Stern drives having steerable gearcase
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsRyan A. Fergus, Timothy G. Langlitz, John A. Groeschel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stern drive for a marine vessel, the stern drive having a powerhead, a drive assembly configured to support a propulsor for generating a thrust force in water, the propulsor being powered by the powerhead. The drive assembly comprises a driveshaft housing and a gearcase suspended from the driveshaft housing, the gearcase being steerable relative to the driveshaft housing, and a steering actuator configured to steer the gearcase relative to the driveshaft housing.
Claims19
A stern drive for a marine vessel, the stern drive comprising:
- a powerhead configured to power a propulsor for generating a thrust force in water;
- a drive assembly configured to support the propulsor, the drive assembly including a driveshaft housing and a gearcase suspended from the driveshaft housing;
- and
- a steering actuator configured to rotate the gearcase relative to the driveshaft housing, the steering actuator including an electric motor that is operatively coupled to the gearcase by the gearset comprises a pinion and a ring gear.
A stern drive for a marine vessel, the stern drive comprising:
- a powerhead configured to power a propulsor for generating a thrust force in water;
- a drive assembly configured to support the propulsor, the drive assembly including a driveshaft housing and a gearcase suspended from the driveshaft housing;
- and
- a steering actuator configured to rotate the gearcase relative to the driveshaft housing, the steering actuator including an electric motor that is operatively coupled to the gearcase by a worm gear and a ring gear.
A stern drive for a marine vessel, the stern drive comprising:
- a powerhead configured to power a propulsor for generating a thrust force in water;
- a drive assembly configured to support the propulsor, the drive assembly including a driveshaft housing and a gearcase suspended from the driveshaft housing;
- and
- a steering actuator configured to rotate the gearcase relative to the driveshaft housing, wherein the steering actuator comprises a first electric motor operably coupled to the gearcase by a first gearset and a second electric motor operably coupled to the gearcase by a second gearset, the first electric motor and the second electric motor being independently operable to steer the gearcase.
A stern drive for a marine vessel, the stern drive comprising:
- a powerhead configured to power a propulsor for generating a thrust force in water;
- a drive assembly configured to support the propulsor, the drive assembly including a driveshaft housing and a gearcase suspended from the driveshaft housing;
- and
- a steering actuator configured to rotate the gearcase relative to the driveshaft housing, wherein the gearcase comprises a steering housing that extends into the driveshaft housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.