US2936730A - Tiltable and steerable dual propeller drive for boats equipped with inboard motors - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1960 H. R. PATT JR.

Y, 2,936,730 TILTABLE AND STEERABLE DUAL PROPELLER DRIVE FOR BOATS EQUIPPED WITH INBOARD MOTORS Filed Aug. 9, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. Har/: y R, Pat-ily Jn flL/ffAM/Vl 2,936,730 TILTABLE AND STEERABLE DUAL PROPELLER DRIVE FOR May 17, 1960 H. R. PATTY, JR

BOATS EQUIPPED WITH INBOARD MOTORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1957 ATTORNEY May 17, 1960 H. R. PATTY, JR

TILTABLE AND STEERABLE DUAL PROPELLER DRIVE FOR BOATS EQUIPPED WITH INBOARD MOTORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 9, 1957 ATTOF/VEY United States Patent TILTABLE AND STEERABLE DUAL PROPELLER gIIgIYROR BOATS EQUIPPED WITH INBGARD Harry R. Patty, Jr., Sapulpa, Okla.,assiguor of one-half to Lee C. McClure, Sapulpa, Okla.

Application August 9, 1957, Serial No. 677,263 s claims. (c1. 11s- 37) f This invention relates to a drive for boats, particularly of the motor boat class audlequipped with inboard motors.

-It is'well .known that inboard motors are most satisfactory when considered from the power factor. For example, inboard motors are more dependable, simpler in design, are easily accessible vfor repairs, and easier to ,protect from the water, corrosion, and other elements.

motors to gain thesimplicity, ease of maneuverability and elimination of transmission troubles offered by outboard motors.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a drive for boats that are equipped with inboard motors which has all .the advantages of outboard power, while also attaining the advantages afforded by an inboard motor. v

Other objects of the invention are to provide a simple, trouble free drive that functions in the manner of the drive effected by outboard motors, to provide a drive equipped with multiple propeller units, lto provide a drive which is protected from damage by floating obstructions, to provide a connection of the propellers which allows the propellers to kick out of the water, either separately or together, when struckfby floating objects, or to be raised manually when beaching a boat. 1

Further objects of'the invention areto provide a multiplepropeller"v drive wherein. the propeller .units are adapted to turn on vertical axes to steerthe boat Without use of a rudder;7to provide control ofthe drive to the respective propellers whereby the Vboat may be steered equally well in both directions; to provide ardrive of this character wherein the thrusts of the propellers or engine torque is balanced by driving the propellers in opposite directions to enable the use of a simple steering control and which may be actuated by any conventional hydraulic steering control; to provide a common drive for the plurality of'independent propeller units adapted to be held in alignment solely by thesteering system linkage; and to provide an inboard motor drive equipped with means for changing ythe propeller anglein relation tothe bottom of the boat vto compensate for different weight loads. z

vention as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is aperspective View of the stern offa boat .equipped with a propeller drive assembly embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 isV a horizontal section through the propeller drive assembly on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, particularly illustrating connection of the power shaft with the right and left lateral or transverse shafts for driving the right and left propeller units.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the stern portion of a boatl and propeller drive assembly, with one of the Y ypropeller units being shown in vertical section, the section .being taken on a line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4.is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. l

Fig. 5` is a fragmentary view showing the clutch collar and the hydraulic mechanism for electing forward, reverse and neutral positions thereof. Fig-6 is a side elevational view of one of the propeller angle adjustment brackets, with parts being shown insection tobetter illustrate the construction.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section through one of the hydraulically actuated steering mechanisms, the section being taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a vertical section at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 7, the section being taken on the -vvrline 9-'9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 isa fragmentary perspective view of the steering vane and the parts that form one of the steering vane chambers.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a propeller driving assembly embodying -the` features of the present invention and showing the mounting thereof on the transom 2 of a motorboat 3. The boat 3 is equipped with an inboard power unit, such as a motor whichY may be an internal combustion engine designated 3', Figs. 1 and 2 for supplying power to the right and left propeller units 4 and 5 of the assembly through a power shaft 6 that extends through the transom 2 of the' boat; above the water line, as bestshown in Another object is to provide the drive with forward, e

reverse, and neutral, preferably selected by a hydraulic Y control.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a propellerdrive wherein the mountng brackets, drive shafts andcontrols are abovelthe'rwater line.

