Driving and steering mechanism for boats

A mechanical system for steering and propelling power driven boats which comprises, in combination, a main power shaft, a propeller shaft, a housing for the propeller shaft, a disc-type constant velocity joint operatively connected to the propeller shaft, a coupling device connecting the disc-type constant velocity joint to the main power shaft, and a tillar arm operatively connected to the housing of the propeller shaft, said coupling device comprising a hollow funnel-shaped body composed of

• (a) a cylindrical tubular section adapted to attachably receive an end portion of the power shaft,
• (b) an outwardly tapering conical section extending from said tubular section,
• (c) a wide ring-shaped mouth section extending from said conical section, the portion of the body forming said ring-shaped mouth section having an annular recess adapted to attachably receive the constant velocity joint, and
• (d) flute means extending from said conical section and adapted, when the device is rotated by the power shaft, to pick up lubricating oil and transmit lubricating oil into the interior of said conical section whereby centrifugal force from the rotation causes lubricating oil to travel along the interior of the conical section to lubricate the constant velocity joint from the interior of the device.

A mechanical system for steering and propelling power driven boats which comprises, in combination, a main power shaft, a propeller shaft, a housing for the propeller shaft, a disc-type constant velocity joint operatively connecting the main power shaft and the propeller shaft, latch and stop means for adjusting the vertical angle of displacement between the propeller shaft and the main power shaft, and a tillar arm operatively connected to the housing of the propeller shaft, said latch and stop means comprising

• (a) a generally inverted "U"-shaped pivotable bracket having a horizontal segment extending between a pair of upstanding segments, the horizontal segment having an aperture therein, the arm being rotatable about a horizontal axis extending laterally through the lower portions of the upstanding segments;
• (b) a hollow cylindrical member affixed to said horizontal segment so that the member is coaxial with and extends upwardly around said aperture;
• (c) a cylindrical latch member coaxially aligned and slidable within said cylindrical member and extending downwardly through said aperture;
• (d) a catch member having a series of at least three linearly aligned stepped planar upper surfaces, the steps separating each planar upper surface from its adjacent upper planar surface, each of the outermost planar surfaces being sloped downwardly away from its adjacent surface and the slope of each intervening planar surface being intermediate the slopes of its two adjacent planar surfaces, said catch member being disposed below and transverse to said horizontal segment so that as said bracket is pivoted about said axis, the base of said latch member linearly traverses said series of linearly aligned planar surfaces;
• and
• (e) means tending to force said latch member downwardly so that it abuts the upper planar surface of the catch member over which it is positioned by the pivotable bracket and cylindrical member.

A latch and stop means additionally adapted to serve as a swivel joint which comprises:

• (a) a generally inverted "U"-shaped pivotable bracket having a horizontal segment extending between a pair of upstanding segments, the horizontal segment having an aperture therein, the arm being rotatable about a horizontal axis extending laterally through the lower portions of the upstanding segments;
• (b) a hollow cylindrical member affixed to said horizontal segment so that the member is coaxial with and extends upwardly around said aperture;
• (c) a cylindrical latch member coaxially aligned and slidable within said cylindrical member and extending downwardly through said aperture;
• (d) a catch member having a series of at least three linearly aligned stepped planar upper surfaces, the steps separating each planar upper surface from its adjacent upper planar surface, each of the outermost planar surfaces being sloped downwardly away from its adjacent surface and the slope of each intervening planar surface being intermediate the slopes of its two adjacent planar surfaces, said catch member being disposed below and transverse to said horizontal segment so that as said bracket is pivoted about said axis, the base of said latch member linearly traverses said series of linearly aligned planar surfaces;
• and
• (e) means tending to force said latch member downwardly so that it abuts the upper planar surface of the catch member over which it is positioned by the pivotable bracket and cylindrical member.