Power drive assembly for outboard engines

US4768983A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• Allen Smith · Springfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 3, 1987
• Grant date: Sep 6, 1988
• Expiry date: Mar 3, 2007

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F02B61/045
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Marine power drive assemblies for converting conventional outboard engines to operate with inboard engine characteristics having horizontal drives and wherein the power heads of the conventional engines are modified by replacing the conventional adapter plates for the exhaust, water inlet and discharge for supplying coolant to the engine with modified adapter plates which both align and support a tuned exhaust expansion assembly, a gear box assembly and an engine mounting base or frame which retains the engine power head, modified adapter plate, gear box and exhaust assemblies in one combined assembly for ease of installation and/or removal from the hull of a boat. The power output of the gear box assemblies are oriented generally horizontally and are selectively connected to an appropriate propulsion source. In the preferred embodiment, the thrust source is a jet propulsion pump which is supported by the hull for power output in a substantially horizontal plane, thereby the conventional outboard engine with vertical drive is converted to a vertical engine having horizontal propulsion drive.