Having Transmission Patents (Class 440/75)
  • Patent number: 11939074
    Abstract: In a flying object, a PCU has a plurality of operation modes in which an engine and/or a motor generator is used as a driving source for a pusher propeller. In accordance with the state of the flying object, the PCU controls the engine, a first clutch, the motor generator, and a second clutch in one of the operation modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Junichi Kamio
  • Patent number: 11912388
    Abstract: A marine vessel power supply system for a marine vessel including an electric motor to rotate a propeller includes an inverter to supply electric power to the electric motor, a battery to supply electric power to the inverter, and an electronic control unit configured or programmed to control the inverter. The inverter includes an inverter circuit to convert DC electric power supplied from the battery to AC electric power, a voltage detector to detect the voltage in a wiring between the battery and the inverter circuit, and a microcomputer configured or programmed to communicate with the electronic control unit and to control the inverter circuit according to a command supplied from the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit calculates an SOC estimate indicative of an estimated state-of-charge value of the battery based on a value of the voltage detected by the voltage detector and acquired from the microcomputer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuta Miyagi
  • Patent number: 11866143
    Abstract: A drive system for a ship, including at least two propulsion units, each propulsion unit having a propeller and a drive engine with an above-water transmission connected downstream for driving the propeller. Each drive engine can be connected to and disconnected from the associated above-water transmission with a clutch and between the above-water transmissions, a switchable drive train is provided by which in one switching state, the above-water transmissions can be coupled and driven jointly and in another switching state, they can be decoupled from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SCHOTTEL GMBH
    Inventor: Sascha Scholz
  • Patent number: 11834144
    Abstract: Provided herein is a marine propulsion apparatus including a prime mover having a drive shaft, a cowling enclosing the prime mover, first and second struts affixed to the cowling, where each of the struts have a leading portion, an interior belt void, and a trailing portion. The apparatus further includes a lower unit coupled to the distal ends of the struts, a sprocket rotatably disposed within the lower unit, a shaft rotatably coupled to the sprocket, a belt rotatably coupling the drive shaft to the sprocket, such that a first portion of the belt is disposed within the interior belt void of the first strut and a second portion of the belt is disposed within the interior belt void of the second strut. The apparatus further includes a thermal circuit (having a heat transfer fluid) extending from the cowling, through each of the struts, and into the lower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Flux Marine Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin Sorkin, Jonathan Lord
  • Patent number: 11584500
    Abstract: A system for rotating a propeller shaft within a gearcase via a driveshaft. A stub shaft is rotatable within the gearcase. A forward gear is rotatably coupled to the stub shaft. The forward gear is rotatable by the driveshaft and is engageable to become rotatably fixed to the stub shaft such that rotating the driveshaft rotates the stub shaft. A shock absorbing coupler is positioned within the gearcase. The shock absorbing coupler couples the stub shaft to the propeller shaft and is torsional such that shock is absorbable between the propeller shaft and the driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Foulkes, John A. Tuchscherer, Brett Bielefeld
  • Patent number: 11572191
    Abstract: A propeller-type propulsion system for aircraft comprising a propeller, a plurality of electric motors and a gearbox. The gearbox has an output shaft onto which the propeller is mechanically coupled, and has an input shaft onto which the plurality of electric motors is mechanically coupled, the input shaft being off-center with respect to the output shaft. All of the electric motors are mechanically coupled one after the other along the input shaft such that the electric motors are at least partially integrated into a space, on the opposite side of the gearbox from the propeller, that is left free owing to the input shaft and the output shaft being off-center with respect to one another. As a result, the diameter of the propulsion system, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the propeller, is reduced. This improves the aerodynamics and the fuel consumption of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS, AIRBUS SAS, AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L.
