Abstract: A marine propulsion mechanism is provided with a variable height mechanism for varying the height of the propeller relative to a boat. The variable height mechanism includes an input gear connected to the engine drive shaft and an output gear connected to an output shaft which is adapted to drive the propeller. An idler gear is disposed between the input and output gears, and is movable about the input gear. A link is provided between the idler gear and the output gear for fixing the center-to-center relation of the idler and output gears, so that rotation of the idler gear about the input gear is translated into upward and downward movement of a movable housing portion to which the output gear is connected, and thereby the height of the propeller.

Abstract: A system for optimizing the speed of a boat at a paticular throttle setting utilizes sensed speed changes to vary the boat drive unit position vertically and to vary the drive unit trim position. The measurement of boat speed before and after an incremental change in vertical position or trim is used in conjunction with a selected minimum speed change increment to effect subsequent alternate control strategies. Depending on the relative difference in before and after speeds, the system will automatically continue incremental movement of the drive unit in the same direction, hold the drive unit in its present position, or move the drive unit an incremental amount in the opposite direction to its previous position. The alternate control strategies minimize the effects of initial incremental movement in the wrong direction, eliminate excessive position hunting by the system, and minimize drive unit repositioning which has little or no practical effect on speed.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for an outboard motor includes a motor mount having a transom mounting bracket attachable to a boat transom and a motor supporting bracket spaced aft of and pivotally connected by upper and lower links with the transom mounting bracket to support an outboard motor wholly aft of the boat transom, and cylinder means for moving the motor supporting bracket relative to the transom mounting bracket to simultaneously move the outboard motor between raised and lowered positions in a vertical plane which extends parallel to the longitudinal dimension of a boat and to rotate the motor about a horizontal axis which extends perpendicular to the vertical plane. The movement of the outboard motor is provided by the motor mount being a quadrilateral structure wherein the lower link is shorter in length than the upper link and the motor supporting bracket is shorter in length than the transom mounting bracket.

Abstract: A propeller protector (26) is provided by a two piece hub structure (28, 30). Each piece has an inner arcuate portion (32, 34) substantially conforming to the side of the torpedo housing (14) of the marine drive. Each piece has a pair of fins (40 and 42, 44 and 46) extending radially outwardly from the inner arcuate portion and spaced axially forward of the propeller (20). Top rear, bottom rear and front clamps (48, 50 and 52) mount the two pieces (28 and 30) to the torpedo housing on opposite sides (36, 38) thereof.

Abstract: A fluid coupling is provided in a marine drive between the engine and the propulsion unit. The fluid coupling includes a fluid pump adapted to be driven by the crankshaft of the engine, and a turbine adapted to be driven by the fluid pump. A series of reactor vanes is provided in the fluid coupling. The reactor vanes are adapted to be driven in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the fluid pump. The turbine and the reactor vanes are connected to shafts which extend from the fluid coupling to a transmission housing. Each shaft is provided with a gear and a brake disc. An output shaft extends from the transmission housing, and includes a pair of freely rotatable gears engageable with the gears on the reactor shaft and the turbine shaft. Clutch mechanisms are provided on the freely rotatable output shaft gears for selectively engaging the reactor shaft gear and the turbine shaft gear to provide rotation of the output shaft in response to rotation of the reactor shaft and turbine shaft gears.

Abstract: A V-type four-stroke cycle internal combustion engine is provided with an exhaust manifold disposed in the valley of the V-shaped engine. The exhaust from the cylinders passes through the cylinder heads to an exhaust collection cavity formed in the exhaust manifold. The manifold is provided with water jackets above and below the exhaust collecting cavity to cool exhaust collected therein. An air intake manifold is also provided in the valley of the V-shaped engine, located above and adjacent the exhaust manifold. The air intake manifold has a central cavity, with induction tubes extending from the manifold to outside the valley of the V-engine for introducing air to the cylinders therefrom. The induction tubes provide induction tuning to the engine, to increase the torque provided by the engine. The arrangement of the engine components provides compact packaging for a V-type engine.

Abstract: A transom extension assembly for mounting an outboard motor in a spaced relation to the boat transom includes a quadrilateral linkage assembly in which each of the functions to trim, tilt and lift the motor with respect to the transom is provided independently. Each function is provided by a separate hydraulic cylinder means, but operating fluid pressure is supplied by a single fluid pressure source which may be mounted directly on the transom extension linkage.

Abstract: In a two cycle kerosene fueled internal combustion engine, the temperature of the kerosene-air mixture is raised sufficiently to enable starting by spark ignition, without the assist of gasoline. The combustion chamber (16) is temporarily contracted by a moveable cylinder head (40) during starting to temporarily increase the compression ratio and increase the temperature of the kerosene-air mixture by increased compression pressure. The exhaust port (30) is closed by an obstruction valve (88) during starting to trap the mixture in the combustion chamber (16) such that each compression charging stroke of the piston (4) adds further heat of compression to the mixture to further heat same. An electrical resistance heater wire (114) is provided in the kerosene-air transfer passage (24) between the crankcase (14) and the inlet port (26) to the combustion chamber (16) to further heat the mixture to facilitate ignition.

Abstract: A single cable shift assembly includes a casing (30) mounted to a surface adjacent the pull-pull cables (14, 16) of a shift/throttle control linkage. A pair of pulleys (34, 36) direct cables (14, 16) in opposite directions. A slide (38) within casing (30) includes anchors (40, 42) for securing the cable ends to spaced positions along the longitudinal axis of the slide. The slide is provided with a connector pin (44) that secures the control cable (48) to the slide and translates linear movement of the control cable into linear movement of the slide.