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US 5,938,490 AGranted
Outboard marine propulsion system
OwnerWaldo E. Rodlerinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerWaldo E. Rodlerinventor
Estimating the term…
An improved outboard propulsion system for a vessel in which an intake duct having an intake orifice positioned for receiving water. The intake duct includes a curved flow path directing walls curved continuously to provide a 180 degree turn for the water so as to direct the water flowing in an initial direction to a direction opposite the initial direction. An annular duct contiguous with the intake duct at the end of the intake duct is positioned opposite the intake orifice. The annular duct has walls curved continuously to provide a second substantially 180 degree turn to direct water flowing therethrough through a continuous change in direction of substantially 180 degrees such that the water is flowing in a direction approximate that of its initial direction at the intake orifice and substantially opposite the direction to which it entered the annular duct. An impeller discharges into a mixed flow volute. The discharge from the volute is split into two passages that transfer the water to two annular jet outlets which surround exhaust ports. The system utilizes an engine with a horizontal crankshaft, a belt or chain transfer drive to drive a propulsion device such as a propeller or waterjet, and a transfer case connecting the engine and the belt or chain transfer drive.
An improved outboard propulsion system for a vessel of the type in which an intake duct is supported for movement between an upward tilt angle and a downward tilt angle, apparatus connected to the duct support defines a reaction center line to urge the duct in a downward tilt angle through a downward progressive thrust, connecting apparatus connected to the duct support and define a thrust center line disposed below the reaction center line to urge the duct in an upward tilt angle through an upward reaction force, a fixed member, and a tilt angle device interconnecting the intake duct and the fixed member for regulating the tilt angle movement of the intake duct in the changeover between an upward tilt angle and the downward tilt angle, wherein the improvement comprises:
An improved outboard propulsion system for a marine vessel of the type in which an intake duct has an intake orifice positioned for receiving water, the intake duct includes a curved flow path directing walls curved continuously to provide a 180 degree turn for the water so as to direct the water flowing in an initial direction to a direction opposite the initial direction, and an annular duct contiguous with the intake duct at the end of the intake duct opposite the intake orifice, wherein the improvement comprises:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.