Patents by Inventor Fernando Gallato

Fernando Gallato has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10875616
    Abstract: A transmission (6) for a marine outboard propulsion system (1) which comprises an input shaft (7) connectable to an engine (4), a countershaft (19) arranged parallel to the input shaft (7), several pairs of gears (15, 16; 17, 18) for transmitting rotation of the input shaft (7) to the countershaft (19) and switching elements (23, 25, 30) for selectively engaging gears (15, 16, 17, 18, 38) to enable at least two forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio. The transmission (6) comprises an output shaft (8) which is arranged coaxial to the input shaft (7) and a PTO countershaft (31) adapted to drive at least one PTO-aggregate (9, 10). The transmission is part of a marine outboard propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF PADOVA SRL.
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Adone Bertolo
  • Publication number: 20200115021
    Abstract: A transmission (6) for a marine outboard propulsion system (1) which comprises an input shaft (7) connectable to an engine (4), a countershaft (19) arranged parallel to the input shaft (7), several pairs of gears (15, 16; 17, 18) for transmitting rotation of the input shaft (7) to the countershaft (19) and switching elements (23, 25, 30) for selectively engaging gears (15, 16, 17, 18, 38) to enable at least two forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio. The transmission (6) comprises an output shaft (8) which is arranged coaxial to the input shaft (7) and a PTO countershaft (31) adapted to drive at least one PTO-aggregate (9, 10). The transmission is part of a marine outboard propulsion system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Fernando GALLATO, Adone BERTOLO
  • Patent number: 9784323
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve assembly (1) with a housing (18) and with a spool (2) which is rotatable in the housing (18). The spool comprising a pressure supply orifice (3) and at least one clutch actuating orifice (4, 5) which is connectable to a clutch actuating cylinder (6, 7). The spool (2) comprises a pressure release orifice (8) which is arranged at the spool (2) so that the pressure release orifice (8) is closed by rotational movement of the spool (2) while the clutch actuating orifice (4, 5) is opened by such rotational movement. The invention further relates to a clutch actuating device with such a hydraulic valve assembly (1) and a corresponding marine propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF Padova S.R.L.
    Inventor: Fernando Gallato
  • Patent number: 9611021
    Abstract: A boat drive has an underwater housing (10) which is arranged outside of a boat hull (7) and can swivel relative to the boat hull (7) about a vertical swivel axis (11). In the housing at least one propeller shaft (13) is mounted and can be driven. A swivel drive mechanism is arranged in the inside space (6) of the boat hull (7) for swiveling the underwater housing (10) in order to control the driving direction of the boat. A zero-position mark (25) is provided on an element of the swivel drive mechanism, which facilitates easy determination of a zero position of the underwater housing (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Andrea Tognon
  • Patent number: 9567036
    Abstract: A boat hull (1) for a boat, with a boat drive (2) which extends through a hull opening (3) in the bottom of the boat hull (1). The boat drive (2) is connected to the boat hull (1) by at least one fastening member (4). To do this, at least one positioning element (5) is provided, on the outside (6) of the boat hull (1), for positioning the fastening member (4) relative to the boat hull (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Andrea Tognon, Stefano Targa
  • Publication number: 20160363178
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic valve assembly (1) with a housing (18) and with a spool (2) which is rotatable in the housing (18). The spool comprising a pressure supply orifice (3) and at least one clutch actuating orifice (4, 5) which is connectable to a clutch actuating cylinder (6, 7). The spool (2) comprises a pressure release orifice (8) which is arranged at the spool (2) so that the pressure release orifice (8) is closed by rotational movement of the spool (2) while the clutch actuating orifice (4, 5) is opened by said rotational movement. The invention further relates to a clutch actuating device with such a hydraulic valve assembly (1) and a corresponding marine propulsion system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventor: Fernando GALLATO
  • Patent number: 9475565
