Cylinder assembly for marine propulsion unit

A tilt and trim cylinder arrangement for an outboard drive and watercraft comprising an outer cylinder adapted to be affixed to one of the outboard drive in the watercraft and defining a first internal cavity, a tilt cylinder received and slidably supported within the first internal cavity and defining a second internal cavity, a tilt piston received and slidably supported within the second internal cavity, a piston rod affixed to the tilt piston and extending beyond the internal cavities for attachment to the other of the outboard drive and the watercraft, a first valving mechanism configured for causing a first shock-absorbing flow of fluid across the sides of the tilt piston for permitting the piston rod to move out from the first and second internal cavities when an underwater obstacle is struck with sufficient force that is greater than a first preset force, and a second valving mechanism configured to permit a second shock-absorbing flow of the fluid across the sides of the tilt cylinder for permitting the tilt cylinder to slide within the first internal cavity, wherein the second valving mechanism is incorporated in a liner member fitted around an outer periphery of the tilt cylinder.

A tilt and trim cylinder arrangement for an outboard drive and watercraft comprising an outer cylinder adapted to be affixed to one of the outboard drive and the watercraft and defining a first internal cavity, a tilt cylinder received and slidably supported within the first internal cavity and defining a second internal cavity, a tilt piston received and slidably supported within the second internal cavity, a piston rod affixed to the tilt piston and extending beyond the internal cavities for attachment to the other of the outboard drive and the watercraft, and a valving mechanism in the tilt cylinder for causing shock-absorbing flow of fluid across the sides of the tilt cylinder for allowing the tilt cylinder to slide relative to the first internal cavity and permitting popping up of the outboard drive when an underwater obstacle is struck with sufficient force.

A tilt and trim cylinder arrangement for an outboard drive and watercraft comprising an outer cylinder adapted to be affixed to one of the outboard drive end of the watercraft and defining a first internal cavity, a tilt cylinder received and slidably supported within the first internal cavity and defining a second internal cavity, a tilt piston received and slidably supported within the second internal cavity, a piston rod affixed to the tilt piston and extending beyond the internal cavities for attachment to the other of the outboard drive and the watercraft, and a valving mechanism for causing shock absorbing flow of fluid across the sides of the tilt cylinder for permitting popping up of the outboard drive when an underwater obstacle is struck with sufficient force, wherein the valving mechanism is incorporated in a liner member fitted around an outer periphery of the tilt cylinder.

A hydraulic cylinder arrangement for an outboard drive and watercraft comprising an outer cylinder adapted to be affixed to one of the outboard drive and the watercraft and defining a first internal cavity, a tilt cylinder received and slidably supported within the first internal cavity and defining a second internal cavity, the tilt cylinder including a portion dividing the first internal cavity into two chambers, a tilt piston received and slidably supported within the second internal cavity, a piston rod affixed to the tilt piston and extending beyond the internal cavities for attachment to the other end of the outboard drive and the watercraft, means for permitting a first shock-absorbing flow of fluid across the piston for permitting the outboard drive to pop up when an underwater obstacle is struck with sufficient force while remembering a trim position that the outboard drive was in before the underwater obstacle was struck, and means for permitting a second shock-absorbing flow of the fluid between the two chambers of the first cavity, but without remembering the trim position of the outboard drive.

A hydraulic cylinder arrangement for an outboard drive and watercraft comprising an outer cylinder adapted to be affixed to one of the outboard drive and the watercraft and defining a first internal cavity, a tilt cylinder received and slidably supported within the first internal cavity and defining a second internal cavity, a tilt piston received and slidably supported within the second internal cavity, a piston rod affixed to the tilt piston and extending beyond the internal cavities for attachment to the other of the outboard drive and the watercraft, and a liner member affixed to the tilt cylinder at an outer periphery thereof and dividing the first internal cavity into two chambers together with the outer cylinder, the liner member including a fluid passage and a closure member arranged to close the passage, the closure member permitting the fluid to flow through the passage when an underwater obstacle is struck with force that is greater than preset force so that the piston rod moves out from the first and second internal cavities.