US2927552A - Outboard motor tilting device - Google Patents

Description

March 8, 1960 2,927,552

J. R. MICKEY OUTBOARD MOTOR TILTING DEVICE Filed April 3, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIIIIIIII7iI7;I ;III

LVVENTOR. K WAZGa /JM ATTD RN EYS March 8, 1960 J. R. MICKEY 2,927,552

OUTBOARD MOTOR TILTING DEVICE Filed April 3, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTD R N EYS March 8, 1960 J. R. MICKEY 2,927,552

OUTBOARD MOTOR TILTING DEVICE Filed April 3, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Jail 2 Alli/re ATTU RNEYB United States This invention relates to an outboard motor, and more particularly to a tilting device for an outboard motor.

The object of the invention is to provide a means whereby an outboard motor can be readily tilted so that it will assume difierent angular positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means whereby an outboard engine can be tilted to different angular positions, and wherein the means is hydraulically controlled so that it is not necessary to manually tilt the outboard engine to the desired position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an outboard tilting mechanism which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of a boat with an outboard motor thereon, and

showing the tilting mechanism of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the detailed construction of the cylinder which is mounted on the transom of the boat.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a modification.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the modification of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the set screw and spring for use with the modification of Figures 4, 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a view illustrating certain constructional details of the assembly of Figures 4 through 7.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a portion of a boat which has an outboard engine 12 mounted on the transom 11 thereof. The outboard engine 12 includes the usual blades or propellers 13 as well as the drive shaft housing 14 which has the upstanding column 15 connected thereto or formed integral therewith.

The present invention is directed to a means for tilting the engine 12 so that for example, the engine 12 can be moved from the solid line position in Figure 1 to the broken line position of Figure 1. The tilting mechanism of the present invention includes a first cylinder 17 which extends through an opening 16 in the transom 11, and

the cylinder 17 is threaded externally as at 18.

2,927,552 Patented Mar. 8, 1960 bolt and nut assemblies 24. A coil spring 25 is circumposed on the rod 20, and the coil spring 25 is interposed between the piston 21 and closure 19.

Mounted on the other end of the cylinder 17 is a closure 26, and a coil spring 27 is interposed between the closure 26 and a sealing member 28, the sealing member 28 abutting the piston 21. 'A conduit 29 leads from the closure 26 to a master cylinder 30 which is adapted to be actuated by a foot pedal 31, and the master cylinder 30 is secured in place by suitable securing elements 32, the master cylinder 30 being positioned in a convenient part of the boat 10.

The closure 26 is provided with a port or passageway 33 which can serve as a drain port, and a plug 34 is provided for sealing the port 33.

The outboard engine 12 is pivotally supported by means of a conventional bracket assembly 35, and the usual handle 36 extends from the engine 12 and is connected thereto.

As previously stated, the cylinder 17 extends through an opening 16 in the transom 11, and for maintaining the cylinder 17 in its proper position, there is provided a pair of spaced apart mounting collars 37 and 38 which are arranged in threaded engagement with the threaded portion 18 of the cylinder 17.

Referring to Figures 4 through 7 of the drawings, there is shown a modified outboard engine tilting mechanism which includes a support member 39 that is adapted to be secured to the column portion 15 of the drive shaft housing 14 in any suitable manner, as for example by welding. A body member 40 is connected to the support member 39 as by means of securing elements 41, and the body member 40 receives an arm 48. The body member 40 is free to rotate about the arm 48, and this rotation is due to the provision of a groove 42 which is arranged in the arm 48, there being a set screw 43 extending through the body member 40 and into engage ment with the groove 42, as shown in Figure 4. When using an outboard motor with an electric starter, the electric starter motor can be used to power an actuating pump.

Extending from an end of the body member 40 and secured thereto as by welding, is an car 44 which is spaced from an car 45, and the ear 45 is secured to a tube 46, there being a hydraulic cylinder 47 supported in the tube 46. As shown in Figure 7, a coil spring 49 connects the cars 44 and 45 together, and a securing element or set screw 50 extends through an opening 51 in the car 45 and engages the ear 44, whereby the parts are maintained in their proper spaced apart relationship.