Invaccomplishing these and other objects .of theiin- Figs'. 1 and 3. Since the power'shaft 6 is located above the water line, it may extendwith comparative freedom throughv a plain vco1lar7, which, if desired, may be pro- -vided with a low pressure packing.

The propeller drive assembly includes a transverse housing 8 `carrying at'the ends thereof depending tubular housings 9 and 10 of the right and left propeller I units4 and 5, as best shown in Fig. 1. The transverse vhousing includes a central or stationary section 11 composed of complementary casing parts 12 and 13 that are secured together by bolts 14 to form an enclosure or gear case for a cluster of gears 15. The casing parts are provided onthe inside 'inthe fore and aft direction thereof vwith antifrictionbearings 16 and 17 for journaling therein the end 18'of the power shaft 6. The gear ycluster includes driving gears 19l and 20 that are -freelyrotatable on the power shaft 6 at the inner sides of the antifriction bearings'16 and 17. The gears are of the' bevel type'and are supported in driving engagement" with driven gears 21 yand 22, which are keyedlto latas-avviso i 3 35 and 36 by whichthe entire-assemb1yls'attached-to and supported by the transom 2 of the boat. The bearing collars 33 and 34 preferably comprise a seat 37 having legs 38 'that terminatein feet 39-'whichiare: attached to the transomof `thet'bo'at' bysuitable'fastening devices suchy as bolts 40. Theendsf132'ofthelhousing -sections 30 and 31 are retaine'din the'seatsl 37 `ofthe llateral shafts Y23 and T24. The housing sections 30-and 31 also include depending socket portions =48 1andfv49,

which may constitutefseparategparts that arel connected `to the gear cases by fasteningzdevicessuch as bolts 50.

The parts 48 and 49. carry -antifriction bearings-51 and '52for mountingy the upper .ends'of vertical: shafts 53 and 54. Thedependinghousings9 and-101alsor include tubular leg portions .'SS'that are rotatablyfanchoredwin the sockets ,4S and 49`bypairs of'ipins 56 4and 57'that extend throughtheholes 58"'inthelwalls oflthersockets and have portions engaging ingroovesf59 arranged-.substantiallytangentially'of thelegportions 55. .'.Thevlateral extensions l26^ and 27 r of the centrall housing vsectionfare fsirnilarly connected withntherl end sections -by pairsof key pins 60 and 61. In this way the propeller units/4V and-5 are freel .to swing independently of: each otherI rearwardly and upward-ly about theaxis ofV thelateral@ shafts, and to turn or oscillate within the sockets 48 and '49 without the housihg=membersj pulling apart. .The-shafts 53 and'54are preferably in two -parts to facilitate as- 'semblyr as 1indicated at=53'. The lower ends of the-shafts 53 and 54are mounted inbearings 51- and 52' thatare carried inA thez'loweriends, of the legs.

The lower endsI of the legs- 55 carry gear cases 62 and 63A and which contain at-,the respectiveforwardandrear lends thereof :antifrictionl `bearings 64 sand `65 forI journaling. propeller shafts-66 and :67, respectively. v

AThe lateral shaftsI have fixed'thereon.bevelggearsff68 andi 69 which: meshv-withbevelgearsi70 and,71. on'ithe -lupper' ends f.- of the'I verticall .shafts-w53 and-54,t-.ftheff gears 68' andVV 691 being arranged at the :respective ends .otv ,the lateral shafts 23 and 24-wherebythe vertical-shaft53 is driven vin one. zdirection and the #other verticali; shaft -54xis1drivenin the'-opposite direction, to-vequalizetorque on thefpower shaftr6.

