System and apparatus for outboard watercraft trim control

Abstract

An outboard motor mounting apparatus for outboard motors that control the outboard motor propeller thrust line angle of attack through a larger range than is currently available in practice today, including afterplanes (hydrodynamic lifting surfaces) in order to create boat stern lift. The afterplanes move to provide lift with a trimmable hinged portion in combination with movement of the outboard motor propeller thrust line.

Claims

1. An outboard motor mounting apparatus configured to provide increased outboard motor trim adjustment on a boat having a transom and an outboard motor, the outboard motor mounting apparatus comprising: a first mounting plate configured for attachment to the transom and having a first body with a first edge and a second edge opposing the first edge, at least two legs extending adjacent the first edge of the first body and at least one arm extending adjacent the opposing second edge of the first body, the at least one arm having a first elongate opening; a second mounting plate configured for attachment to the outboard motor and having a second body with a first edge and a second edge opposing the first edge, at least two legs extending adjacent the first edge of the second body and at least one arm extending adjacent the opposing second edge of the second body, the at least one arm having a second elongate opening; an axle configured to extend through the at least two legs of the first mounting plate and the at least two legs of the second mounting plate to enable pivotal movement of the second mounting plate relative to the first mounting plate; and a coupling configured to extend through the elongate openings in the at least one arm of the first and second mounting plates and configured to cooperate with the first and second elongate openings to enable the second edge of the second mounting plate to move toward and away from the second edge of the first mounting plate and thereby alter the trim of the outboard motor relative to the transom of the boat.

2. The outboard motor mounting apparatus of claim 1, comprising an actuator configured to be coupled to the axle and the coupling and configured to extend and retract and thereby move the coupling away from the axle and toward the axle, respectively, to cause the first and second mounting plates to pivot relative to one another.

3. The outboard motor mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second mounting plate and the first mounting plate are structured to have a range of motion relative to each other of +10° to −15° in which +10° is when the second edge of the second mounting plate is closest to the second edge of the first mounting plate and −15° is when the second edge of the second mounting plate is farthest away from the second edge of the first mounting plate.

4. The outboard motor mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second mounting plate comprises first and second mounts and the assembly further comprises first and second afterplanes configured to be mounted on the first and second mounts, respectively.

5. The outboard motor mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mounting plate comprises first and second mounts that each have arms, and the assembly further comprises a transverse member configured to attach to the first and second mounts, the assembly further comprising at least one actuator mounted in parallel with the transverse member and above the arms of the first and second mounts, the actuator including a link rod attached to the outboard motor.

6. A vessel, comprising: a transom; and an outboard motor mounting apparatus to attach to the transom of the vessel, the outboard motor mounting apparatus comprising: a first mounting plate to attach to the transom and having a first body with a first edge and a second edge that opposes the first edge, at least two legs extending adjacent the first edge of the first body and at least one arm extending adjacent the opposing second edge of the first body, the at least one arm having a first elongate opening; a second mounting plate to attach to the outboard motor and having a second body with a first edge and a second edge that opposes the first edge, at least two legs extending adjacent the first edge of the second body and at least one arm extending adjacent the opposing second edge of the second body, the at least one arm having a second elongate opening; an axle extending through the at least two legs of the first mounting plate and the at least two legs of the second mounting plate to enable pivotal movement of the second mounting plate relative to the first mounting plate; and a coupling configured to extend through the first and second elongate openings in the arms of the first and second mounting plates and configured to cooperate with the first and second elongate openings to enable the second edge of the second mounting plate to move toward and away from the second edge of the first mounting plate and thereby alter the trim of the outboard motor relative to the transom of the boat.

7. The vessel of claim 6, comprising an actuator configured to be coupled to the axle and the coupling and configured to extend and contract and thereby move the coupling away from the axle and toward the axle, respectively, to cause the first and second mounting plates to pivot relative to one another.

8. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the second mounting plate and the first mounting plate have a range of motion relative to each other of +10° to −15° in which +10° is when the second edge of the second mounting plate is closest to the second edge of the first mounting plate and −15° is when the second edge of the second mounting plate is farthest away from the second edge of the first mounting plate.

9. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the first mounting plate comprises first and second mounts and the outboard motor mounting apparatus further comprises first and second afterplanes configured to be mounted on the first and second mounts, respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more readily appreciated as the same become better understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is an illustration of a known watercraft having an outboard motor;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the watercraft of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is an illustration of the watercraft in an untrimmed, bow high condition according to current technology;

(5) FIG. 4 is an illustration of a watercraft having an outboard motor mounted thereto using a mounting apparatus formed in accordance with the present disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 is an exploded illustration of the watercraft, mounting apparatus, and outboard motor of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is an axonometric view of the mounting apparatus formed in accordance with the present disclosure in a fully retracted configuration;

(8) FIG. 7 is an axonometric view of the mounting apparatus formed in accordance with the present disclosure in a fully extended configuration;

(9) FIG. 8 is a lower right side axonometric view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 6;

(10) FIG. 9 is an axonometric view of the first pair of mounts and the second pair of mounts for the mounting apparatus formed in accordance with the present disclosure;

(11) FIG. 10 is an axonometric view of the coupling assembly with actuator assembly formed in accordance with the present disclosure;

(12) FIG. 11 is an axonometric view of an alternative implementation of the mounting assembly for selected fixed orientations in accordance with the present disclosure;

(13) FIG. 12 is an axonometric illustration of the left and right afterplanes formed in accordance with the present disclosure;

(14) FIG. 13 is an axonometric view of an alternative implementation of the mounting assembly of the present disclosure to include an afterplane extension;

(15) FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate an alternative implementation of the mounting apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure where the actuation assembly is in a horizontal orientation;

(16) FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate an alternative implementation of the mounting apparatus of the present disclosure to include a steering actuation system;

(17) FIG. 16 illustrates a control system formed in accordance with the present disclosure; and

(18) FIGS. 17A-17D are side plan views of the vessel of FIG. 4 with the mounting apparatus in different operating modes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(19) In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed implementations. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that implementations may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures or components or both associated with watercraft hulls and transoms, outboard motors, control systems, computers and microprocessor, and sensors have not been shown or described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the implementations.

(20) Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims that follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open inclusive sense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.” The foregoing applies equally to the words “including” and “having.”

(21) Reference throughout this description to “one implementation” or “an implementation” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the implementation is included in at least one implementation. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one implementation” or “in an implementation” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more implementations.

(22) It is to be understood that the terms “marine vessel,” “vessel,” “boat,” and “watercraft” are intended to be synonymous when used in this disclosure. While the present disclosure will be described in the context of an outboard motor mounted to the transom of a boat, the present disclosure will have application to a variety of outboard motor propelled watercraft including without limitation utility boats, fishing boats, runabouts, bow riders, dinghies, and all types of hulls including catamaran hulls, displacement and planing hulls, as well as types of materials, including wood boats, fiberglass boats, aluminum boats, rigid inflatable, and inflatable boats. It will be further understood that the term “outboard motor” is intended to include “engines” of various fuel types, electric motors, and other propulsion means currently known that can be mounted to the transom of a watercraft and drive a propeller or impellor to generate thrust for the watercraft.

(23) Referring initially to FIGS. 4 and 5, a vessel or watercraft in the form of a boat 100 is shown that includes a transom 102 at a stern 104 of the boat hull 106. An outboard motor 108 is shown attached to the stern 104 by a propulsion mounting apparatus 110 configured for attachment to the transom 104 of the boat 100. An integral mounting bracket 60 interfaces the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 to the outboard motor 108, which is described above in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2.

(24) Referring next to FIGS. 6-9, shown therein is the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110, which includes a first pair of mounts consisting of first mounts 112, 114, each first mount 112, 114 having a body 116, a pair of legs 118, 120 extending from a lower portion of the body 116, and an arm 122 extending from an upper portion of the body 116, the arm 122 having an elongate opening 124. The first pair of mounts 112, 114 are preferably mirror images of each other and are configured to attach to the transom 104 of the boat 100 using conventional fastening means such as bolts and nuts, which will not be described in detail herein.

(25) A second pair of mounts consisting of second mounts 130, 132 is also provided for attachment to the outboard motor 108. Each second mount 130, 132 has a body 134, a pair of legs 136, 138 extending from a lower portion of the body 134 and configured to be pivotally mounted to the pair of legs 118, 120 on the first mounts 112, 114 to enable the first and second pairs of mounts 112, 114, 130, 132 to pivot with respect to each other. Suitable fasteners are used to connect the legs together as shown in the figures to enable pivotal movement of the mounts as will be described in more detail herein. A lower transverse member 128 can be used to bridge across the bottom of the first pair of mounts 112, 114. The lower transverse member 128 can include an a lateral plate extending from an aft edge of the lower transverse member 128 and angled away from the first and second pairs of mounts 112, 114, 120, 132 as shown. The lateral plate can be integrally formed with the lower transverse member 128.

