Having Toothed Or Threaded Member To Move Propulsion Unit Or A Segment Of The Propulsion Unit Patents (Class 440/58)
  • Patent number: 11878783
    Abstract: A marine device assembly, such including a trolling motor and/or at least one sonar transducer, is provided for attachment to a watercraft. The trolling motor and/or sonar transducer is attached at an end of a shaft. The marine device assembly includes a position adjustment assembly comprising a plurality of rotatable drums surrounding the shaft that are configured to adjust the rotational and/or vertical position of the trolling motor and/or sonar transducer(s) in accordance with a position adjustment command. In various aspects, the drums are configured to independently rotate about the shaft in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction so as to cause the trolling motor and/or sonar transducer(s) to rotate about the central axis of the shaft and/or translate along the central axis of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Navico, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Donald Frederick Raffills, Antony Michael Mackenzie
  • Patent number: 11880002
    Abstract: A manually rotatable sonar transducer mounting apparatus for mounting a sonar transducer to a boat and providing a means to mechanically rotate a submerged sonar transducer with little mechanical effort or movement and with very little sound. A method for rotating a submerged sonar transducer using the manually rotatable sonar transducer mounting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Sniper Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Charlie M. Helms, III, Timothy D. Tipton
  • Patent number: 11697482
    Abstract: A jack plate has an assembly having a motor plate configured to support an outboard motor, and having a hull mount configured to mount to a boat hull such that the jack plate assembly has an adjusting bolt that when rotated raises the motor plate in relation to the position of the assembly on the hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventor: David Edward Vance, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11407481
    Abstract: A trolling motor control system to control the operation of a trolling motor including a rotatable propulsion support shaft to couple a propulsion unit to a boat including a plurality of modules and one or more control devices including a foot pedal control having a foot pedal pivotally mounted to the deck of the boat wherein the plurality of modules includes logic and circuitry to send and receive signals between the modules and to send and receive signals to and from the foot pedal control to synchronize or align the corresponding angular position of rotatable propulsion support shaft in the horizontal plane relative to the longitudinal axis of the boat with the angular position of the foot pedal control in the vertical plane relative to the deck of the boat and to generate tactile feedback to the pivotal foot pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: JLMARING SYSTEMS, INC
    Inventors: John David Oliverio, Nicholas Alexander Vicari, John Rayburn Pierce, David Bailey
  • Patent number: 11161583
    Abstract: A marine propulsion unit includes a motor driving force transmission shaft, a propeller shaft, and a shaft including one of a switching shaft and a drive shaft, and one of the motor driving force transmission shaft and the shaft includes a hollow member, and the other of the motor driving force transmission shaft and the shaft is disposed inside the hollow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Morihiko Nanjo, Akihiro Onoue, Takahiro Oguma
  • Patent number: 10392091
    Abstract: An outboard motor and methods of use thereof in general, includes a powerhead removeably affixed to the transom of a boat, and a gear case rotationally connected to a propeller shaft, the outboard motor including a telescopic drive shaft, the telescopic drive shaft having a first drive shaft section rotationally connected to the motor and a second drive shaft section rotationally connected to the gear case, and a telescopic drive shaft housing, the telescopic drive shaft housing configured to support the telescopic drive shaft internally therethrough, whereby the telescopic drive shaft and the telescopic drive shaft housing are configured to provide depth adjustment for the gear case and the propeller shaft, and thus enable the propeller to be raised and lowered during propulsion to improve propulsion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ROBBY GALLETTA ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Galletta, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10167070
    Abstract: A marine electric power steering system includes an actuator assembly, a gear assembly, and a cable assembly. The actuator assembly has an actuator assembly input and an actuator assembly output. The actuator assembly input is operatively connected to a steering shaft that extends along a steering column axis. The gear assembly includes a first gear that is driven by a second gear and a crank arm extending from the first gear. The cable assembly extends from an end of the crank arm to a steering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: John E. Weber, Brant R. Colbry, Matthew R. Burk
  • Patent number: 10077776