'The lower endsof'the verticalzshafts 53 and 54 aha-ve fixed thereto' bevel` gears 72 and A73 which` mesh -with bevel gears 74'and 75 on the propeller 'shafts 66 and-67.` The lrearfends of the 4propeller-shafts166fzand y67,-project .from the cases 62 and 63tand carry; Propellers .76 and 77 having blades set to exert thrusts in the same direction even though they turn'in oppositeY directions. In

this wayany tendency forone propeller Vunit tovdeviate is counteracted by the other andazsirnple-"easy acting steering mechanism may be .used'V to; 4vhold .the;..propeller -units in the same course.

The steering Iconnection `mighti berazldirectsmechanical .1linkage, but toi simplifylthe Fcontrolsrandg'to provide for -power steering," the connectionlis of -liydrauliczcharacten 'The propeller unitsf carry'f-.pistone elements.y or= varies-78V aridf 79; res'pectively,'fthat lare adapted 'to foscillatezwithin t substantially semicylindrical "chamberssB-and `181..;that

are provided l-'byann'ular recesses?Y ini Lthe'werticalashaft housings.

Whenithepropeller'ui'iits4 and5 are irr a straightaway directiong'the variesV 78 land 79-eXtend vrearwardlyfwithin 'the piston "chambers" and "the f forward" Kportions rhfof 'the recesses are I.filled in yby arcuate .blocks v82 .thatsare retained in iiXed relation within the socket parts 48 and? 49 by fastening devices such as cap screws 83 (Fig. 8). The blocks 82 are provided with ports 84 and 85 open-A ing into the piston chambers 80 and 81 on the respective sides of the vanes 78i1andf79lfor passing a hydraulic .fluid VVinto .and -outr of vthe respective chambers, .as ..latei'f f-d'esc'rlibed.

vThe ports" 84 and`f85 of one propeller unitgareeon-l nected with corresponding ports of the other propeller vuniti by ducts -86f-andl87which :vare -connected with .iluid supply and` returnL-'.lines88'-1and'- 89 'that extend through the transom of1the^boat1and are vconnected `vvithra, source Y of pressure uid by any conventional steering control valve (not shown),"whereby uid `may be admitted under pressure into Vone and the other of the supply lines and exhausted from the other supply line to act on the respective sides `of thevane vfor, steering ,.thepropeller unitsgfas .later described.

In order to selectively connect the driving gears 19 :and 201 'to the power shafts-6,.'thezpowerl shaft 6 carries a -..clutch col1ar90: .thats' slidably keyed: to lthe power shaft atia point ,intermediatethegears 19 and'20, and theends -fzoftitheiclutch collar lhave lugs 91.and 92 that are ladapted -vtosengage'corresponding kklugs 93 `and- V94 on the lfacing :ifsidesrofithedrive gears, so that when the lugs at'one side f-of the collarengage 'the lugsiof .the facing gear, that gear :iisi-conneclted-vin; driving relation with the power shaft to Aeffect-rotation foboth' :the Alateraltshafts in one direction, 30 -.andrwhen :the lugsV at the opposite; side :of the.'v collar; .are L:engaged-with the lugszof the gear-atthatside, thatggear -fis'-vv rendered. effective tolv rotate the. Ilateralznshafts 1in-fl a; refverse .`direetion,- .thereby providingior if forward and re- ;verserotationfofsthe propeliers. f s

7.Thefclutchcollar`90 may `beactua'ted by ashipper-95 .thatsoperates througll a :slot 96;:in 'the r central housing parts and is connected with a piston 97 of a-hydraulic -sactuatonme'chanism 98. `rfha-.piston 97zis slidable;in a cylinder 199 that. issuitably attached tothe-under sidefof 40rthe:centralfhonsing, parts, and theendsthereOf are connectedqbyiductsz 1100. and;101fthat` lead 4through the ftranf-V som of the boat and are Fconnectledwwith a1-hydraulic i'eontrol valve (not shown) f. fort selectively, admitting hys-lrdraulicz: uidltozoner end and :ithe: other@ of tithe.-y cylinder zand/exhausting it frornifthe opposite end of: the` cylinder .t -to-manipu-late '.the; clutch.- and. forrlocking the spistonintan intermediateyposition .to .hold ithe;V clutclrl collar,v in ueul'al. 11n-order thatzthezlpropeller Vvunitsamay lbe;pivot ed.to tsupporti the-propeller shaftsirat. thenproperzang-le, relative ito fvariable :loadingi-,of the boat, .eachgpropeller;` unit;A is