(26) The second mounts 130, 132 further include an arm 140 extending from the body 134 and having an elongate opening 142. Preferably the second mounts 130, 132 are mirror images of each other. More preferably, the second mounts 130, 132 have the same size and shape as the first mounts 112, 114 so as to be interchangeable with their respective copy. It will be appreciated that this design will facilitate the manufacture and assembly of the mounting apparatus 110. Ideally, each leg 118, 120, 136, 138 of the first and second mounts 112, 114, 130, 132 has an opening 146 through which a fastener is placed and which acts as an axle about which the second mounts 130, 132 pivot with respect to the first mounts 112, 114.

(27) A coupling assembly 150 is configured to couple the arms 122 of the first pair of mounts 112, 114 to the arms 140 of the second pair of mounts 130, 132 so that the elongate openings 124, 142 in the respective arms 122, 140 of the first and second pair of mounts at least partially overlap and to enable the arms 140 of the second pair of mounts 130, 132 to slide relative to the arms 122 of the first pair of mounts 112, 114 in response to movement of the second pair of mounts 130, 132 relative to the first pair of mounts 112, 114. Ideally, that movement is in the range of +10° to −15° in which 0° represents the first pair of mounts 112, 114 in a parallel orientation to the second pair of mounts 130, 132, +10° represents the arms 140 on the second pair of mounts 130, 132 closer in proximity to the arms 122 on the first pair of mounts 112, 114, and −15° represents the arms 140 on the second pair of mounts 130, 132 farther in proximity from the arms 122 on the first pair of mounts 112, 114 while the arms remain in an overlapping relationship throughout the movement.

(28) The elongate opening 124 in the arms 122 of the first pair of mounts 112, 114 has a longitudinal axis at a first orientation and the elongate opening 142 in the arms 140 of the second pair of mounts 130, 132 has a longitudinal axis at a second orientation that intersects the longitudinal axis of the elongate opening 124 in the arms 122 of the first pair of mounts 112, 114 when the first pair of mounts 112, 114 are pivotally attached at their legs 118, 120 to the legs 136, 138 of the second pair of mounts 130, 132, and the coupling assembly 150 couples the arms 122 of the first pair of mounts 112, 114 to the arms 140 of the second pair of mounts 130, 132 in a slidable arrangement.

(29) FIG. 10 illustrates the coupling assembly 150 in more detail. As shown therein, the coupling assembly 150 includes a yoke 152 in the shape of a rectangular or square block having a lateral bore (not shown) from which tubular spacers 154 extend laterally therefrom. These spacers 154 provide separation and act as bearings that ride within the elongate openings 124, 142 of the arms 122, 140 of the first and second mounts 112, 114, 130, 132. Extending through the spacers 154 and the yoke 152 is a bolt 156 used to secure the yoke 152 and spacers 154 to the arms 122, 140. Also shown are four doubler plates 158 that are mounted on each side of the arms 122, 140 to provide additional strength for load bearing. Each doubler plate 158 has an elongate opening 160, which is sized and shaped to match the elongate openings 124, 142 in the arms 122, 140, as well as additional openings for use with fasteners (not shown) to attach the doubler plate 168 to the respective arm 122, 140.

(30) Extending into the bottom of the yoke 152 is a rod 162 that is located within a housing 164 that in turn is mounted on an electric actuator assembly 166. This actuator assembly 166 is readily commercially available and will not be described in detail herein. Briefly, the actuator assembly includes an electric motor that moves the rod 162 into and out of the housing 164. When the rod is retracted from the housing, it moves the yoke 152 and spacers 154 away from the actuator assembly 166. The spacers 154 in turn ride upward within the elongate openings 160 of the doubler plates 158 as well as the associated elongate openings 124, 142 in the arms 122, 140 of the first and second mounts 112, 114, 130, 132. This in turn forces the second mounts 130, 132 to pivot about the lower mounting point opening 146 and move towards the first mounts 112, 114 as the arms in the second mounts 130, 132, move towards the arms 122 in the first mounts 112, 114. This is the retracted position shown in FIG. 6.

(31) Similarly, when the actuator assembly 166 moves the rod 162 to retract into the housing 164, it moves the yoke 152 and spacers 154 towards the actuator assembly 166. The spacers 154 in turn ride downward within the elongate openings 160 of the doubler plates 158 as well as the associated elongate openings 124, 142 in the arms 122, 140 of the first and second mounts 112, 114, 130, 132. This in turn forces the second mounts 130, 132 to pivot about the lower mounting point opening 146 and move away from the first mounts 112, 114 as the arms in the second mounts 130, 132, move away from the arms 122 in the first mounts 112, 114. This is the extended position shown in FIG. 7.

