Outboard motor for a watercraft and methods of use and manufacture thereof

摘要

Some embodiments are directed to a transmission that includes an input shaft connected to a crankshaft, an output shaft contained within a transmission housing, an input gear contained within the transmission housing and connected to the input shaft, and an output gear contained within the transmission housing and connected to the output shaft and engaging the input gear. A directional gear assembly is contained within the transmission housing at a location between the output shaft and the drive shaft. The directional gear assembly includes a first configuration in which the output shaft drives the drive shaft in a first rotational direction, a second configuration in which the output shaft drives the drive shaft in a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction, and a third configuration in which the drive shaft is disconnected from the output shaft.

主权项

1. An outboard motor for propelling a watercraft along a body of water, the outboard motor comprising:
a propeller including at least one blade configured to impart thrust to an immediate portion of the body of water if the propeller rotates in the immediate portion of the body of water; a propeller shaft fixed to the propeller and extending in a first direction; an output shaft extending substantially perpendicular to the first direction and selectively driving the propeller shaft; an internal combustion engine including an engine block and a crankshaft axis, the crankshaft axis extends substantially parallel to the first direction; and a transmission including:
a transmission housing abutting the engine block;a first shaft extending substantially parallel to the first direction, and contained within the transmission housing;a second shaft extending substantially parallel to the first direction and contained within the transmission housing;a first gear contained within the transmission housing and connected to the first shaft;a second gear contained within the transmission housing and connected to the second shaft and engaging the first gear; anda directional gear assembly contained within the transmission housing at a location between the second shaft and the output shaft, the directional gear assembly including a first configuration in which the second shaft drives the output shaft in a first rotational direction, a second configuration in which the second shaft drives the output shaft in a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction, and a third configuration in which the output shaft is disconnected from the second shaft.