Propulsion Unit Casing Patents (Class 440/76)
  • Patent number: 11580837
    Abstract: Described herein are head orientation training devices for sports training and systems including such devices. A head orientation training device (HOTD) can include a position sensor configured to sense a tilt of the device, continually, while the device is activated. The HOTD can also include a computing device, configured to retrieve the tilt of the device from the position sensor, repeatedly, while the apparatus is activated. Also, the computing device of the HOTD can be configured to activate an alarm (such an audible or a visual alert) when the tilt of the apparatus exceeds a tilt threshold. The tilt threshold can be user definable as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Pedro Pachuca Rodriguez, James Young Li, Mason Seaton Freeny
  • Patent number: 11492088
    Abstract: A boat has a rear platform including a pivotable hatch. A marine outboard engine has a bumper connected to the engine unit housing. When mounted to the boat, the marine outboard engine is located under the hatch and is pivotable from a trim range to a tilt range. When the hatch is in a closed position and the marine outboard engine is in the tilt range, pivoting the marine outboard engine upwardly to a first engine position causes the bumper to abut a bottom surface of the hatch. Pivoting the marine outboard engine upwardly from the first engine position to a second engine position causes the bumper to push up on the bottom surface of the hatch and to slide against the bottom surface of the hatch, thereby pivoting the hatch from the closed position to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: George Broughton
  • Patent number: 11046405
    Abstract: A rigging hose housing is provided to couple a rigging hose to a marine vessel. The rigging hose housing includes a radial mounting plate; an outer cylindrical wall extending perpendicularly from the radial mounting plate a first height above a bottom surface of the radial mounting plate; an inner cylindrical wall extending perpendicularly from the radial mounting plate a second height above the bottom surface of the radial mounting plate; and a gutter formed between the inner cylindrical wall and the outer cylindrical wall. The gutter terminates in a drain hole formed in the outer cylindrical wall. The drain hole is configured to permit the expulsion of fluid collected in the gutter from the rigging hose housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Groeschel, Donald D. Swiertz
  • Patent number: 10710691
    Abstract: A marine drive includes an engine; a cowl having first and second cowl portions. The first cowl portion is movable with respect to the second cowl portion into an open position in which the engine is manually accessible and a closed position in which the engine is enclosed; and a rigging port in the second cowl portion. The rigging port provides a passageway for rigging connectors extending from the engine to a component located remotely from the engine. A rigging opening provides manual access to the rigging connectors and the engine, including when the first cowl portion is in the closed position. A removable access door covers the rigging opening and prevents manual access to the engine and rigging connectors via the rigging opening. The removable access door is fastened to the second cowl portion by a removable fastener that is hidden from view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Amerling, Brad J. VanRuiswyk
  • Patent number: 10583907
    Abstract: A small marine vessel includes a vessel body, a propulsion device, a propulsion device housing provided in a rear portion of the vessel body and that houses the propulsion device, a first cover that substantially covers and seals the propulsion device housing, and a second cover disposed above the first cover and that covers the first cover and an opening of the propulsion device housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Koyano
  • Patent number: 10202180
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine coupled in torque-transmitting relationship with a propulsor via a driveshaft. A protective covering for the outboard motor includes a cowl that houses the engine within a closed interior thereof. An opening in an outer surface of the cowl provides access to the closed interior. A rigging tray can be inserted through the opening to a retracted position, in which a majority of the rigging tray is within the closed interior. A plurality of electrical lines extends from the engine and into the rigging tray from a first end thereof. Each electrical line in the plurality of electrical lines terminates in the rigging tray at a respective one of a plurality of electrical connectors. A second end of the rigging tray receives a complementary plurality of vessel electrical lines for connection to the plurality of engine electrical lines via the plurality of electrical connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Amerling, Timothy D. Krupp
  • Patent number: 9296459
    Abstract: In a spacer case for an outboard motor, a rear portion includes an upper fastening hole opening to the upper surface of the spacer case, into which a first fastening member is inserted, and a lower fastening hole opening to the lower surface of the spacer case, into which a second fastening member is inserted. At least one of the upper fastening hole and the lower fastening hole connects to a lateral opening inside the spacer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kimitaka Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 9039469
    Abstract: A marine outboard engine has a cowling having at least one rear panel at a rear end of the cowling. The cowling encloses a power head. A plurality of mount points are disposed inside the cowling and adapted for rigidly mounting a tie-bar bracket. Each mount point is rigidly connected to the power head and has a bracket-mounting hole formed therein. The at least one rear panel has defined thereon a visual indication of an area to be removed to create an opening adapted for receiving therethrough a tie-bar bracket mounted on and extending from the mount points. A tie-bar bracket having a mounting portion and a tie-bar coupling portion is also disclosed. A method of assembling the tie-bar bracket in the cowling is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BRP US INC.
