LARGE OUTBOARD MOTOR FOR MARINE VESSEL APPLICATION AND RELATED METHODS OF MAKING AND OPERATING SAME

摘要

An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, and related methods of making and operating same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the outboard motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the outboard motor, positioned substantially positioned above a trimming axis of the outboard motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to one or more propellers at a lower portion of the outboard motor. In at least a further embodiment, the outboard motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the outboard motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, as well as other transmission features.

主权项

1. An outboard motor configured to be mounted on a marine vessel, the outboard motor comprising:
a housing including an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein an output shaft extends outward from the lower portion; an engine configured to provide first torque at a first shaft extending outward from the engine, the engine being substantially situated within the housing; a first transmission device that is in communication with the first shaft so as to receive the output torque and configured to cause second torque including at least some of the first torque to be communicated to a first location beneath the engine; a second transmission device configured to receive the second torque and to cause third torque including at least some of the second torque to be communicated to a second location beneath the first location within or proximate to the lower portion; and a third transmission device positioned within or proximate to the lower portion that is configured to receive the third torque and cause at least some at least some of the third torque to be provided to the output shaft, wherein the third transmission device is situated at least partly within a gear casing of the lower portion, wherein the gear casing houses therewithin first and second pinions, wherein each of the first and second pinions is configured to receive a respective portion of the third torque, wherein the first and second pinions are respectively configured to rotate in opposite directions, wherein the gear casing further houses first and second additional gears that are both axially aligned with the output shaft, wherein the first and second additional gears respectively engage the first and second pinions in a manner such that opposite rotation of the first and second pinions relative to one another causes both of the first and second additional gears to rotate in a shared direction so as to rotate the output shaft in the shared direction, and wherein such operation allows for the gear casing to have a reduced cross-sectional area.