Marine transmission with fluid coupler
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorNeil A. Newman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid coupling is provided in a marine drive between the engine and the propulsion unit. The fluid coupling includes a fluid pump connected to the flywheel of the engine, and a turbine connected to an output shaft leading to the propulsiion unit. A series of vanes are provided between the fluid pump and the turbine, to direct the flow of fluid from the fluid pump to the turbine. The vanes between the pump and the turbine are movable to control the direction of impingement of fluid on the turbine, to regulate the speed and/or direction of rotation of the turbine relative to the speed and direction of rotation of the fluid pump.
Claims12
In a marine drive for a boat, said marine drive including an engine and a propulsion unit, the improvement comprising:
- a fluid coupling interposed in the marine drive between the engine and the propulsion unit, said fluid coupling including a rotatable fluid pump connected to the engine and a rotatable turbine driven by said fluid pump, said turbine being connected to an output means coupled to the propulsion unit for transferring power from said engine to said propulsion unit, said fluid coupling further including fluid direction controlling means comprising a series of vanes located beteen said fluid pump and said turbine, said vanes being movable in response to operator control for controlling the direction of impingement of fluid on said turbine, and thereby the speed and direction of rotation of said turbine.
A marine propulsion system, comprising:
- an engine having a rotatable output shaft;
- a propulsion unit including a rotatably mounted propeller;
- and
- a fluid coupling interposed beteen the engine and the propulsion unit, said fluid coupling including:
- a rotatable fluid pump interconnected with and rotatable in response to rotation of said engine output shaft;
- a rotatable turbine adapted to be driven by said fluid pump;
- output means interconnected with said turbine and coupled to said propulsion unit for providing rotation of said propeller in response to rotation of said turbine;
- and
- fluid direction controlling means comprising a series of vanes located between said fluid pump and said turbine, said vanes being movable in response to operator control for controlling the direction of impingement of fluid on said turbine, and thereby the speed and direction of rotation of said turbine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.