U.S. patent application number 11/388293 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-27 for combined outboard motor support and trim plate.
This patent application is currently assigned to Detwiler Industries LLC. Invention is credited to Timothy P. Detwiler, Scott Knorr, David Stein.
Application Number | 20070221113 11/388293 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38531994 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070221113 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Detwiler; Timothy P. ; et
al. |
September 27, 2007 |
Combined outboard motor support and trim plate
Abstract
An adjustable trim plate can be incorporated on the transom
bracket of an outboard motor jack plate having right and left
transom bracket members and right and left motor bracket members,
by eliminating or modifying a lower cross-member of the motor
bracket to provide clearance for an actuator connected to an upper
transom bracket cross-member.
Inventors: |
Detwiler; Timothy P.;
(Morgantown, PA) ; Knorr; Scott; (Birdsboro,
PA) ; Stein; David; (Coatesville, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOWSON AND HOWSON
SUITE 210
501 OFFICE CENTER DRIVE
FT WASHINGTON
PA
19034
US
|
Assignee: |
Detwiler Industries LLC
White Bear Lake
MN
|
Family ID: |
38531994 |
Appl. No.: |
11/388293 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/285 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63H 20/106 20130101;
B63B 39/061 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/285 |
International
Class: |
B63B 1/22 20060101
B63B001/22; B63H 20/02 20060101 B63H020/02 |
Claims
1. A combined outboard motor support and trim plate comprising: a
bracket assembly for attachment of an outboard motor to the transom
of a boat the bracket assembly comprising right and left members
and at least one cross member rigidly connected to both of said
right and left members of the bracket assembly and extending from
one of said members to the other; a trim plate pivoted to the
bracket assembly about a horizontal pivot axis, the trim plate
being located below, and spaced from, said cross member, and
pivotally movable about said pivot axis through a range of
attitudes; and an actuator connected to the trim plate and the
cross member, for controlling the attitude of the trim plate
independently of the height of the outboard motor.
2. A combined outboard motor support and trim plate, according to
claim 1, in which said bracket assembly includes a transom bracket
for attachment to the transom of a boat and a motor bracket for
attachment to an outboard motor, in which said right and left
members are components of said transom bracket, and in which the
height of said motor bracket relative to said transom bracket is
adjustable.
3. A combined outboard motor support and trim plate, according to
claim 1, in combination with an outboard motor comprising an
engine, a propeller, and a driveshaft extending vertically from the
engine to the propeller, in which the trim plate extends from a
location on the port side of the engine to a location on the
starboard side of the engine and in which a part of the trim plate
is disposed directly underneath the engine and forward of the drive
shaft.
4. A combined adjustable outboard motor support and trim plate
comprising: a transom bracket for attachment to the transom of a
boat the transom bracket comprising right and left bracket members
and at least one cross member rigidly connected to both said
bracket members and extending from one of said bracket members to
the other; a motor bracket for attachment to an outboard motor, the
motor bracket being connected to the transom bracket and
constrained to upward and downward movement relative to the transom
bracket through a limited range; an adjuster for adjusting the
height of the motor bracket relative to the ransom bracket; a trim
plate pivoted to the transom bracket about a horizontal pivot axis,
the trim plate being located below, and spaced from, said cross
member, and pivotally movable about said pivot axis through a range
of attitudes; and an actuator connected to the trim plate and the
cross member, for controlling the attitude of the trim plate
independently of the height of the outboard motor.
5. A combined outboard motor support and trim plate, according to
claim 4, in combination with an outboard motor comprising an
engine, a propeller, and a driveshaft extending vertically from the
engine to the propeller, in which the trim plate extends from a
location on the port side of the engine to a location on the
starboard side of the engine and in which a part of the trim plate
is disposed directly underneath the engine and forward of the drive
shaft.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to outboard marine propulsion, and
more particularly to improvements in which an adjustable trim plate
is incorporated in an outboard motor support.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An outboard motor for marine propulsion typically comprises
an internal combustion engine housed in a cowl, a driveshaft
extending downward from the engine through a driveshaft housing,
and a propeller located adjacent the lower end of the driveshaft
housing and connected to the driveshaft through a set of gears. The
driveshaft housing is ordinarily provided with a cavitation plate,
above the propeller, to prevent air from reaching, and impairing
the efficiency of, the propeller.
[0003] The motor is typically designed so that it can be attached
directly to the transom of a boat. However, the effectiveness of a
cavitation plate depends on how far it is below the surface of the
water, and also on the speed of the boat. Therefore, there has been
a demand for devices for adjusting the height of a cavitation
plate. A device known as a "jack plate," is commonly used to attach
an outboard motor to the transom of a boat, and allows adjustment
of the height of the motor, and consequently the height of its
cavitation plate in order to achieve optimum performance. U.S. Pat.