braced from the boatiebyrbracearms: 102andv 103. Each @bracearmincludese anxedztubular-partX104-f1that is at- 'iitachedLtO'Ithe ilowerfportion .of theztransom vof-the vboat fby' fasteningdeivi'ces'. 105. :The tubular parts slidably constain the-'other `parts 106.` and4 which `parts are l adjustably J connected by .a pin" 107 that extends throughv one off a seri'esaofopenings inithetubularvpart 104 and through-an 1 opening intthepart 106.

- ylivotally.mountedbymeansvofiapin 108non the rear #ends=of-the.'parts1109; are yokesf 11 0,swhich` ,yokes 1j10 sare-lopen'l atthefffront' toaccon1modatetherein the depending 'shaft housingsroffthe propeller units. Toreduce 1- rfriction.' the yokesii are provided.; at: spaced: points with :rollers-,111. Theopenwsides ofthe Vyokesallow the pro- 65'- pellen` units tosswingitherefrom, :as shown-iinadottedglirtes,

FigL. 3, fion-'clearing the propellernnits, as l.when -beaching theboator .in-caser` ai oating-.object should ,'strikeoneor the other of the propeller units, as`later described. t

The propellei'aunitz: constructed and1 .;assembled;as described'. is. mounted von theitransonml 2 of; theysmotorboat, so that the propeller heads are in proper submergence 11 and into. the `boattrvvhere viti-iis connected withzthetinboard motor or with a speed controltuuitthatis:drivenfbvsthe 75* inboardl.motor.

When the brackets 35 are secured to the transom, :the propeller units 4 and 5 hang freely from the horizontal axis and may be moved in the brackets to a position as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, in case, when cruising, a submerged object should strike one or *the other of the units.

The propeller units, however, are-supported against the thrust of the propellers by thebrace 102 and 103, so that the yokes v110 thereoembrace the leg portions 55 of the propeller units.` The-,eiective "lengths ofi-'the bracketsV are adjusted by inserting the pins 107 in the proper holes of the tubularV parts 104 of the b race arms to support the .propeller shafts 66 and67 ata predetermined angle relatively to the bottom of the boat. c p

The ducts 88 and 89 are connected with the standard hydraulic steering control valve within/the boat, and the ducts 100 and 101 are connected with'a control valve whereby the clutch collar may befmoved from neutral position to engage one or the other of the driving gears 19 and 20, as when the boat -is to be moved in aforward direction or in a reverse direction. v f 4 As above stated, the leg portions of the propeller units are swivelly retained within the sockets 48 and 49 so that they may turn therein and in the yokes of the brace arms 102 and 103. j

When pressure uid is admitted through the ports 84 and exhausted from the ports `85, the propeller units are caused to turn in a anticlockwise direction, and when the ow of pressure duid is reversed, the pressure acts on the opposite side of the vanes 78 to turn the propeller units in the opposite direction. Thus, the boat is capable of being steered entirely bythe propeller units. This is made possible by the counter rotation of the propellers which equalizes the motor torque, that is, any tendency for one propeller to deviate from its intended direction is counteracted by the other Yunit'.

The propeller units are 'brought into gear in forward and reverse direction by admitting pressure fluid to one or thek other ends of the'cylinder 99, ywhich'brings the clutch collar 90 into engagement with the clutch faces of one or the other of the gears, depending upon the direction that the boat is to be moved.

