US 8,858,280 B1Granted

Marine engine rigging system

AssigneeBRP US Inc.

InventorsDale A. Wiegele, Jeff T. Turner, John Charles Scott, Mark C. Noble, Patrick C. Tetzlaff

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An outboard engine has a cowling defining an engine compartment, an internal combustion engine disposed at least in part in the engine compartment, a driveshaft operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, and one of a propeller and an impeller operatively connected to the driveshaft. The one of the propeller and the impeller rotates about an axis that is angled relative to the driveshaft. A device is disposed inside the engine compartment. A box is disposed outside the engine compartment and is operatively connected to the engine compartment. A line has a portion disposed inside the box and an end operatively connected to the device. An outboard engine having a box disposed outside the engine compartment and operatively connected to the bracket is also disclosed. A watercraft having the outboard engine is also disclosed.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An outboard engine comprising:

a cowling defining an engine compartment;
an internal combustion engine disposed at least in part in the engine compartment;
a driveshaft operatively connected to the internal combustion engine;
one of a propeller and an impeller operatively connected to the driveshaft, the one of the propeller and the impeller rotating about an axis being angled relative to the driveshaft;
a device disposed inside the engine compartment;
a box disposed outside the engine compartment and being operatively connected to the engine compartment, the box defining an opening facing generally downwardly when the driveshaft is generally vertical;
a connector passing through a wall of the engine compartment, the connector having a first portion disposed inside the box and a second portion disposed inside the engine compartment,
the first portion of the connector being adapted to connect to an end of a line having a portion adapted to be disposed inside the box, the opening being adapted to receive the line therethrough;
and
an other line disposed inside the engine compartment, the other line being operatively connected between the device and the second portion of the connector.

7 more elements

A watercraft comprising:

a hull;
an outboard engine operatively connected to the hull, the outboard engine comprising:
a drive unit;
a bracket connecting the drive unit to the hull, the bracket being pivotable about a first horizontal axis to tilt and trim the drive unit, the drive unit being pivotably connected to the bracket about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, the drive unit being steerable by pivoting the drive unit about the second axis;
the drive unit comprising:
a cowling defining an engine compartment;
an internal combustion engine disposed at least in part in the engine compartment;
a driveshaft operatively connected to the internal combustion engine;
one of a propeller and an impeller operatively connected to the driveshaft, the one of the propeller and the impeller rotating about an axis being angled relative to the driveshaft;
and
a first device disposed inside the cowling;
and
a box disposed outside the engine compartment and being operatively connected to the bracket, the drive unit being pivotable about the second axis relative to the box, the box being pivotable about the first axis with the drive unit;
and
a second device disposed externally of the cowling,
the box being adapted to receive a portion of a line adapted to operatively connect the first device and the second device.

13 more elements

An outboard engine comprising:

a drive unit;
a bracket adapted to connect the drive unit to a hull of a watercraft, the bracket being pivotable about a first horizontal axis to tilt and trim the drive unit, the drive unit being pivotably connected to the bracket about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the drive unit being steerable by pivoting the drive unit about the second axis;
the drive unit comprising:
a cowling defining an engine compartment;
an internal combustion engine disposed at least in part in the engine compartment;
a driveshaft operatively connected to the internal combustion engine;
one of a propeller and an impeller operatively connected to the driveshaft, the one of the propeller and the impeller rotating about an axis being angled relative to the driveshaft;
and
a device disposed inside the cowling;
a box disposed outside the engine compartment and being operatively connected to the bracket, the drive unit being pivotable about the second axis relative to the box, the box being pivotable about the first axis with the drive unit;
and
the box being adapted to receive a portion of a line, the line having an end adapted to be operatively connected to the device.

9 more elements

A watercraft comprising:

a hull;
a first outboard engine operatively connected to the hull, the first outboard engine comprising:
a drive unit;
a bracket connecting the drive unit to the hull, the bracket being pivotable about a first horizontal axis to tilt and trim the drive unit, the drive unit being pivotably connected to the bracket about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, the drive unit being steerable by pivoting the drive unit about the second axis;
the drive unit comprising:
a cowling defining an engine compartment;
an internal combustion engine disposed at least in part in the engine compartment;
a driveshaft operatively connected to the internal combustion engine;
one of a propeller and an impeller operatively connected to the driveshaft, the one of the propeller and the impeller rotating about an axis being angled relative to the driveshaft;
and
a first device disposed inside the cowling;
and
a box disposed outside the engine compartment and being operatively connected to the bracket;
a second outboard engine operatively connected to the hull, the second outboard engine comprising:
a drive unit;
a bracket connecting the drive unit to the hull, the bracket being pivotable about a first horizontal axis to tilt and trim the drive unit, the drive unit being pivotably connected to the bracket about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, the drive unit being steerable by pivoting the drive unit about the second axis;
the drive unit comprising:
a cowling defining an engine compartment;
an internal combustion engine disposed at least in part in the engine compartment;
a driveshaft operatively connected to the internal combustion engine;
and
one of a propeller and an impeller operatively connected to the driveshaft, the one of the propeller and the impeller rotating about an axis being angled relative to the driveshaft;
and
a box disposed outside the engine compartment and being operatively connected to the bracket;
a second device disposed externally of the cowling of the first outboard engine;
and
a line operatively connecting the first device and the second device, the line having a portion disposed inside the box of the first outboard engine, an end operatively connected to the first device and passes through the box of the second outboard engine.

24 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/285,369Filed 31 Oct 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 29 Oct 2010
Granted: 14 Oct 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B63H 20/32
Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels: housings
B63H 21/36
Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels: covers or casing arranged to protect plant or unit from marine environment
B63H 2020/008
Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels: tools, specially adapted for maintenance, mounting,…
B63H
Marine propulsion or steering