    Inventors: Dave Calamia, Roger Raetzman
  • Patent number: 8858280
    Abstract: An outboard engine has a cowling defining an engine compartment, an internal combustion engine disposed at least in part in the engine compartment, a driveshaft operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, and one of a propeller and an impeller operatively connected to the driveshaft. The one of the propeller and the impeller rotates about an axis that is angled relative to the driveshaft. A device is disposed inside the engine compartment. A box is disposed outside the engine compartment and is operatively connected to the engine compartment. A line has a portion disposed inside the box and an end operatively connected to the device. An outboard engine having a box disposed outside the engine compartment and operatively connected to the bracket is also disclosed. A watercraft having the outboard engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: BRP US Inc.
    Inventors: Dale A. Wiegele, Jeff T. Turner, John Charles Scott, Mark C. Noble, Patrick C. Tetzlaff
  • Patent number: 8668537
    Abstract: An engine case houses engines in the inside of the case and is provided with a propulsion unit outside the case. A case main body housing the engines and assemblies of peripheral parts of the engines, and a case cover covering an opening at an upper portion of the case main body are included. Mufflers are installed on an exterior of a lower surface of the case, and on the lower surface of the case, housing portions housing the mufflers and exhaust hoses are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Daikoku, Tetsushi Achiwa
  • Patent number: 8651904
    Abstract: A propeller drive assembly, for steering and driving a ship (1), comprises a drive motor (2) and a transmission housing (4) secured to a ship hull and a control housing (7) secured to an exterior surface of the hull. The control housing (7) comprises a propeller (8) supported on a driven shaft (6) and the control housing (7) is pivotably coupled, via a steering shaft (10), to the transmission housing (4) for steering the ship (1). A transmission output shaft (5) is connected with the driven shaft (6) and a lubricant circuit of the transmission housing (4) is separate from a lubricant circuit of the control housing (7). At least one sealing element is provided, in a region of a shaft passage of the transmission output shaft (5) and in a region of a shaft passage of the steering shaft (10), for mutually sealing the transmission housing lubricant circuit and the control housing lubricant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andrea Pellegrinetti, Michele Zottele
  • Patent number: 8377266
    Abstract: In a electric corrosion preventing structure of a marine vessel propelling machine, a cylinder is integrally formed in a cylinder block, an electric connection portion is provided in a portion in which a rod guide is fixed to the cylinder, an electric connection portion is provided in a portion in which a piston is fixed to a rod in an inner portion of the cylinder, and the piston fixed to the rod strikes against the rod guide in an electrically connected state, at a maximum extension when the rod protrudes out of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Kagawa
  • Patent number: 8371885
    Abstract: An outboard motor has an internal combustion engine, an engine cover forming an engine compartment for holding the internal combustion engine therein, and a top cover covering the engine cover from above and provided with a carrying grip. An intermediate member is placed in a space between the engine cover and the top cover. First connecting parts for connecting the engine cover and the intermediate member are arranged in a space between the engine cover and the intermediate member, and second connecting parts for connecting the top cover and the intermediate cover are arranged in a space between the top cover and the intermediate cover. The connecting parts arranged in the spaces between the engine cover and the top cover ensure rigid connection, the degree of freedom of arranging the connecting parts is increased, and the engine cover can be manufactured at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Makoto Yazaki, Shinichi Ide, Shigekazu Sakata
  • Patent number: 8333626
    Abstract: A power unit is housed in a casing, and a screw (propeller) is disposed outside the casing, the screw being driven by the power unit. The casing is formed as a watertight case in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with a left-right width direction being a longitudinal direction, and the case has at least a front face portion coupled to a stern portion and a substantially flat upper face portion at a substantially same height as a top portion of the stern portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Keisuke Daikoku
  • Patent number: 8333628
    Abstract: An outboard engine includes a buoyant member (20). The buoyant member has concavities (20L, 20R; 120L, 120R) formed in at least one side thereof. A plurality of outboard engines is mounted in parallel on the stem, and the concavities prevent interference with the other adjacent outboard engines when any of the outboard engines are tilted up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiomi, Tetsuro Ikeno, Takeshi Okada, Masayuki Osumi
  • Patent number: 8267732
    Abstract: A marine drive having a lower gearcase with a vertical drive shaft driving a horizontal propeller shaft in a torpedo housing has a vent plug setting the level of lubricant in the lower gearcase to be substantially at the top of the torpedo housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Randall J. Poirier, John A. Tuchscherer, Thomas S. Lonnborg