    Abstract: A boat drive (1) with an upper drive portion (3), arranged inside a hull (2) of the boat, and a pivoting lower drive portion (4), arranged outside the hull (2) of the boat. The boat drive (1) passes through an opening (6) in the bottom of the hull (2) of the boat, forming an annular gap (5) that surrounds a periphery of the boat drive, and a sealing arrangement (10) is arranged in the area of the annular gap (5). The sealing arrangement (10) is designed as a sliding seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Fernando Gallato
  • Publication number: 20160176488
    Abstract: A boat drive has an underwater housing (10) which is arranged outside of a boat hull (7) and can swivel relative to the boat hull (7) about a vertical swivel axis (11). In the housing at least one propeller shaft (13) is mounted and can be driven. A swivel drive mechanism is arranged in the inside space (6) of the boat hull (7) for swiveling the underwater housing (10) in order to control the driving direction of the boat. A zero-position mark (25) is provided on an element of the swivel drive mechanism, which facilitates easy determination of a zero position of the underwater housing (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fernando GALLATO, Andrea TOGNON
  • Publication number: 20150298768
    Abstract: A boat hull (1) for a boat, with a boat drive (2) which extends through a hull opening (3) in the bottom of the boat hull (1). The boat drive (2) is connected to the boat hull (1) by at least one fastening member (4). To do this, at least one positioning element (5) is provided, on the outside (6) of the boat hull (1), for positioning the fastening member (4) relative to the boat hull (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Fernando GALLATO, Andrea TOGNON, Stefano TARGA
  • Publication number: 20150183501
    Abstract: A boat drive (1) with an upper drive portion (3), arranged inside a hull (2) of the boat, and a pivoting lower drive portion (4), arranged outside the hull (2) of the boat. The boat drive (1) passes through an opening (6) in the bottom of the hull (2) of the boat, forming an annular gap (5) that surrounds a periphery of the boat drive, and a sealing arrangement (10) is arranged in the area of the annular gap (5). The sealing arrangement (10) is designed as a sliding seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventor: Fernando Gallato
  • Patent number: 8739656
    Abstract: A pivotal boat drive having a transmission unit (1) which is driven by a drive engine via a connection point (A). The connection point has an input shaft (11) of a drive device (10) that is rotatably positioned around a first rotational axis (5) and an output shaft (3) that is coupled with the input shaft (11) and rotatable around a second rotational axis (6). The rotational axes (5, 6) are neither parallel nor concentrically positioned with respect to one another. At least one additional connection point (B, C) is provided at the transmission unit (1), at which an additional drive device (20), driven by an additional drive engine, can be positioned to drive the output shaft (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Daniele Sacchi, Adone Bertolo
  • Patent number: 8740662
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement (1) for a pivotally arranged boat drive in a hull of a boat, the boat drive extends through a hull opening in the bottom of the boat. The boat drive forms, together with the hull of the boat or with a connecting piece (2) set into the hull of the boat, an annular gap. The annular gap is bridged by at least two flexible sealing elements (5, 6), and the at least two sealing elements (5, 6) enclose at least one ring chamber (7) between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Adone Bertolo, Andrea Tognon
  • Patent number: 8506338
    Abstract: A connecting piece (1) that can be set or inserted into the hull of a boat. The connecting piece has an opening (2) therein for the passage of a pivoted boat drive unit. An outer edge area (3) of the connecting piece (1) facilitates fixing and sealing of the connecting piece (1) relative to the hull of the boat. The connecting piece (1) comprises a sandwich structure and the sandwich structure generally comprises an inner steel plate (5) and an outer steel plate (6) and an elastomer material arranged therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Adone Bertolo, Andrea Tognon
  • Patent number: 8506337
    Abstract: A control device, in particular for a boat drive, which comprises a control drive, a reduction gear system (8, 11, 15/17) and a control element (2) that can be pivoted through a steering angle. The reduction gear system comprises a multi-stage toothed gear transmission (8, 11, 15/17) with a toothed wheel (10) on the drive input side, and the control drive comprises two servomotors (6) which drive the toothed wheel (10) simultaneously but whose driving action are slightly opposed to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Adone Bertolo, Daniele Sacchi
  • Patent number: 8485854
