Method and apparatus for air cooled outboad motor for small marine craft

• US 7,052,340 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gator Tail LLC (Gator Tail)
• Original Assignee: Gator Tail LLC (Gator Tail)
• Inventors: Broussard, Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A.
• Application Number:
  US10/662,487
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 440/75, 440/900, 440/49, 440/76
• US Class Current: 440/75
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/00 Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/08 Means enabling movement of the position of the propulsion element, e.g. for trim, tilt or steering; Control of trim or tilt initiating means for steering B63H25/02
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/14 Transmission between propulsion power unit and propulsion element
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2023/0233 of belts having a toothed contact surface, or regularly spaced bosses, or hollows for slip-less or nearly slip-less meshing with complementary profiled contact surface of a pulley

Abstract

An air cooled, belt drive and engine assembly mountable to the transom of small flat bottom boats in much the same manner as water cooled outboard engines with a lower foot that does not extend below the bottom of the boat but extends a sufficient distance behind the boat to insure the proper angle of attack when the propeller is in contact with mud and vegetation. The engine mount includes tilt-up capability and pivotal horizontal steering. The propeller is capable of cutting through vegetation, provides propulsive thrust in mud and provides relatively fast boat speed in deep water.

Claims

1. A portable drive assembly having means for temporary attachment to the transom of a shallow draft watercraft said portable drive assembly comprising an elongated drive housing enclosing an upper drive assembly a lower driven assembly and a timing belt connecting said upper drive assembly to said lower driven assembly, an engine mounting plate attached externally to said drive housing located adjacent said upper drive assembly perpendicular to said drive housing said lower driven assembly further comprising a propeller shaft partially enclosed within a shaft housing attached to said drive housing adjacent said driven assembly extending at least 12 inches beyond said drive housing and a propeller attached to said propeller shaft.

2. The portable drive assembly according to claim 1 wherein said portable drive assembly further comprising a transmission mounted to said engine mounting plate coupled externally to said upper drive assembly for reversing drive rotation.

3. The portable drive assembly according to claim 1 wherein said drive system further comprises steering and throttle controls.

4. The portable drive assembly according to claim 1 wherein said propeller shaft assembly further comprises a shaft housing having a vertical triangular fin located below said shaft housing, a shaft supported adjacent each end by thrust bearings in a manner whereby said shaft extends beyond each of said thrust bearings and a plurality of internal seals located along said shaft outboard of said thrust bearings.

5. The portable drive assembly according to claim 1 wherein said upper drive assembly and said lower driven assembly further include timing pulleys compatible with said timing belt said belt being rotationally unobstructed or acted upon by other bodies.

6. The portable drive assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a self contained air cooled utility engine having a horizontal output shaft attached to said engine mounting plate said output shaft coupled to said upper drive assembly.

7. The portable drive assembly according to claim 6 wherein said drive housing is water sealed.

8. A portable outboard engine and drive assembly having means for temporary attachment to the transom of a shallow draft watercraft comprising:

a) a sealed housing containing a timing belt drive assembly comprising an upper drive pulley assembly and a lower driven pulley assembly;

b) an engine mounting plate attached externally to said sealed housing located adjacent said upper drive pulley assembly perpendicular to said sealed housing;

c) a propeller shaft partially enclosed within a shaft housing attached to said sealed housing extending from said driven pulley assembly at least 12 inches beyond said sealed housing;

d) a propeller attached to said propeller shaft;

e) a pivotal means for temporarily attaching said sealed drive housing to a boat transom; and

f) an air cooled engine mounted to said engine-mounting plate and coupled externally to said upper drive pulley assembly.

9. The portable drive assembly according to claim 8 wherein said pivotal means comprises both horizontal and vertical pivoting means.

10. The portable drive assembly according to claim 8 wherein said portable drive assembly further comprises a transmission connected between said air-cooled engine and said upper drive pulley assembly.

11. The portable drive assembly according to claim 8 wherein said propeller shaft assembly further comprises a plurality of thrust bearings and seals at each end of said shaft housing.

12. The portable drive assembly according to claim 11 wherein said propeller shaft assembly further comprises a rudder fin extending below said shaft housing.

13. The portable drive assembly according to claim 8 wherein said propeller shaft assembly is in excess of 18 inches in length.

14. A method of driving a small watercraft in very shallow water comprising the steps of:

a) attaching a portable drive assembly having means for temporary attachment to the transom of a shallow draft watercraft said portable drive assembly comprising an elongated drive housing enclosing an upper drive assembly, a lower driven assembly and a timing belt connecting said upper drive assembly to said lower driven assembly, an engine mounting plate attached externally to said drive housing located adjacent said upper drive assembly perpendicular to said drive housing, said lower driven assembly further comprising a propeller shaft partially enclosed within a shaft housing attached to said drive housing adjacent said driven assembly extending at least 12 inches beyond said drive housing, and a propeller attached to said propeller shaft;

b) attaching an air cooled utility engine to said engine mounting plate and coupling said air cooled utility engine to said upper drive assembly; and

c) adjusting said pivotal transom mounting bracket relative to said transom in a manner whereby said propeller shaft assembly does not extend below the bottom of said watercraft when driving said watercraft.