SHAFT PROFILE AND OUTBOARD DRIVE

Abstract

A shaft profile is provided for an outboard drive. The shaft profile includes a base body extending along a longitudinal axis, the base body including a receiving space configured to receive a shaft of the outboard drive; and at least three support ribs extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis and configured to radially guide the shaft, the at least three support ribs arranged on an inner side of the receiving space.

Claims

1. A shaft profile for an outboard drive, the shaft profile comprising: a base body extending along a longitudinal axis, the base body including a receiving space configured to receive a shaft of the outboard drive; and at least three support ribs extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis and configured to radially guide the shaft, the at least three support ribs arranged on an inner side of the receiving space.

2. The shaft profile according to claim 1, wherein the at least three support ribs have a rounded shape at a radially inwardly pointing free end.

3. The shaft profile according to claim 2, wherein the free end has one of a concave curvature or a convex curvature.

4. The shaft profile according to claim 1, wherein the base body has exactly one chamber and the receiving space is disposed in the exactly one chamber.

5. The shaft profile according to claim 4, wherein the base body comprises, with respect to the longitudinal axis in a circumferential direction, a closed outer wall of predetermined wall thickness that encloses the exactly one chamber when viewed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

6. The shaft profile according to claim 1, wherein the base body is on at least one end side to be connected in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the longitudinal axis to a component of the outboard drive arranged on the at least one end side.

7. The shaft profile according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting part configured to connect the shaft profile to a component of the outboard drive arranged on an end side and that is arranged on at least one of end side of the shaft profile with respect to the longitudinal axis.

8. The shaft profile according to claim 7, wherein the connecting part is configured to provide a seal of the shaft profile.

9. The shaft profile according to claim 7, wherein the connecting part is an elastic connecting part.

10. The shaft profile according to claim 1, wherein the shaft profile, when viewed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, has a cross-sectional outer contour that is streamlined in a predetermined transverse direction.

11. The shaft profile according to claim 10, wherein the cross-sectional outer contour is teardrop-shaped.

12. The shaft profile according to claim 1, wherein the base body is formed in one piece.

13. The shaft profile according to claim 1, wherein the base body is one of an extrusion profile, a continuous casting profile or an extruded profile.

14. The shaft profile according to claim 1, wherein the shaft profile comprises a spare rudder section configured to provide a spare rudder for a boat comprising the outboard drive.

15. The shaft profile according to claim 14, wherein, in the spare rudder section, the shaft profile has a predetermined length, and, in the spare rudder section, a length of the shaft profile in a transverse direction is greater than a length of a connecting section of a drive unit.

16. The shaft profile according to claim 14, wherein the spare rudder section extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis over an entirety of the shaft profile.

17. An outboard drive for a boat, comprising: a fastening device configured to fasten the outboard drive to a boat; a drive unit that is arranged on the fastening device so as to be rotatable about a steering angle axis of rotation via a shaft; and a shaft profile according to claim 1 that is arranged on the shaft between the fastening unit and the drive unit.

18. The outboard drive according to claim 17, wherein the outboard drive is configured to be changed between a normal mode and a spare rudder mode.

19. The outboard drive according to claim 18, wherein: in the normal mode, a first shaft profile with a first length in the direction of a transverse direction oriented transversely to the steering angle axis of rotation is arranged on the shaft between the fastening unit and the drive unit, and in the spare rudder mode, a second shaft profile with a second length different from the first length is arranged on the shaft in the direction of the transverse direction between the fastening unit and the drive unit.

20. The outboard drive according to claim 17, wherein the outboard drive is configured such that the shaft profile is configured to be changed, and a first shaft profile has a first length in the direction of a transverse direction oriented transversely to the steering angle axis of rotation, and a second shaft profile has a second length different from the first length.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. In the figures:

[0032] FIG. 1 schematically shows a sectional view through a boat with an outboard drive;

[0033] FIG. 2 schematically shows a side view of the outboard drive from FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 3 schematically shows a perspective view of a shaft profile of the outboard drive from FIG. 2;

[0035] FIG. 4 schematically shows a sectional view through the shaft profile from FIG. 3;

[0036] FIG. 5 schematically shows a sectional view through a shaft profile according to a further embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 6 schematically shows a sectional view of a detail of the outboard drive from FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0038] FIG. 7 schematically shows a side view of an outboard drive according to a further embodiment; and

[0039] FIG. 8 schematically shows a side view of an outboard drive according to a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or identically acting elements are provided with identical reference symbols in the different figures, and a repeated description of these elements is dispensed with in part in order to avoid redundancies.

[0041] FIG. 1 schematically shows a sectional view through a schematically indicated boat 100. An outboard drive 1 is fastened to a transom 101 of the boat 100. For this purpose, the outboard drive 1 comprises a fastening unit 7. The outboard drive 1 furthermore comprises a drive unit 3 which is in this case in the form of a gondola and has a propeller 5 which is rotatable about a propeller axis 4 and is arranged below the waterline 110, that is to say underwater.

