US3099242A - Flexible propeller shaft drive - Google Patents

Description

D. F. QUEEN 3,099,242

July 30, 1963 FLEXIBLE PROPELLER SHAFT DRIVE 3 Sheets$heet 1 Filed Jan. 31, 1962 Fig.

Fig. 2

64 Delbert E Queen 6 ZNVENTOR.

. 74 4 BY 72 72 and my m July 30, 1963 D. F. QUEEN FLEXIBLE PROPELLER SHAFT DRIVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 51, 1962 Delbert Oueen INVENTOR July 30, 1963 D. F. QUEEN FLEXIBLE PROPELLER SHAFT DRIVE 3 Sheets-She et 5 Filed Jan. 51, 1962 INVENTOR.

BY Aflornq:

United States Patent 3,099,242 FLEXIBLE PROPELLER SHAFT DRIVE Delbert F. Queen, Richmond Dale, Ohio Filed Jan. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 170,116 13 Claims. (Cl. 115-42) This invention relates to a novel and useful flexible propeller shaft drive assembly which has been specifically designed for use in conjunction with boat hulls of thetype having inboard motors disposed therein.

The flexible propeller drive shaft of the instant invention has been primarily designed to enable an inboard boat to be effectively propelled through shallow waters with little or no chance of the propeller of the flexible drive shaft assembly striking underwater objects projecting upwardly from the bottom and becoming damaged thereby.

The flexible propeller drive shaft assembly of the instant invention utilizes a flexible drive shaft having a flexible outer housing member in which a flexible drive core is rotatably journalled. One end of the flexible outer housing member is adapted for securement through an opening formed in the transom of a boat. An upright generally L-shaped support rod is provided with means for rotatably mounting the upstanding leg of the support rod from the transom of the boat for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The free end of the horizontal leg of the support rod is provided with means for pivotally securing the rear free end of the flexible outer housing member to the hori- Zontal leg for movement about an axis extending transversely of the outer housing member and of the plane in which the legs of the L-shaped support rod are disposed. In this manner, the L-shaped support rod may be rotated about the longitudinal axis of its upstanding leg in order to steer the boat to which the flexible propeller shaft drive assembly is secured. In addition, the bracket assembly by which the upstanding leg of the L-shaped support rod is rotatably supported from the transom of the boat also includes means slidably receiving the upstanding leg of the support rod whereupon the free or rear end of the flexible outer housing member may be raised and lowered in order to pass over submerged objects. The free swingable end of the outer housing member is provided with at least semi-rigid bottom skid arm means which project downwardly and rearwardly of the rear end of the housing member and are adapted to engage any submerged objects which might present an obstacle to the marine type propeller carried by the rear end of the flexible drive core and disposed immediately above the bottom skid arm assembly.

The main object of this invention is to provide a flexible propeller drive shaft assembly which may be readily, adapted to conventional types of inboard boats and efficiently utilized to propel such an inboard boat through shallow waters with the shaft drive assembly being yieldably supported from the transom of the boat at its propeller end and for movement away from the bottom of the body of water in which the boat is disposed in the event a submerged object lies in the path of the propeller.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a flexible propeller shaft drive assembly including a novel stufling box assembly for sealing the flexible outer housing member of the assembly in fluid-tight sealing engagement with portions of the transom of a boat through which the housing assembly passes.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a flexible propeller shaft drive assembly for outboard drive boats in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible,

icev long-lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the rear portion of an inboard motor boat in which the flexible propeller shaft drive assembly of the instant invention has been installed;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 3 but showing the flexible propeller shaft drive assembly in an alternate position;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the upper support means for the upstanding control rod of the flexible power shaft drive assembly shown on somewhat of an enlarged scale.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral It) generally designates a boat hull including opposite sides 12 and 14, a bottom 16 and a transom 18. A small inboard motor generally referred to by the numeral 20 is secured to the bottom 16 in any convcnient manner and includes an output shaft 22.

The flexible propeller shaft drive assembly of the instant invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 24 and includes a flexible outer housing member generally referred to by the reference numeral 26 in which there is rotatably journalled a flexible drive core 28. The flexible drive core 28 includes a forward end which is drivingly connected to the output shaft 22 in any convenient manner and a water-proof and flexible covering assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 30 is secured over the rear portion of the flexible outer housing member 26. A stufiing box assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 32 is provided and is utilized in forming a fluid-tight seal between the cover assembly 31) and the transom 18 through which the housing member 26 projects via an opening 34 formed in the transom.

The stuffin-g box assembly 32 includes a resilient washer 36 which has an inner diameter snugly receiving the cover assembly 30' and an outer diameter snugly receivable in the opening 34. However, the washer 36 is thicker than the transom 18 and compression plates 38 are secured to opposite sides of the transom 18 and axially compress the washer 36. The axial compression of the washer 36 radially inwardly and outwardly expands the washer 36 into tight fluid sealing engagement with the outer surfaces of the cover assembly 30 and the surfaces of the transom 18 defining the opening 34.