When it is desired to dock the b'oat, the propeller-'units may be raised through the dotted lline position shown in Fig. 3 so as to bring them in an out of way position above the bottom of the boat. Should one or both of the propeller units be contacted by a submerged object, the leg portions of the units are merely kicked out of the supporting yokes until the object has been passed, after which the weight of the'units returns them toseating engagement within the yokes of the brace' arms. The thrust of the propellers inmovin'g the boat through they water acts automatically to retain the units in the yokes of the supporting arms on forward movement of the boat. While the rear of the yokes are open to permit the units to kick yup yunder engagement by a submerged object, under normal operating conditions the weight of the units will hold them in proper position in the yokes upon backing of the boat, however, if desired, the gear cases y44 and 45 may be latched to the bracket collars 33 and 34 by suitable slide bolts (not shown) that may be actuated to lock the parts together Abefore placing the units in reverse.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a simple propeller drive for boats equipped with inboard motors that has the maneuverability vand advantages of outboard motors without the disadvantages of present intallations where the propeller shafts must extend through packed bearings in the bottom of the boat.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A dual propeller drive for a motor boat having an inboard motor and a transom at the stern of the boat for mounting the propeller drive, said propeller drive including laterally spaced propeller units, means for independently mounting the propeller units on the transom of the boat for independent swinging movement rearf wardly and upwardly about a .common transverse axis,

Vunits to steer the boat, a common drive connection between the propeller units"A and the inboard motor, said driving connection including gears rotatable on the transverse axis meshing with gears on theverticaluaxes of the propeller units with the gears in the vertical axes being ,adapted to roll upon the gears in the transverse axis when one of the propeller units swings rearwardly and upwardly o n the transverse axis toy maintain said driving connections, and said hydraulic steering means including exible tubular ducts to maintain the steering connections intact'dui'ing movement of said one propeller unit for propelling andsteering of the boat by the other propeller unit."

2. A dual propeller drive forY a motor boat having an inboard motor and a transom at the stern of the 'boat for mounting the propeller` drive,said propeller drive including laterallyspacedv propeller units, means for independently mounting the propeller units on the transom of the boat for independent swinging movement rearwardly and upwardly about a` common transverse axis, brackets adapted for attachment to the stern of the boat and having yoke'portions seating the propeller units in vertical position in opposite to thrust of the impellers of Asaid units and said yokes having open fronts for releasing a propeller unit to swing about the transverse axis in case the propeller unit shouldbe engaged by'an underwater obstruction, said propeller units having joints on which the propeller units are oscillatable about vertical axes, hydraulically actuated steering means interconnecting the propeller units to steer 'the boat, a common drive'connection between the propeller units andthe inboard motor, said driving connection' including gears rotatable on the transverse axis meshing with gears inthe-vertical axes of the propeller units withtlie gears in the vertical axes being adaptedV to roll upon the gears inthe transverse axis to maintain the driving connection when one of the propeller units swings rearwardly and upwardly on the transverse axis to vmaintain said driving connections, and said hydraulic steering means including exible tubular ducts to maintain the steering connections intact during movement of said one propeller unit for steering of the boat by the other propeller unit.

3. A dual propeller drive for a motor boat having an inboard motorand a transom at the stern of the boat for mounting the propeller drive, said propellery drive including a transverse housing havingv a stationary central section providing a gear case andjhaving oppositely directed tubular extensions, oscillatable sections having tubular portions invsleeved relation with the tubular extensions of the stationary central section and having independent connections with the extensions of the central section in the axial directions thereof, said oscillatableV sections having depending tubular portions at outer ends thereof, tubular housings having upper ends oscillatably connected with said tubular depending portions, a propeller unit on the lower end of each tubular housing, steering means interconnecting the tubular housings for oscillating the propeller units to steer the boat, brackets for mounting on the transom of the boat and having rearwardly extending bearing portions journaling the tubular portions of the oscillatable sections therein for supporting thel ynectfedwith thenpror'ieller units,`, gears connecting 'outer y '.the .boat ,andkhaving `yoke'"portions Vseating"the".depending n .tubulamhosings in opposition to; thrust ofthe propellers ...andsaid v,yokes V.having'L operrifrontsfor re1easing1"the ...tubulanh y -.and r.ear.w rdlywith'thet'nhular portions of the oscillat- `able seetionaturning yt/ itlainitheV bearing portions off the .brackets andJ yupcmlthe tubular .extensions .of thezcentraI ...section andab.o11t;,the,..axis..of SaidlignedlshaftS in case af propeller...unit lshould, be engaged by Aan .underwater obstruction and nioved thereby out of its seatinthe yoke portion.; of.v its corresponding brace:v .arm while the other .,.propeller.. unit r.et`ai-ns`..,ts -vertical position and .with the driving-and steering .connectionsjthereof*intact to steer and .propeldhefboaa y Y 4..'A..dua1 .propeller.drive" for., a motor boat, having .an nboardmotor and, a..transom. at, the sterno'the boat .for rnotuntngA the .propellerf..drive, .saidpropeller drive inngs to swingthe; Ypropeller unitsupwardly* .cluding a transversehousing having. astationaryhcentral gto provide. substantially. sernieircular. v.cham-bers, vanos.` on

