Lining for vessel drives

Abstract

Disclosed is a lining for drives, such as sterndrives, of vessels has a housing that consists of two housing halves. The housing is secured on an adapter plate fastened to the vessel. A seal is provided between the housing halves. A seal that can be expanded by compressed air is arranged between the housing and the adapter plate. The housing halves are connected to one another by use of tension locks. The housing is secured on the adapter plate by use of tension locks. In the housing, a float-controlled bilge pump, from which a line leads to an opening provided in the upper area of the housing, is provided below.

Claims

1. Lining for drives, of vessels, comprising a housing, which surrounds the part of the drive lying outside of the vessel and which has two adjoining housing halves along a plane that is essentially vertical in the operating position, wherein a seal is provided between the housing halves, and wherein the housing is designed for fastening to the stern of the vessel, characterized in wherein an adapter plate that is detachably connected to the housing and that is to be mounted on the stern of the vessel is provided, and wherein an inflatable seal is provided between the housing and the adapter plate.

2. The lining according to claim 1, wherein for connecting the housing halves to one another and/or for connecting the housing to the adapter plate, quick-release fasteners, are provided.

3. The lining according to claim 1, wherein on the side of the adapter plate to be turning toward the vessel, a seal is provided.

4. The lining according to claim 1, wherein the seal between the housing halves is a seal in the form of a plastic cord.

5. The lining according to claim 1, wherein the adapter plate is fastened to the vessel with screw nuts or cap nuts, and wherein the screw nuts or cap nuts are screwed onto threaded pins that are fastened, to the stern of the vessel.

6. The lining according to claim 1, wherein the adapter plate is designed essentially ring-like by means of an opening for accommodating the part of the drive lying on the stern of the vessel.

7. The lining according to claim 1, wherein the adapter plate is divided and comprises an upper part in the operating position and a lower part in the operating position.

8. The lining according to claim 7, wherein the lower part of the adapter plate is detachably attached to the vessel.

9. The lining according to claim 7, wherein the seam between the parts of the adapter plate is a step slot.

10. The lining according to claim 1, wherein tension devices are provided that are fastened; both to the lower area of the adapter plate in the operating position, and also to the housing some distance from the adapter plate.

11. The lining according to claim 10, wherein the tension devices are turnbuckles.

12. The lining according to, claim 1, wherein a pump like a bilge pump is provided in the housing.

13. The lining according to claim 12, wherein a float switch that is arranged in the interior of the housing is assigned to the pump.

14. The lining according to claim 12, wherein a line emptying on the outside of the housing, such as & hose, is connected to the pump.

15. The lining according to claim 14, wherein a non-return valve is provided in the line.

16. The lining according to claim 1, wherein a valve that is accessible outside of the housing, to which valve a compressed-air source, can be connected, is assigned to the inflatable seal.

17. The lining according to characterized in claim 1, wherein centering pins that face openings in the edge of the housing that faces the adapter plate are provided on the side of the adapter plate that faces the housing.

18. The lining according to claim 1, wherein guide fins that adjoin the edge of the housing that faces the adapter plate on the inside and outside are provided on the side of the adapter plate that faces the housing.

19. The lining according to claim 1, wherein the housing is made of plastic, with a smooth exterior.

20. The lining according to claim 5, wherein screw nuts are screwed onto threaded bolts, which are screwed into anchor plates fastened to the vessel and extend through the lower part of the adapter plate.

21. The lining according to claim 20, wherein the anchor plates are fastened to the bottom of the vessel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Additional details and features as well as advantages of the lining according to the invention are given in the description below of an embodiment based on the drawings. Here:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a sterndrive arranged in a lining,

[0046] FIG. 2 shows in an oblique view the lining in an exploded depiction with details A to E,

[0047] FIG. 3 shows in an oblique view a right housing half of the lining with adapter plate and details C to G,

[0048] FIG. 4 shows in a side view a complete lining on the adapter plate and details A to C,

[0049] FIG. 5 shows in an oblique view the left housing half with detail A, and

[0050] FIG. 6 shows in an oblique view the complete housing of the lining with adapter plate and detail A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0051] A lining 1 according to the invention for sterndrives 2 of vessels 3 comprises a housing 4, in which the gear system 5 and the ship propeller 6 of the sterndrive 2 are accommodated.