    Inventors: Jean-François Allias, Franck Alvarez, Pascal Pome, Nicolas Jolivet, Rémi Amargier, Salvatore Demelas, Norberto Simionato Neto, Benedikt Bammer, Damien Mariotto
  • Patent number: 11377187
    Abstract: An outboard motor comprising a first propeller shaft and a second propeller shaft, wherein the second propeller shaft is arranged concentric with the first propeller shaft, and wherein the first propeller shaft is connected to a first power transfer arrangement to rotate the first propeller shaft in a first direction, and wherein the second propeller shaft is connected to a second power transfer arrangement to rotate the second propeller shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The outboard motor comprises a first electric motor having a first motor shaft, and a second electric motor having a second motor shaft, wherein the first motor shaft is connected to the first power transfer arrangement, and wherein the second motor shaft is connected to the second power transfer arrangement. Disclosed is also a method for driving propeller shafts of an outboard motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: OXE MARINE AB
    Inventor: Andreas Blomdahl
  • Patent number: 11364987
    Abstract: A system for rotating an inner propeller shaft within a gearcase via a driveshaft. The system includes a stub shaft that extends between forward and aft ends and is rotatable within the gearcase. A forward gear is rotatably coupled to the stub shaft, where the forward gear meshes with the driveshaft and is engageable to become rotatably fixed to the stub shaft such that rotating the driveshaft rotates the stub shaft. A shock absorbing coupler is positioned within the gearcase, where the coupler has forward and aft ends, where the forward end of the coupler is engageable with the aft end of the stub shaft, and where the aft end of the coupler engageable with the inner propeller shaft. The coupler is torsional between the forward and aft ends such that shock is absorbable between the inner propeller shaft and the driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Foulkes, John A. Tuchscherer, Brett Bielefeld
  • Patent number: 11345454
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes: an outboard motor body including a propeller driven by an internal combustion engine; a mounting portion configured to mount the outboard motor body to a hull so as to be movable relative to the hull; and an operation mechanism provided between the outboard motor body and the mounting portion and configured to adjust a relative position of the outboard motor body with respect to the hull. The operation mechanism is a link-type operation mechanism including a hydraulic cylinder as an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Harada, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Akifumi Fujima
  • Patent number: 11339873
    Abstract: A hydraulic mechanical transmission includes a first hydraulic unit having a first shaft and a second hydraulic unit having a second shaft. The second hydraulic unit is connected in hydraulic fluid communication with the first hydraulic unit by high and low pressure lines. At least one of the first and second hydraulic units has variable displacement. A mechanical torque transfer arrangement transfers torque between the first shaft and the rotatable component of the second hydraulic unit. One of the first and second hydraulic units operates as a hydraulic pump and the other of the first and second hydraulic units operates as a hydraulic motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: DANFOSS POWER SOLUTIONS II TECHNOLOGY A/S
    Inventor: QingHui Yuan
  • Patent number: 11333058
    Abstract: A marine outboard motor for a marine vessel. The marine outboard motor includes: a housing comprising a chamber and at least one inlet arranged to be submerged, in use, into a body of water in which the marine outboard motor is operated, in order to draw water into the chamber; an engine assembly comprising an internal combustion engine; a drive shaft positioned in the housing, wherein the drive shaft is coupled to the internal combustion engine to drive a propulsion arrangement; a cooling system for cooling the internal combustion engine, the cooling system configured convey drawn water along a coolant flow path through the housing to deliver the drawn water to the internal combustion engine; and a sleeve by which the drive shaft is sealed from drawn water within the housing, the sleeve having first and second ends, wherein at least a part of the drive shaft is encased within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: COX POWERTRAIN LIMITED
    Inventor: James Barratt
  • Patent number: 11268601
    Abstract: A gearbox for a vehicle includes: a housing; first and second shafts extending parallel to one another; first transmission gears mounted to the first shaft; and second transmission gears mounted to the second shaft. The transmission gears are helical gears. The first transmission gears are in constant mesh with the second transmission gears to form a plurality of gear pairings engageable to operate the gearbox in different gears. A drive gear is mounted to an input shaft extending into the housing. The input shaft is operatively connected to an engine of the vehicle. A driven gear is mounted to the second shaft and is configured to engage the drive gear. The drive and driven gears are spur gears. A flexible driving member is configured to drivingly connect one of the first shaft and the second shaft to an output shaft. A snowmobile including a gearbox is also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Sebastien Pard, Joel Pitre, Yan Nolet
  • Patent number: 11260947