    Abstract: A submersible pump apparatus providing a motor assembly, a pump assembly, and a plastic pump housing. The motor assembly is either a canned motor assembly or a four inch motor assembly. The canned motor assembly is designed to prevent the immediate destruction of the submersible pump apparatus upon the occurrence of the breaching or leaking of the seals. The pump assembly is designed with either a single stage pump or multiple stage pump that utilizes a unique combination of propellers and intermediate flow straighteners, and driving mechanisms for the same. The plastic pump housing is designed to accommodate attachment of either the canned motor assembly or the four inch motor assembly to the same pump assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Inventor: Willis Dane
  • Patent number: 9896175
    Abstract: An outboard motor and methods of use thereof in general, includes a powerhead removeably affixed to the transom of a boat, and a gear case rotationally connected to a propeller shaft, the outboard motor including a telescopic drive shaft, the telescopic drive shaft having a first drive shaft section rotationally connected to the motor and a second drive shaft section rotationally connected to the gear case, and a telescopic drive shaft housing, the telescopic drive shaft housing configured to support the telescopic drive shaft internally therethrough, whereby the telescopic drive shaft and the telescopic drive shaft housing are configured to provide depth adjustment for the gear case and the propeller shaft, and thus enable the propeller to be raised and lowered during propulsion to improve propulsion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Robert J. Galletta, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9783279
    Abstract: A propulsion unit is disclosed with a hollow strut having an upper portion with an upper end portion passing through a passage (P1) formed between a first outer bottom and a second inner bottom in a vessel. The upper end portion is rotatably supported with a slewing bearing and sealed with a slewing seal towards the vessel. A cooling arrangement includes a cooling air duct system, at least one fan and at least one cooling unit. The slewing seal can include an upper slewing seal and a lower slewing seal at a vertical distance (H1) from each other with a space formed between the slewing seals. The upper end portion has openings (O1) into the space between the slewing seals. A first cooling air duct is directed to this space, whereby cooling air (L1) can be circulated through the first cooling air duct (400) into the space and through the openings (O1) in the upper end portion to the interior of the strut, or return air (L2) can be circulated from the strut in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Kiiskila, Ville Kortelainen, Mirva Nevalainen, Tero Tamminen
  • Patent number: 9522723
    Abstract: A method for controlling movement of drive units on a marine vessel includes receiving an operator request for a desired steering angle. A first drive unit's steering angle is set equal to the desired steering angle. A midpoint of a wetted surface area of the vessel hull is determined and a pivot line extending laterally through the midpoint and perpendicular to the hull's longitudinal axis is defined. A first intersection point of the pivot line and a line extending horizontally through the first drive unit's steering axis and parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second intersection point of the pivot line and a line representing perpendicular application of hydrodynamic force on the first drive unit are determined. A second drive unit's steering angle is set such that a line representing perpendicular application of hydrodynamic force on the second drive unit intersects the pivot line at the second intersection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Andrasko, Kenneth G. Gable
  • Patent number: 9359057
    Abstract: A system for controlling movement of a plurality of drive units on a marine vessel has a control circuit communicatively connected to each drive unit. When the marine vessel is turning, the control circuit defines one of the drive units as an inner drive unit and another of the drive units as an outer drive unit. The control circuit calculates an inner drive unit steering angle and an outer drive unit steering angle and sends control signals to actuate the inner and outer drive units to the inner and outer drive unit steering angles, respectively, so as to cause each of the inner and outer drive units to incur substantially the same hydrodynamic load while the marine vessel is turning. An absolute value of the outer drive unit steering angle is less than an absolute value of the inner drive unit steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Andrasko, Kenneth G. Gable
  • Patent number: 9216804
    Abstract: Pod drive which can be fitted to a vessel and which is provided with an electric motor which drives a propeller shaft which is likewise provided in the housing of the pod drive and is connected to a propeller which is situated outside the latter. It is proposed to use a fast-rotating electric motor in combination with a reduction gearing for driving the propeller shaft. The mounting of the propeller shaft is made particularly stable by mounting it on both sides of the electric motor. The reduction gearing may include a planetary system. The electric motor may be fitted next to the hollow propeller shaft. In this case, several electric motors can be arranged around the central propeller shaft. It is also possible to make the rotor of the electric motor hollow and to fit the propeller shaft inside the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: BLUE THRUSTER B.V.
