US1511867A - Marine propulsion apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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D. F. ASBURY MARINE PROPULSION APPARATUS 1920 2 Sheets-Sheei 1 Original File-f; Sept. 13

Unit. 14 192% LMLW D. F. ASBURY MARINE PRQPULSION APPARATUS 1 Original Filed Sept. 13. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented eta id, l.

IPFULSION PAFIATUE. 7

Application died aeptember 13, 19%, Serial Ito. aoaaza. Renewed August 16, law. denial Il a. Matti.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, DORSEY F. Asmmr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia,

have invented certain new and useful Tmimprovements in outboard or portable motors of the type embracing in a single small unit a complete propelling mechanism,-my purpose bein to overcome some of the more noteworth isadvantages encountered and manifeste motors of this character.

It is well known that present types of outboard motors subject the craft to which v they are attached to excessiye vibration ,which is not only extremely disagreeable-to the-crafts occupants, but is harmful to the craft itself, and it is one of the important objects of my invention to overcome this objectionable feature by providing a motor of such construction and manner of arranging and connecting it with a craft that vibration of the craft due to operation of the motor will be eliminated.

in accomplishing the foregoin l have been enabled to eliminate considera is of the noise and racket resulting from operation of prior types of outboard motors; to provide a clean, out of sight, light weight motor of eatest eficiency because its power is deivered direct to the propeller; to overcome the run around edect of outboard motors and provide for automatic straight steering;

and to minimize the number of essential parts and mechanisms, and provide a comact apparatus easily assembled and unlikey to get out of order.

The features of novelty whereby I am able to accomplish the foregoing are susceptible of embodiment in various mechanicalstructures and uses such as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but itis to be understood that the structures shown are merely intended to disclose the essential features of my invention in a preferred form and that the scope of my invention is as defined in the appended claims. a

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in hit the diflerent views- Fig. 11 is a central vertical section through in the use of present types of my improved propelling apparatus showing the same connected to a. craft;

Fig. 2, a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; i

Fig.3, a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4:, a detail perspective showing the manner of connecting the motor with the will be observed that my improved propul= sion apparatus consists of an exlosion motor including essentially a cyliner 10, piston 11, crank case 12, crank shaft 13 and connecting rod 14:. To facilitate the construction and assembly of this motor the same is preferably embodied in two main parts, that part including the cylinder, crank case proper, and other parts, and a second.

part adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to the first part and including the fuel mixing devices and the housing for the timer shaft, timer gears etc. The motor is preferably of the two cycle t pe in which the explosive mixture is force into the explosion chamber by being first comressed in'the base or crank case 2, and sai crank case includes fore and aft housings 15 and 16, respectively within which the crank shaft finds bearings, the housing 15 being plugged by a member 17 and a hearing or bloc 18 of lignum-vitee or other suitable material being interposed between the inner end of this. member and the adjacent end of the crank shaft to receive the end thrust im arted to said crank shaft in motors of t is type, wherein the propeller is secured directly to the crank shaft.

The rearwardly extending rtion of the crank shaft 13 projects throng spaced bearing sleeves 19 and 20 fixedm the housing 16, the latter sleeve rejecting slightly beyond the end of said ousing as shown, and between said bearing sleeves are arranged a pair of gland rings 21, and between each of these gland rings and the ad acent end. of the respective bearing sleeves is arranged king material 22. Each gland ring has formed thereon a plur'alityof spaced fingers 23 and the fing'ers of the respective rings are adapted to intermesh and enclose the crank shaft at the point where a cavity exists between the rings due to theirrelative spaced arrangement. These fingers serve to prevent a number of coil springs 24, arranged between the gland. rings. to maintainthem properly engaged with the packof a propeller 26, which is keyed to said reduced end of the shaft and is additionally secured thereonby nuts 27, one of which serves as a lock for the other, and between the inner propeller. securingnut and the propeller and between theinuts themselves are arranged felt or other similar gaskets orwashers 28 to prevent leakage around the reduced portion of the shaft. -It will thus be noticed that there is a running fit or contact between adjacent ends of the sleeve and the hubof the propeller and that this is the only point'where it is possible for water to gain access'to the'crank shaft, and then only, when the'engine is in operation, since means has been rovided which will be particularly describe hereinafter to prevent leakage at this point when the engine is idle.