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine, a drive shaft, and a shift shaft disposed forward of the drive shaft. The shift shaft includes a first shift shaft that extends in an upward-downward direction, a second shift shaft disposed below the first shift shaft and spaced apart from and rearward of the first shift shaft, the second shift shaft extending in the upward-downward direction, and a shift force transmission to transmit, to the second shift shaft, a shift force applied to the first shift shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Morihiko Nanjo, Akihiro Onoue, Satoru Hamada, Kimitaka Saruwatari, Yuki Ikegaya
  • Patent number: 11261941
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shiftable transmission (1) having at least two shifting levels, preferably for use in rolling mill technology, said shiftable transmission comprising: a rotatably mounted input shaft (20), to which an input torque an be applied; a rotatably mounted first output shaft (30) and a rotatably mounted second output shaft (40), which are arranged parallel and are connected to each other by means of an output transmission stage in such a way that aid output shafts rotate oppositely, preferably at the same rotational speed, when an input torque is applied to the input shaft (20) at any shifting level of the shiftable transmission (1); a first coupling (50), which is designed to selectively connect an disconnect the input shaft (20) and the first output shaft (30), a first shifting level of the shiftable transmission (1) being realized in the coupled state, in which first shifting level the input shaft (20) and the first output shaft (30) are connected to each other in such a way that the inp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SMS GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Krueger, Frank Moellering, Nathalie Catic
  • Patent number: 11231102
    Abstract: A motor vehicle drive-axle includes a drive-axle housing defining a gear-set cavity and a shaft bore having first and second bearing pockets and an oil cavity arranged between the first and second bearing pockets. The housing also defines a supply channel and a return passage configured to respectively supply oil from the gear-set cavity to the oil cavity and return oil from the oil cavity to the gear-set cavity. The housing also includes an input shaft extending through the shaft bore into the differential gear-set cavity. The housing additionally includes first and second bearings arranged within respective first and second bearing pockets for supporting the input shaft. The housing additionally includes a lubrication regulating insert arranged inside the oil cavity. The insert defines first and second lubrication channels configured to direct oil from the supply passage to respective first and second bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chad R. Brizendine, David S. Schulz
  • Patent number: 11220319
    Abstract: A method of operating a thruster apparatus involves causing a first propeller to rotate in response to pressure of a first flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid, and causing a second propeller to rotate in response to pressure of a second flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid separate from the first flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid. Thruster apparatuses are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Kobelt Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Dean Yule
  • Patent number: 11208189
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine, a propeller shaft that rotates together with a propeller and extends in a forward-rearward direction, and a lower case that houses the propeller shaft. The lower case includes a front case and a rear case separate from the front case and positioned rearward of the front case, and the front case and the rear case are assembled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Morihiko Nanjo, Akihiro Onoue, Satoru Hamada, Kimitaka Saruwatari, Yuki Ikegaya
  • Patent number: 11105260
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a shift switch including a shift shaft and a rotary drive provided on an axis of the shift shaft and that rotates the shift shaft, and that switches a rotation direction of a propeller shaft. An entirety of the rotary drive is disposed below a mount, and at least a portion of the rotary drive is disposed above a lower case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukio Takeda, Yuki Ikegaya
  • Patent number: 11066142
    Abstract: When a shift member is in a first position, a first clutch couples a second drive shaft to a first drive shaft. When the shift member is in the first position, a second clutch decouples a first gear from the first drive shaft. When the shift member is in the first position, a third clutch decouples a second gear from the second drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Ikegaya, Satoru Hamada, Takahiro Oguma, Akihiro Onoue
  • Patent number: 10788080
    Abstract: A dog clutch comprising a sleeve and a relative crown with respective teeth conformed for engaging each one alternatively to the others wherein, during operation a pulling side for said teeth is defined, that identifies a surface through which the torque is transferred, and wherein, the teeth pulling side or at least the crown and/or the sleeve is conformed so that the relative tooth is tapered from a relative base towards a relative vertex, wherein said pulling side comprises at least three portions of which a first portion is adjacent to said base and a third portion is adjacent to said vertex following a rectilinear path and being approximately parallel to generating line of said crown or sleeve, and having a second portion adjoining said first portion with said third portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: FPT INDUSTRIAL S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alex Marcello, Alessandro Mantovan
  • Patent number: 10710690
