Connection system for two or more marine propulsion devices
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsDonald Anderson, Jr., Robert Stuber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tie bar arrangement uses a rod end cartridge assembly that provides relative rotatability between an associated rod end and a coupler tube. The provision of a connecting link and steering arm adapter associated with the rod end cartridge assembly also provides relative rotation about first and second axes which allow sufficient flexibility to avoid placing the tie bar arrangement under excessive stress when one marine propulsion device is tilted relative to another marine propulsion device.
Claims18
A connection system for connecting two marine propulsion devices together, comprising:
- a coupler;
- and
- a rod end cartridge assembly attached to a first end of said coupler, said rod end cartridge assembly comprising a tubular member which is attached to said first end of said coupler and a first rod end which is rotatably attached to said tubular member, said first rod end being rotatable relative to said coupler about a central axis of said tubular member, said first rod end being connectable to a first one of said two marine propulsion devices, said tubular member comprising a threaded surface and being attached in threaded association with a threaded surface of said first end of said coupler.
A connection system for connecting two marine propulsion devices together, comprising:
- a coupler;
- and
- a rod end cartridge assembly attached to a first end of said coupler, said rod end cartridge assembly comprising a tubular member which is attached to said first end of said coupler and a first rod end which is rotatably attached to said tubular member, said first rod end being rotatable relative to said coupler about a central axis of said tubular member, said first rod end being connectable to a first one of said two marine propulsion devices, said tubular member comprising a threaded outer surface, said tubular member being attached in threaded association with an internally threaded surface of said first end of said coupler.
A connection system for connecting two marine propulsion devices together, comprising:
- a coupler;
- a rod end cartridge assembly attached to a first end of said coupler, said rod end cartridge assembly comprising a tubular member which is attached to said first end of said coupler and a first rod end which is rotatably attached to said tubular member, said first rod end being rotatable relative to said coupler about a central axis of said tubular member, said first rod end being connectable to a first one of said two marine propulsion devices;
- a first connecting link which is rotatably attached to said first rod end, said first rod end being rotatable relative to said first connecting link about a first axis;
- a first steering arm adapter which is attachable to said first one of said two marine propulsion devices and rotatably attached to said first connecting link, said first connecting link being rotatable relative to said first steering arm adapter about a second axis;
- a second rod end attached to a second end of said coupler;
- a second connecting link which is rotatably attached to said second rod end, said second rod end being rotatable relative to said second connecting link about a third axis;
- and
- a second steering arm adapter which is attachable to a second one of said two marine propulsion devices and rotatably attached to said second connecting link, said second connecting link being rotatable relative to said second steering arm adapter about a fourth axis, said tubular member comprising a threaded surface and being attached in threaded association with a threaded surface of said first end of said coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.