One end of the cylinder 47 is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of hydraulic fluid under pressure which may be the master cylinder 30 or any other suitable actuating member, and for conveying hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 47, a conduit 52 is provided. Extending from the other end of the cylinder 47 is a movable piston rod 53 which engages a shoulder 54 on a pressure plate 55, the pressure plate 55 abutting the transom 11 of the boat.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a means for tilting an outboard engine so that this tilting does not have to be done manually. When using the assembly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that by applying foot pressure to the pedal 31, that hydraulic pressure will be built up in the master cylinder 30 whereby the hydraulic fluid will pass through the conduit 29 and into the cylinder 17 so as to move the piston or plunger 21. As the piston 21 moves, the rod 20 will be moved outwardly and since the rod 20 has its end arranged in engagement with the recess 22 and the base 23, it will be seen that this outward movement of the rod 20 will cause pivotal movement of the outboard engine 12 so that for example the outboard engine 12 can be moved from the solid line position shown in Figure l to the broken line position of Figure 1. Thus,

the tilting of the engine can be easily accomplished hy*-.

draulically whereby it is not necessary to manually move the heavy engine. The base 23 is secured to the engine in any suitable manner such as the bolt or nut assemblies 24. The springs such as the springs 25 and 27 serve to center the piston 21!. and sealing member 28 when pressure is released, and these springs also act as shock absorbers. The cylinder 17 is adapted to be extended through a suitable opening 16 in the transom 11, and this cylinder 17 is maintained in place by means of the mounting collars 37 and 38. The master cylinder 30 may be secured in a convenient location in the boat 10 through the medium of bolts or screws 32;.

Referring to Figures 4 through 7 of the drawings, there is shown a modified mechanism for tilting the outboard engine which is adapted to be used in lieu of the mechanism shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Thus, in Figures 4, and 6, the cylinder 47 is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of hydraulic fluid under pressure by means of the conduit 52, the conduit 52 leading to any suitable actuating member such as the hydraulic cylinder 30. Thus, when pressure is increased on the hydraulic fluid, the pressure will flow through the conduit 52 into the cylinder 47 whereby the piston which is arranged in the cylinder 47 will cause the cylinder 47 to move relative to the rod 53. Since the rod 53 is connected to the shoulder 54 on the pressure plate 55, and since the pressure plate 55 abuts the transom 11, it will be seen that as hydraulic fluid is introduced under pressure through the conduit 52 into the cylinder 47, the cylinder 47 will move away from the transom 11. As the hydraulic cylinder 47 moves, it causes corresponding movement of the cars 45 and 44 and since the car 44 is connected to the body member 40, it will be seen that the body member 40 will move and since the body member 40 is connected to the column 15 of the outboard engine, there will result a corresponding movement of the outboard engine. As previously described, the set screw 43 extends through the body member 40 and engages the groove 42 in the arm 48 whereby a pivotal connection is provided between the body member 40 and arm 48. Thus, the pivotal arrangement permits the part such as the body member 40 to move in the proper direction as the outboard engine is tilted. A drain cock or plug 34 may be provided for the cylinder 47 as shown in Figure 6. By adjusting the set screw 50, to diiferent positions, it will be seen that the space between the ears 4d and 45 can be varied as desired, and as previously described the ears 40 and 45 are interconnected by means of the coil spring 49.