    Abstract: This power system for mounting on a marine vehicle includes a propulsion unit, means for securing the propulsion assembly to a hull element of the vehicle and a rudder bearing mechanically connecting the propulsion unit with the fittings. The fittings are configured so that once the power system is mounted on the hull element; the plane of the rudder bearing is inclined relative to a plane containing one longitudinal axis and one transverse axis of the marine vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
    Inventors: Lionel Julliand, Thierry Deschamps, Laurent Barth
  • Patent number: 10604223
    Abstract: A reduction reverse gear according to the invention of the present application includes: an input shaft to which rotational driving force from a main engine is input; a front-reverse housing accommodating forward-backward switching mechanisms with which the rotational driving force from the input shaft is switched among forward, neutral, and backward; an output shaft through which the rotational driving force from the forward-backward switching mechanisms is output; and a reduction housing accommodating a reduction mechanism with which the rotational driving force from the output shaft is reduced to be transmitted to a propeller shaft. The housings are detachably coupled to each other on front and rear sides in an axial direction. The input shaft and the output shaft are arranged on the same plane while facing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: KANZAKI KOKYUKOKI MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ebihara
  • Patent number: 10295046
    Abstract: In an outboard motor, a feed passage, through which a lubricating oil that flows upward from a gear mechanism due to rotation of the gear mechanism, extends upward from a gear chamber and includes a first feed passage that extends from the gear chamber to a connection passage via a first upstream passage, a spiral passage, and an interior of an upper bearing, in that order. The feed passage further includes a second feed passage that extends from the gear chamber to the return passage while bypassing the spiral passage via a bypass passage. The bypass passage includes two ends spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the driveshaft and is disposed around the spiral passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Hamada, Kazuya Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10215278
    Abstract: A marine drive includes an internal combustion engine that drives a propulsor into rotation to effect a thrust, and a transmission that shifts amongst a forward gear for a forward thrust, a reverse gear for a reverse thrust, and a neutral state for a zero thrust. The marine drive further includes a shift rod rotatable about its own axis to shift the transmission amongst forward, reverse, and neutral, and an actuator. The actuator includes an actuator motor that rotates an output shaft and a gear shaft that effectuates rotation of a shift rod. The output shaft is connected to a gear shaft through a first gearset such that rotation of the output shaft causes the rotation of the gear shaft, and the gear shaft is connected to the shift rod through a planetary gearset such that rotation of the gear shaft causes the rotation of the shift rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Tuchscherer, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Theodore J. Hanes
  • Patent number: 10144495
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine having an output portion. A lower gear mechanism drives a propeller disposed below the engine. A transmission includes an input shaft that transmits power from the output portion to the transmission. An output shaft transmits power from the transmission to the lower gear mechanism. A reverse idler shaft is parallel to an intermediate shaft. A forward clutch is disposed on one of the input and intermediate shafts and connects and disconnects power from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft. A reverse clutch is disposed on the intermediate shaft and connects and disconnects power transmission from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft. Power of the input shaft is transmitted to the output shaft via the forward clutch and the intermediate shaft and is transmitted to the output shaft via the reverse idler shaft, the reverse clutch, and the intermediate shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KANZAKI KOKYUKOKI MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ebihara
  • Patent number: 10124872
    Abstract: An electric shift actuator is provided in an engine cover in which an engine of an upper unit is accommodated, a forward/reverse shift mechanism is provided in a lower unit, and a shift transmission mechanism including a clutch rod is provided to transmit driving force of the electric shift actuator to the forward/reverse shift mechanism by connecting the electric shift actuator with the forward/reverse shift mechanism, in which the clutch rod is disposed vertically in an intermediate unit on the rear side of a drive shaft that transmits driving force of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuichi Sugiyama, Keisuke Daikoku
  • Patent number: 10124871
    Abstract: An outboard motor has a mounting assembly, a powerhead, a transmission, and a shift shaft that extends from the powerhead to the transmission via a conduit in the mounting assembly. The shift shaft is positionable into a forward position in which the transmission is engaged in forward gear, reverse position in which the transmission is engaged in reverse gear, and a neutral position in which the transmission is in neutral gear. In the forward position, an upper end of the shift shaft is positioned closer to a forward side of the conduit than the aftward side of the conduit. In the reverse position, the upper end of the shift shaft is positioned closer to an aftward side of the conduit than the forward side of the conduit. In the neutral position, the upper end of the shift shaft is positioned between the forward and reverse positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Eichinger, Scott G. Ahlswede