  • Patent number: 8241080
    Abstract: An outboard engine unit having a cover halved into two. An undercover is made of a resin and halved into a left resin half and a right resin half. A lower mount cover is made of a resin and halved into a left resin half and a right resin half. The resin halves are formed so that when they are mated together, a gap is defined at a connection therebetween on a rear face side of the outboard engine unit. An elastic rubber member is filled in the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Ichikawa, Koji Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8206192
    Abstract: A boat propulsion engine includes a buoyant member (20) disposed on a case body that houses a drive shaft (47) in order to lift the stern. The buoyant member has a lower surface (32) that slopes downward in the rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiomi, Tetsuro Ikeno, Takeshi Okada
  • Publication number: 20120115376
    Abstract: An engine case houses engines in the inside of the case and is provided with a propulsion unit outside the case. A case main body housing the engines and assemblies of peripheral parts of the engines, and a case cover covering an opening at an upper portion of the case main body are included. Mufflers are installed on an exterior of a lower surface of the case, and on the lower surface of the case, housing portions housing the mufflers and exhaust hoses are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Daikoku, Tetsushi Achiwa
  • Patent number: 7987804
    Abstract: A boat propulsion engine (1) comprises a main body (4) that extends substantially vertically in relation to a hull (Si), a lift generator (20) disposed in a rear portion of the main body (4), and supporting bodies (24) that support the lift generator (20) on the main body (4). The lift generator (20) has a surface (21g, 21h) that extends transversely relative to the main body (4) and that is located behind at least the main body (4). The supporting bodies (24) extend backward from the main body (4) to the lift generator (20) in a single vertical direction relative to a surface (21g, 21h) of the lift generator (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiomi, Tetsuro Ikeno, Takeshi Okada, Toshiro Kiura
  • Patent number: 7934964
    Abstract: In an outboard motor, a lower casing is located below an upper casing, and an engine with a vertically-arranged crankshaft is mounted above the upper casing. The rotation of the crankshaft is transmitted to a drive shaft pivotally supported in the upper casing, has its speed changed by a transmission mounted on the drive shaft, and is transmitted to a propeller shaft pivotally supported in the lower casing. The upper casing includes an upper-side casing and a lower-side casing, and mating surface portions of the upper-side casing and the lower-side casing are laterally wider than an upper section and a lower section of the upper casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihito Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 7880090
    Abstract: A guide element for passing one or more pipes, cables or the like through a wall includes an interposition element between the one or more pipes and the edge of the passage aperture, and an annular clamping flange on one or both sides of the wall. The flange is substantially concentric with the aperture and it is coupled to the wall along an annular perimetric strip surrounding the aperture. The interposition element is an elastic wedging and/or urging element between one or more pipes and the edge of the aperture, and the ring or flange clamps the interposition element in a wedged and/or urged condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ultraflex S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giorgio Gai, Andrea Milanese
  • Publication number: 20100285704
    Abstract: An outboard engine unit having a cover halved into two. An undercover is made of a resin and halved into a left resin half and a right resin half. A lower mount cover is made of a resin and halved into a left resin half and a right resin half. The resin halves are formed so that when they are mated together, a gap is defined at a connection therebetween on a rear face side of the outboard engine unit. An elastic rubber member is filled in the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akiko Ichikawa, Koji Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20100248562
    Abstract: A power unit is housed in a casing, and a screw (propeller) is disposed outside the casing, the screw being driven by the power unit. The casing is formed as a watertight case in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with a left-right width direction being a longitudinal direction, and the case has at least a front face portion coupled to a stern portion and a substantially flat upper face portion at a substantially same height as a top portion of the stern portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keisuke DAIKOKU
  • Patent number: 7744435
    Abstract: An outboard engine system includes: a casing coupled to a swivel case via a swivel shaft; an engine mounted in an upper part of the casing such that a crankshaft of the engine is vertically arranged and a cylinder block of the engine faces in a direction opposite to the swivel shaft; a torque converter; a vertically arranged output shaft connected to the crankshaft through the torque converter; a horizontally arranged propeller shaft provided below the output shaft; and a forward-reverse shifting gear mechanism for providing a connection between the output shaft and the propeller shaft; the torque converter, the output shaft, the propeller shaft and the forward-reverse shifting gear mechanism being disposed in the casing. The crankshaft and the torque converter which is coaxially connected to a lower end of the crankshaft are disposed above the swivel shaft; and the torque converter and the output shaft which is disposed behind the swivel shaft are connected to each other via a transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ide, Yoshiyuki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7704109
