Propeller drive shaft mounting support unit for an inboard drive marine vessel and method of forming same
AssigneeAcme Marine Group, L.L.C.
InventorTimothy Patrick Creighton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mounting support (100, 200) for a marine vessel inboard drive propulsion system used in connection with a precision driveline includes a substantially cylindrical housing (107), one or more bearing assemblies (113) positioned within the cylindrical housing (107) for promoting rotation of a drive shaft (103) and one or more seals (119) typically located at both ends of the housing (107) for preventing water from contacting one or more of the bearing assemblies (113).
Claims47
A mounting support for a marine vessel drive propulsion system comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical housing;
- a plurality of bearing assemblies positioned within the cylindrical housing for promoting rotation of a drive shaft;
- a plurality of seals located at least one end of the housing for preventing water from contacting the plurality of bearing assemblies;
- and
- a flexible membrane mounted within the mounting support for varying the angle of the drive shaft for correcting misalignment between the drive shaft and the hull of the marine vessel.
A drive shaft support system for use in an inboard drive marine vessel comprising:
- a center support having a flexible membrane for supporting an engine drive shaft though the hull of the marine vessel;
- a strut for supporting an engine drive shaft under the hull of the marine vessel at a point before reaching a propeller;
- and
- wherein both the center support and the strut are sealed and include at least one bearing assembly therein for promoting rotation of the drive shaft.
A drive shaft mount for use in a marine vessel inboard drive comprising:
- a housing;
- at least one bearing positioned within the housing for facilitating the rotation of a drive shaft;
- a seal assembly for preventing fluids from entering at least one end of the housing;
- and
- a flexible mounting ring for mounting the drive shaft at a predetermined angle in relation to the hull of the marine vessel.
A mount for providing support to a drive shaft assembly in a marine vessel inboard drive comprising:
- a cylindrical housing;
- a plurality of roller bearing assemblies where at least one of the plurality of roller bearing assemblies is positioned substantially at either end of the housing for facilitating movement of the drive shaft assembly;
- a plurality of seal assemblies where at least one of the plurality of seal assemblies is positioned outside of the at least one of the plurality of roller bearing assemblies to prevent water from contacting the plurality of roller bearing assemblies;
- and
- a flexible membrane and mounting ring for mounting the center support member at a predetermined angle in relation to the hull.
A method of supporting a propeller drive shaft assembly in an inboard drive marine vessel comprising the steps of:
- providing a cylindrical housing;
- positioning at least one roller bearing assembly within the cylindrical housing;
- sealing both ends of the cylindrical housing with a seal assembly for preventing water from contacting the at least one roller bearing assembly;
- and
- mounting the center support member using a substantially flexible mounting ring at a predetermined angle in relation to the hull.
A mounting support for a marine vessel drive propulsion system comprising:
- a center support for supporting a drive shaft;
- a flexible membrane mounted within the center support for varying the angle of the drive shaft in relation to the hull of the marine vessel;
- a sleeve for frictionally engaging at least one bearing assembly therein;
- and
- wherein the drive shaft angle is varied in order to correct any misalignment between the drive shaft and the hull.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.