Abstract: A disc clutch arrangement is disclosed within a gear drive. One of the clutch halves is formed on the end of a quill shaft which mounts a driven gear and a hydraulic cylinder. A piston operating within the cylinder is connected to a rod extending through the quill shaft and secured at its opposite end of a pinion shaft which mounts the other half of the disc clutch. The pinion shaft is mounted in bearings, such as straight roller bearings or sleeve bearings, which permit sliding of the pinion shaft axially within the bearings. The clutch is engaged by actuating the hydraulic cylinder thereby causing the rod to draw the pinion shaft and its clutch half towards the quill shaft and its clutch half.

Abstract: An inflatable flexible gland clutch has a gland secured to one of a pair of cooperating clutch elements. The gland mounts friction shoes and includes inflatable chambers which, when subjected to air under pressure, will move the gland to a position where the shoes engage the other clutch element. Other chambers formed in the gland will, when inflated, disengage the clutch by moving the clutch shoes away from engagement with the mating clutch element.

Abstract: A gear drive has two closely spaced parallel output shafts driven by a single input shaft. One gear train connects the input shaft to one of the output shafts which has a thrust bearing at one end to absorb thrust loads. A second gear train connects the input shaft to the second output shaft. The second output shaft mounts a double helical pinion which is in engagement with two double helical gears on a pair of spaced shafts. The spaced shafts are each mounted in thrust bearings to absorb the thrust on the second output shaft which is transmitted through the meshings double helical gearing to the pair of shafts. A linkage engages the ends of the pair of shafts to equalize the thrust load on each of the two shafts.

Abstract: A disconnect gear coupling as an internally toothed sleeve which connects external teeth formed on a pair of hubs adapted to be mounted on driving and driven shafts. A travel screw is threadedly received in a bore in a flange of the sleeve and extends axially with its outer end journaled and held against rotation in a bore in a support bracket. The support bracket extends radially from the end of one of the hubs. The sleeve is shifted axially to disengage with the teeth of the other hub by rotating the travel screw.

Abstract: A shear pin assembly in a shaft coupling is disclosed in which an elongated, circular cylindrical shear pin having a central groove is held at its ends in split, tapered bushings received in tapered outer bushings press-fitted into bores in flanges of the two coupling halves. A loading bolt is threaded in each end of the shear pin and a head of the bolt bears against a loading plate which in turn is seated against the split inner bushing to force the inner bushing into place to rigidly grip the ends of the shear pin.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved control system for air actuated ahead and astern clutches, an engine speed governor, and a propeller shaft brake of a marine propulsion system. The control is actuated by a throttle lever which is moved from a neutral position to select a direction of travel. The degree of movement from neutral of the throttle lever is representative of the desired speed in the selected direction. The improved control engages the brake when the throttle lever is in neutral and when the throttle lever is moved from an ahead to an astern direction at medium or high forward speeds. When such a change in commanded direction occurs, a shift delay valve is first actuated to delay the inflation of the astern clutch. The delay is dependent upon the forward speed previously prevailing. At medium forward speeds the brake is released shortly after the astern clutch begins to inflate.

Abstract: A plurality of single lever control stands are provided at remote locations for controlling a pneumatically operated marine propulsion system. Control of the propulsion system is transferred between the several control stands by connecting each stand to a source of supply air under pressure. The control stands each include a throttle valve which will produce a set of three pressure signals. A valve located at each stand must be actuated by an operator at that location before the air supply will be activated for that station. Two of the signals select the ahead and astern direction of motion for the vessel and the third signal varies in proportion to the throttle lever position and controls engine speed. Banks of shuttle valves receive pairs of sets of these pressure signals and pass onto the control the signals at the higher pressure level. The system includes transfer valves at the main and secondary stations which cannot be overridden by stations of lower priority.

Abstract: A control system for air actuated ahead and astern clutches and the engine speed governor of a marine propulsion system. Upon actuation of a throttle lever controlling a throttle valve, a selector valve is first actuated to operatively connect one or the other of the ahead or astern clutches to the control. Further movement of the throttle lever causes a relay valve to supply air at a pressure proportional to the throttle position to a main control valve which passes such air pressure to the selected clutch until a first control pressure is reached. Thereafter, air from the supply is supplied at a programmed rate to the selected clutch to continue inflation of the clutch until a second control pressure is reached whereupon a boost valve is actuated to connect full supply air pressure to the selected clutch. A governor control valve also receives the air output of the relay valve proportional to throttle position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a control system for the air actuated ahead and astern clutches and the engine speed governor of a marine propulsion system. Upon actuation of a throttle lever controlling a throttle valve, a selector valve is first actuated to operatively connect one or the other of the ahead or astern clutches to the control. Further movement of the throttle lever causes a relay valve to supply air at a pressure proportional to the throttle position to a main control valve which passes such air pressure to the selected clutch until a first control pressure is reached. Thereafter, air from the supply is supplied at a programmed rate to the selected clutch to continue inflation of the clutch until a second control pressure is reached whereupon a boost valve is actuated to connect full supply air pressure to the selected clutch. A governor control valve also receives the air output of the relay valve proportional to throttle position.

Abstract: A flexible coupling is formed by a pair of hubs adapted for mounting on a pair of shafts and interconnected by a flexible serpentine grid. One of the hubs is formed as an indexing assembly including an outer hub member having a first series of internal gear teeth, an inner hub member journaled in the outer hub member and having a second series of external gear teeth of a different count, and an indexing ring having external and internal gear teeth that mate with the respective first and second series of teeth. The indexing ring is removable axially from between the inner and outer hub members so that the inner hub member and the shaft upon which it is mounted can be rotated relative to the outer hub member. The indexing ring is then reinserted. When fully assembled, an end ring seals the mating teeth and defines a lubricant reservoir for the mating teeth.

Abstract: A lubricant wiper of the type used to wipe lubricant from a rotating member has a curved wiping surface and is pivotally mounted adjacent to the rotating member in such a manner that the curved wiping surface of the wiper is maintained by gravity in contact with the side of said rotating member to wipe lubricant therefrom. In the preferred embodiment, the wiper is pivotally mounted on a support and has a center of gravity to the opposite side of the pivot point from the curved wiping surface. The support also carries a trough to collect and transport the lubricant wiped from the rotating member.

Abstract: A flexible shaft coupling is disclosed in which hub members each having a plurality of axially directed peripheral teeth are adapted for mounting on the shafts to be coupled. In one embodiment, the grooves between the teeth are provided with a rounded bottom and a serpentine grid element interconnects the hub members. The grid element has a circular cross section and includes rungs which are seated in the grooves of both hub members. In other embodiments more than one layer of rungs having circular cross sections are seated in the grooves. The grooves may also have side walls which diverge radically outwardly, and the outer layers of rungs may have a greater diameter than the radially inner layers.

Abstract: A backstop is illustrated which includes a one-way clutch formed of an inner race having an annular, projecting cam portion with upright end walls, and an outer race spaced from the cam portion and having a smooth cylindrical inner surface. The cam portion is formed with indentations which define wedge-like spaces with the outer race and a series of rollers are disposed between the races, with one roller in each indentation. The series of rollers are held in spaced relation by a cage. Stop lugs are secured to the side walls of the cam portion and extend radially outwardly to overlie the sides of the roller cage. The roller cage includes capscrews whose heads engage the stop lugs to prevent the rollers from shifting to the deepest part of the indentations. Tension springs connected between the cage and stop lugs urge the cage in the opposite direction to engage the rollers between the races. End covers are secured to the sides of the outer race and are mounted on ball bearings supported on the inner race.