    Abstract: A mounting structure for cables for a boat propulsion unit that enables easy insertion of cables into a pass-through hole, as well as highly reliable water-sealing is provided in a bottom cowling of the boat propulsion unit. The cables are inserted in through-holes in a rubber grommet by opening up a slit in the rubber grommet, and then inserting the rubber grommet in a pass-through hole in the port section. The rubber grommet is fit into the pass-through hole in the pressurized condition to water-seal the pass-through hole. The pass-through hole is molded integrally with the bottom cowling. A retaining plate is wrapped around the rubber grommet to prevent the slit from opening up, and the grommet is accommodated in the pass-through hole together with the retainer plate. Then, the retainer plate is fastened to the port section by mounting bolts. Thus, the rubber grommet is fixed within the pass-through hole, and provides water-sealing by filling the gap around the cables within the pass-through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideto Arai, Hiroyuki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7665334
    Abstract: An outboard motor lower-unit lock has a key, a locking pin assembly and a shaft. To install the lock, a user drills a shaft hole the same diameter as the shaft through both sides of a housing unit below an access hole of the housing unit. The shaft is inserted in the shaft hole, and oriented so that a threaded hole in the center of the shaft can receive a threaded pin section of the locking pin. The locking pin receives the key. The key is tightened. Finally, the user removes the key allowing the locking pin to rotate around and below the shaft, thereby obstructing a bolt securing the lower-unit to the housing unit, and preventing the unauthorized removal of the lower-unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Inventor: Pedro Medina
  • Publication number: 20090269994
    Abstract: A marine vessel includes an exterior component fitted to a hull of the marine vessel and a propulsion module configured to be received by the exterior component. The propulsion module includes a power source configured to drive a propeller; a shaft configured to couple the power source and the propeller. The module includes a housing configured to store at least the power source and a portion of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: Gerald Allen Alston
  • Publication number: 20090258551
    Abstract: A hook assembly is arranged to engage with an engaged member to fix a first housing to a second housing of an outboard motor. The hook assembly includes a rotation shaft, a hook member, a lever, and a weight. The rotation shaft is rotatably mounted on the first housing. A recessed portion is provided in the hook member. The recessed portion is arranged to open in first rotation direction. The recessed portion engages with the engaged member. The lever extends from the rotation shaft in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction of the recessed portion. The weight regulates the rotation of the hook member in the second rotation direction when the hook member and the engaged member are engaged together. The arrangement provides a highly-operable hook assembly for the outboard motor that prevents disengagement even when an obstacle collides with the outboard motor during traveling of a boat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei NOMURA, Hiroyuki HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20090209149
    Abstract: A modified marine vessel system including a marine vessel configured to carry and transport marine freight in an ocean environment, and at least one engine module carried on the marine vessel. The engine module includes an engine housed inside a marine freight container. The system further includes a propeller and a power coupling operably connecting the engine and the propeller such that the propeller is rotatably drivable by the engine, wherein the power coupling does not extend through a hull of the marine vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Trailer Bridge, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. McCown
  • Publication number: 20090197487
    Abstract: An outboard motor having an engine cover formed from a lower cover fixed to a casing and an upper cover joined to the lower cover at a first mating surface. A linear member lead-out part is formed from a case part integrally connected to the lower cover. The linear member lead-out part is closer to one side wall and projects forward from a front wall of the lower cover. A lid member is joined to the case part by a second mating surface disposed below the first mating surface. A water entrance chamber is formed in the lower cover and has front and rear walls defined by a pair of wall portions integrally provided with the lower cover while being spaced in a fore-and-aft direction. The water entrance chamber is disposed on the side on which a small gap is formed between the lid member and the lower cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20090170386