[0052] Housing halves 7 and 8 of the housing 4only one of the housing halves 7, 8, namely the right (starboard-side) housing half 8, is depicted in FIG. 1are fastened to an adapter plate 9, which for its part is mounted on the aft ship's side 10 of the vessel 3. In this case, the marine engine is located inside the vessel 3 and essentially faces the sterndrive 2 shown in FIG. 1.

[0053] It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the lining 1 according to the invention has the housing 4 that consists of the housing halves 7 and 8 (right and left housing halves), which are fastened in assembled form to the adapter plate 9. The adapter plate 9 for its part is mounted on the ship's side 10.

[0054] For connecting the housing halves 7 and 8 to one another, (lever) quick-release tension locks 11 are provided, which put pressure on the housing halves 7 and 8 and hold them together. A seal 12 is arranged between the two housing halves 7 and 8, so that the housing 4, consisting of the housing halves 7 and 8, is water-tight when the housing halves 7 and 8 are connected to one another. The seal 12 between the housing halves 7 and 8 can be designed as a sealing profile made of plastic, such as neoprene or EPDM-foam rubber. In this case, it is preferred that the seal 12 be arranged, in particular cemented, in a groove in one of the housing halves 7 or 8. The groove for the seal 12 is provided in the edge of the housing half 7 or 8 that faces the other housing half 7 or 8.

[0055] The fastening of the housing halves 7 and 8, connected to one another to form the housing 4, and of the adapter plate 9 is done using (lever) quick-release tension locks 11, as is shown in the details B and D of FIG. 2.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows the right (starboard-side) housing half 8, in which a bilge pump 13 (cf. detail C in FIG. 3) is arranged. From the bilge pump 13, which is arranged in the lower area of the housing 4, a line 14 leads upward to an outlet 32 (detail C in FIG. 4), which is provided in the upper area of the housing 4. A non-return valve is provided in the line 14.

[0057] The adapter plate 9 consists of an upper part 16 and a lower extensive part 17, both of which are connected to the ship's side 10. The seam between the parts 16 and 17 of the adapter plate 9 is designed as a step slot.

[0058] A seal 18, which is designed as an inflatable seal 18, is provided between the housing halves 7 and 8, connected to one another to form the housing 4, and the adapter plate 9. So that the seal 18 can be inflated between the housing 4 and the adapter plate 9, a valve is provided that is arranged outside of the housing 4. The valve can be designed like a valve for a bicycle or automobile tire. The valve is arranged at the free end of a feed line 15 that is above and outside of the housing 4 of the lining 1 according to the invention (cf. FIG. 3, detail E), which feed line leads to the seal 18. Thus, the valve is also easily accessible in the case of a lining 1 mounted on a vessel 3.

[0059] The adapter plate 9, which consists of the upper part 16 and the lower part 17, is fastened to the ship's side 10 (ship's transom). In this case, it is provided that the upper part 16 of the adapter plate 9 always remains mounted on the hull. However, the lower part 17 of the adapter plate 9 is only mounted on the hull when the housing 4 of the lining 1 is to be attached.

[0060] In order to seal the adapter plate 9, consisting of the upper and lower parts 16 and 17, relative to the ship (ship's transom), a seal 19 (neoprene or EPDM-foam rubber) is provided between the adapter plate 9 and the ship's side 10, which seal is glued into a groove in the ship's-side side of the adapter plate 9.

[0061] The fastening of the adapter plate 9 to the ship's side 10 is done via threaded pins 21, which are glued to the ship's side 10. For example, five threaded pins 21 are provided for the upper part 16 of the adapter plate 9 (cf. FIG. 5), and, for example, six threaded pins 21 are provided for the lower part 17 of the adapter plate 9. As detail A of FIG. 6 shows, the threaded pins 21 are provided with perforated base plates 22 that are fastened, in particular glued, to the aft ship's side, so that an adequate adhesive surface is ensured. In order to cover any traces of adhesive in the area of the anchor plates 23 of the threaded pins 21, the anchor plates 23 can be covered by hoods 36 (cf. FIG. 6, detail A).

[0062] The upper part 16 of the adapter plate 9 is fastened using cap nuts 24, which are screwed onto the threaded pins 21 (cf. detail F of FIG. 3).

