Back to results
US 9,738,363 B1Granted
Continuous track outboard motor for watercraft propulsion
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorAdam Parsley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A watercraft propulsion system configured to be coupled to the transom of a boat. A continuous track is supported by a suspension frame and operably coupled to an outboard motor.
Claims27
A watercraft propulsion system comprising:
- an outboard motor;
- a suspension frame supported below the motor, the suspension frame including a base member and an upright member coupled to the base member, a base actuator coupled to the base member for adjusting the length of the base member, and an upright actuator coupled to the upright member for adjusting the length of the upright member;
- a drive wheel supported by the suspension frame and operably coupled to the motor;
- a first driven wheel supported by the suspension frame in spaced relation to the drive wheel;
- a second driven wheel supported by the suspension frame in spaced relation to the drive wheel and the first driven wheel;
- a continuous track supported by the drive wheel, the first driven wheel and the second driven wheel, the continuous track including an upper run engaging the first driven wheel, the second driven wheel and the drive wheel, and a lower run engaging the first driven wheel and the second driven wheel, the lower run extending below the upper run and including a downwardly facing water engagement surface;
- and
- a transom mount for coupling the motor to the transom of a boat, the transom mount including a trim control for vertical adjustment of the suspension frame relative to the transom, and a tilt control for pivoting adjustment of the suspension frame relative to the transom,
- wherein the suspension frame is configured to be articulated such that the distance between the first driven wheel and the second driven wheel may be adjusted to vary a length of the water engagement surface.
6 more elements
A watercraft propulsion system comprising:
- an outboard motor;
- a suspension frame supported by the motor;
- a drive wheel operably coupled to the motor;
- a first driven wheel supported by the suspension frame in spaced relation to the drive wheel;
- a second driven wheel supported by the suspension frame in spaced relation to the drive wheel and the first driven wheel, a track path defined between the drive wheel, the first driven wheel and the second driven wheel;
- a continuous track supported by the drive wheel, the first driven wheel and the second driven wheel, the continuous track supported for motion along the track path and including a water engagement surface;
- wherein the suspension frame includes a base member and an upright member coupled to the base member, a base actuator coupled to the base member for adjusting the length of the base member, and an upright actuator coupled to the upright member for adjusting the length of the upright member, such that the distance between the first driven wheel and the second driven wheel may be adjusted to vary a length of the water engagement surface;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the base actuator and the upright actuator for maintaining a constant length of the track path as the length of the base member and the length of the upright member of the suspension frame are adjusted.
6 more elements
A method of propelling a watercraft comprising the steps of:
- providing a boat including a transom;
- providing an adjustable suspension frame coupled to the transom of the boat;
- rotating a continuous track on the suspension frame, wherein the continuous track includes an upper run engaging a first driven wheel, a second driven wheel and a drive wheel, and a lower run engaging the first driven wheel and the second driven wheel, the lower run extending below the upper run and including a downwardly facing water engagement surface;
- detecting the speed of the continuous track;
- and
- varying a length of the downwardly facing water engagement surface of the continuous track contacting the water based upon the detected speed.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.