No. 6,305,996, dated Oct. 23, 2001, describes an advanced form of
jack plate, comprising a transom bracket, a motor bracket, guides
providing for vertical sliding of the motor bracket relative to the
transom bracket, and an adjusting screw for manual control of the
height of the motor bracket. Other similar jack plates have
hydraulic or electromechanical actuators for remote control of the
motor height.
[0004] Another factor affecting the performance of an outboard
motorboat is a phenomenon known as "hole shot." On start-up,
especially at full throttle, the bow of the boat tends to rise out
of the water. It is desirable to minimize the time during which the
bow is raised so that boat accelerate. The bow may remain raised
for several, e.g. as many as six or more, seconds, until the boat
reaches a speed at which the bow settles to its normal cruising
position. To reduce the time during which the bow is raised,
actuator-operated trim plates have been used. Trim plates are
ordinarily hinged to the transom of the boat on both sides of the
outboard motor. By lowering the trim plate for a short time during
start-up, hole shot time can be reduced significantly. The trim
plates can then be raised for running at ordinary speeds, and can
be lowered again at high speeds to keep the bow down. One
disadvantage of conventional trim plates is that they are hinged on
the boat transom, making installation difficult. another
disadvantage is that the trim plates are separate from each other,
making control complicated. A third disadvantage is that the
effective area of the trim plates is limited because they cannot
interfere with the driveshaft housing.
[0005] Attempts have been made to mount a trim plate on a jack
plate, but these attempts have not been entirely successful
because, in most jack plates, there is no convenient place to
attach a trim plate actuator. The moving part of the jack plate,
that is, the part to which the motor is attached directly, occupies
the space that is needed for an actuator. Therefore, in order to
provide a trim plate on a boat equipped with a jack plate, more
elaborate jack plate and jack plate control configurations have
been used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Objects of this invention, therefore include simplification
of the structure and mounting of a trim plate, providing for a
larger and more effective trim plate, and providing for attachment
of a combination jack plate and trim plate assembly as a unit to
the transom of a boat.
[0007] We have discovered that, by utilizing a jack plate
configuration similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,996, we can
easily incorporate a trim plate and a trim plate actuator into jack
plate, and achieve the full benefits of both the jack plate and the
trim plate in a simple structure that can be supplied, and attached
to a boat transom, as a single unit. Although the outboard motor
support in accordance with the invention preferably incorporates a
jack plate for engine height adjustment as well as a trim plate,
certain advantages of the invention can be realized in an
embodiment in which the trim plate is provided on a non-adjustable
engine set-back bracket that does not have a height adjustment
feature. That is, the structure may consists primarily of opposed
left and right members, a cross member, a trim plate pivoted to the
left and right members, and an actuator connected to the trim plate
and the cross-member.
[0008] In a simple embodiment of a combined outboard motor support
and trim plate in accordance with the invention, a bracket assembly
for attachment of an outboard motor to the transom of a boat
comprises right and left members and at least one cross member
rigidly connected to both of the right and left members and
extending from one member to the other. A trim plate is pivoted to
the bracket assembly about a horizontal pivot axis, and is located
below, and spaced from, the cross member. The trim plate is
pivotally movable about the pivot axis through a range of attitudes
by an actuator connected to the trim plate and the cross member, so
that the attitude of the trim plate can be adjusted independently
of the height of the outboard motor.
[0009] When an outboard motor is attached to the combined outboard
motor support and trim plate, the trim plate extends from a
location on the port side of the engine to a location on the
starboard side of the engine and part of the trim plate is disposed
directly underneath the engine and forward of the drive shaft.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the bracket assembly includes a
transom bracket for attachment to the transom and a motor bracket
for attachment to the outboard motor. The right and left members of
the bracket assembly are components of the transom bracket, and the
height of the motor bracket relative to the transom bracket is
adjustable. More particularly, in the preferred embodiment of the
invention, the transom bracket comprises right and left bracket
members and at least one cross member rigidly connected to both
bracket members and extending from one of the bracket members to
the other. The motor bracket is connected to the transom bracket
and constrained to upward and downward movement relative to the
transom bracket through a limited range. An adjuster is provided
for adjusting the height of the motor bracket relative to the
ransom bracket. A trim plate is pivoted to the transom bracket
about a horizontal pivot axis, and is located below, and spaced
from, the cross member. The trim plate is pivotally movable about
the pivot axis through a range of attitudes, and an actuator
connected to the trim plate and the cross member, controls the
attitude of the trim plate independently of the height of the
outboard motor.
