A shaft seal includes a shaft engaging portion configured to couple to a shaft extending through a wall. The shaft seal includes a flange configured to sealingly engage the wall. The shaft seal includes a body extending between the shaft engaging portion and the flange. The seal is configured to allow radial and axial movement of the shaft relative to the wall while maintaining a seal between the flange and the wall.

An outboard propulsion system comprising: a first portion for attachment to a boat comprising a stern, the first portion comprising an engine including a crankshaft; and a second portion comprising at least one propeller shaft having a longitudinal axis along the elongate length of the at least one propeller shaft, wherein the at least one propeller shaft is operably connected to the crankshaft via at least one drive shaft configured to transmit motive power therebetween, wherein the at least one drive shaft comprises a drop shaft and wherein the drop shaft is substantially perpendicular to the at least one propeller shaft, wherein the second portion is configured to pivot relative to the first portion about a steering axis, wherein the steering axis intersects the longitudinal axis of the at least one propeller shaft at an obtuse angle, wherein the first portion and second portion are configured to tilt together about a single axis of rotation substantially parallel to the stern of the boat, and wherein the first portion is fixed about a substantially vertical axis.

A protective device for a stern tube seal of a propeller-driven vessel, wherein an intermediate space is left open between a stern tube and a propeller hub, which intermediate space is covered by a tubular protective cover concentric with the propeller hub, which protective cover is fixedly anchored to the stern tube and axially overlies the propeller hub leaving an annular gap, wherein a ring concentric with the propeller hub and U-shaped in radial section is disposed inside the protective cover in the intermediate space between the stern tube and the propeller hub, the U-opening of which ring is directed radially outward, and wherein the ring is at least partially formed of a material that has a pourable consistency at 20° C.

A thrust bearing configured to support axial loads that act on a rotating body includes a thrust shaft rotatably supportable in a bearing housing, a thrust collar, and a retainer connected to the thrust shaft and configured to support a plurality of thrust pieces. The thrust pieces each have a front sliding surface in sliding contact with the thrust collar, and the retainer includes a disk having a central opening and an outer circumference and a plurality of radial incisions extending radially inwardly from the outer circumference which incisions have inner ends radially spaced from the central opening. The radial incisions define circumferentially adjacent spring sections each of the which is individually axially flexible against and away from the bearing housing to open and close a spring gap between each of the spring sections and the bearing housing.

A sealing system for sealing a shaft located under water includes a bush mountable on the shaft and fixed to the shaft, a housing fixed with respect to the bush and surrounding a first portion of the bush, a lubricant chamber and an air chamber in the housing and open to the bush, the lubricant chamber being sealed with respect to the air chamber by a seal ring, a mechanical seal outside the housing and surrounding a second portion of the bush, an air supply line and an air discharge line connected to the air chamber, and a quantity of lubricating oil in the lubricant chamber, the lubricating oil being in fluid communication with a lubricant tank via at least one oil line, wherein an air pressure in the air chamber is greater than an oil pressure in the lubricant chamber.

In an example, a compliant shaft enclosure support system for coupling to a shaft enclosure surrounding a shaft includes a bar having a first member slidably coupled to a second member. The bar is oriented along the pitch axis of the shaft. A first bar end of the bar is rotatably connected, around the roll axis and pitch axis of the shaft, to the shaft enclosure at a first connection. A second bar end of the bar is rotatably connected, around the roll axis and pitch axis, to the structure at a second connection. A link is rotatably connected, around the roll axis, at a first link end to the bar, at an intermediate location spaced from the first and second bar ends. The link is rotatably connected, around the pitch axis, at a second link end to the shaft enclosure at a third connection spaced from the first connection.

An outboard propulsion system comprising an engine configured to receive oil; an oil pan configured to receive oil from the engine; and an oil reservoir configured to receive oil from the oil pan and provide oil to the engine, in use.

A clamping mechanism is provided. The mechanism includes a male clamping body. The mechanism also includes a female clamping body configured to mate with the male clamping body. The mechanism further includes tightening bolts structured to connect the male clamping body to the female clamping body. The mechanism includes connecting spans connected to the male clamping body and the female clamping body. The mechanism also includes integral positioning ring halves connected to the male clamping body and the female clamping body, wherein the positioning rings are designed to fit into a positioning groove of a drive shaft and to provide a backstop to a support ring. Also, the connecting spans, the male clamping body, and the female clamping body have inner diameters that are identical and are arranged to securely fit onto an outer surface of the drive shaft when the tightening bolts are tightened.

The invention relates to a ring seal which comprises a main body capable of implementing a seal by static contact relative to a first cylindrical element, and a first circumferential lip capable of engaging by friction with a cylindrical surface of a second cylindrical element, said cylindrical elements being substantially coaxial and mounted so as to pivot relative to one another. The main body comprises a front surface configured to be in axial contact with a front surface of the first cylindrical element, the main body comprising a second circumferential lip radially opposite the first circumferential lip and capable of being in radial contact with a cylindrical surface of the first cylindrical element.

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.