Apparatuses for changing gear in marine propulsion systems

An apparatus for changing near in a marine propulsion system, the apparatus comprising:

• a shift shaft that rotates about a first axis;
• a cam that rotates about the first axis with the shift shaft, the cam having a body and an arm that radially extends from the body with respect to the first axis;
• an output shaft that rotates about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis;
• a clutch that moves in a direction parallel to the second axis to enact a gear change in the marine propulsion system;
• and
• a cam follower that moves parallel to the second axis to cause movement of the clutch, thereby enacting the gear change, the cam follower defining a pocket that is elongated with respect to the second axis and a recess that extends from the pocket along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes;
• wherein the cam is disposed in the pocket and the arm extends into the recess;
• and
• wherein during a constant rotation of the shift shaft in a first direction about the first axis, the cam follower moves with respect to the second axis to enact the gear change and also dwells with respect to the second axis;
• wherein during said constant rotation of the shift shaft in the first direction, the cam follower first remains stationary with respect to the second axis, then is moved along the second axis to cause movement of the clutch, and thereafter again remains stationary with respect to the second axis:
• wherein during a constant rotation of the shift shaft in an opposite, second direction about the first axis, the cam follower first remains stationary with respect to the second axis, then is moved along the second axis to cause movement of the clutch, and thereafter again remains stationary with respect to the second axis;
• and
• wherein the recess is at least partially defined by first and second actuated surfaces that extend along the third axis and first and second dwell surfaces that extend at opposite taper angles with respect to the third axis.

An apparatus for changing gear in a marine propulsion system, the apparatus comprising:

• a shift shaft that rotates about a first axis;
• a cam that rotates about the first axis with the shift shaft, the cam having a body and an arm that radially extends from the body with respect to the first axis;
• an output shaft that rotates about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis;
• a clutch that moves in a direction parallel to the second axis to enact a gear change in the marine propulsion system;
• and
• a cam follower that moves parallel to the second axis to cause movement of the clutch, thereby enacting the gear change, the cam follower defining a pocket that is elongated with respect to the second axis and a recess that extends from the pocket along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes;
• wherein the cam is disposed in the pocket and the arm extends into the recess;
• wherein when the shift shaft is rotated with respect to the cam follower, the cam first rotates through a first dwell zone wherein the cam does not move the cam follower, the cam then rotates through an actuating zone wherein the cam engages with and moves the cam follower, and the cam then rotates through a second dwell zone wherein the cam follower does not move the cam follower;
• wherein the recess is at least partially defined by first and second actuated surfaces that extend along the third axis and first and second dwell surfaces that extend at opposite taper angles with respect to the third axis;
• and
• wherein when the shift shaft rotates in the first direction, the arm rotates past the first dwell surfaces in the first dwell zone, then the arm engages the first actuating surface in the first actuating zone, and then the arm rotates past the second dwell surface in the second dwell zone.