Patents by Inventor Thomas F. Nickols

Thomas F. Nickols 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).

  • Publication number: 20240051650
    Abstract: A transom bracket assembly is for supporting a marine drive on a marine vessel. The assembly comprises a transom bracket comprising a swivel cylinder, a steering arm extending from the marine drive, a swivel tube having a first end coupled to the steering arm and a second end seated in the swivel cylinder so that steering of the steering arm relative to the transom bracket rotates the swivel tube in the swivel cylinder about a steering axis for the marine drive, and a yoke which couples the second end of the swivel tube to the marine drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Nickols, Jeremy J. Kraus
  • Patent number: 11548604
    Abstract: A marine engine has a crankshaft that rotates about a crankshaft axis; a crankcase supporting the crankshaft, the crankcase being made primarily of a first material; and a cover on the crankcase. The cover includes a heat exchanger having an inner plate facing an interior of the crankcase, and the inner plate is located such that rotation of the crankshaft causes lubricant in the crankcase to impinge upon the inner plate. The cover also includes a frame holding the heat exchanger and isolating the heat exchanger from direct contact with the crankcase. At least a portion of the frame is made of a second material that is more compliant than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Misorski, Thomas F. Nickols, Daniel P. Hoffman, David J. Belter
  • Patent number: 11346258
    Abstract: A marine engine has an intake camshaft, an exhaust camshaft, and a crankshaft. Combustion in the marine engine causes rotation of the crankshaft which in turn causes rotation of the intake camshaft and exhaust camshaft. Rotation of the intake camshaft operates intake valves for controlling inflow of air to the marine engine. Rotation of the exhaust camshaft operates exhaust valves for controlling outflow of exhaust gas from the marine engine. A cam phaser is located at least partially inside at least one of the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft and is configured to vary a timing of operation of at least one of the intake valves and exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Nickols, Daniel P. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20210278846
    Abstract: A system for a marine vessel includes a controller in signal communication with a marine propulsion device and controlling operation of the marine propulsion device to produce thrust to propel the marine vessel at a vessel speed. A user interface receives user inputs and is in signal communication with the controller. A first sensor determines the vessel speed and is in signal communication with the controller. A second sensor determines a non-speed condition of the marine vessel and is in signal communication with the controller. In response to a given user input from the user interface, the controller controls operation of the marine propulsion device based on feedback from the first sensor to prevent the vessel speed from exceeding a maximum speed limit. The controller reduces the maximum speed limit in response to determining that the non-speed condition of the marine vessel meets a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas F. Nickols
  • Patent number: 11066968
    Abstract: A marine engine has a crankcase containing lubricant; an intake plenum for conveying intake air for combustion in the marine engine; and a cooling apparatus located between the crankcase and the intake plenum. The cooling apparatus is configured to cool both the lubricant in the crankcase and the intake air in the intake plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Nickols, James E. Clevenger, Daniel P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10858974
    Abstract: A marine engine has a cylinder block comprising first and second banks of cylinders disposed along a longitudinal axis and extending transversely with respect to each other in a V-shape so as to define a valley there between; and a lubricant cooler located in the valley and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. The lubricant cooler has a lubricant conduit that conveys engine lubricant parallel to the longitudinal axis and then transversely to the longitudinal axis to the cylinder block. The lubricant cooler further has a cooling conduit that conveys cooling fluid alongside the lubricant conduit to thereby cool the lubricant conduit and the engine lubricant therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel P. Hoffman, Thomas F. Nickols, Alex Andrej Shozda
  • Patent number: 10344639
    Abstract: A marine engine has a crankcase having a crankshaft that rotates about a vertical crankshaft axis; a cover on the crankcase; and a cooling member disposed in the crankcase. The cooling member has an inner surface that faces the crankshaft and an outer surface that faces the cover. The cooling member is configured such that rotation of the crankshaft causes lubricant in the crankcase to impinge on and drain down both the inner and outer surfaces of the cooling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Nickols, Daniel P. Hoffman, Gregg D. Langenfeld
  • Patent number: 10336429
    Abstract: A cowling for an outboard motor has port and starboard intake ports that direct flow of intake air into the cowling and extend downwardly along the aftward side of the cowling and face laterally outwardly. A duct system receives and conveys intake air intake ports to an intake conduit for the outboard motor. The duct system includes port and starboard intake troughs that extend alongside the intake ports and redirect the intake air from a generally lateral flow into the intake ports to a generally vertically downward flow and then to a generally forward flow towards the intake conduit. Port and starboard baffles that extend alongside the intake ports and direct flow of water into port and starboard channels located alongside the baffles, respectively. The channels drain the water by gravity depending on tilt and trim orientation of the outboard motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Amerling, Evan N. Kobman, Thomas F. Nickols, Chetan A. Dharmadhikari
  • Patent number: 10232923
    Abstract: A marine drive for propelling a marine vessel includes a lower gearcase, a propeller shaft laterally extending through the lower gearcase and configured to support a propeller, a propeller shaft bearing hub supporting the propeller shaft in the lower gearcase, and an exhaust passage that conveys exhaust gas through the lower gearcase to an underwater discharge outlet. The exhaust passage includes a first leg that conveys the exhaust gas downwardly in the lower gearcase and a second leg that redirects the exhaust gas laterally from the first leg to the underwater discharge outlet. The propeller shaft bearing hub comprises curved vanes that laterally redirects the exhaust gas from the first leg towards the underwater discharge outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Randy K. Novak, Thomas F. Nickols
  • Patent number: 10190529
    Abstract: A marine engine has a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinders. A cooling jacket is formed in the cylinder block and is configured to convey cooling fluid alongside the plurality of cylinders. The cooling jacket has a top end and a bottom end. A ledge is formed in the cylinder block. The ledge radially extends into cooling jacket at a location between the top end and the bottom end. A spacer is disposed in the cooling jacket and supported by the ledge so that the spacer remains spaced apart from the bottom end, thereby maintaining a lower cooling passage between the spacer and the bottom end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas F. Nickols, Trevor George, Vinodh Kumar Balakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20170073056
    Abstract: A drivetrain for a marine propulsion device includes an engine driving a crankshaft in a first direction, and a driveshaft connected in torque-transmitting relationship with the crankshaft and supported for rotation about a driveshaft axis. The drivetrain further includes a propeller shaft rotatable about a propeller shaft axis. A gearset and a selector clutch are configured to couple the propeller shaft and the driveshaft to each other in torque-transmitting relationship. A one-way clutch is disposed along the drivetrain upstream of the gearset. The one-way clutch prevents rotation of the crankshaft in a second, opposite direction so as to prevent ingestion of water by the engine via an engine exhaust system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: BRUNSWICK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bernard E. Ritger, Steven J. Gonring, Thomas F. Nickols