My. motor is designed to lie water cooled and is adapted to operate when submerged, being therefore jacketless, and as it travels in water it is important that its bulk be reduced to a minimum in order to offer the least resistance to its progress. I have therefore designed a novel means of connecting thecrank shaft with the connecting rod 14 so that the crank case may be re- 7 duced to the smallest practicable size. This connecting means embodies a substantially U -shaped block 29, arranged to embrace the crank pin of-thecrank shaft 13, and provided at its connecting or bight portion with a bearing for the crank pin. Adapted to be inserted between the legs of the block 29 is a shoe 31. forming the second half of the bearing for the crank pin. The

- lower end of the conn'ecting rod 14 is eX- ternally threaded and the legs ofthe U- block are internally threaded, ,the threaded portion of. the rod being somewhat smaller in diameter than the threaded. portion. of the block, and the end of the connecting rod .is-adapted tobe' inserted between the i legs ofthe'block into c'ohtac'twith-the shoe 31 and a nut 32, having internal threads. engaged with the threaded portion of the in% operation.

rod, and external threads, for engagement with the threads of the legs of the U-block, is then rotated to engage said last mentionedthreads to secure all of said parts together and in place, where they are locked by a cotter pin 33 passing through the connectin rod and received in recesses in the nut. n order'to prevent rotation of the connecting-rod the shoe 31 has one or more recesses 34 cut in its upper face and the lower end of the rod has a gib or lugs 35 for engagement in these recesses, and whilo this is a preferred construction it 1s apparent that the. arrangement might be reversed by recessing the rod and providing lugs or gibs on the shoe, or the desired result might be accomplished in some other manner. To disconnect the rod from the block it is only necessary to remove the cotter and then rotate the nut to disengage the threads; between it and the legs of the block, whereupon the block, shoe, rod, and nut may be readily relatively separated and also removed from the crank pin.

The exhaust from the motor passes u ward through a passage 36 in a castin 3 formed either integral with or separate %r the cylinder 10, and thence downward through asecond passage 38 in said casting,

and finally out through the open end of said second passage, the casting 37 serving as a support for a fuel tank 39 which in turn acts as a support for the coil and batteries of the ignition ystem for the engine.

. Suitably arranged in the second main part of the engine is a fuel regulatin needle valve 40, to which fuel is sup lied i rom the tank 39 through a pipe 41, and also arranged in said second main part of the engine, adjacent to the valve 40, is an air valve 42 to which air is supplied through a hollow vertically arranged steering column 43, to the upper end of which is secured a hollow tiller 44, whereby air may enter said column. By this arrangement the operator of the apparatus may grasp the tiller in the usual manner to hold the motor steady when it is desired to start the same, and with the same hand may partially or fully close the air entrance end of the tiller to thereby choke the air supply to the motor and thus facilitate the startxtendin through the column 43 is a shaft 44 which carries a bevel gear 45 at its lower end arranged in meshing relation with a similar gear 46 formed on the crank portion of the crank shaft 13. The upper end of this shaft carries a contact making and breaking device 47, operating in conjunction with a timer 48 carried by an adjacent portion of the column or tiller, for producing at proper times a spark in the plug 49 in the head of the cylinder 10, the plug being encased by a water tight housing 50. and the upper end of the shaft 44 being additionally all) provided with means. whereby it may be utilized to impart rotation to the crank shaft through the gears and 46 for starting the en ine.

y y apparatus, .as described in the foregoing, is particularly adapted-for the propulsion of small craft, although susceptible of use for various other purposes, but when used for the former purpose is adapted to operate when submerged, being connected with and supported by the craft in a novel and peculiar manner whereby the objects set forth in the beginning of this specification are accomplished.

The manner of connecting the apparatus with the craft include means whereby the apparatus is yieldably supported for movement in all transverse directions, said means consisting of a bracket 51 of if-shaped cross section secured to the craft and carrying at its lower end a pair of oppositely disposed lateral ln s 52 which are spaced from the craft,'wh1le at its upper end it is provided with a socket 53 to receive a coiled vertically acting compression spring 54:. The engine has secured thereto or formed thereon a bifurcated member 55 including a pair of relatively s aced downwardly extending legs 56 adapte to straddle and cooperate with the lugs 52 to connect the apparatus with the craft, and the tiller 44. carries a downwardly extending lug 57 adapted to be received interiorly of the coil'spring 54: whereby the apparatus is yieldably supported when the motor is in operation the forward portion of the legs 56 contact with the bracket 51 on the craft, whereby the craft is pushed forward, and when the motor is reversed said legs engage the lugs 52 to exert a pull to move the creaft rearwardly. The legs 56 are so relativel disposed with respect to the longitudinal axi of the motor as to compensate the run around tendency of the propeller to thereby assure straight steering of the craft at all times except whenthe apparatus is swun by means of thetiller 44 upon the lug 5 as a pivot to eflect turning of the craft.

