Free Patents Online: Marine propulsion

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02/21/12--05:00: Mount structure of outboard motor (chan 3121084)

A mount structure of an outboard motor includes a first member, a second member, a buffer member, a sandwiching member, and a second elastic member. A propulsive force generated by a propeller of the outboard motor is applied to the first member. The second member is arranged such that the propulsive force is transmitted to the second member via the first member. The buffer member includes an outer sleeve fixed to the first member, an inner sleeve inserted in the outer sleeve, a first elastic member fixed to the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve. The sandwiching member is arranged to sandwich the second member and the inner sleeve in a direction of action of the propulsive force. The second elastic member is fixed to the first member. The second elastic member is opposed to the sandwiching member across a gap in the direction of action.


02/21/12--05:00: Sacrificial blade tip (chan 3121084)

A propeller blade device used in environments where a propeller system is subjected to blade erosion and wear and may also be subjected to an axial force from water. The propeller blade includes a blade tip mounted on its outer end using a mounting device such as nuts and bolts to form a junction there between. The tip may easily be replaced when worn or damaged without removing the blade. The tip is designed to fracture upon impact with an axial force before transmitting the force radially inward to the propeller blade.


02/21/12--05:00: Outboard motor (chan 3121084)

An outboard motor includes an engine, a first exhaust passage, a partition, a communication portion, an exhaust gas concentration sensor, and a catalyst. The engine is arranged to support a crankshaft extending along an up-down direction. The first exhaust passage is connected to the engine and is arranged to exhaust exhaust gas of the engine into water. The partition is arranged to partition an inside of the first exhaust passage into an upstream side and a downstream side. The communication portion is arranged to make the upstream side communicate with the downstream side of the partition in the first exhaust passage. The exhaust gas concentration sensor is arranged on the upstream side of the partition in the first exhaust passage. The catalyst is arranged on an upstream side of the exhaust gas concentration sensor in the first exhaust passage.


02/21/12--05:00: Propulsion arrangement (chan 3121084)

A propulsion arrangement for a marine vessel is disclosed. The propulsion arrangement comprises an engine (12, 14) for propelling the vessel and an electrical machine (26, 28) coupled to the engine. The electrical machine is arranged to supply onboard electrical power for the vessel. A control unit (44) controls the electrical machine such that the electrical machine is selectively operable as a generator or a motor. The control unit and the electrical machine are arranged such that the electrical machine when operating as a motor can supplement the power of the engine while the engine is in operation. In one embodiment, the control unit and the electrical machine are arranged to provide active damping of the engine torque.


02/21/12--05:00: Misfire detecting device for water jet propulsion watercraft (chan 3121084)

A misfire detecting device is provided for a water jet propulsion watercraft in which a propulsion unit operates through an operation of an engine to propel the water jet propulsion watercraft. The misfire detecting device includes injectors arranged to inject fuel into the engine under a fuel injection amount adjusting control implemented by an electric control device, ignition plugs arranged to ignite the fuel injected into the engine from the injectors to operate the engine, an oxygen sensor arranged to detect that a misfire occurs in the engine, a warning lamp and buzzer arranged to inform that the misfire occurs, etc. The misfire detecting device prevents the warning lamp and the buzzer from informing the warning if the misfire is caused through the control by the electric control device. Accordingly, the misfire detecting device for a water jet propulsion watercraft ensures that an operator cannot mistake a misfire caused under a control for a misfire caused due to an abnormality of an engine or other components thereof.


02/21/12--05:00: Bushing apparatus for electrical and hydraulic lines on a watercraft (chan 3121084)

A trimmable and controllable outside drive of a watercraft which comprises at least two actuators (113) for adjusting a thrust tube as well as at least one suspension apparatus (102) which can be fixed to a transom (101), for pivotally mounting the actuators (113). The drive comprises hydraulic (112) and electrical lines (111) for the actuators (113), the hydraulic or electrical energy for adjusting the actuators (113) and electrical signals from the sensors being transmitted by the lines. A bushing apparatus (100) is arranged on the transom (101) and the hydraulic (112) and/or electrical lines (111) are connected, via the bushing apparatus (100), both inside and outside the transom (113)).


02/21/12--05:00: Outboard motor (chan 3121084)

In an outboard motor, a speed reduction mechanism includes an inner gear connected with an input shaft (i.e., second output shaft), a planetary gear that meshes with the inner gear and that rolls inside the inner gear, and a sun gear that meshes with the planetary gear and that is not rotatable. A shaft portion of a carrier that supports the planetary gear, and a shaft core portion of the sun gear, preferably have a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape. The shaft portion of the carrier is inserted and arranged to overlap with the shaft core portion of the sun gear in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the shaft. The output shaft (i.e., drive shaft) is inserted and coupled to the shaft portion of the carrier. Accordingly, this provides an outboard motor that makes it possible to prevent the size of a speed change device from increasing in size when a speed reduction mechanism is added.


02/21/12--05:00: Outboard motor (chan 3121084)

An outboard motor includes an engine, and a top cowling and a bottom cowling that are arranged to cover the engine. A flow-joining pipe is connected to each exhaust port of a plurality of cylinders of the engine. A first exhaust pipe, a second exhaust pipe, and a third exhaust pipe are connected to the flow-joining pipe in sequence. The flow-joining pipe and the first exhaust pipe are connected generally at the same height as a bottommost of the cylinders of the engine. The third exhaust pipe is disposed above a topmost of the cylinders of the engine. A catalyst is disposed in a connecting portion between the first exhaust pipe and the second exhaust pipe so as to be housed in an upper end portion of the first exhaust pipe and in a lower end portion of the second exhaust pipe. The outboard motor is thus able to prevent water from adhering to a catalyst while avoiding any increase in size.


02/21/12--05:00: Outboard motor control apparatus (chan 3121084)

In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor mounted on a boat and having a torque converter equipped with a lockup clutch, it is configured to calculate a speed ratio of the torque converter based on an input rotation speed and output rotation speed of the torque converter, detect manifold absolute pressure of the engine, control the lockup clutch to ON when the calculated speed ratio has been equal to or greater than a reference value, and control the lockup clutch to OFF when the manifold absolute pressure has been decreased by a first predetermined value or more. With this, it becomes possible to prevent the boat speed from decreasing even when the resistance of water flow acting on the boat increases due to the influence of a wave etc., thereby maintaining the maximum speed.