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 for a marine application comprising:
an upper portion within which is situated an engine that generates torque; and a lower portion including a gear casing, wherein a propeller output shaft extending aftward from the gear casing along an axis drives rotation of a propeller, the gear casing further including:
first and second pinions, wherein each of the first and second pinions is configured to receive a respective portion of the torque generated by the engine via at least one transmission device, wherein the first and second pinions are respectively configured to rotate in opposite directions;first and second additional gears that are both axially aligned with the axis and coupled to or integrally formed with the propeller 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; andan exhaust port formed at or proximate an aft end of the gear casing, the exhaust port allowing exhaust provided thereto via at least one channel within the lower portion to exit the outboard motor.