    Inventors: Markus van der Laan, Herbert Jan Koelman, Walter Arnold van Gruijthuijsen, Jan Verhaar, Dirk Johannes de Blaeij
  • Patent number: 9180952
    Abstract: A nautical variable-trim (10) steering and propulsion assembly that can be associated to the underside of the bottom (11) of a watercraft and in communication with a motor unit (12) located within said watercraft, said assembly (10) comprising a widened base (13) of resting on said watercraft, a shaft (14) connected on one side to said base (13) and on another side to a supporting torpedo-shaped element (15) defining the axis of rotation (16) of at least one propeller (17) set at least one end of said torpedo-shaped element (15), moreover being provided a directional fin-shaped skeg (18, 18?) associated to said torpedo-shaped element (15) rotating about the axis of said shaft element (14) for controlling the directionality of said watercraft, characterized in that said directional fin-shaped skeg (18, 18?) is in addition rotating about an axis parallel to said axis (16) of said at least one propeller (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: FB DESIGN S.R.L.
    Inventor: Fabio Buzzi
  • Patent number: 9126666
    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: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Seven Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Eric A. Davis, Richard A. Davis
  • Patent number: 9073615
    Abstract: An exemplary propulsion arrangement is disclosed which includes two propulsion units situated side by side at the stern of a ship at opposite sides of a center line of the hull of the ship. Each propulsion unit can include a hollow support structure attached to the hull, a chamber attached to the support structure, an electric motor within the chamber, a propeller connected through a shaft to the electric motor, and a pivotably supported rudder at the rear end of the chamber. Each propulsion unit can be mounted in a toe-out position forming a horizontal tilt angle (?) of 0.5 to 6 degrees to the center line (CL) of the hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ABB OY
    Inventor: Kimmo Kokkila
  • Patent number: 8843318
    Abstract: To measure salinity and water temperature in a marine surface layer using data obtained by a marine radar, a deviation ?S' between effect of an ocean wave on received power RSI0? in a reference time zone and effect of the ocean wave on received power RSIm? in a measurement time zone is estimated, a deviation ?s? between effect of the ocean wave on the received power RSI0? in the reference time zone and effect of the ocean wave on the received power in an electrical conductivity variable time zone is estimated, a regression function f(?) of a relationship between received power obtained by subtracting the deviation ?s? from the received power in the electrical conductivity variable time zone and electrical conductivity ? in the electrical conductivity variable time zone is estimated, and a value of electrical conductivity ?c in a measurement time zone is estimated, thereby calculating practical salinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
    Inventor: Takumi Yoshii
  • Patent number: 8795011
    Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion apparatus includes a transom bracket, a steering shaft, an outboard motor, a tilt mechanism, and a steering mechanism. The steering shaft is joined to the transom bracket, and is turnable around a steering axis extending in an up-down direction. The outboard motor is joined to the steering shaft, turnable around a tilt axis, and turnable around the steering axis together with the steering shaft. The tilt mechanism is arranged to turn the outboard motor around the tilt axis with respect to the steering shaft. The steering mechanism includes a power conversion mechanism arranged to convert power of the electric motor into turning of the steering shaft around the steering axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takase, Takashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8500500
    Abstract: A swash plate mechanism consists of a drive element that can be rotated about a main axis, a transmission element that can be rotated about a swash plate axis, the swash plate axis intersecting the main axis at a swash plate angle and rotating about the main axis together with the drive element, a power take-off element and a supporting element. A first coupler is arranged between the transmission element and the power take-off element and a second coupler is arranged between the transmission element and the supporting element, with at least one of the two couplers being a pair of teeth, and with the teeth of the pairs of teeth serving as coupling means being designed as spur toothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Joerg Boerner
  • Patent number: 8393925
    Abstract: In a steering device for an outboard engine, a drive shaft of a helm mechanism and an output shaft of an electric assist mechanism are disposed orthogonally to a steering output shaft of a steering operation member. Where the steering operation member is a tiller handle, a torque sensor, provided between an outboard engine body and the tiller handle, detects, as steering torque, a difference between steering angles of the engine body and the tiller handle, and the helm mechanism, drivable by the assist mechanism, operates to compensate for the difference between the steering angles. The assist mechanism and the helm mechanism are provided on the body of the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Harada, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Koichi Oka
  • Patent number: 8388392