    Abstract: A ship drive with upper and lower drive units that are respectively arranged inside and outside the hull. At least the lower drive unit is pivotally mounted relative to the hull. An input shaft of the upper drive unit is driven by a motor. At least one propeller is driven by an output shaft of the lower drive unit. A vertical drive shaft communicates, via an upper bevel gearing, with the input shaft of the upper drive unit and, via a lower bevel gearing, with the output shaft of the lower drive unit. The upper and lower drive units comprise interconnected lubrication oil ducts by which lubrication oil is supply to and remove from the upper drive unit. At least one lubrication oil duct of the upper drive unit is connected, by a flexible line, to a lubrication oil container arranged in the area of the upper drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Paolo Cattapan, Andrea Tognon
  • Patent number: 8469755
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for an inboard-outboard drive engine of a watercraft, comprising a drive unit (2) with an upper part (3) arranged in a hull (1) of the watercraft and a lower part (4) which projects through a sealed opening in the hull (1) into the surrounding water such that a drivetrain extends through the drive unit (2). At least one propeller is supported by the lower part (4) and can be driven by a motor coupled to drive the upper part (3). The upper part (3) is in contact with a carrier system which, by virtue of a plurality of supporting units (12A-12D), supports reaction forces and torques produced in the drive unit (2) in the longitudinal, transverse and vertical directions relative to the hull (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen, AG
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Adone Bertolo, Andrea Tognon
  • Patent number: 8118629
    Abstract: A trimmable and controllable outside drive of a watercraft which comprises at least two actuators (113) for adjusting a thrust tube as well as at least one suspension apparatus (102) which can be fixed to a transom (101), for pivotally mounting the actuators (113). The drive comprises hydraulic (112) and electrical lines (111) for the actuators (113), the hydraulic or electrical energy for adjusting the actuators (113) and electrical signals from the sensors being transmitted by the lines. A bushing apparatus (100) is arranged on the transom (101) and the hydraulic (112) and/or electrical lines (111) are connected, via the bushing apparatus (100), both inside and outside the transom (113)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Fernando Gallato
  • Publication number: 20120028520
    Abstract: The invention concerns a ship drive (1) with an upper drive unit (7a) arranged in the ship's hull (39) and a lower drive unit (7b) arranged outside the ship's hull, in which at least the lower drive unit (7b) is mounted so that it can pivot relative to the ship's hull (39), in which an input shaft (12) of the upper drive unit (7a) can be driven by a drive motor, in which at least one propeller (18, 19) can be driven by an output shaft (37) arranged in the lower drive unit (7b), in which a vertically arranged driveshaft (21) is in driving connection via upper bevel gear (4) with the input shaft (12) of the upper drive unit (7a) and via lower bevel gear (4) with the output shaft (37) of the lower drive unit (7b), and in which the upper and the lower drive units (7a, 7b) comprise interconnected lubrication oil ducts such that the lubrication oil can be filled into the upper drive unit (7a) and can be removed again therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Paolo Cattapan, Andrea Tognon
  • Publication number: 20120017712
    Abstract: A pivotal boat drive having a transmission unit (1) which is driven by a drive engine via a connection point (A). The connection point has an input shaft (11) of a drive device (10) that is rotatably positioned around a first rotational axis (5) and an output shaft (3) that is coupled with the input shaft (11) and rotatable around a second rotational axis (6). The rotational axes (5, 6) are neither parallel nor concentrically positioned with respect to one another. At least one additional connection point (B, C) is provided at the transmission unit (1), at which an additional drive device (20), driven by an additional drive engine, can be positioned to drive the output shaft (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Daniele Sacchi, Adone Bertolo
  • Publication number: 20110291367
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement (1) for a pivotally arranged boat drive in a hull of a boat, the boat drive extends through a hull opening in the bottom of the boat. The boat drive forms, together with the hull of the boat or with a connecting piece (2) set into the hull of the boat, an annular gap. The annular gap is bridged by at least two flexible sealing elements (5, 6), and the at least two sealing elements (5, 6) enclose at least one ring chamber (7) between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Fernando Gallato, Adone Bertolo, Andrea Tognon