    Abstract: In an outboard motor, a lower casing is located below an upper casing, and an engine with a vertically-arranged crankshaft is mounted above the upper casing. The rotation of the crankshaft is transmitted to a drive shaft pivotally supported in the upper casing, has its speed changed by a transmission mounted on the drive shaft, and is transmitted to a propeller shaft pivotally supported in the lower casing. The upper casing includes an upper-side casing and a lower-side casing, and mating surface portions of the upper-side casing and the lower-side casing are laterally wider than an upper section and a lower section of the upper casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: C/O YAMAHA MARINE KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihito FUKUOKA
  • Publication number: 20090163091
    Abstract: In a boat-propelling machine for attachment to a boat hull (200), an outer wall unit (4) is fixedly provided on a body of the machine for covering part of a cylindrical structural body (60) that is formed of metal alloy and positioned so as to be at least above a draft line during planning of the boat, and a lift force generation device (20) is provided on the outer vertical wall unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiomi, Tetsuro Ikeno, Takeshi Okada
  • Publication number: 20090149090
    Abstract: A boat propulsion engine includes a buoyant member (20) disposed on a case body that houses a drive shaft (47) in order to lift the stern. The buoyant member has a lower surface (32) that slopes downward in the rearward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiomi, Tetsuro Ikeno, Takeshi Okada
  • Publication number: 20090104826
    Abstract: An outboard engine includes a buoyant member (20). The buoyant member has concavities (20L, 20R; 120L, 120R) formed in at least one side thereof. A plurality of outboard engines is mounted in parallel on the stem, and the concavities prevent interference with the other adjacent outboard engines when any of the outboard engines are tilted up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiomi, Tetsuro Ikeno, Takeshi Okada, Masayuki Osumi
  • Patent number: 7503817
    Abstract: An outboard engine system includes: an engine; a casing to which the engine is removably mounted at an upper portion; a torque converter; a vertically arranged output shaft connected to a crankshaft via the torque converter; a horizontally arranged propeller shaft provided below the output shaft; and a forward-reverse shifting gear mechanism for providing a connection between the output shaft and the propeller shaft. The casing includes: casing main sections for housing the output shaft, the propeller shaft, and the forward-reverse shifting gear mechanism; and distance members removably jointed to the upper end of the casing main sections so as to house the torque converter. Both the casing main sections and the distance members are configured to be able to removably mount the engine. Thus, the casing having the main sections can be used in both an outboard engine system with a torque converter and an outboard engine system without a torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ide, Yoshiyuki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7500891
    Abstract: An outboard motor having a grommet mounted on a lower cover is disclosed. The grommet is positioned outward from an area directly under a surface in which an upper cover and lower cover meet as viewed from above. A presser cover for pressing the upper half of the grommet expands in the lateral direction and has on the lower end portion a first concavity that opens in the downward direction and conforms to the external shape of the grommet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Yazaki
  • Patent number: 7494392
    Abstract: A marine outboard motor has a rotary bearing on the vertical drive shaft intermediate its ends. This bearing is mounted in a housing that joins the power head to the lower unit. The bearing prevents failure that may occur when the shaft has an unbalance that causes bowing and whipping of the shaft at certain speeds. The bearing is supplied with water from a water pump in the lower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Robert P. Latham
  • Patent number: 7485020
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a case extending generally vertically and supported on a hull. An engine is supported at an upper end of the case. A propeller is supported by a lower end of the case. A drive shaft is supported within the case for rotation about a generally vertical axis. The driveshaft has an upper end operatively connected to the engine and a lower end operatively connected to the propeller. An upper portion of the case includes an elongate extruded portion having substantially the same cross-sectional shape along its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakamura, Isao Fujii, Ken Wakui
  • Patent number: 7485019
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for silencing an engine are disclosed. A silencer is disposed about a motor and is molded to substantially match at least one of a contour of the cover and a contour of the motor to silence noise transmitted from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: BRP US Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Macier, George L. Broughton, Evelyn A. Breznik
  • Publication number: 20080293314
    Abstract: A trolling motor with sensor unit construction is provided. A sensor is mounted to a lower portion of the trolling motor preferably adjacent the trolling motor propulsion unit. A signal conductor extends from the sensor unit connecting it to a display device. The signal conductor is mounted to a tube portion of the trolling motor with a resiliently deformable cover having a pair of channels formed therein extending between opposite ends of the cover. The tube is received within one of the channels and the cable is received within the other of the channels to removeably mount the signal conductor to the tube. The cover has an open side permitting receipt therethrough of the tube and the second channel has an open side for receipt therethrough of the cable. The open side of the second channel opens into the first channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Lance J. WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 7452251