    Abstract: A steering device for an outboard engine includes: a helm mechanism operable, in response to operation of a steering wheel, to steer the outboard engine and including a drive shaft parallel to an output shaft of the operation member; an electric assist mechanism for detecting steering torque, applied to the steering wheel, to assist operation of the helm mechanism on the basis of the detected steering torque; and a power transmission section for connecting the output shaft of the steering wheel and the helm mechanism to transmit rotation of the output shaft to the helm mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Harada, Koichi Oka
  • Patent number: 8340846
    Abstract: A boat propelling system capable of determining operation accuracy of a transmission mechanism includes an outboard engine main body, a swivel bracket arranged to allow the outboard engine main body to pivot in a right-left direction with respect to a hull, an electric motor provided in the swivel bracket to pivot the outboard engine main body in the right-left direction, a pivot sensor provided in the electric motor to detect a pivot angle of a motor shaft, a transmission mechanism provided in the swivel bracket to transmit a driving force of the electric motor to the outboard engine main body, a pivot sensor arranged to detect an actual pivot angle of the outboard engine main body, and an Electronic Control Unit arranged and programmed to control an operation of the boat propelling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Mizutani, Ryuta Hayami
  • Patent number: 8246398
    Abstract: In an outboard marine motor including an upper case (4) enclosing an engine (E) and a lower case (5) fitted with a propeller (12) and connected to a lower end of the upper case, the lower case is configured to be turned relative to the upper case around a vertical axial line. The power of the engine is transmitted to the propeller via a vertical drive shaft (10) which is coaxial with the vertical axial line. Thereby, the outboard marine motor can be steered simply by turning the lower case. Because the upper case having a relatively large lateral dimension as compared with the lower case is not required to be turned, a large steering angle can be achieved without the outboard marine motor interfering with watercraft having the outboard marine motor mounted thereon. This is particularly beneficial when two or more outboard marine motors are used one next to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Inaba
  • Patent number: 8246399
    Abstract: In an outboard marine motor including an upper case (4) enclosing an engine (E) and a lower case (5) fitted with a propeller (12) and connected to a lower end of the upper case, the lower case is configured to be turned relative to the upper case around a vertical axial line which is coaxial with a vertical drive shaft (10) that transmit torque of the engine to the propeller. Thereby, the outboard marine motor can be steered simply by turning the lower case. Because the upper case having a relatively large lateral dimension as compared with the lower case is not required to be turned, a large steering angle can be achieved without the outboard marine motor interfering with watercraft having the outboard marine motor mounted thereon. In particular, the lower case is turned by an actuator including an electric motor and a worm gear mechanism (50) for transmitting an output torque of the electric motor to the lower case so that a high speed reduction ratio can be achieved by using a highly compact structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Inaba
  • Patent number: 8246400
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for a propulsion device includes a swivel portion, a motor, a lock portion, and a lock release mechanism. The motor is arranged to generate a driving force to turn the propulsion device main body in right and left directions. The lock portion is provided in a transmission path of the driving force. The lock portion is arranged to transmit a force from an upstream side to a downstream side thereof and to be locked when a force is applied from the downstream side to thereby prevent a turning of the propulsion device main body in the right and left directions. The lock release mechanism is provided in the transmission path at the downstream side relative to the lock portion. The lock release mechanism is arranged to shut off or stop a transmission of force to the upstream side thereof to thereby prevent application of the force to the lock portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ichikawa, Yukinori Nose, Makoto Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8197292
    Abstract: The invention concerns a marine vessel propulsion system that can be set into an opening of a boat's hull and which comprises a propulsion and steering unit (9) that can be rotated or swivelled about a vertical axis (z) and which is fixed to the hull by a securing mechanism (12) having a predetermined fracture point or level. It is proposed that a protective plate (13) is arranged on the boat's hull in the aft direction (opposite to the direction of travel F) and behind the propulsion and steering unit (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Davis, Niel M. Schueller, Andrea Pellegrinetti, Michele Zottele
  • Patent number: 8162706
    Abstract: A watercraft can have an electric motor mounted on a screw bar extending in a right/left direction. The electric motor can move along the screw bar in the right/left direction to steer an outboard motor, or another part of a different marine propulsion system. One or more springs can be provided at the ends of the screw bar. When the outboard motor whose steered angle exists in a predetermined angle range including the maximum steered angle is steered back to a neutral position, either one of the springs presses the electric motor toward the center of the screw bar to assist the steering torque of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Mizutani, Ryuji Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20120094558
    Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion apparatus includes a transom bracket, a steering shaft, an outboard motor, a tilt mechanism, and a steering mechanism. The steering shaft is joined to the transom bracket, and is turnable around a steering axis extending in an up-down direction. The outboard motor is joined to the steering shaft, turnable around a tilt axis, and turnable around the steering axis together with the steering shaft. The tilt mechanism is arranged to turn the outboard motor around the tilt axis with respect to the steering shaft. The steering mechanism includes a power conversion mechanism arranged to convert power of the electric motor into turning of the steering shaft around the steering axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKASE, Takashi KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20110117798
    Abstract: In a steering device for an outboard engine, a drive shaft of a helm mechanism and an output shaft of an electric assist mechanism are disposed orthogonally to a steering output shaft of a steering operation member. Where the steering operation member is a tiller handle, a torque sensor, provided between an outboard engine body and the tiller handle, detects, as steering torque, a difference between steering angles of the engine body and the tiller handle, and the helm mechanism, drivable by the assist mechanism, operates to compensate for the difference between the steering angles. The assist mechanism and the helm mechanism are provided on the body of the boat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Harada, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Koichi Oka
  • Publication number: 20110117799
    Abstract: A steering device for an outboard engine includes: a helm mechanism operable, in response to operation of a steering wheel, to steer the outboard engine and including a drive shaft parallel to an output shaft of the operation member; an electric assist mechanism for detecting steering torque, applied to the steering wheel, to assist operation of the helm mechanism on the basis of the detected steering torque; and a power transmission section for connecting the output shaft of the steering wheel and the helm mechanism to transmit rotation of the output shaft to the helm mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Harada, Koichi Oka
  • Patent number: 7871302
    Abstract: An outboard motor for small watercraft, such as a pleasure boat, has a capability of changing between a forward shift position and a reverse shift position by causing a lower part of the unit to rotate in small increments and move along an arc formed by a ratchet plate secured above the propeller assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventor: Brian Provost
  • Publication number: 20100105261
    Abstract: In a power steering apparatus of a watercraft 1 with propeller having a steering handle provided in a bow end of a hull, a propeller provided in a stern end of the hull, and a steering assist apparatus interposed in a steering force transmission path transmitting a steering force applied to the steering handle to the propeller, the steering assist apparatus is arranged in an intermediate portion of a steering cable constructing a propelling force transmission path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masanobu MIYAZAKI
  • Patent number: 7699674
    Abstract: A steering mechanism connects the shaft of an actuator with a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder and provides a spool valve in which the spool valve housing is attached to the hydraulic cylinder and the shaft of the actuator extends through a cylindrical opening in a spool of the spool valve. The connector is connectable to a steering arm of a marine propulsion device and the spool valve housing is connectable to a transom of a marine vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Wald, Jason K. Angolano
  • Patent number: 7662005
    Abstract: An outboard motor for small watercraft, such as a pleasure boat, has a capability of changing between a forward shift position and a reverse shift position by causing a lower part of the unit to rotate in small increments and move along an arc formed by a ratchet plate secured above the propeller assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventor: Brian Provost
  • Patent number: 7559813
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pod ship propulsion System comprising a housing (3) connected to a ship hüll (2), an electric drive motor (8) mounted inside the housing at least one propeller (4) disposed outside the housing, wherein said electric drive motor is connected to the propeller by means a hydrodynamic gear (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Basteck
  • Patent number: 7517262
    Abstract: A swivel bracket of an outboard motor pivots about an axis of a tilt shaft disposed at a front end of the bracket unit and extending horizontally in a vertical plane to adjust a tilt angle and a trim angle of the outboard motor. A steering system for the outboard motor includes a pivotal gear attached to the swivel shaft, a drive mechanism driving the pivotal gear, and an electric motor providing drive force to the drive mechanism. Preferably these steering system components are positioned between the swivel bracket and an engine cowling of the outboard motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7438615