  • Patent number: 10119564
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a first driven gear and a second driven gear, a first conical roller bearing and a second conical roller bearing, and a nut. The first driven gear and the second driven gear mesh with a driving gear. The driving gear rotates through transmission of a rotative power from an engine unit. The first conical roller bearing and the second conical roller bearing are disposed on an outer periphery of a tubular portion of the second driven gear. The first conical roller bearing and the second conical roller bearing are arranged in a front-rear direction in directions opposite from one another. The nut is disposed on the outer periphery of the tubular portion of the second driven gear. The nut is displaceable in an axial direction of the tubular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Tomokazu Hikosaka
  • Patent number: 10040530
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a driving gear that is driven and rotated, and a propeller shaft that extends in a front-rear direction below the driving gear. The outboard motor includes a first transmission gear that is engaged with the driving gear and surrounding the propeller shaft, a propeller-shaft bearing that rotatably supports the propeller shaft, a first-transmission-gear bearing that rotatably supports the first transmission gear, and a support including an intervening portion between the first transmission gear and the propeller shaft. The support supports the propeller-shaft bearing between the intervening portion and the propeller shaft, and supports the first-transmission-gear bearing at a more outward position than the intervening portion in a radial direction of the propeller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Okabe
  • Patent number: 10023283
    Abstract: An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, transmission devices for such an outboard motor, and related methods of making, operating, and modifying attributes of same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the motor, positioned substantially above a trimming axis of the motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to propeller(s). In at least a further embodiment, the motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, and/or other transmission features. In at least some additional embodiments, a transmission device of the motor is configured to facilitate gear ratio variation and/or includes an integrated oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Seven Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Eric A. Davis, Richard A. Davis
  • Patent number: 9937989
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine housed in a cowling and disposed above an upper case housing a driveshaft. A gear mechanism transmits a rotation of the driveshaft to a propeller shaft housed in a lower case disposed below the upper case. The gear mechanism is housed in an oil storage chamber of the lower case and is lubricated by a lubricating oil inside the oil storage chamber. An oil passage includes a lower oil port opening at the oil storage chamber, an upper oil port positioned higher than the lower case, and a longitudinal passage extending in an up/down direction inside the lower case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Kumita
  • Patent number: 9862470
    Abstract: An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, and related methods of making and operating same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the outboard motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the outboard motor, positioned substantially positioned above a trimming axis of the outboard motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to one or more propellers at a lower portion of the outboard motor. In at least a further embodiment, the outboard motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the outboard motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, as well as other transmission features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SEVEN MARINE, LLC
    Inventors: Eric A. Davis, Richard A. Davis
  • Patent number: 9856005
    Abstract: An outboard drive device comprising a motor having a crankshaft, wherein said outboard drive device further comprises a propeller shaft with a propeller, and a power coupling system for transferring power from the motor to the propeller shaft. The power coupling system involves a transmission including side-by-side positioning of forward and reverse gears of the device, which are rotatably engaged with a drive shaft. Particular variables of the system enable increased power output to be transmitted through the transmission, while also providing quick and efficient power distribution among different rotations of the propeller shaft of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CIMCO MARINE AB
    Inventors: Christer Flodman, Andreas Blomdahl
  • Patent number: 9840316
    Abstract: An outboard motor having an internal combustion engine that causes rotation of a driveshaft, a planetary transmission that operatively connects the driveshaft to a transmission output shaft, a band brake configured to shift the planetary transmission amongst a forward gear, neutral gear and reverse gear, a hydraulic actuator is configured to actuate the band brake, and a cooling water circuit that extends adjacent to the hydraulic actuator so that the hydraulic actuator exchanges heat with cooling water in the cooling water circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne M. Jaszewski
  • Patent number: 9815538