It is well known that the principal vibration of a motor of the type shown in the drawings is in the lane of rotation of its crank shaft, and while the yieldable connection between the craft and motor serves to relieve the craft of considerable of the motors vibration, the motor itself being prevented from vibrating to any appreciable extent by means of fore and aft vertical and horizontal fins or blades 58 and 59, respectively, secured to the motor in any preferred manner, and adapted to operate against the waters inertia to hold the motor, steady. Preferably, the motor and I these fins or blades have secured thereto bouyant material 60 of cork or the like whereby the craft is relieved of a portion of the weight (of'the apparatus, and this material is of streamline contour or shape in order that the apparatus of the blades or fins 58 and to this bracket is pivoted an intermediate portion of a lever 63, one end of which is formed into a yoke 64, connected to the flexible band 61, whereby movement of the lever will slide the band on the sleeve and hub, while the other end is provided with a handle or grip whereby it may-be manually operated. Formed on the exhaust casting 37 is a cylindrical extension 66 and fitting this extension is a plunger 67 connected .to the lever near its handle, as at 68. A small port or opening 69 is provided in the exhaust casting to permit a portion of the exhaust products to enter the cylindrical extension, and act against the plunger during operation of the engine adjacent portions of the sleeve 20 and the hub of the propeller whereby leakage at this point is prevented. It is thus apparent that when the engine is idle the sleeve is disposed in contact with a rotatable part of the apparatus, thus rendering the engine hard to start until the sleeve has been moved out of contact with such rotatable part, and

therefore, inasmuch as it is impracticable for the operator to manually hold the lever in position to dispose the sleeve out of contact with the propeller hub and at the same time perform other operations incident to starting, means consisting of a latch member 71 pivoted to the lever and engageable with the cylindrical extension has beenprovided to accomplish this purpose. Thus, just prior will to starting the engine the lever 65 is moved outward until the latch 71 engages with the cylindrical extension to hold the band out of contact with the propeller hub. The apparatus is then free to be operated and the engine is started, whereupon part of the exhaustv products entering chamber 66 escapes through a small opening 72 in the cylindrical extension and constantly acts againsta portion of the latch to hold the same out of enga ement with the cylindri cal extension' Vl/ hen the latch is released incident to starting the engine, however,

the lever 65 remains in an outwardly dis-' posed position due to the action of "the exhaust against plunger 67 but when the engine is stopped, and the pressure of the exhaust against the plunger diminishes and plunger 67 out against the action of the spring 70, it is sufiiciently strong to hold the latch raised until the lever has moved inward far enough to render itsdropping inefl'ective to prevent the levers complete plished by inward movement. On the other hand, it will be apparent that should the engine be started without the band having first'been moved from contact with the propeller hub, as previously stated, this will be accomplunger 6 as soon as the engine fires.

From the foregoing it will be noted that i when the motor is idle water cannot leak into the crank case, but that when the motor is running water may find its way to the crank shaft, and this will ordinarily be prevented from entering the crank case by packing 22, but to further guard againstsuch leakage I provide the crank-shaft with a small longitudinal opening 73 leading from the crank case. to the bearing block 18 and to the cavity between the gland rings 21 so that the gases to be exploded, which have a higher average pressure than the pressure of the water, may find their, way to the shaft bearings to exclude water from the crank case and also serve as a means of lubricating said shaft and its bearings as well as the v packing 22.

The lade a of the propeller. is constructed heavier than the blade 6 so as to balance the crank of the motor and further assure its smooth operation.

n is believed that the mess -advan-' tages flowing-from my improved propellin apparatus, as constructed in accordance wit the foregoing, will be readily appreciated and that ltSQPGIfltlOIl will be apparent without further detailed description. I desire 'to point out,1however, that the apparatus may be'removed from the craft by simply liftin it vertically and that it ma' be sups porte above the water by one o the. legs 52 being engaged with the socket 53, and further, that when lowering it into the water the-bracket 51 will act as a ide and'bearing to properly engage it wit the craft. a

I claim 5- and spaced laterally disposed, contact points the exhaust acting against the combination witha submerge between the craftand steering means movable selectively into and out of engagement withthe craft, said contact points being slidable with respect to the craft.