    Abstract: Outboard drive for boats, including a gear housing, an underwater housing connected rotatably to the gear housing, and a mounting element arranged between the gear housing and the underwater housing for mounting the drive in a boat hull with the gear housing on the inside and the underwater housing on the outside of the hull and including an exhaust passage with an exhaust outlet. The exhaust outlet is surrounded by a plate made of polytetrafluoroethylene fixed on the underside of the mounting element. The underwater housing is rotatable relative to the gear housing by an electric servomotor communicating with a control computer, which communicates with an engine control computer for an internal combustion engine connected to the drive and is arranged so as, when the engine is shut off, to give a signal to the servomotor to put the underwater housing in a position corresponding to moving straight ahead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventor: Lennart Arvidsson
  • Publication number: 20080200080
    Abstract: A swivel bracket of an outboard motor pivots about an axis of a tilt shaft disposed at a front end of the bracket unit and extending horizontally in a vertical plane to adjust a tilt angle and a trim angle of the outboard motor. A steering system for the outboard motor includes a pivotal gear attached to the swivel shaft, a drive mechanism driving the pivotal gear, and an electric motor providing drive force to the drive mechanism. Preferably these steering system components are positioned between the swivel bracket and an engine cowling of the outboard motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: YAMAHA MARINE KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20080166934
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a propulsion arrangement for a marine vessel, which propulsion arrangement comprises an internal combustion engine, a shaft arrangement and a steerable thruster unit. The marine vessel further comprises an electric generator or a combined electric generator and motor in connection with the propulsion arrangement. In order to reduce space requirements and required equipment as well as to raise efficiency, the shaft arrangement comprises a main shaft extending from the internal combustion engine to a first angle gear and a drive shaft extending from the first angle gear to a second angle gear in the steerable thruster unit. The electric generator or the combined electric generator and motor is connected to the drive shaft of the shaft arrangement after the main shaft and the first angle gear are connected thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: WARTSILA FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Oskar Levander, Susanna Hannula
  • Patent number: 7267587
    Abstract: A swivel bracket can be attached to a transom plate of a watercraft by means of a clamp bracket. A steering bracket can be rotationally provided in a swivel shaft of the swivel bracket. An outboard motor body can be secured to the steering bracket. An electric motor can be housed in the outboard motor and engaged with a stationary gear secured to the swivel bracket by way of a reduction gear. Driven by the electric motor, the steering bracket turns relative to the swivel bracket, causing the outboard motor body to turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Oguma, Makoto Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7255616
    Abstract: A steering system for a marine propulsion device eliminates the need for two support pins and provides a hydraulic cylinder with a protuberance and an opening which cooperate with each other to allow a hydraulic cylinder's system to be supported by a single pin for rotation about a pivot axis. The single pin allows the hydraulic cylinder to be supported by an inner transom plate in a manner that allows it to rotate in conformance with movement of a steering arm of a marine propulsion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 7220156
    Abstract: In an outboard motor steering control system having an actuator steering the outboard motor, three rotation angle sensors each detecting a rotation angle of a steering wheel, three steering angle sensors each detecting a steering angle of the outboard motor, and a controller determining a drive current to be supplied to the actuator based on the detected rotation angle and steering angle and supplies the current to the actuator to control its operation, the steering angle is estimated based on the current and a detected engine speed, and the controller determines the current based on the detected rotation angle and the estimated steering angle, when all of the steering angle sensors are detected to have failed, thereby enabling steering of the outboard motor to be continued even when the steering angle sensors have all failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yazaki, Shinsaku Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7168383
    Abstract: In a steering apparatus for a ship propeller in which a steering handle is provided within a ship body, a propelling unit is fixed to a steering shaft rotatably supported to an attaching bracket fixed to the ship body. A steering cable connected to the steering handle is coupled to a steering arm fixed to the steering shaft. A motor-driven steering assist apparatus for assisting a steering force applied to the steering handle by a driver on the basis of a torque generated by the electric motor is interposed between the steering handle and the steering cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventor: Mitsuo Saito
  • Patent number: 6935907