[0042] The drive unit 3 is fastened to a shaft 10 which is arranged on the fastening unit 7 so as to be rotatable about a steering angle axis of rotation 6. The shaft 10 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a steering device 8 which is provided above the fastening unit 7 and which in this case comprises a tiller 9. As a result, the steering angle of the drive unit 3 can be specified via the position of the steering device 8.

[0043] A streamlined, thin-walled shaft profile 11 is arranged around the shaft 10.

[0044] FIG. 2 schematically shows a side view of the outboard drive 1 in FIG. 1. The cylindrical shaft 10 extending in the interior of the outboard drive 1 is indicated by a dashed line. The shaft profile 11 houses the shaft 10 between the fastening unit 7, which in this case is designed as a transom mount, and the drive unit 3.

[0045] The shaft profile 11 extends along its longitudinal axis 12, which corresponds to the steering angle axis of rotation 6 or coincides therewith in the correctly assembled state of the outboard drive 1.

[0046] In relation to the longitudinal axis 12, the shaft profile 11 has a connecting part 13 on each of its end sides, once to the fastening unit 7 and once to the drive unit 3. According to this optional embodiment, the connecting part 13 to the fastening unit is formed from a solid, that is to say inelastic plastic, and that to the drive unit 3 is an elastic connecting part 13.

[0047] FIG. 3 schematically shows a perspective view of the shaft profile 11 of the outboard drive 1 from FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0048] It can be seen here that the shaft profile 11 comprises a base body 15 which extends along the longitudinal axis 12 and in which a receiving space 19 for receiving the shaft 10 of the outboard drive 1 is provided.

[0049] The base body 15 has exactly one chamber 17, wherein the receiving space 19 is formed in the exactly one chamber 17.

[0050] The base body 15 comprises an outer wall 18 of predetermined wall thickness 21 (see FIG. 4) which is closed in relation to the longitudinal axis 12 in the circumferential direction and encloses the exactly one chamber 17 when viewed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 12.

[0051] Three support ribs 16 extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12 for radially guiding the shaft 10 are arranged on an inner side 22 of the receiving space 19. The support ribs 16 project radially inwardly from the inner side 22 of the outer wall 18 in relation to the longitudinal axis 12, specifically in such a way that their free ends 20 lie on a common pitch circle diameter in relation to the longitudinal axis 12, which pitch circle diameter substantially corresponds to the outer diameter of the shaft 10. As a result, a three-point guide of the shaft 10 on the shaft profile 11 or vice versa is formed in relation to a cross section perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 12. Each of the support ribs 16 represents a linear guide of the shaft 10 in each case in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12.

[0052] The base body 15 is a one-piece extruded profile made from an aluminum alloy.

[0053] The shaft profile 11, more precisely the base body 15, when viewed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 12, has a cross-sectional outer contour which is streamlined in a transverse direction 14 oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 12, which transverse direction is oriented parallel to the propeller axis 4 in the assembled state of the outboard drive 1.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 12 through the base body 15 of the shaft profile 11 from FIG. 3. It can be seen from this that the support ribs 16 according to this optional embodiment are arranged in a uniformly distributed manner in relation to the longitudinal axis 12 in the circumferential direction without being restricted to a uniform distribution. Since three support ribs are provided here, the angle between adjacent support ribs is 120.

[0055] At its radially inwardly pointing free end 20, each of the support ribs 16 has a rounded shape. In the present case, the free end 20 is convexly curved, i.e. curved outwardly. As a result, the contact surface between shaft 10 and support ribs 16 is minimized.

[0056] Furthermore, the streamlined teardrop shape of the base body 15 can be seen.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 12 through a base body 15 of a shaft profile 11 according to a further embodiment. The shaft profile 11 substantially corresponds to that from FIG. 4, wherein the free ends 20 of the support ribs 16 are concave, i.e. curved inwardly. In the present case, a radius of curvature of the concave curvature corresponds to a radius of the outer side of the cylindrical shaft 10.

[0058] FIG. 6 schematically shows a detailed sectional view through the outboard drive 1 from FIGS. 1 to 4 in the region of the connection between shaft 10, shaft profile 11 and drive unit 3.

[0059] It can be seen that the shaft 10 comprises at its lower end a toothing 25 with which it engages in a correspondingly formed toothing 26 on the drive unit 3 in order to be able to transmit torques about the longitudinal axis 12, i.e. about the steering angle axis of rotation 6.

[0060] The drive unit 3 comprises a projection 27 which, for example as in the present case, extends at a distance from the longitudinal axis 12 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12 into the chamber 11. By using the projection 27, torques can be transmitted between the drive unit 3 and the shaft profile 11.

[0061] Consequently, the shaft 10 and the shaft profile 11 are connected in a rotationally fixed manner to one another in the assembled state of the outboard drive 1. Alternatively or additionally, shaft 10 and shaft profile 11 can also be connected directly in a rotationally fixed manner to one another.

