Marine drives having corrosion protection system with noise and vibration dampening joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12371141-B1
Application number	US-202217891966-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 19, 2022
Priority date	Aug 19, 2022
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

A system for antifouling of a marine drive having a frame coupled to a propulsor housing may include a vibration dampening joint which couples the propulsor housing to the frame or an extension thereof. The vibration dampening joint may include an isolator connector assembly having an elastomeric member which is clamped between the propulsor housing and the frame or the extension thereof such that all vibrations emanating from the propulsor housing pass through the elastomeric member. A power source for providing electricity may be supported on the frame. An electric circuit may have a first end coupled to the power source and an opposite, second end coupled to the propulsor housing. The electric circuit may be configured to convey electricity from the power source to the propulsor housing and thus prevent fouling thereof, wherein the electric circuit extends through the vibration dampening joint.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A marine drive for propelling a marine vessel in a body of water, the marine drive comprising:
a frame configured to support the marine drive with respect to the marine vessel;
a propulsor housing coupled to the frame, the propulsor housing being configured to support a propulsor for generating a propulsive force in the body of water;
a vibration dampening joint which couples the propulsor housing to the frame or an extension thereof, the vibration dampening joint comprising an isolator connector assembly having an elastomeric member which is clamped between the propulsor housing and the frame or the extension thereof such that all vibrations emanating from the propulsor housing pass through the elastomeric member prior to being transferred to the frame or the extension thereof;
a power source for providing electricity; and
an electric circuit having a first end coupled to the power source and an opposite, second end coupled to the propulsor housing, the electric circuit being configured to convey electricity from the power source to the propulsor housing and thus prevent fouling thereof, wherein the electric circuit extends through the vibration dampening joint.

2. The marine drive according to claim 1 , wherein the electric circuit extends through the elastomeric member.

3. The marine drive according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric member includes a bore extending through the elastomeric member, and wherein the electric circuit extends from the bore to a flange surface of the elastomeric member.

4. The marine drive according to claim 3 , wherein the electric circuit comprises a spring with a first end at the flange surface of the elastomeric member and a second end at a radially inner surface of the elastomeric member.

5. The marine drive according to claim 4 , wherein the first end of the spring is in contact with a conductive plate positioned at the flange surface.

6. The marine drive according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric member includes a flange portion which abuts one of the frame and the propulsor housing, and wherein the electric circuit extends from a first flange surface of the flange portion to a second flange surface of the flange portion opposite the first flange surface.

7. The marine drive according to claim 6 , wherein the electric circuit comprises a spring with a first end at the first flange surface of the flange portion and a second end at the second flange surface of the flange portion.

8. The marine drive according to claim 7 , wherein the elastomeric member includes a bore extending through the elastomeric member, and wherein the spring is a coil spring which extends circumferentially around the bore between the first end of the spring and the second end of the spring.

9. The marine drive according to claim 6 , wherein the electric circuit comprises a circular conductive plate positioned at one of the first flange surface of the flange portion and the second flange surface of the flange portion.

10. The marine drive according to claim 1 , wherein the electric circuit comprises a flexible, conductive strip extending in a curved path through the vibration dampening joint.

11. The marine drive according to claim 1 , wherein the isolator connector assembly includes a compression limiter which prevents over clamping of the elastomeric member during assembly of the frame and the propulsor housing;
wherein the elastomeric member is clamped between the compression limiter and one of the frame and the propulsor housing; and
wherein the electric circuit extends through the elastomeric member from the one of the frame and the propulsor housing to the compression limiter.

12. A system for antifouling of a marine drive having a frame coupled to a propulsor housing, the system comprising:
a vibration dampening joint which couples the propulsor housing to the frame or an extension thereof, the vibration dampening joint comprising an isolator connector assembly having an elastomeric member which is clamped between the propulsor housing and the frame or the extension thereof such that all vibrations emanating from the propulsor housing pass through the elastomeric member prior to being transferred to the frame or the extension thereof;
a power source for providing electricity supported on the frame; and
an electric circuit having a first end coupled to the power source and an opposite, second end coupled to the propulsor housing, the electric circuit being configured to convey electricity from the power source to the propulsor housing and thus prevent fouling thereof, wherein the electric circuit extends through the vibration dampening joint.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein one of the first end of the electric circuit and the second end of the electric circuit is in contact with a mounting flange of a corresponding one of the frame and the propulsor housing.

14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the elastomeric member includes a flange portion and the electric circuit is connected to a first conductive plate at one of a first surface of the flange portion or a second surface of the flange portion.

15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the isolator connector assembly comprises a compression limiter which prevents over clamping of the elastomeric member during assembly of the frame and the propulsor housing, and wherein one of the first end of the electric circuit and the second end of the electric circuit is connected to the compression limiter.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the elastomeric member includes a flange portion clamped between the compression limiter and one of the frame and the propulsor housing, and wherein the electric circuit extends from a first flange surface of the flange portion in contact with the one of the frame and the propulsor housing to a second flange surface in contact with the compression limiter.

17. A compression limiting joint for coupling a frame of a marine drive to a propulsor housing of the marine drive, the compression limiting joint comprising:
an isolating connector assembly comprising:
an elastomeric member which is clamped between the frame and the propulsor housing and configured to limit transfer of vibrations from the propulsor housing to the frame,
a compression limiter which prevents over clamping of the elastomeric member during assembly of the frame and the propulsor housing; and
an electric circuit configured to provide a conductive path between a power source on the frame and the propulsor housing, the electric circuit extending through the elastomeric member from a first end in electrical communication with a first one of the frame and the propulsor housing to a second end in electrical communication with a second one of the frame and the propulsor housing.

18. The compression limiting joint according to claim 17 , wherein the first end of the electric circuit is electrically connected to a mounting flange of the first one of the frame and the propulsor housing and the second end of the electric circuit is electrically connected to the compression limiter.

19. The compression limiting joint according to claim 18 , wherein the elastomeric member includes a flange portion and the compression limiter extends through a bore formed in the elastomeric member, and wherein the first end of the electric circuit is at a flange surface of the flange portion and the second end of the electric circuit is at a bore surface of the bore.

20. The compression limiting joint according to cla

Assignees

• Brunswick Corp

Inventors

• Wald Benjamin C
• Harding Duane

Classifications

• B63H21/305 Primary

  with passive vibration damping · CPC title

• B63H20/007

  Trolling propulsion units (trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K) · CPC title

• B63B59/04

  Preventing hull fouling (anti-fouling paints C09D5/16) · CPC title

• B63H20/06 Primary

  on an intermediate support · CPC title