    Abstract: A pod unit including a pod housing (1) and an assembly unit (6), a so called seating, for the pod housing (1), wherein the seating (6) has a lower portion (6A) and an upper portion (6F) as well as a base (15) for the installation of the pod housing (1) which comprises a lower casing portion (1A) for the accommodation of a propulsion unit (2, 3, 4), an intermediate portion (1B) comprising air ducts (9, 10), and an upper portion (13), which is fixedly connected to a steering engine (14, 18, 19), with a gear ring (14) to be fixed at the base (15). A cooling system having at least one fan (7) is mounted within the seating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Stig Lönngren
  • Patent number: 6892662
    Abstract: To provide a power steering device for a boat with an outboard motor which helps to realize easy drive with small steering force without taking waterproofness into consideration. A gear device (4) is provided for driving a link mechanism for turning and steering an outboard motor main body at the rear of the boat body through a cable by a steering wheel (2). A steering torque input to the gear device (4) by the steering wheel (2) is detected by a torque sensor (35) to assist-drive the gear device 4 in the steering direction by an electric motor (27), a helical pinion (25), and a helical wheel (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Watanabe, Koichiro Awano, Takashi Okumura
  • Publication number: 20040175998
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pod unit comprising a pod housing (1) and an assembly unit (6), a so called seating, for the pod housing (1), wherein the seating (6) comprises a lower portion (6A) and an upper portion (6F) as well as a base (15) for the installation of said pod housing (1) which comprises a lower casing portion (1A) for the accommodation of a propulsion unit (2, 3, 4), an intermediate portion (1B) comprising air ducts (9, 10), and an upper portion (13), which is fixedly connected to a steering engine (14, 18, 19), with a gear ring (14) to be fixed at said base (15). The invention is characterized therein that a cooling system comprising at least a fan (7) is mounted within the seating (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Stig Lonngren
  • Patent number: 6783409
    Abstract: A pod unit including a pod housing (1) and an assembly unit (6), a so called seating, for the pod housing (1), wherein the seating (6) has a lower portion (6A) and an upper portion (6F) as well as a base (15) for the installation of the pod housing (1) which comprises a lower casing portion (1A) for the accommodation of a propulsion unit (2, 3, 4), an intermediate portion (1B) comprising air ducts (9, 10), and an upper portion (1C), which is fixedly connected to a steering engine (14, 18, 19), with a gear ring (14) to be fixed at said base (15). A cooling system comprising having at least one fan (7) is mounted within the seating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Stig Lönngren
  • Patent number: 6688927
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a propeller drive arrangement and a method for moving and steering a vessel. The arrangement comprises an azimuthing propulsion unit and operating equipment for turning said azimuthing propulsion unit to steer the vessel. The operating equipment comprises an electric motor for rotating said propulsion unit by means of a mechanical power transmission machinery connected to said electric motor. A power unit supplies electric power to said electric motor. A control unit controls the operation of said electric motor by controlling said power unit. The arrangement also comprises a sensor device for detecting the rotational position of said azimuthing propulsion unit. A control unit is arranged to process steering command information from a control means and turning position information from said sensor device and to control the operation of said electric motor on the basis of this processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Jussi Aarnivuo
  • Publication number: 20030148676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pod unit comprising a pod housing (1) and an assembly unit (6), a so called seating, for the pod housing (1), wherein the seating (6) comprises a lower portion (6A) and an upper portion (6F) as well as a base (15) for the installation of said pod housing (1) which comprises a lower casing portion (1A) for the accommodation of a propulsion unit (2, 3, 4), an intermediate portion (1B) comprising air ducts (9, 10), and an upper portion (13), which is fixedly connected to a steering engine (14, 18, 19), with a gear ring (14) to be fixed at said base (15). The invention is characterised therein that a cooling system comprising at least a fan (7) is mounted within the seating (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Stig Lonngren
  • Patent number: 6431928
    Abstract: A propeller drive arrangement for moving and steering a vessel traveling in water. The propeller drive arrangement includes an azimuthing propulsion unit, a power supply, a control unit, and a sensor means. An operating means is provided for turning the azimuthing propulsion unit it relation to the hull of the vessel for steering the vessel in accordance with a steering command controlled by the vessel's steering control device. The operating means also includes a second electric motor for turning the azimuthing propulsion unit via a mechanical power transmission that is connected to the second electric motor. The sensor means is connected to the control unit and used for detecting the rotational position of the azimuthing propulsion unit. The control unit is configured so that both the steering command information originating from the steering control device and the rotational position information originating from the sensor means can be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Azipod Oy
    Inventor: Jussi Aarnivuo