.the s tubular housings androscillatable in-tsaid. chambers, (..xduct .means. connecting the portions.. ofthe chambers. on'

:opposite: sides. of. .theivanesa of. one, v/t'ubularahousing with .thercorresponding-portions. .of the other, .means-connected ...withihe duct. means forv supplying Yandexhaustinga ..1:res rlsnre. fluid 4from theportions of the ,chambers on `opposite .sides ofthe vanesafonfoscillating the propeller units.to lsteer theboat, bracketsfor.l attachment toi. the vtransom -of ether boatf'and; h'ving- 4rearwardly"extendingiy bearing Y portions" journaling the osillatable'esectionsof 'ftheftrans- '=-versef'ho11sing and im'which fthe os'illatablesectionsfare `movable g-independentlyof' 4ea'clrother; a drivesh'aft' jourthe rinb'oa'rd motor; ylsh'aftf'mea-nsy ljournaledv -in thai-trans VVAAverse housing, gears-inthe-fgear case linterconnectingthe 'drive'shaftWith-thetshaft rneansgwerticalfshafts rotatable 10fwithin`=the dependingitubnla'rv housings 1and-having`-lower ends connectedWithithef'propeller units, Lgearsl connecting endsof the shaftemeans withthe upper. ends of the" ver tical shafts, brace armsEr-fon-'attachm'ent tothe; stern-"of f "the-boat and 'havingyokepo'rtions seating theV depending 15 tubular-housings in opposition :td-thrust offthe-fpropellers f and said Ayokes havingopenefron-ts--forfreleasingithe tubular housings to swing f the rv`propellerl -units upwardly randwrear- -wa'rdly aboutI theaxis of the 'shaft means in l'caser ay pro- -pelleriuiiit should-engage fan; underwater obstruction while the other propeller unit-retains#tsvertical positions-with l*the drivingland steering-connections Athereof intactV to steer and propel thewboan f -ing=v the bracefpartsT-theren and having `meansl forfattachmenti to' thesternA fofithe. fboatf; one o-said parts having;l a -f-sries1 offfopeningsfandl the therfanopen-ing adapted tobe l5 A'ldual'vpropellerfdrivefor a-motorbo'at asY described in claim 2 wherein the brackets comprise'brace `parts 'carryingthe -ylokesgand-tubular parts adjustably contain- Vregistered' iwitlafone' of! the-series Sofopeningsv and a-v pin/extending .throughthe yregisteringop enin gs.

cReferencesCited inf the lefbfthis. ,patent Y UNITED *TSTATESTPATENTS 1,822,573 Fitzgerald -...v..- l.-Swept`..B, v1931 1,943,288 Chandleretal. Y...., ...Jani 16;;'1934 .1,943,323 .I Johnson i-.. Ian; .1.6, 5.19434 ...12,091,557 ...Montgomery. .Iuly 3,1,- 1937 l 2,608,060 Smith ,.-.July 26, 1952 1 'FOREIGN PATENTS 598,598 .Gre-at Bn'tain Febr-23mm

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