The tilting mechanism of the present invention is especially suitable for use in tilting outboard engines during beacring operation, replacement of shear pins, or when passing through shallow or obstructive water at slow speed or at any time when it is desirable to have the propeller out of the water. While the device has been illustrated to operate hydraulically, it is to be understood that other types of mechanism can be used to actuate the device such as electrical or mechanical actuator. The cylinders can be fastened or positioned in different parts of the transom or boat or can be connected to the outboard engine. The parts can be made of any suitable material and in dilierent shapes or sizes. Also, the hydraulic cylinder can be placed on either side of the outboard engine and as shown in Figures 4 through 7, the piston rod of the cylinder can push against the transom 11. The master cylinder and the other hydraulic cylinder are adapted to be connected together by means of a flexible hose, such as the hose 29 or 52. The device of the present invention is especially suitable for tilting the engine and the device can be used by elderly or ailing persons who cannot or do not wish to exert themselves by tilting the motor by hand. When motors are tilted by hand, it is necessary to have a certain amount of friction on the tilting adjustment screw in order to hold the motor at any given position and this increases the efiort needed to tilt the motor, but by using the mechanism of the present invention, this friction can be done away with or considerably reduced. The angle adjustment is built into the motor mounting bracket. Also, the motor-can be raised or lowered from the drivers position while the boat and motor are moving slowly or in a stopped condition. Furthermore, a small electrically driven pump may be substituted for the master cylinder so as to furnish the power for actuating the cylinder 17. The electric motor that drives the pump would be separate and distinct from the one which is used to start the outboard motor itself. Also, an outboard starter motor can be used to furnish power for a pump. The master cylinder 30 is actually a small pump and can be either foot or hand operated, but in its place, a motor driven pump can be substituted. The set screw 43 serves to hold the body member 40 and arm 48 connected together and also permits relative rotation between these parts. The tube 46 is threaded internally for receiving the cylinder 47. In the arrangement shown in Figures 4 through 7, it is not necessary to drill a hole in the transom as is the case with the previously described hole. Furthermore, in Figures 4 through 7, the cylinder can move up or down as the motor tilts and lowers. The arm 48 can rotate the body member 40, and the set screw 43 prevents disengagement of the arm 48 from the body member 40. The cylinder 47 may have the same construction as the previously described cylinder 17. Furthermore, the position of the cylinder 47 and pressure plate 55 can be reversed by installing this cylinder in a stationary position on the rear of the transom and installing the pressure plate on the arm 48. The present invention is constructed so that there will be no interference with the steering or tilting of the engine or motor during the normal operation thereof. The spring 25 can serve to return the parts to their normal position when the hydraulic pressure is released. The elongated slot 22 in the base 23 provides suflicient clearance for the end of the rod 20. The weight or the motor is usually sufiicient to return the parts to their lowered position when hydraulic pressure is released. The master cylinder 30 may be of conventional construction internally. The valve 34 can be used as an air bleeder valve, and the spring 27 assists in forcing the plunger rod back. The collars 37 and 38 serve as mounting and adjusting collars.

The above description of the invention is for illustrative purposes only and it is understood that modifications may be made in the construction within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an outboard motor tilting mechanism, a base provided with a recess, a first cylinder, a first closure mounted on an end of said cylinder, a piston slidably mounted on said cylinder, a rod projecting through said closure and having one end connected to said piston and its other end engaging said recess, a coil spring circumposed on said rod and interposed between said piston and closure, spaced apart mounting collars arranged in threaded engagement with the exterior of said cylinder, a sealing member arranged contiguous to said piston and positioned in said cylinder, a second closure mounted on the other end of said cylinder, a coil spring interposed between said sealing member and second closure, a master cylinder spaced from said first cylinde conduit extending from said second closure to said master cylinder, and a foot pedal for actuating said master cylinder.

2. In an outboard tilting mechanism, a base provided with a recess, a first cylinder, at first closure mounted on an end of said cylinder, 2. piston slidably mounted in said cylinder, a rod projecting through said closure and having one end connected to said piston and its other end engaging said recess, a coil spring circumposcd on said rod and interposed between said piston and closure, spaced apart mounting collars arranged in threaded engagement with the exterior of said cylinder, a sealing member arranged contiguous to said piston and positioned in said cylinder, a second closure mounted on the other end of said cylinder, a coil spring interposed between said sealing member and second closure, a master cylinder spaced from said first cylinder, a conduit extending from said second closure to said master cylinder, 21 foot pedal for actuating said master cylinder, and an air bleeder valve connected to said first cylinder.

3. In an outboard motor tilting mechanism, a support member, a body member extending from said support member and secured thereto, an arm projecting into said body member and provided with a groove, a securing element extending through said body member and into engagement with said groove, an internally threaded tube having a first ear extending therefrom and secured thereto, a second ear extending from said body member, a coil spring connecting said ears together, a set screw extending through said first ear and engaging said second car, a

, cylinder supported in said tube, a conduit for connecting one end of said cylinder to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, a piston rod extending from the other end: of said cylinder, and a pressure plate connected to said piston rod.

4. In an outboard motor tilting mechanism, a base provided with a recess, a first cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder, a rod projecting into said first cylinder and having one end connected to said piston and its other end engaging said recess, a coil spring circumposed on said rod for biasing said piston inwardly 1 References (Jited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Heath Mar. 13, 1956 Staley Feb. 26, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Germany, M 24,985 X 1-65 F, Mar. 15, 1956.

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