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US 10,065,722 B1Granted
Apparatuses and methods for servicing lubrication in a lower gearcase of an outboard marine engine
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsWayne M. Jaszewski, Randall J. Poirier, John A. Tuchscherer, Gary C. Plonske
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An outboard marine engine comprises an internal combustion engine; a lower gearcase, a set of gears disposed in the lower gearcase, the set of gears being configured to transfer power from the internal combustion engine to drive a propulsor to generate a thrust on the outboard marine engine, and a dipstick that extends into the lower gearcase. The dipstick is removable from the lower gearcase and configured to indicate a level of lubrication in the lower gearcase.
Claims18
An outboard marine engine comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- a lower gearcase;
- a set of gears disposed in the lower gearcase, the set of gears being configured to transfer power from the internal combustion engine to drive a propulsor to generate a thrust on the outboard marine engine;
- a dipstick that extends into the lower gearcase, wherein the dipstick is removable from the lower gearcase and configured to indicate a level of lubrication in the lower gearcase;
- a dipstick opening on the lower gearcase, wherein the dipstick extends through the dipstick opening;
- a dipstick conduit connected to the dipstick opening, wherein the dipstick extends into the dipstick conduit;
- and
- wherein the dipstick conduit comprises a first portion located outside of the lower gearcase and a second portion located in the lower gearcase;
- and
- a lubrication pump disposed on the second portion of the dipstick conduit, wherein the lubrication pump is configured to pump lubrication through the lower gearcase.
7 more elements
An outboard motor comprising:
- a engine;
- a lower gearcase;
- a driveshaft housing between the engine and the lower gearcase;
- an adapter plate between the engine and the driveshaft housing;
- a set of gears in the lower gearcase, the set of gears configured to transfer power from the engine to the propulsor to thereby produce a thrust on the outboard motor;
- a dipstick conduit that extends through the adapter plate, through the driveshaft housing, and into the lower gearcase, wherein the dipstick conduit extends through the driveshaft housing along a circuitous path having bends in three dimensions;
- and
- a dipstick extending through the dipstick conduit and configured to indicate a level of lubrication in the lower gearcase, wherein the dipstick has a length that extends between a first end that is accessible on an opposite side of the adapter plate relative to the lower gearcase and a second end that extends into the lower gearcase, and wherein the dipstick is flexible in three dimensions along said length so that the dipstick can follow the bends of the circuitous path.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.