A generally L-shaped support rod referred to in general by a reference numeral 40 is provided and includes an' upstanding leg 42 and a rearwardly extending horizontally disposed leg 44. A bracket assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 46 is provided and is secured to the rear surface 48 of the transom 18 by means of fasteners 50. The bracket assembly 46 includes a journal portion 52 which rotatably and slidably receives the upstanding leg 42. The upstanding leg 42 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced and transverse bores (not shown) through any one of which the fastener 54 may be secured. Anabutment washer 56 is slidably disposed on the upstanding leg 42 between the fastener 54 and the upper end of the journal portion or sleeve portion 52 and comprises a limit stop for downward sliding movement of the upstanding leg 42. The upper end of the upstanding leg 42 terminates in a forwandly directed handle portion 58 which projects over the rear end of the hull and is provided with a hand grip 60 for manipulation by the operator of the boat.

The rear end of the flexible drive core 28 is designated by the reference numeral 62 and projects rearwardly of the rear end of the outer housing member 26 and has a marine type screw propeller 64 secured thereto.

A bottom skid arm assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 66 is provided and includes one arm portion 68 which is secured to the rear free end of the outer housing member 26 by means of bracket 70. The one arm portion 68 projects re'arwardly and downwardly away from the rear end of the outer housing member 26 and includes a pair of sand skates 72.

It will be noted that the one arm portion 68 actually comprises a pair of arms 74 to whose free end the sand skates 72 are secured in any convenient manner such as by welding 76. The skid arm assembly 66 includes a second arm portion 78 comprising a pair of arms 80 which are secured at one end to the corresponding arm 74 and project forwardly and upwardly. The forward and upper ends of the arms 80 are innerconnected by means of an integral bight portion 82 and the bight portion 82 is connected to the upstanding leg 42 by means of two pairs of links 84 and 86 which are rigid with the upstanding leg 42 and the bight portion 82 respectively, and articulated links 88 and 90.

The links 88 and 90 have their adjacent ends pivotally secured together by means of a pivot pin 92 and the remote ends of the links 88 and 90 are pivotally secured to the free ends of the links 86 and 84 by means of pivot pins 94 and 96. Additionally, a pair of expansion springs 98 are secured between the lower end of the upright leg 42 and the bight portion 82 whereby the free end of the arms 80 are urged upwardly toward a position with the bight portion 82 abutting the lower surfaces of the links 84.

The clamp 70 has an arm portion 100 which projects upwardly from the free end portion of the outer housing member 26 and is pivotally secured at its free end to the free end portion of a link member 102 by means of a pivot pin 104. The end of the link member 102 remote from the arm portion 100 loosely embraces the rear end of the horizontal leg 44 and is pivotally secured thereto by means of a pivot pin 106.

A control rod 108 has its lower end pivotally secured to the outer housing member 26 forwardly of the clamp 70 by means of a pivot pin 112 carried by clamp 110 and the lower end of the control rod 108 is loosely and slidably received through a passage 114 formed through the horizontal leg 44.

A bracket assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 116 and including a generally U-shaped bracket 118 having legs 120 and 122 which are innerconnected by means of a bight portion 124 is secured to the upper end of the upstanding leg 42 by means of fasteners 126 and a crank pin 128 is swingably mounted between the legs 120 and 122 by means of crank arms 130 and 132. Expansion springs 134 and 136 are secured between the crank pin 128 and the bight portion 124 and norm-ally resiliently urge the crank pin 128 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 and away from the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 6. Limit shafts 140 and 142 are also secured between the legs 120 and 122 and comprise limit stops for upward and downward swinging movement of the crank pin 128.

A pair of expansion springs 144 and 146 each have an end secured to the corresponding leg of the bracket 118 and adjacent ends slidably engaged with the control rod 108. Accordingly, it may be seen that while the expansion springs 134 and 136 have a tendency to return the control rod 108 to its lowermost position, the expansion springs 144 and 146 will not only have a tendency to assist in maintaining the control rod 108 in its lowermost position but also resiliently urge the crank pin 128 toward its uppermost limit position after it has passed the overcenter position defined by a plane passing through the points at which the expansion springs 144 and 146 are secured to the legs 122 and 120 respectively and the axis of rotation of the crank arms 130 and 132.

In operation, the support rod 40 may first be adjusted to position a propeller 64 at the desired depth. Then, as the motor 20 is operated, the propeller 64 will propel the hull 10 through a body of water. If a submerged object lies in the path of the arms 74 of the first arm portion 66, the sand skids 72, the arms 74 or the arms will engage the submerged object and pivot the arm portion 100 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3 of the drawings about the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin 104. The lower end of the link member 102 will then swing forwardly and the forward ends of the arms 80 will swing downwardly thus extending the links 88 and from a position illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings toward the position illustrated in FIG- URE 4 of the drawings against the tension of the expansion springs 98. Additionally, the control rod 108 will be lowered relative to the support rod 40 and if the submerged object or obstruction is close enough to the surface of the body of water on which the hull 10 is floated, the upstanding leg 42 of the support rod 40 will be slid upwardly through the journal portion 52 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

The links 88 and 90 define a limit position past which the arms 80 may not be swung farther downwardly and at this point the support rod 40 will be raised relative to the bracket assembly 46 by engagement of any of the arms 74- or 80* with a submerged object.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A flexible propeller shaft drive assembly for outboard drive boats including a hull and having an inboard motor disposed therein, said assembly comprising a flexible outer housing member having a flexible drive core rotatably journalled therein with one end adapted for driving connection with an output shaft of said motor, a generally L-shaped support rod including an upstanding leg and a rearwardly extending horizontally disposed leg, bracket means adapted for securemen-t to said hull and slidably and rotatably receiving said upstanding leg for longitudinal reciprocal and rotational movement thereof about and along its longitudinal axis respectively, means mounting the second end of said housing to the free end portion of said horizontal leg for movement about an axis extending generally at right angles to the plane containing said support rod and transversely of said second end of said housing.