2. In marine propulsion apparatus, the

combination with a craft, of a submerged motor yieldably sup orted against said craft in directions at r1 t angles to the latter for pushing and pulling the same, and a pair of loose relatively spaced contacts between said craft and motor, both of said contacts being normally in engagement with the craft, during both pushin and pulling of the same and movable sing y and selectively into engagement with the craft 4. In marine propulsioni'a paratus, the combination with a craft an an internal combustion engine for propelling the same, said engine including means for mixing fuel with air, of a hollow tiller leading to said mixing means for supplying air thereto.

5. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft and a submerged internal combustion engine for propelhng the. same, said engine includin means for mixing fuel with air, of a ho! ow steerin column leading to said mixing means, an a hollow tiller-connected with and communicating withsaid hollow steerin whereby air is supplied to said means.

6. In marine propulsion agparatus, the

motor having fins to absorb its vibration, of bouyant material of stream-line shape carried by said fins and acting to relieve the sup ort for said motor of a portion of its weig t.

7. In apparatus of the character -described, a craft including steering means, spaced laterally disposed contact points hecolumn, mix ng tween the craft and steering means movable selectively into and out of engagement with the craft and meansfor propellin said craft, said propellin means acting w en in operation to hold said contact points in engagement with the craft.

8. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination witha craft, of a motor for propelling the, same, and a contact between the motor and a surface of the craft, said contact being yieldablein all directionsover said surface, whereby vibrations of the motor are revented from being transmitted to the era t. r

9. In a submerged motor having a shaft extending into the water surrounding the Inn motor, members on the shaft and motor respectively whose surfaces are substantially in alinement, and an elastic tube binding against adjacent portions of said members to prevent leakage therebetween.

10. In a submerged motor having a shaft extending into the water surroundingthe motor, a stationary member on the motor, a member on the shaft. rotatable therewith, and a device binding against adjacent portions of said members when the motor is idle to prevent leakage of water into the motor, and means for moving said device out of binding relation with one of said members.

11. In a submerged motor having a shaft extending into the water surrounding the motor, a stationary member on the motor, a member on the shaft rotatable therewith, and a device binding against adjacent portions of said members when the motor is idle to prevent leakage of water into the motor, and automatic means for moving said device out of binding relation with one of said members when the motor is in operation.

12. In a submerged motor having a shaft extending into the water surrounding the motor, a stationary member on the motor, a member on the shaft rotatable therewith, and a device binding against adjacent portions of said members when the motor is idle to prevent leakage of water into the motor, and means operated by the exhaust -from said motor for moving said device out of binding relation with one ofsaid members when the motor is in operation.

13. In a submerged motor having a shaft extending into the water surrounding the motor, a stationary member on the motor, a member on the shaft rotatable therewith, and a device binding against adjacent portions of said members when the motor is idle to prevent leakage of water into the motor, means operated by the exhaust from said motor for moving said device out of bind-' ing relation with one of said members when the motor is in operation, and automatic means tor moving said device into binding relation with adjacent portions of said members when the exhaust ceases.

14. In a submerged motor having a shaft.

extending into the water surrounding the motor, a stationary member on the motor, a member on the shaft rotatable therewith, a device movable into and out of binding relation with one of said members and into and out of binding relation with adjacent portions of both of said members, means for manually moving said device out of bindingrela tion with adjacent portions of said members, a spring constantly urging said device into binding relation with adjacent portions of said members, and a latch-member tor holdrelation with ers, said latch ing said device out ct ad acent portions of said mem being releasable by the exhaust from said engine to permit said spring to act.

15. Apparatus of the character described including a motor of the reciprocating piston type adapted to operate when submerged,

and blades rigidly connected to said motor and extending at an-angle to the direction of reciprocation of the piston and adapted to act against the water in which the motor may be submerged to counteract vibrations due and steering means including a spring yieldable in all directions for supporting the propelling and steering means upon the craft. 17. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft, of means for propelling the same, and a connection between the craft and propelling means including a spring yieldable in all directions for supporting the propelling means upon the craft.

18. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft, of means for steering the same, and a connection between the craft and said steering means including a spring yieldable in-al directions for supporting the steering means upon the craft.-

19. In apparatus of the character described, a craft including steering means, and spacedlaterally disposed contact points between the craft and steering means movable' selectively into and out of engagement with the craft.