    Abstract: An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, and related methods of making and operating same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the outboard motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the outboard motor, positioned substantially positioned above a trimming axis of the outboard motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to one or more propellers at a lower portion of the outboard motor. In at least a further embodiment, the outboard motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the outboard motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, as well as other transmission features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seven Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Eric A. Davis, Richard A. Davis
  • Patent number: 9776700
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a lower unit and an upper unit that is attachable to the stern of a boat, with the upper unit and lower unit configured to tilt together about a transverse tilt axis. The upper unit includes an engine, a transmission assembly and a drive shaft and the lower unit includes a lower unit housing and a propeller shaft that is connected to the drive shaft. The lower unit housing is configured to pivot relative to the upper unit, about a steering axis that extends coaxially with the drive shaft. The steering axis intersects the propeller axis at an obtuse angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Alan Beachy Head
  • Patent number: 9731803
    Abstract: A forward/backward switching mechanism having an intermediate gear supported by an intermediate shaft perpendicular to a drive shaft is interposed between first and second input shafts. A clutch body is a dog clutch having upper and lower locking dogs. As the dog clutch moves along an axial direction of the second input shaft and is engaged with upper or lower gears, rotation of the first input shaft is forwardly or reversely transmitted to the second input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsushi Achiwa, Keisuke Daikoku
  • Patent number: 9726211
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a rotary misalignment-compensation bushing connection system that may be used in large-scale operations where several components are mounted in alignment on a single pin. For example, the misalignment-compensation system may be used in preloaded connection of a male lug rotatably mounted between a first lug and a second lug, on heavy equipment, for example, oil field exploration and production equipment. The misalignment-compensation system includes tapered cone bushings and surrounding counter-tapered cup bushings that expand in diameter and align the connection system as it is torqued together assembling the components to the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith J. Orgeron, Robert Metz
  • Patent number: 9670972
    Abstract: In order to reduce torsional vibrations in a drive including a torque converter with a turbine and impeller, clutch slip speed of the drive is adjusted by manipulation of clutch pressure. This may be done in either closed loop mode or open loop mode by setting the clutch pressure to a predetermined value or continuously adjusting clutch pressure. Pressure is adjusted to produce a positively sloped function of sensed total torque of the clutch and turbine over the clutch slip speed. This produces extended service life of the drive train components, greater efficiency of the torque converter, and smoother operation of the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Twin Disc, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Smith, Richard A. Shaw
  • Patent number: 9630696
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a shift actuator includes a main body section and a shaft section. The main body section has an electric motor which has a vertically extending rotating shaft, and a gear mechanism which rotates the shaft section in accordance with the rotating shaft. The shaft section has a threaded shaft extending parallel to the rotating shaft and made to rotate by the gear mechanism in accordance with the rotating shaft and a movable nut which is screwed onto the threaded shaft and moves upward or downward with rotation of the threaded shaft. The movable nut is connected with a shift member which changes the gears of a propeller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sachio Ooshita
  • Patent number: 9540089
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device includes an engine, a driving shaft coupled to the engine and configured to transmit power, a first cooling water pump configured to be driven by the driving force of the driving shaft and to pump cooling water to cool the engine, a cooling water path configured to supply the cooling water sent by the first cooling water pump to the engine, and a pressurization mechanism arranged in a water passage upstream of a suction port of the first cooling water pump and configured to apply pressure to the cooling water supplied to the suction port of the first cooling water pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Oguma, Atsushi Kumita
  • Patent number: 9522720
    Abstract: A vessel propulsion apparatus includes a dog clutch that selectively engages either a front gear or a rear gear, an intermediate shaft rotatably supported by the front gear and by the rear gear and that rotates together with the dog clutch, a propeller shaft to which rotation of the intermediate shaft is transmitted, a lower case containing a drive gear and other elements, and a thrust transmitting member that receives a forward-direction thrust from the propeller shaft and that transmits the thrust to the lower case without transmitting the thrust to the intermediate shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakamura, Yoshihito Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 9481437
