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US 11,964,746 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.
Claims20
An outboard motor comprising:
- a powerhead,
- a steering housing,
- a gearcase supporting a propulsor that is operatively coupled to the powerhead and configured to generate thrust in a body of water, wherein the gearcase is steerable relative to the steering housing to vary a direction of the thrust, and
- an exhaust conduit that conveys exhaust gas from the powerhead through the steering housing and the gearcase for discharge to the body of water,
- 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 from the steering housing to the gearcase, and a third exhaust conduit portion conveying the exhaust gas through the gearcase,
- wherein the first exhaust conduit portion discharges the exhaust gas to the second exhaust conduit portion, and wherein the second exhaust conduit portion discharges the exhaust gas to the third exhaust conduit portion, and
- wherein the first exhaust conduit portion, the second exhaust conduit portion, and the third exhaust conduit portion remain operably connected as the gearcase is steered relative to the steering housing.
4 more elements
An outboard motor comprising:
- a powerhead,
- a steering housing,
- a gearcase supporting a propulsor that is operatively coupled to the powerhead and configured to generate thrust in a body of water, wherein the gearcase is steerable relative to the steering housing to vary a direction of the thrust, and
- a cooling water conduit that conveys cooling water from the 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 from the body of water through the gearcase, and a second cooling water conduit portion conveying the cooling water from the gearcase to the steering housing,
- wherein the first cooling water conduit portion discharges the cooling water to the second cooling water conduit portion, and wherein the second cooling water conduit portion discharges the cooling water for return to the body of water, and
- wherein the first cooling water conduit portion and the second cooling water conduit portion remain operably connected as the gearcase is steered relative to the steering housing.
4 more elements
An outboard motor comprising:
- a powerhead for causing rotation of a driveshaft,
- a steering housing,
- a gearcase supporting a propulsor which is operatively coupled to the powerhead so that operation of the powerhead causes the propulsor to generate thrust in a body of water, wherein the gearcase is steerable relative to the steering housing to vary a direction of the thrust,
- a steering column extending from the gearcase into the steering housing, wherein the driveshaft or an extension thereof extends through the steering column and into operable engagement with the propulsor, and
- a steering actuator comprising a piston which is movable back and forth in a cylinder, and wherein the piston is engaged with the steering column via a rack and pinion so that back and forth movement of the piston causes rotation of the steering column and the gearcase.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.