20; In apparatus of the character described, a craft including steering means, spaced laterally disposed contact points between the cratt and steering means movable selectively into and out of engagement with the craft, and means 'for holding said contact points in engagement with the craft.

'21. In apparatus of the character described, a craft including steering means, a pair of oppositely disposed lugs on said craft, and a bifurcated member including legs engageable with said lugs to flexibly secure the steerin means to the craft, said legs being mova le selectively into and out of engagement with the craft when the steering means is turned relatively thereto.

22. In apparatus of the character described, a craft including steering means, a pair of oppositely'disposed lugs carried by ion andspaced from the craft, and a bifurcated member carried by the steering means and including laterally spaced legs having angularly extending extremities engageable with said lugs to flexibly secure the steering means tothe craft, said legs being movable selecpropelling the same and a contact between the motor and a surface of the craft, said contact being slidable in all directions over said surface, whereby vibrations of the motor are prevented from being transmitted to the craft.

24.111 marine propulsion apparatus, a

'reciprocating piston type having laterally disposed blades secured thereto adapted to act against the water in which the motor may be submerged to counteract vibrations due to the reciprocation of the piston.

26. The combination with a driving member, of a device forming a seal to prevent leakage of fluid around said member when the same is idle, and means whereby said seal is maintained broken when the member is in operation.

-27..The combination with a driving member, of a device forming a seal to prevent leakage of fluid around said member when the same is idle, means whereby said seal is maintained broken when the member is in operation, and other means acting to prevent leakage of fluid around said mem-' her when the same is in operation.

28. The combination with a rotatable member, of a device to prevent leakage of fluid therearound, said device being in contact with said member when the same is idle and being out of contact therewith when the same is running.

29. The combination with a rotatable member,-of a device to prevent leakage of fluid therearound, said device being in contact with said member when the same is idle and beingmoved out of contact therewith automatlcally when the same is running. I

30. In a propulsion apparatus, a fluid body, a shaft extending into said fluid body and carrying a propeller and a seal preventing the leakage of fluid around said shaft when the propeller is idle, said seal being automatically broken when the propeller is in operation. I 31. In a propulsion apparatus in-combination, a fluid body, a shaft extendin into i said fluid body and carrying a prope er, a

seal preventing the leakage of fluid around said shaft when the propeller is. idle, said so pr pel r is in operation, and other means to prevent leakage around said shaft when I the propeller is in operation. I

32. In a propulsion apparatus, a motor, a fluid body, a. shaft extendin from sa1d motor into sail fluid body an carrying a propeller, and a seal preventing the leakhing automatically broken when the age of fluid around said shaft when the motor is idle, said seal being automatically broken when the motor is in operation.

33. Marine propulsion apparatus including a submergible motor having a crank shaft and a crank case, a seal preventing the leakage of water around the shaft into the case when the motor is idle, and means whereby said seal is broken when the motor is started, and maintained broken while the motor is running.

34. In a propulsionapparatus, a motor, a fluid body, a shaft driven from said motor and extending into said fluid body, a seal preventing the leakage of water around said shaft when the motor is idle, and means whereby said seal is broken automatically by the ressure of the exhaust from the motor w en the latter is started and maintained broken during operation of the same.

35. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft, of pro elling means operatively connected to sai craft for yielding movement in all directions with respect thereto.

36. In marine propulsion apparatus, the combination with a craft, of means for propelling the same, and a connection between the craft and propelling means including a member yieldable in all directions for sup orting the propelling means upon the era t.

37. The combination with a craft, of an outboard motor, and means for operatively connecting the two whereby the motor may yield in all directions with respect to the craft.

38. In marine ro ulsion apparatus, a submerged motor aving a propeller shaft extending exteriorly thereo a spring, a member, means with which said member coacts under the influence of said spring to provide a seal preventing the leakage of fluid around said shaft into the motor when the latter is idle, and means acting automatically to break said seal when the motor is started. I

39. Marine propulsion apparatus including a submergible explosion motor having a crank shaft and a crank case, a seal preventin the leakage of water around the shaft into the crank case when the motor is idle, means whereby said seal is maintained broken when the motor is running,-

' DORSEY- FROST ASBURY.

Witnesses: I

J our: H. Srooms, Ftolmnon A. Bnmn.

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