    Abstract: An outboard drive has an electric motor that is electronically controlled from an inverter. The outboard drive includes a pylon, with the electric motor and inverter arranged in the pylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Torqeedo GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boebel
  • Patent number: 7431621
    Abstract: A drive shaft supporting structure for a small boat is provided which permits simplification of a hull and for which manufacturing productivity is increased. The drive shaft supporting structure includes a shaft-supporting member for rotatably supporting a drive shaft inside of a hull, and an elongate cylindrical sleeve. The cylindrical sleeve is arranged between the shaft-supporting member and a hull opening which permits penetration of the drive shaft through the hull. The drive shaft supporting structure is configured in such a manner that a front end portion of the cylindrical sleeve is connected to the shaft-supporting member and a rear end portion of the cylindrical sleeve is connected to the hull opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Fuse, Hiroshi Iwakami, Tadaaki Nagata, Takayoshi Miura, Jo Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7413492
    Abstract: A watercraft includes a hull, an engine, and a housing adapted to completely enclose the engine, the housing being adapted to be removably disposed in the hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventors: Michael Meyer, Sidney L. Lanier
  • Patent number: 7413491
    Abstract: In an outboard drive or an inboard-outboard drive, power generated by a single engine is transmitted in left and right directions from a main drive shaft, thereby finally causing left and right propellers to be rotated, the left and right propellers being arranged about the main drive shaft so as to be spaced apart from the main drive shaft at approximately equal distances from the main drive shaft and facing a travel direction of a marine vessel, the outboard drive or inboard-outboard drive being provided with left and right shift cam assemblies for causing rotation situations of the propellers to be controlled dependently from each other, the rotation situations including normal rotation, reverse rotation and non-rotation situations of the propellers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Ark System Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 7322866
    Abstract: An outboard engine comprises a power source inside a power source compartment. The power source room is formed by an upper cover and an undercover. A buoyant body is disposed outside the power source compartment, and has a lower surface wall in a position that is lower than the undercover. The buoyant body is provided separately from the upper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiomi, Tetsuro Ikeno, Takeshi Okada
  • Publication number: 20070243775
    Abstract: An outboard motor can be mounted on a transom plate of a hull, and can have an engine disposed in an upright position in a cowling so that a crankshaft thereof extends generally vertically during cruising. A surge tank can be located on the hull side of the engine in the cowling, and a mounting portion for an electric component can be provided on a front face of the surge tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Takayuki Osakabe, Yoshibumi Iwata
  • Patent number: 7226327
    Abstract: An outboard drive for boats, having a steerable underwater housing (1) which has a wing-profiled portion (2). Projecting at an approximately 90 degree angle from the aft part of one side face (31) of the wing profile is a face portion (32), the lateral extent of which amounts to about 1–2% of its distance to the steering shaft (36) of the wing profile. As a result of this construction, a lifting force will be generated during forward travel in the water. The face portion is configured on that side of the profile which produces a lifting force counter-directional to a steering force, deriving from the motor torque, upon the wing profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: AB Volvo Penta
    Inventors: Oddbjorn Hallenstvedt, Staffan Mansson
  • Patent number: 7210972
    Abstract: An outboard engine with a cover for allowing for an improved outward appearance is disclosed. The engine includes a leg case that houses a drive shaft for transmitting the output from the engine to a propeller. The cover covers the leg case. The cover is formed integrally, and a front part is designed to be opened. The front part is opened and is made to encase and cover a periphery of the leg case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Shoichi Rinzaki
  • Patent number: 7131877
    Abstract: An electrically conductive coating is provided on a housing structure of a marine propulsion system. By impressing a current on the electrically conductive coating, which can be a polymer material, the housing structure is used as an anode in a cathodic protection system. In addition, the use of the electrically conductive coating on the housing structure as an anode inhibits the growth of marine fouling on the outer surface of the housing structure by forming chlorine gas in a saltwater environment and by forming an acidic water layer near the surface in a non-saltwater environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Staerzl