UPPER DRIVESHAFT BEARING LUBRICATION FOR MARINE PROPULSION UNIT

摘要

An arrangement for lubricating the upper bearing for a drive shaft in a marine propulsion unit. A disc-shaped member, which may be a gear used to drive a propeller, is situated below the upper bearing in the bore of a gearcase. Lubrication oil is supplied to the gearcase. There is a small clearance between the bore of the gearcase and the outside diameter of the disc-shaped member to prevent rapid leakage of oil from around the periphery of the disc-shaped member. The disc-shaped member when rotating acts as a centrifugal impeller throwing oil out from its center and up a passageway to the upper bearing. The lubricating oil spills over the upper bearing and returns to the gearcase by way of a drive shaft passage to provide a continuous lubricating means.