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US 10,800,502 B1Granted
Outboard motors having steerable lower gearcase
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsJeremy L. Alby, Darin C. Uppgard, Wayne M. Jaszewski, Kerry J. Treinen, Randall J. Poirier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An outboard motor has a powerhead that causes rotation of a driveshaft, a steering housing located below the powerhead, wherein the driveshaft extends from the powerhead into the steering housing; and a lower gearcase located below the steering housing and supporting a propeller shaft that is coupled to the driveshaft so that rotation of the driveshaft causes rotation of the propeller shaft. The lower gearcase is steerable about a steering axis with respect to the steering housing and powerhead.
Claims35
An outboard motor comprising a powerhead that causes rotation of a driveshaft;
- a steering housing located below the powerhead, wherein the driveshaft extends from the powerhead into the steering housing;
- a lower gearcase located below the steering housing and supporting a propeller shaft that is coupled to the driveshaft so that rotation of the driveshaft causes rotation of the propeller shaft, wherein the lower gearcase is steerable about a steering axis with respect to the steering housing and powerhead;
- and an exhaust conduit that conveys exhaust gas from the powerhead through the steering housing and into the lower gearcase for discharge from the outboard motor;
- wherein the exhaust conduit comprises a first exhaust conduit portion conveying the exhaust gas through the steering housing, a second exhaust conduit portion conveying exhaust into the lower gearcase, and a third exhaust conduit portion conveying the exhaust gas through the lower gearcase, and wherein the exhaust gas flows from upstream to downstream from the first exhaust conduit portion to the second exhaust conduit portion and then to the third exhaust conduit portion;
- wherein the first exhaust conduit portion comprises a downstream end that discharges the exhaust gas to the second exhaust conduit portion, and wherein the second exhaust conduit portion comprises an upstream end that receives the exhaust gas from the first exhaust conduit portion and a downstream end that discharges the exhaust gas to the third exhaust conduit portion;
- and
- wherein the downstream end of the first exhaust conduit portion and the upstream end of the second exhaust conduit portion remain connected as the lower gearcase is steered about the steering axis with respect to the steering housing.
4 more elements
An outboard motor comprising a powerhead that causes rotation of a driveshaft;
- a steering housing located below the powerhead, wherein the driveshaft extends from the powerhead into the steering housing;
- a lower gearcase located below the steering housing and supporting a propeller shaft that is coupled to the driveshaft so that rotation of the driveshaft causes rotation of the propeller shaft, wherein the lower gearcase is steerable about a steering axis with respect to the steering housing and powerhead;
- an exhaust conduit that conveys exhaust gas from the powerhead through the steering housing and into the lower gearcase for discharge from the outboard motor;
- and a cooling water conduit that conveys cooling water from the lower gearcase through the steering housing and to the powerhead for cooling of the powerhead;
- wherein the cooling water conduit comprises a first cooling water conduit portion conveying the cooling water through the lower gearcase, and a second cooling water conduit portion conveying the cooling water out of the lower gearcase and into the steering housing;
- wherein the first cooling water conduit portion comprises a downstream end that discharges the cooling water to the second cooling water conduit portion, and wherein the second cooling water conduit portion comprises an upstream end that receives the cooling water from the first cooling water conduit portion and a downstream end that discharges the cooling water;
- and
- wherein the downstream end of the first cooling water conduit portion and the upstream end of the second cooling water conduit portion remain connected as the lower gearcase is steered about the steering axis with respect to the steering housing.
5 more elements
An outboard motor comprising:
- a powerhead that causes rotation of a driveshaft;
- a steering housing located below the powerhead, wherein the driveshaft extends from the powerhead into the steering housing;
- a lower gearcase located below the steering housing and supporting a propeller shaft that is coupled to the driveshaft so that rotation of the driveshaft causes rotation of the propeller shaft;
- wherein the lower gearcase is steerable about a steering axis with respect to the steering housing and powerhead;
- an exhaust conduit that conveys exhaust gas from the powerhead through the steering housing and into the lower gearcase for discharge from the outboard motor;
- and
- a cooling water conduit that conveys cooling water from the lower gearcase through the steering housing and to the powerhead for cooling of the powerhead;
- wherein between the powerhead and the lower gearcase, the exhaust conduit and the cooling water conduit both extend around an entire periphery of the driveshaft.
5 more elements
An outboard motor comprising:
- a powerheadthat causes rotation of a driveshaft;
- a steering housing located below the powerhead, wherein the driveshaft extends from the powerhead into the steering housing;
- a lower gearcase located below the steering housing and supporting a propeller shaft that is coupled to the driveshaft so that rotation of the driveshaft causes rotation of the propeller shaft;
- wherein the lower gearcase is steerable about a steering axis with respect to the steering housing and powerhead;
- an exhaust conduit that conveys exhaust gas from the powerhead through the steering housing and into the lower gearcase for discharge from the outboard motor;
- and
- a cooling water conduit that conveys cooling water from the lower gearcase through the steering housing and to the powerhead for cooling of the powerhead;
- wherein between the powerhead and the lower gearcase, the exhaust conduit and the cooling water conduit each have sealed overlapping portions that facilitate steering of the lower gearcase relative to the steering housing while maintaining fluid connection of the respective exhaust conduit and cooling water conduit, respectively.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.