2. The combination of claim 1 including an at least semi-rigid bottom skid arm assembly having at least one arm portion secured at one end to said second end of said housing and extending outwardly from and rearwardly along said one end downwardly and away from said horizontal leg and the axis of rotation of said upstanding leg.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bracket means and upstanding leg include cooperating stop means limiting downward sliding movement of said upstanding leg relative to said bracket means.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cooperating stop means includes adjustment means for adjustably limiting sliding movement of said upstanding leg relative to said bracket means.

5. The combination of claim 1 including an at least semi-rigid bottom skid arm assembly having at least one arm portion secured at one end to said second end of said housing and extending outwardly from and rearwardly along said one end downwardly and away from said horizontal leg and the axis of rotation of said upstanding leg, said bottom arm skid assembly including a second arm portion having one end secured to the free end portion of said one arm with said second arm portion extending forwardly and including means coacting with portions of said support rod defining an upper limit position of swinging movement of the free end of said second arm portion relative to said support rod.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said coacting means also includes means defining a lower limit position of swinging movement of the free end of said second arm portion relative to said support rod.

7. The combination of claim 6 including means normally resilient urging said free end of said second arm portion toward said upper limit position.

8. The combination of claim 1 including an at least semi-rigid bottom skid arm assembly having at least one arm portion secured at one end to said second end of said housing and extending outwardly from and rearwardly along said one end downwardly and away from said horizontal leg and the axis of rotation of said upstanding leg, an upstanding control rod, means pivotally securing the lower end of said control rod to said housing member forwardly of said mounting means for movement about an axis extending transversely of said control rod and said housing, means mounting the upper end of control rod to said upstanding leg for limited movement longitudinally thereof, and means resiliently urging said control rod upwardly relative to said support rod.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said horizontal leg includes means slidably receiving said control rod intermediate its opposite ends.

10. A normally rearwardly and downwardly inclined flexible propeller shaft drive assembly for outboard drive boats including a hull and having an inboard motor disposed therein, said assembly comprising a flexible outer housing member having a flexible drive core rotatably journaled therein with its forward end adapted for driving connection with an output shaft of said motor, support means including a portion adapted to be secured to said hull and including means pivotally supporting said outer housing for rotation about a horizontal axis extending transversely of said housing and means for raising and lowering said axis relative to the portion of said support means adapted to be secured to said boat, the rear end of said outer housing having dependingly supported skid means mounted thereon including a lower portion disposed rearwardly of said axis, said support means including means swingably supporting the rear end portion of said housing for oscillating movement about an upstanding axis disposed forwardly of said first-mentioned axis.

11. The combination of claim 10 including means interconnecting said housing and said support means limiting oscillating movement of the rear end of said housing relative to said support means between a normal rearwardly and downwardly inclined position and retracted rearwardly and upwardly inclined position.

12. The combination of claim 11 including means connected between said housing and said support means yieldingly urging said housing toward its normal position.

13. The combination of claim 10 wherein said support means includes means pivotally supporting the rear end portion of said housing for oscillating movement about an upstanding axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 830,908 Sept. 11, 1906 2,955,562 Modes Oct. 11, 1960 2,997,014 lPuckett Aug. '22, 1961 3,010,421 Perkins Nov. 28, 1961

Claims (1)

1. A FLEXIBLE PROPELLER SHAFT DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR OUTBOARD DRIVE BOATS INCLUDING A HULL AND HAVING AN INBOARD MOTOR DISPOSED THEREIN, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE OUTER HOUSING MEMBER HAVING A FLEXIBLE DRIVE CORE ROTATABLY JOURNALLED THEREIN WITH ONE END ADAPTED FOR DRIVING CONNECTION WITH AN OUTPUT SHAFT OF SAID MOTOR, A GENERALLY L-SHAPED SUPPORT ROD INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING LEG AND A REARWARDLY EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED LEG, BRACKET MEANS ADAPTED FOR SECUREMENT TO SAID HULL AND SLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY RECEIVING SAID UPSTANDING LEG FOR LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCAL AND ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT THEREOF ABOUT AND ALONG ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS RESPECTIVELY, MEANS MOUNTING THE SECOND END OF SAID HOUSING TO THE FREE END PORTION OF SAID HORIZONTAL LEG FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AND AXIS EXTENDING GENERALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PLANE CONTAINING SAID SUPPORT ROD AND TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SECOND END OF SAID HOUSING.

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