[0062] The elastic connecting part 13 likewise optionally forms a seal of the chamber 11 against an ingress of water.

[0063] The outboard drive 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is designed to be changed between a normal mode and a spare rudder mode.

[0064] In the normal mode, the outboard drive 1 comprises the shaft profile 11 from FIGS. 1 to 4. In the spare rudder mode, the shaft profile 11 is replaced by another shaft profile 11.

[0065] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the outboard drive 1 according to FIG. 1, wherein, instead of the shaft profile 11, which represents a first shaft profile 11 with a first length in the direction of the transverse direction 14 oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis 12, a second shaft profile 11 with a second length 31 different from the first length in the transverse direction 14 has been installed here.

[0066] The shaft profile 11, more precisely the base body 15 thereof, comprises a spare rudder section 30 for providing a spare rudder for the boat 100 comprising the outboard drive 1.

[0067] The spare rudder section 30 comprises a length 31 in the transverse direction 14 which is greater by a predetermined value 32 than that of the shaft 11 from FIGS. 2 to 4, and is likewise greater here than a length 33 of a connecting section 28 of the drive unit 3 to the shaft profile 11, 11. Thus, by the shaft profile 11, when setting to an angle of rotation not equal to 0, a torque can be generated from the water flowing around the shaft profile, the height of which is sufficient to be able to steer the boat at least rudimentarily as a substitute.

[0068] In the present case, the spare rudder section 30 extends, when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12, over the entire base body 15, i.e. over the entire length thereof in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12.

[0069] Arranged between the lower end face of the base body 15 and the connecting section 28 is a reducing part 34 which compensates for the different lengths 31, 33. The reducing part 34 is designed to connect the shaft profile 11 and the drive unit 3, more precisely the connecting section 28, in a rotationally fixed manner to one another, so that torques can be transmitted about the longitudinal axis 12, which corresponds to the steering angle axis of rotation 6.

[0070] A reducing part 34 (not shown here), which can provide a transition from the upper end side of the shaft profile 11 to the elastic connecting part 13 (see FIG. 2), can also be arranged on the upper side of the shaft profile 11.

[0071] Alternatively, the spare rudder section 30 can extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12 only over a part of the base body 15.

[0072] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the outboard drive 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 7, wherein, instead of the shaft profiles 11, 11, a third shaft profile 11 has been installed here.

[0073] The shaft profile 11 comprises a multi-part base body 15 composed of two base body parts 41, 42. Each of the base body parts 41, 42 can be considered as a base body. The shaft profile 11 can thus be considered to comprise two base bodies (41, 42). The upper first base body part 41 has a length 35 in the transverse direction 14 analogously to the base body 15 of the shaft 11 from FIG. 2. The lower, second base body part 42 has the length 31 in the transverse direction 14 analogously to the shaft profile 11 from FIG. 7. The spare rudder section 30 is therefore formed on the second base body part 42.

[0074] It can be seen that the second base body part 42 is present below the waterline 110 in a correctly fastened state of the outboard drive 1 on the boat 100 (see FIG. 1). Accordingly, the spare rudder section 30 is formed only below the waterline 110. The spare rudder section 30 therefore extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12 only over a part of the shaft profile 11.

[0075] A reducing part 34 which connects the abovementioned parts in a rotationally fixed manner and/or seals against the ingress of water can be provided between the base body parts 41, 42. Furthermore, a reducing part 34 which provides a rotationally fixed connection and/or seals against the ingress of water can be provided between the drive unit 3 and the second base body part 42, and/or a further reducing part (not shown here) which optionally seals against the ingress of water can be provided on the upper end side of the first base body 41.

[0076] To the extent applicable, all individual features which are illustrated in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another and/or replaced without departing from the scope of the invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0077] 1 Outboard drive [0078] 3 Drive unit [0079] 4 Propeller axis [0080] 5 Propeller [0081] 6 Steering angle axis of rotation [0082] 7 Fastening unit [0083] 8 Steering device [0084] 9 Tiller [0085] 10 Shaft [0086] 11 Shaft profile [0087] 12 Longitudinal axis [0088] 13 Connecting part [0089] 14 Transverse direction [0090] Base body [0091] 16 Support rib [0092] 17 Chamber [0093] 18 Outer wall [0094] 19 Receiving space [0095] 20 Free end [0096] 21 Wall thickness [0097] 22 Inner side [0098] 25 Toothing [0099] 26 Toothing [0100] 27 Projection [0101] 28 Connecting section [0102] 30 Spare rudder section [0103] 31 Length of the spare rudder section [0104] 32 Value [0105] 33 Length of the connecting section [0106] 34 Reducing part [0107] 35 First length [0108] 41 First base body part [0109] 42 Second base body part [0110] 100 boat [0111] 101 Transom [0112] 110 Waterline