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a drive shaft that transmits rotational power from an engine, a shift unit provided in the middle of the drive shaft, and a water pump that feeds a coolant to the engine. The drive shaft has a first input shaft that receives rotational power transmitted from the engine and a second input shaft that receives rotational power transmitted from the first input shaft. The shift unit has an upper gear rotating in synchronization with the first input shaft, an intermediate gear meshing with the upper gear at all times, and an intermediate shaft extending to the rear side from the intermediate gear and rotating in synchronization. The oil pump as an accessory is operated by the rotational power transmitted to the intermediate shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsushi Achiwa, Keisuke Daikoku
  • Patent number: 9475562
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a drive shaft that transmits rotational power from the engine, and a shift unit provided in the middle of the drive shaft. The shift unit has a dog clutch that reciprocates in parallel with the drive shaft, a shift fork member that reciprocates the dog clutch in parallel with the drive shaft, and a linear motion type actuator that reciprocates the shift fork member in parallel with the drive shaft. The actuator is arranged in the vicinity of the front side of the dog clutch such that the direction of the rectilinear motion of the screw shaft is in parallel with the axial line of the drive shaft, and the shift fork member is connected to the screw shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuichi Sugiyama, Keisuke Daikoku
  • Patent number: 9463853
    Abstract: A floating structure has a hull and a propeller propulsion system having a gear arrangement that is connected via a first intermediate shaft to at least one electromotor, the electromotor being arranged onboard the floating structure, and via a second intermediate shaft to a propeller. The gear arrangement has an angular gear. The first intermediate shaft forms an angle relative to the second intermediate shaft. The gear arrangement is arranged as a separate unit in an appendage or addition to the hull of the floating structure. The appendage or addition is designed to allow an interior thereof to be accessed from within the vessel, whereby maintenance, replacement, or repairs of the gear arrangement can be carried out. The angular gear has at least one angled gearwheel set and one cylindrical gearwheel set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Scana Volda AS
    Inventors: Henning Brautaset, Roald Håvik
  • Patent number: 9346525
    Abstract: A ship drive having a drive machine, a transmission, a propeller shaft that is driven by the transmission and a mounting arrangement by which the ship drive can be secured to a hull of a ship. The drive machine and the transmission are connected to one another by a connecting flange and are arranged inside the hull of the ship. A first mounting point, which is designed as a pivot bearing relative to the rotational axis of the propeller shaft, is arranged in such a manner that a bending moment, produced by the propeller thrust and by the weight of the drive machine and the transmission, is optimized at the connecting flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Angelo Scapin
  • Patent number: 9346526
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device and method of reducing the azimuthal torque acting on a pulling pod unit or azimuth thruster (1) having a rotary pod housing (2) with a substantially vertical slewing axis (3) and a fixed downwardly directed first fin (4) carried by the pod housing (2) abaft the slewing axis (3), wherein said first fin is in the form of an elongated strip-shaped vane (4) and extends abaft the slewing axis (3) along the pod housing (2) to the vicinity of a rear end (5) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Anders Ottosson, Rikard Johansson
  • Patent number: 9260170
    Abstract: A transmission is structured to include a drive shaft, a counter shaft disposed in parallel with the drive shaft, a gear train bridged between each of a drive shaft input shaft and output shaft and the counter shaft, and a dog clutch mechanism selectively switching a high shift speed and a low shift speed in a transmission chamber. The transmission includes a drive device driving the dog clutch mechanism constituted of a hydraulic drive device driven by a hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder being disposed in the transmission chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kubo, Keisuke Daikoku, Keiji Imanaga
  • Patent number: 9238503
    Abstract: A transmission is structured to include a drive shaft, a counter shaft, a gear train bridged between each of a drive shaft input shaft and output shaft and the counter shaft, and a dog clutch mechanism selectively switching a high shift speed and a low shift speed in a transmission chamber. In a lower part of a lower bearing of the counter shaft in a bottom part of the transmission chamber, a lower reserve part of lubrication oil is provided, and a lubrication oil pump sending lubrication oil to respective parts of the transmission from the lower reserve part is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kubo, Keisuke Daikoku, Keiji Imanaga
  • Patent number: 9126665
    Abstract: An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, and related methods of making and operating same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the outboard motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the outboard motor, positioned substantially positioned above a trimming axis of the outboard motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to one or more propellers at a lower portion of the outboard motor. In at least a further embodiment, the outboard motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the outboard motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, as well as other transmission features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Seven Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Eric A. Davis, Richard A. Davis