A hybrid marine drive unit mounted to a transom. The drive unit includes a drive housing mounted on the transom, a propelling unit rotatable about a vertical axis and mounted to a lower surface of the drive housing, and a transmission with at least a vertical drive shaft located in the drive housing and extending into the propelling unit. The vertical drive shaft is arranged transmit drive torque from at least one of multiple sources of drive torque. The vertical drive shaft is operably connected to a first source of drive torque arranged within the drive housing, and the vertical drive shaft is operably connected to a horizontal output shaft extending into the drive housing through the transom. The horizontal output shaft is connectable to a second source of drive torque.

The present invention concerns an outboard propulsion device for a navigational seacraft comprising a propulsion means (4), at least one engine (1) supplying torque to a drive shaft (20) extending out of the engine and driving a transmission shaft (3) intended to supply torque to the propulsion means, the drive shaft and the propulsion shaft being in a fixed relative orientation, and a transmission means (2) connected at the input to the drive shaft (20) in order to receive the engine torque and transmit it, in the form of modified torque, to the transmission shaft (3) to which it is connected at the output, and the transmission shaft (3) is a double universal joint shaft (30, 31) that extends in an inclined manner between the transmission means (2) and the propulsion means (4).

A method for aligning steering angles of marine propulsion devices. The method includes receiving a first steering request to steer the marine propulsion devices, where when the first steering request is received, steering for a first device is deactivated and steering for a second device is activated, and changing a steering angle of the second device according to the first steering request while leaving a steering angle of the first device unchanged. The method includes receiving a request to activate steering for the first device and receiving a second steering request, then changing the steering angles of both the first and second devices when the second steering request is received after receiving the request to activate steering, and changing the steering angle of the second device while leaving the steering angle for the first device unchanged when the second steering request is received before receiving the request to activate steering.

A system for rotating an inner propeller shaft within a gearcase via a driveshaft. The system includes a stub shaft that extends between forward and aft ends and is rotatable within the gearcase. A forward gear is rotatably coupled to the stub shaft, where the forward gear meshes with the driveshaft and is engageable to become rotatably fixed to the stub shaft such that rotating the driveshaft rotates the stub shaft. A shock absorbing coupler is positioned within the gearcase, where the coupler has forward and aft ends, where the forward end of the coupler is engageable with the aft end of the stub shaft, and where the aft end of the coupler engageable with the inner propeller shaft. The coupler is torsional between the forward and aft ends such that shock is absorbable between the inner propeller shaft and the driveshaft.

A system for rotating inner and outer propeller shafts via a driveshaft. The system includes a stub shaft extending between forward and aft ends, the aft end having an engagement feature for engaging with the inner propeller shaft such that rotating the stub shaft rotates the inner propeller shaft. A reverse gear and a forward gear are each rotatably coupled to the stub shaft. The reverse gear and the forward gear mesh with the driveshaft and are engageable to become rotatably fixed to the stub shaft such that rotating the driveshaft rotates the stub shaft in reverse and forward directions, respectively. An outer driving gear is coupled to the inner propeller shaft to rotate therewith. An outer driven gear is coupled to the outer propeller shaft and a pinion rotatably coupling the outer driving gear to the outer driven gear such that rotation of the outer driving gear rotates the outer propeller shaft.

An intake plenum is for a marine engine, the marine engine having first and second throttle devices for controlling flow of intake air to the marine engine. The intake plenum has an airbox providing an expansion volume, first and second inlets that convey the intake air in parallel to the expansion volume, first and second outlets that convey the intake air in parallel from the expansion volume to the first and second throttle devices, and first and second Helmholtz-style attenuator devices located at the first and second outlets, respectively. Together the first and second inlets, expansion volume, and first and second Helmholtz-style attenuator devices are configured to attenuate different frequencies of sound emanating from the marine engine via the first and second outlets.

An engine includes a crankshaft extending in a vertical direction. A drive shaft is connected to the crankshaft and coaxial with the crankshaft. A water intake passage is connected to the engine. A water pump is connected to the water intake passage. The water pump includes a pump shaft. The pump shaft is eccentrically mounted with respect to the drive shaft and parallel or substantially parallel to the drive shaft. The pump shaft rotates according to rotation of the drive shaft.

A method is for making a marine drive for propelling a marine vessel in water. The method includes providing a gearcase; installing a propeller shaft assembly that extends forwardly from the gearcase; coupling front and rear propellers to the propeller shaft assembly, forwardly of the gearcase, such that rotation of the propeller shaft assembly causes rotation of the front and rear propellers, respectively, which thereby propels the marine vessel in the water; and reducing deleterious effects of cavitation on the gearcase by the combination of forming the gearcase with a wide trailing end portion, in particular to maintain pressure alongside the gearcase, and configuring the front and rear propellers so that the front propeller absorbs more torque/thrust load than the rear propeller during said rotation.

An outboard motor comprising a first propeller shaft and a second propeller shaft, wherein the second propeller shaft is arranged concentric with the first propeller shaft, and wherein the first propeller shaft is connected to a first power transfer arrangement to rotate the first propeller shaft in a first direction, and wherein the second propeller shaft is connected to a second power transfer arrangement to rotate the second propeller shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The outboard motor comprises a first electric motor having a first motor shaft, and a second electric motor having a second motor shaft, wherein the first motor shaft is connected to the first power transfer arrangement, and wherein the second motor shaft is connected to the second power transfer arrangement. Disclosed is also a method for driving propeller shafts of an outboard motor.

A hybrid marine drive unit mounted to a transom. The drive unit includes a drive housing rigidly mounted on the transom, a propelling unit rotatable about a vertical axis and mounted to a lower surface of the drive housing, and a transmission with at least a vertical drive shaft located in the drive housing and extending into the propelling unit, which vertical drive shaft is arranged transmit drive torque from at least one of multiple sources of drive torque. The vertical drive shaft is operably connected to at least one first source of drive torque arranged within the drive housing, and the vertical drive shaft is operably connected to a horizontal output shaft extending into the drive housing through the transom.