(32) The coupling assembly 150 further includes first and second transfer plates 168, 170 pivotally attached to a post 172 extending from the bottom of the actuator assembly 166 by a fastener 174, in this case a bolt. Fasteners 176 extending from the bottom of the first and second transfer plates 168, 170 are used to attach the first and second transfer plates 168, 170 to the lower transverse member 128.

(33) If it is desired to fix the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 at one position, a fixative bolt 178 can be used as shown in FIG. 11, which passes through the elongate openings 124 in the arms 122 of the first pair of mounts 112, 114 and the elongate openings 142 in the arms 140 of the second pair of mounts 130, 132 to mechanically fix the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 at a predetermined angle between +10° to −15°. As shown in this implementation, the elongate openings 177 are occluded and have detents 179 formed thereon to hold the first and second mounts 112, 114, 130, 132 at predetermined fixed positions. In this case there are four settings, although more or less settings may be formed as desired, limited by the elongate length of the opening 177. It will be appreciated that instead of the elongate opening, a single opening may be used that is sized to receive a single fastener, thus fixing the mounting apparatus 110 at only one angle of orientation.

(34) Turning back to FIGS. 6-9, at least one upper transverse member 144 is configured to attach to the second pair of mounts 130, 132 to bridge across the top of the second pair of mounts 130, 132 and enable the second pair of mounts 130, 132 to move in unison with respect to the first pair of mounts 112, 114. An upper transverse member 126 can be used to bridge the top of the first pair of mounts 112, 114. Each of the transverse members 126, 128, 144 is preferably attached with suitable fasteners to the body 116, 134 of the respective first and second mounts 112, 114, 130, 132.

(35) In accordance with a preferred implementation of the present disclosure, first and second afterplanes 180, 182 are configured to attach to the second pair of mounts 130, 132 adjacent the pair of legs 136, 138 respectively. As shown more clearly in FIG. 12, each afterplane 180, 182 includes a plane body 184 and a lateral wing 186 integrally formed with and extending from the plane body 186. A first bracket 188 extends from the main plane body 184 and a second bracket extends from the lateral wing 186. The first bracket is configured for attachment to the body 134 of the respective second mount 130, 132. A second bracket 190 extends from the lateral wing 186 and is configured for attachment to the respective leg 136, 138 of the respective second mount 130, 132, preferably at the opening 146 with the fastener that functions as the axle as described above. This version of the afterplanes 180, 182 and geometry is not commercially available and is designed to mount, move with, and provide an integral function in the disclosed implementations of the present disclosure.

(36) Alternatively, the afterplanes 180, 182 are integrally formed with and configured to extend from the respective second pair of mounts 130, 132 adjacent the pair of legs 136, 138.

(37) In accordance with a further alternative implementation, the afterplanes can be mounted to the lower transverse member 128 to extend from the lower transverse member 128 or they may be integrally formed with the lower transverse member 128.

(38) In some installations a vertical downward translation of the afterplanes 180, 182 is desired to accommodate hull transom or engine characteristics. An afterplane extension 200 is shown in FIG. 13 that mounts to the outboard motor side of the lower portion of each second mount 130, 132 and is configured to translate the afterplanes 180, 182 downward to the degree that the boat transom height increment and outboard motor dictates. It is to be understood there would be two extensions 200, one for each second mount 130, 132. The afterplanes 180, 182 attach to the extension 200 using the existing brackets 188, 190.

(39) FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate an alternative implementation in which the coupling assembly is modified to use the actuator assembly 166 in a horizontal orientation. It is attached to the upper transverse member 126 at one end and to the second mounts 130, 132 on the other end.

(40) Referring next to FIGS. 15A and 15B, an optional steering plate 220 is provided for attachment to the upper transverse member 144 that attaches to the second pair of mounts 130, 132. The plate 220 is flat and has mounting holes not shown that align with holes 222 in the upper transverse member 144. Four additional holes 224 are provided for mounting a steering actuator (electric or hydraulic) 226 thereto. The actuator 226 has a rod 228 that extends and retracts from the actuator housing 230. A steering link 232 couples the rod 228 to an outboard motor 234. This feature provides for steering control for the implementation in which the actuator assembly 166 is mounted horizontally as described above.

(41) In a second implementation, the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 has the first pair of mounts 112, 114 formed as a single first mounting plate configured for attachment to the transom 102 and having a single body with first and second opposing edges, at least two legs extending adjacent the first edge of the body and at least one arm extending adjacent the opposing second edge of the body, the at least one arm having an elongate opening. The second pair of mounts 130, 132 are also configured as a single second mounting plate configured for attachment to the engine and having a body with opposing first and second edges, at least two legs extending adjacent the first edge of the body and at least one arm extending adjacent the opposing second edge of the body, the at least one arm having an elongate opening. An axle extends through the at least two legs of the first mounting plate and the at least two legs of the second mounting plate to enable pivotal movement of the second mounting plate relative to the first mounting plate.

