Marine engine propelling apparatuses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10464650-B2
Application number	US-201515304270-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2015
Priority date	Apr 17, 2014
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

An engine propelling apparatus has power generating transmitting portion provided below a power generating portion, a propelling force generating portion provided adjacent to the power transmitting portion, and height adjustment mechanisms. The power generating portion includes an engine with a crankshaft arranged horizontal and substantially parallel to the front-rear longitudinal direction of a boat. A power transmission mechanism forms a linear power transmission route extending from the vicinity of a front end of the crankshaft to the vicinity of a front end of the propelling force generating portion. The propelling force generating portion includes a propeller shaft extending rearwards from the power transmitting portion, and a propeller at a rear portion of the propeller shaft. The height adjustment mechanisms vary inclination or height of all or a part of the engine propelling apparatus with respect to the boat to thereby vary height of the propeller with respect to the boat.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A marine engine propelling apparatus, which is configured to be mounted to an outboard portion at a rear end of a boat, comprising:
a power generating portion;
a power transmitting portion;
a propelling force generating portion; and
a height adjustment mechanism,
wherein the power generating portion comprises an engine equipped with a crankshaft, and the crankshaft is configured to be arranged substantially parallel to a front-rear direction of the boat, along its longitudinal axis, and is substantially horizontal,
wherein the power transmitting portion includes a power transmission mechanism forming a linear power transmission route extending from the vicinity of a front end of the crankshaft to the vicinity of a front end of the propelling force generating portion,

wherein the propelling force generating portion includes a propeller shaft extending rearwards relative to the boat from the power transmitting portion, and a propeller provided at a rear portion of the propeller shaft,
wherein the propeller shaft includes:
a first portion that is configured to extend rearwards relative to the boat along an X-axis from the power transmitting portion so as to be substantially parallel to the front-rear direction of the boat and extending substantially horizontally; and
a second portion connected to a rear end of the first portion by a universal joint so as to allow for an angle adjustment of the propeller shaft,
wherein the height adjustment mechanism is configured to vary inclination or height of all or a part of the engine propelling apparatus with respect to the boat to thereby vary height of the propeller with respect to the boat,
wherein the marine engine propelling apparatus further comprises:
a boat speed detector for detecting a speed of the boat;
a boat front-rear inclination detector for detecting an inclination angle of a front-rear direction line of the boat with respect to a horizon; and
a controller,
wherein the controller is configured to estimate a boat water surface position, which is a position of a water surface with respect to the boat based on at least one of the speed or an acceleration of the boat detected based on a detection signal from the boat speed detector, and the inclination angle of the boat front-rear direction line detected based on a detection signal from the boat front-rear inclination detector,
wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to attain an immersed state in which a whole of the propeller is below the estimated boat water surface position or to attain a half-immersed state in which an upper portion of the propeller is above the estimated boat water surface position based on at least one of the speed or the acceleration of the boat detected,
wherein in a case where the controller determines that the immersed state is to be attained, the controller controls the height adjustment mechanism such that the whole propeller is below the estimated boat water surface position, and
wherein in a case where the controller determines that the half-immersed state is to be attained, the controller controls the height adjustment mechanism such that the upper portion of the propeller is above the estimated boat water surface position.

2. The marine engine propelling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the propelling force generating portion includes a sleeve into which at least a part of the second portion is inserted.

3. The marine engine propelling apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the height adjustment mechanism is a trim angle adjustment mechanism connected to the sleeve and configured to change an angle of the second portion with the sleeve upward/downward along a Z-axis about the universal joint.

4. The marine engine propelling apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a steering adjustment mechanism connected to the sleeve and configured to change an angle in a right-left direction of the second portion along with the sleeve parallel to a Y-axis, about the universal joint.

5. The marine engine propelling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
a power transmission route from the power generating portion to the propeller is formed in a substantially laterally facing U-shaped configuration by the crankshaft, the power transmission mechanism, and the propeller shaft.

6. The marine engine propelling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the height adjustment mechanism is a lift position adjustment mechanism configured to be provided between the boat and the power generating portion and configured to adjust height of the engine propelling apparatus with respect to the boat.

7. The marine engine propelling apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
a right-left angle adjustment mechanism configured to change an angle in a right-left direction of the engine propelling apparatus parallel to a Y-axis with respect to the boat, where the right-left angle adjustment mechanism is provided between the boat and the power generating portion.

8. The marine engine propelling apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
a steering rudder with a plate-shape arranged at a rear of the propeller so as to allow a changing of the angle in the right-left direction of the engine propelling apparatus parallel to the Y-axis.

9. The marine engine propelling apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
an engine trim adjustment mechanism configured to be provided between the power generating portion and the boat, and configured to adjust an inclination angle in a vertical direction of a front-rear direction line of the engine propelling apparatus with respect to the boat.

10. The marine engine propelling apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cooling mechanism equipped with a cooling route, and a coolant sealed in the cooling route, configured to cool the engine propelling apparatus through circulation of the coolant.

11. The marine engine propelling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the engine is a diesel engine.

12. A marine engine propelling apparatus, which is configured to be mounted to an outboard portion at a rear end of a boat, comprising:
a power generating portion;
a power transmitting portion provided below the power generating portion;
a propelling force generating portion provided adjacent to the power transmitting portion; and
a height adjustment mechanism,
wherein the power generating portion comprises an engine equipped with a crankshaft, and the crankshaft is configured to be arranged parallel to an X-axis and a front-rear direction of the boat, and is substantially horizontal relative to said axis,
wherein the power transmitting portion includes a power transmission mechanism comprising a belt and a plurality of pulleys in driving engagement with said crankshaft, forming a linear power transmission route extending opposite to a Z-direction parallel to a Z-axis from the vicinity of a front end of the crankshaft to the vicinity of a front end of the propelling force generating portion,
wherein the propelling force generating portion comprises a propeller shaft extending rearwards opposite an X-direction of the X-axis from the power transmitting portion and a propeller provided at a rear portion of the propeller shaft,
wherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises a cylinder and a bar connecting said propeller shaft, such that the height adjustment mechanism is configured to change an angle of the propeller shaft upward/downward to thereby vary an inclination and a height of the propeller with respect to the boat,
wherein the marine engine propelling apparatus further comprises:
a boat speed detector for detecting a speed of the boat comprising a speed sensor,
a boat front-rear in

Assignees

• Toyota Jidoshokki Kk
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Komoda Masahiro
• Sugiura Yoshimitsu
• Isobe Yushiro

Classifications

• B63H20/22

  allowing movement of the propulsion element about at least a horizontal axis without disconnection of the drive, e.g. using universal joints · CPC title

• B63H2001/185

  Surfacing propellers, i.e. propellers specially adapted for operation at the water surface, with blades incompletely submerged, or piercing the water surface from above in the course of each revolution · CPC title

• B63H25/42

  Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements (by jets B63H25/46); Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers · CPC title

• B63H20/06

  on an intermediate support · CPC title

• B63H23/34

  Propeller shafts; Paddle-wheel shafts; Attachment of propellers on shafts · CPC title