US20060223390A1

US20060223390A1 - Amphibious water motor

Info

Publication number: US20060223390A1
Application number: US11/083,142
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Silva; Alan Stadlin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-18
Filing date: 2005-03-18
Publication date: 2006-10-05

Abstract

Our invention is a new method of directing the thrust of a water propeller without rotating the engine. The Propeller Position Unit performs the function. The internal water jacket in the Propeller Position Unit permits multiple 360 degree position rotations. The Retraction Plate design permits vertical motion, rotational motion and a combination of both motions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Amphibious vehicles such as seaplanes, all terrain vehicles or amphibious cars have had space limitations for a water propulsion unit. Aircraft are further limited by lack of space and the need for a clean aerodynamic profile in the air and not on the water.
In addition, seaplanes and other amphibious vehicles have the problem of maneuverability on the water when the water thrust can only be applied in the forward direction or in the straight forward and/or the straight aft direction.
Electric trolling motors and bow thrusters require large motors and additional storage battery power supplies which are heavy for the thrust realized.
Gasoline outboard motors require space to rotate the motor and tiller to direct the thrust. Small gasoline outboard motors are not reversible. They are reversed by turning the entire motor assembly 180 degrees or more.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Amphibious Water Motor is a highly modified standard water cooled or air cooled outboard motor. Instead of rotating position the entire motor with a tiller to direct the thrust a Propeller Positioning Unit moves only the propeller thrust angle instead of the entire unit. The Propeller Positioning Unit carries through the propeller drive shaft, engine exhaust and engine cooling water.
The Retraction Plate will raise or lower the Amphibious Water Motor vertically.
The retraction plate can pivot the engine to lower it vertically and raise it to a horizontal position.
If space is limited both of the above motions can be combined to further reduce the travel and storage envelope.
All controls can be operated remotely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Drawing 1: Perspective View

The Perspective View depicts the Amphibious Water Motor in its down position through a wet well.

Drawing 2: Side Elevation View

The Side Elevation View depicts the Amphibious Water Motor in its up (retracted position).

Drawing 3: Side Elevation View

The Side Elevation depicts the Amphibious Water Motor in its horizontal retracted position.

Drawing 4: Side Elevation View

The Side Elevation depicts the Amphibious Water Motor in the compounded retracted position with full up vertical motion and horizontal pivot motion.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The amphibious water motor utilizes a standard two cycle or four cycle water cooled or air cooled out board marine motor.
The motor is stripped of its mounting mechanism, tiller, casing and controls.
The shaft housing and propeller head are modified by removing the top of the propeller head and installing a custom designed and machined head with a modified length shaft housing to fit the specific application.
A Propeller Positioning Unit couples the motor output shaft housing with the propeller shaft housing.
The Propeller Positioning Unit incorporates a positioning drive pulley gear, which rotates the propeller shaft housing thus directing the propeller thrust in the desired direction. The positioning gear is controlled by a flexible shaft, hydraulic motor, or electric motor (shown).
The Propeller Positioning Unit permits the propeller to continuously position in either the clockwise or counter clockwise direction through multiple 360 deg. positioning rotations. This permits the propeller thrust to move the vehicle or vessel forward, backwards, or thrust to either side.
The “Propeller Positioning Unit”, contains a rotating water jacket which provides for water flow to a water cooled outboard engine from a small water pump in the propeller housing.
The Propeller Positioning Unit permits the propeller to be positioned for retraction into the vessel or vehicle through a wet well.
The Propeller Positioning Unit is constructed of a combination of hard coat anodized aluminum, and plastic materials to be lightweight and to resist corrosion. The positioning is motivated by a standard flexible shaft cut to the required length or by a hydraulic or electric geared motor.
The “Amphibious Water Motor” can be lowered into the water or raised into the vessel or vehicle through a wet well by means of a Retraction Plate.
The Retraction Plate is designed to raise and lower in the vertical direction. The Retraction Plate is also designed to rotate the Amphibious Water Motor to retract it from its down vertical position to an up horizontal position.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (CONTINUED)

The Retraction Plate is designed to combine a vertical up and down motion with a rotation pivot motion.
The Retraction Plate is a metal plate with vertical guides or slots for raising or lowering the water motor. A rack gear and pinion gear move the unit straight up and down. The gear is driven by a flexible shaft, hydraulic motor or electric motor (shown).
The Retraction Plate has a pivot point and a radius curved rack gear and a pinion gear to rotate the plate from the down extended vertical position to the up horizontal position. The pinion gear may be driven by a flexible shaft, hydraulic motor or electric motor (shown).
The two motions can be combined or sequenced to reduce the required envelope to a minimum,
The Retraction Plate is an aluminum plate with or without lighten holes. A radius rack gear is attached to the radius perimeter of the plate. It is held in place by a plastic radiused strip, which also functions as a retention guide.
The Retraction Plate is held in position by a pivot bolt and the synthetic plastic guide previously described.
The Retraction Plate is rotated around the pivot bolt point by a pinion gear motivated by a flexible shaft, hydraulic motor or electric motor (shown).
The Retraction Plate is quickly removable by removing the pivot bolt and sliding the Retraction Plate out from under the perimeter plastic guide.
The Fuel Supply Tank can be the original outboard motor built in tank when the Amphibious Water Motor is operated vertically only.
The original Fuel Supply Tank can be remotely mounted or replaced with a standard fuel tank when the horizontal pivoted or compound retraction method is employed.

Claims

1. The method and extent of the modifications to a standard outboard motor to make it an Amphibious Water Motor.

2. The Propeller Positioning Unit varies the direction of the propeller through out and beyond 360 degrees instead of positioning the motor drive unit for the desired thrust direction.

3. The Propeller Positioning Unit permits the passage of the flow of cooling water from the propeller pump through a rotating jacket to the engine. It also permits the passage of the propeller drive shaft and the passage of exhaust gases from the engine.

4. The Retraction Plate for vertical motion.

5. The Retraction Plate for a pivoting motion from vertical to horizontal.

6. The Retraction Plate for both vertical and pivoting motion combined.

7. The Control of the two motions by rack gear and pinion gear driven by a flexible shaft, hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical motor.