[0011] Other objects, details and advantages of the invention will
be apparent from the following detailed description when read in
conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a combined jack plate
and trim plate in accordance with the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof, with the trim plate
removed;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof as seen from the
starboard side; and
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the combined jack
plate and trim plate installed on the transom of a boat and
supporting an outboard motor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] The combined outboard motor support and trim plate in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is seen
from the aft side in FIG. 1. The principal elements of the
combination are a transom bracket comprising right and left
L-shaped bracket members 10 and 12 and a cross-member 14, and a
motor bracket comprising right and left L-shaped bracket members 16
and 18, and a cross-member 20. Bracket members 10 and 16 are in
sliding engagement with each other, as are bracket members 12 and
18, and the brackets are constrained for relative vertical sliding
by bolts 22 and plates 24, as shown in FIG. 2. Details of the
constraint mechanism may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,996, which
is here incorporated by reference in its entirety. A screw 26 is
threaded into cross-member 14 and rotatable, but axially
constrained, in cross-member 20. The distance between cross-members
14 and 20 can be adjusted by rotation of the screw, for example, by
means of a wrench (not shown) engaged with screw head 27, for
adjustment of the height of the motor bracket relative to the
transom bracket.
[0017] As describe thus far, the mechanism is substantially the
same as that of U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,996. For improved rigidity, a
second motor bracket cross-member 28 may be provided to connect the
lower parts of the motor bracket members 16 and 18. However, this
second motor bracket cross-member corresponds to the lower motor
bracket cross member shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,996, but is
optional, and, if provided, should be located forward to the extent
necessary to provide clearance for an actuator 30, or a recess 32
may be provided in bracket 28 for clearance.
[0018] A trim plate assembly 34 is composed of a mounting plate 36,
which is connected to brackets 10 and 12, a hinge leaf 38 bolted to
mounting plate 36, and a trim plate 40 pivotally connected to the
hinge leaf 38 for tilting about a horizontal axis 42 (FIG. 3).
[0019] By eliminating the lower motor bracket cross member of U.S.
Pat. No. 6,305,996 altogether, or by modifying it either by
positioning it forward or providing a recess, it becomes possible
to mount an actuator 30 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The
actuator is hinged to the transom bracket cross member 14 by a
clevis 44, and hinged to the trim plate by a clevis 46. The
actuator shown is a hydraulic actuator having a cylinder 48 and a
piston 50. However, other forms of actuators, for example electric
motor driven linear actuators may also be used. In most cases, the
actuator will be controllable from the helm by a suitable hydraulic
or electrical remote control (not shown).
[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, the combination jack plate and trim
plate is secured to the transom 52 of a boat 54, and supports an
outboard motor 56 through a swivel 58. Part of the engine 60 of the
outboard motor is directly above the trim plate and the outboard
motor drive shaft housing 62 is directly behind the trim plate. In
the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the swivel is designed to set the
motor back from the motor bracket. When a set back is provided, a
large trim plate can be used without interference between the rear
edge of the trim plate and the outboard motor's drive shaft
housing. If the set back is small, a smaller trim plate may be
used.
[0021] The combined jack plate and trim plate may be supplied as a
fully assembled unit, including the motor bracket and the transom
bracket, the height adjusting screw, the actuator and the trim
plate. Moreover, the unit can be attached to the boat transom in a
fully assembled condition. The fore-and-aft dimension of the trim
plate will depend on the set back distance of the motor with which
the unit is to be used. It is a simple matter, however, to replace
the trim plate with another trim plate of a different size.
[0022] Following installation of the combined jack plate and trim
plate, the motor height will ordinarily be adjusted by applying a
wrench to screw head 27 so that the cavitation plate 64 (FIG. 4) on
the outboard motor is at the proper height. In some cases, the
motor height will be adjusted during operation of the boat for
optimum performance. For this purpose, a separate actuator may be
used in place of the wrench-actuated screw 26, as shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,484,311, or a crank may be used as shown in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,964,627.
[0023] In operation, when starting at full throttle, or near full
throttle, the trim plate 40 is tilted downward to produce a
negative pitch to counteract the positive pitch which would
otherwise be imparted to the boat by the propeller thrust. In this
way "hole shot" is controlled and excessive rise of the bow of the
boat is prevented. As the forward speed of the boat increases, the
trim plate can be raised to reduce drag. Even while traveling, and
especially at high speed, the trim plate may be adjusted to keep
the bow of the boat down.
[0024] Various modifications can be made to the combined motor
support and trim plate described above. For example, Because the
trim plate is hinged to, and located behind, the transom bracket,
it can be supplied in any desired length in the direction of its
pivot axis, and full advantage can be taken of the available space,
in the widthwise direction, behind the transom of the boat. That
is, it no longer necessary to provide trim plates on the transom of
the boat, on both sides of the jack plate.
[0025] As pointed out previously, certain of the advantages of the
invention can be realized in an embodiment in which the outboard
motor support is not vertically adjustable. In such a case, it is
still possible for a trim plate to be hinged to the outboard motor
support, located directly behind the support, but in front of the
motor drive shaft, and adjusted by an actuator connected to the
trim plate and to a cross-member extending from a left bracket
member to a right bracket member.
[0026] Still other modifications may be made to the apparatus and
method described above without departing from the scope of the
invention as defined in the following claims.
* * * * *