(42) A coupling assembly is configured to extend through the elongate openings in the arms of the first and second mounting plates and configured to cooperate with the elongate openings to enable the second edge of the second mounting plate to move toward and away from the second edge of the first mounting plate and thereby alter the trim of the outboard motor relative to the transom of the boat. An actuator is also provided with the coupling assembly to actuate movement of the second plate.

(43) A control system for the actuator assembly 166 can be provided as known to those skilled in the art to enable a user to control the degree of outboard motor trim. The control system includes a plurality of sensors configured to generate sensing signals and a microprocessor electrically coupled to the actuator and the plurality of sensors and configured to receive the sensing signals from the plurality of sensors and to generate control signals to the actuator in response to the sensing signals.

(44) The outboard motor 108 can be combined with the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 described above or the alternative implementation immediately preceding this paragraph and sold as a unit for mounting on existing boats or new boats. New boats and used boats refurbished with the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 or the alternative implementation can be combined with an outboard motor 108 and sold as a complete watercraft or system.

(45) FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing one implementation of a control system 200 for the boat 100 having the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 attached thereto. The control system 200 includes an electronic controller 202 having a plurality of input terminals 204 coupled to a plurality of sensors (described below) and output terminals 206 coupled to the actuator assembly 166. In this scheme a harness connects a plurality of (water continuity) sensors 210, 212, 214 mounted on the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 and on the afterplanes 180, 182. The electronic controller 202 has its output terminals 206 connected to a set of relays 216, 218 to control extension and retraction of the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 via the actuator assembly 166. Alternately, the electronic controller 202 is configured to receive and respond to command inputs from an operator via an interface coupled to control inputs 220, 222 to extend or retract the mounting apparatus. A two-position momentary switch 224 can be used, which is mounted ergonomically, within easy reach of the boat steering wheel. The electronic controller 202 has additional inputs for a multitude of electronic, positional, analog, digital and hydrodynamic sensors such as a paddle wheel transducer input 226, a pitot transducer 228, an engine tachometer 230, a GPS 232, inclinometer 234, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) 236, all of which are known and will not be described in detail herein.

(46) The control system 200 receives commands from the user interface 224, the plurality of sensors configured to generate sensing signals 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, and 236, and a microprocessor in the electronic controller is configured to generate control signals to the actuator assembly 166 in response to the plurality of sensing signals and to inputs from the user interface 224.

(47) FIG. 17A shows the boat 100 floating in a displacement condition driven forward by the outboard motor 108 and the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110. Here the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 is shown in a neutral position. In FIG. 17B, the boat 100 is in a low speed pre-planing condition driven forward by the outboard motor 108. The outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 is in a neutral position and the bow is in a typical pre-planing bow-high attitude where visibility can be obstructed ahead of the bow as shown by operator line-of-sight 300. FIG. 17C shows the boat 100 in a typical low speed pre-planing condition driven forward by the outboard motor 108 and the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 has moved to the fully extended position causing the bow to drop for improved visibility as shown by operator-line-of sight 301 and increased boat wetted length which can result in improved ride quality. In FIG. 17D, the boat 100 is in a high speed condition driven forward by the outboard motor 108 and the outboard motor mounting apparatus 110 has moved to the fully retracted position helping lift the bow for reduced hull drag.

(48) In operation, the user inputs commands via the interface device, such as the switch, to cause the outboard motor to change the angle of the propeller thrust line. As the second mounts move the outboard motor, they also move the afterplanes attached thereto, which adjusts the outboard motor trim as the boat moves through the water. This system allows the operator to keep the bow low during low speed and pre-planing operations, which is typically when the bow is at its highest point above the water, obstructing the operator's ability to see ahead of the watercraft.

(49) As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing, the bolt-on chassis utilizing the outboard transom bracket of the present disclosure provides a number of benefits. This is the world's first outboard transom bracket designed to combine the benefits of an elevated engine thrust vector modified simultaneously with a pair of chassis mounted afterplanes. It is revolutionary because it simultaneously brings several positive boat set-up factors to one bolt-on chassis, capable of being operated through a single input. It provides increased engine trim, increased engine elevation, increased transom lift, and can increase system wetted length, which can reduce vessel slamming loads.

(50) The various implementations described above can be combined to provide further implementations. Aspects of the implementations can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further implementations.

(51) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/966,572 filed Feb. 26, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.

(52) These and other changes can be made to the implementations in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible implementations along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.