HULL MOUNTED, STEERABLE MARINE DRIVE WITH TRIM ACTUATION

摘要

A hull mounted, steerable marine drive system having trim actuation is both steerable through 360 degrees and is trimmable in a range of from approximately +3 degrees to approximately −15 degrees. The marine drive system includes a watertight enclosure assembly for sealing the hull, which is adapted for keeping much of the marine drive system from being exposed to water. The enclosure includes a gasket flange plate, a retention plate and a folded gasket. The gasket flange plate closely follows the contour of the hull and enhances the hydrodynamic and wake performance of the present marine drive system. Further, marine drive system includes a forward-neutral-reverse (FNR) transmission assembly, a drive unit assembly having a trimmable upper unit and a steerable lower unit, a steering actuator assembly, a trim actuator assembly, and, preferably, trim foils for enhancing lift to assist in getting the boat up on plane.

主权项

1. A marine drive assembly adapted for being mounted in an opening in a boat hull, said marine drive assembly comprising:
a marine drive unit extending downwardly through the opening in the boat hull, said marine drive unit adapted to propel the boat through the water; and a watertight enclosure assembly disposed within the hull of the boat and sealed such that water is substantially prevented from entering said enclosure assembly thereby enhancing hydrodynamic efficiency and wake performance of said drive assembly, said watertight enclosure assembly including an upper portion disposed substantially within the hull of the boat, a gasket flange plate secured to said upper portion with a substantially water-tight seal, said gasket flange plate having a gasket flange extending radially outward, a retention plate for clamping said gasket flange plate against the hull forming a substantially water-tight seal, an O-ring gasket member formed from a resilient material for sealing a junction between said gasket flange and the hull and for further sealing a junction between said retention plate and said gasket flange, wherein said retention plate and said gasket flange plate are configured to closely follow a contour of the hull thereby providing a substantially seamless interface to the boat hull.