke on the output shaft.
- 16. A marine propulsion apparatus comprising:an engine having an output; a first housing attached to the engine; an input shaft rotatably supported by the first housing and connected to the engine output for rotation therewith; a first housing output gear; a forward-reverse shifting apparatus in the first housing for selective engagement between the input shaft and the first housing output gear in one of a forward direction and a reverse direction; a second housing attached to the first housing; an output shaft rotatably supported by the second housing; a connection between the first housing output gear and the output shaft for providing rotation of the output shaft in response to rotation of the first housing output gear; a vertical drive housing attached to the second housing; a drive shaft rotatably supported by the vertical drive housing; and a propeller connected to the drive shaft.
- 17. The marine propulsion apparatus of claim 16, wherein the forward-reverse shifting apparatus further comprises:a first sun gear attached to and concentric with the input shaft; a first planetary gear engaged between the first sun gear and the first housing output gear, the first housing output gear comprising a ring gear; a forward clutch disposed between the input shaft and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a reverse clutch disposed between the housing and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; and wherein the connection between the first housing output gear and the output shaft further comprises a first-second shifting apparatus comprising: a second sun gear; a second planetary gear having an axis of rotation attached to the output shaft, the second planetary gear engaged between the first housing output gear and the second sun gear; a first gear clutch disposed between the sun gear and the housing and operable for selective engagement therebetween; and a second gear clutch disposed between the output shaft and the sun gear for selective engagement therebetween.
- 18. A marine propulsion apparatus comprising:an engine having an output; a first housing attached to the engine; an input shaft rotatably supported by the first housing; a first sun gear attached to and concentric with the input shaft for rotation therewith; a ring gear; a first planetary gear engaged between the first sun gear and the ring gear, the first planetary gear having a axis of rotation affixed to a carrier; a forward clutch disposed between the input shaft and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a reverse clutch disposed between the housing and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a second housing adapted for attachment to the first housing; an output shaft rotatably supported by the second housing and operatively connected to the ring gear for rotation therewith; a vertical drive housing attached to the second housing; a drive shaft rotatably supported by the vertical drive housing and attached to the output shaft; a propeller connected to the drive shaft.
- 19. A watercraft comprising:a hull having a transom; an engine disposed in the hull and having an output; a transmission housing attached to the engine; a input shaft rotatably supported by the transmission housing and connected to the engine output; a output shaft rotatably supported by the transmission housing; a first sun gear attached to and concentric with the input shaft for rotation therewith; a ring gear; a first planetary gear engaged between the first sun gear and the ring gear, the first planetary gear having a axis of rotation affixed to a carrier; a forward clutch disposed between the input shaft and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a reverse clutch disposed between the transmission housing and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a second sun gear; a second planetary gear engaged between the second sun gear and the ring gear, the second planetary gear attached to the output shaft for rotation therewith; a first gear clutch disposed between the sun gear and the transmission housing and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a second gear clutch disposed between the output shaft and the sun gear for selective engagement therebetween; a vertical drive housing attached to the transmission housing and passing through the transom; a drive shaft rotatably supported by the vertical drive housing and connected to the output shaft; a propeller connected to the drive shaft.
- 20. The watercraft of claim 19, further comprising:a geroter pump attached to the input shaft for providing pressurized hydraulic fluid to each of the forward clutch, reverse clutch, first gear clutch and second gear clutch, and a valve in fluid communication between the geroter pump and each of the forward clutch, reverse clutch, first gear clutch and second gear clutch for controlling the selective engagement of the respective clutch.
- 21. The watercraft of claim 20, further comprising a controller connected to each respective valve for controlling the selective engagement of each respective clutch.
- 22. The watercraft of claim 21, further comprising logic in the controller operable to simultaneously engage the first gear clutch and the second gear clutch and to disengage the forward clutch and the reverse clutch, thereby locking the position of the propeller in relation to the position of the hull while allowing the engine output to rotate in relation to the hull.
- 23. A watercraft comprising:a hull having a transom; an engine disposed in the hull and having an output; a first housing attached to the engine; an input shaft rotatably supported by the first housing and attached to the engine output for rotation therewith; a first housing output gear; a forward-reverse shifting apparatus disposed in the first housing for selective engagement between the input shaft and the first housing output gear in one of a forward direction and a reverse direction; a second housing attached to the first housing an passing through an opening in the transom; an output shaft rotatably disposed in the second housing; a first-second gear shifting apparatus connected between the first housing output gear and the output shaft for providing rotation of the output shaft in response to rotation of the first housing output gear at a selected one of a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio; a vertical drive housing attached to the second housing; a drive shaft rotatably supported by the vertical drive housing; and a propeller connected to the drive shaft.
- 24. The watercraft of claim 23, wherein the forward-reverse shifting apparatus further comprises:a first sun gear attached to and concentric with the input shaft; a first planetary gear engaged between the first sun gear and the first housing output gear, the first housing output gear comprising a ring gear; a forward clutch disposed between the input shaft and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a reverse clutch disposed between the housing and the carrier and operable for selective engagement therebetween.
- 25. The watercraft of claim 24, wherein the first-second gear shifting apparatus comprises:a second sun gear in the second housing; and a second planetary gear having an axis of rotation attached to the output shaft, the second planetary gear engaged between the ring gear and the second sun gear; a first gear clutch disposed between the sun gear and the housing and operable for selective engagement therebetween; a second gear clutch disposed between the output shaft and the sun gear for selective engagement therebetween.
- 26. A watercraft comprising:a hull having a transom; an engine disposed within the hull and having an output; a gimbal housing attached to the engine and passing through the transom; a vertical drive housing rotatably attached to the gimbal housing; a transmission comprising a first-second gear shifting apparatus disposed within the gimbal housing, the transmission having an input attached to the engine output and an output; a drive shaft rotatably disposed in the vertical drive housing and having an input end attached to the transmission output and an output end; a propeller attached to the drive shaft output end.
- 27. The watercraft of claim 26, wherein the transmission comprises a first-second gear shifting apparatus and forward-reverse shifting apparatus.
- 28. The watercraft of claim 26, further comprising:a double universal joint connecting the drive shaft input end and the transmission output, the double universal joint having a transmission end shaft connected to the transmission output; and a connector for removeably retaining the transmission end shaft in contact with the transmission output.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/543,437 filed on Apr. 5, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,997.
US Referenced Citations (26)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
MerCruiser's Black Trac Transmission, Jim Barron, Jul. 1998. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/543437 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
Child |
09/613093 |
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US |