[0063] The lower part 17 of the adapter plate 9 is attached by means of screw nuts, preferably locking nuts (wing nuts) 25 (cf. FIG. 3, detail D), which are screwed onto threaded bolts 21. For fastening the lower part 17 of the adapter plate 9, the locking nuts 25 can be attached using chains to the lower part 17 of the adapter plate 9 to keep them from getting lost.

[0064] Buoyant forces have a/an (considerable) effect on the housing 4 of the lining 1 according to the invention when the latter is empty, i.e., no water is contained in it. These buoyant forces put pressure on the lower quick-release clamps 11, with which the housing halves 7 and 8 are fastened to the adapter plate 9. To accommodate this, rings 27 are provided on the lower part 17 of the adapter plate 9, in which rings tension devices, such as turnbuckles 28 (cf. FIG. 4, detail D), are mounted. The other ends of the turnbuckles 28 are secured on the housing halves 7 and 8 some distance from the adapter plate 9. Thus, the quick-release clamps 11, which secure the housing 4 of the lining 1 to the adapter plate 9, are also relieved of pressure in the lower area of the lining 1. In order to deflect forces acting on the lower part 17 of the adapter plate 9 from the turnbuckles 28, anchor plates 23 that carry threaded bolts 33 are fastened, e.g., glued, to the bottom of the vessel 3. Screw nuts 35 provided with handles 34 are screwed onto the threaded bolts 33, which screw nuts in addition attach the lower part 17 of the anchor plate 23 to the vessel 3 (cf. FIG. 4, detail A, FIG. 2, detail E, and FIG. 5).

[0065] On the side of the adapter plate 9 that faces the housing 4, centering pins 30 (cf. FIG. 3, detail E) are also provided, so that the housing 4 can easily be correctly oriented to the adapter plate 9. In addition, the correct orientation of the housing 4, consisting of the two housing halves 7 and 8, is ensured by guide fins 31 on the side of the adapter plate 9 that faces the housing 4 (cf. detail E of FIG. 3). The guide fins 31 adjoin the edge of the housing 4 that faces the adapter plate 9 on the inside and outside.

[0066] Due to the lining 1 according to the invention for drives, such as sterndrives 2, of vessels 3, the latter are reliably protected against algae and shell growth and corrosion and galvanic currents by salts dissolved in water.

[0067] In the case of the lining 1 according to the invention, it is an advantage that a secure seal against seepage is ensured by the seals 12 and 18 between the housing halves 7 and 8, on the one hand, and the housing 4 and the adapter plate 9, on the other hand.

[0068] The mounting of the housing 4 on the adapter plate 9 and also the connecting of the housing halves 7 and 8 to one another to form the housing 4 is done using quick-release fasteners 11 (made of stainless steel), so that special tools are not necessary.

[0069] In the case of an embodiment of the lining 1, it is advantageous that in the case of an unexpected seepage in the lining 1, the bilge pump 13 is provided, which immediately pumps out the water that has infiltrated (automatically controlled by a float switch) from the lining 1. The bilge pump 13 can be connected to the power supply system of the ship or to a battery.

[0070] The bilge pump 13 that is mounted securely in the right housing half 8 in its lower area also has the advantage that the lining 1 according to the invention can be attached when the vessel 3 is still afloat, i.e., the drive, such as sterndrive 2, is at least partially below the water level, since water that is present in the lining 1 can be pumped out from the lining 1 using the bilge pump 13, although the housing 4 that forms the lining is mounted securely on the vessel 3. In summary, an embodiment of the invention can be described as follows:

[0071] A lining 1 for drives, such as sterndrives 2, of vessels 3 has a housing 4 that consists of two housing halves 7 and 8. The housing 4 is secured on an adapter plate 9 that is fastened to the vessel 3. A seal 12 is provided between the housing halves 7 and 8. A seal 18 that can be expanded by compressed air is arranged between the housing 4 and the adapter plate 9. The housing halves 7 and 8 are connected to one another by means of (lever) tension locks 11. The housing 4 is secured on the adapter plate 9 by means of (lever) tension locks 11. In the housing 4, a float-controlled bilge pump 13, from which a line 14 leads to an opening provided in the upper area of the housing 4, is provided below.