Replacement tower support for a bearing, race and drive shaft in a marine engine

Abstract

A housing for an outdrive is installed with a replaceable tower support for a ball bearing race through which the drive shaft rotates. When the bearing race becomes worn, rather than replacing the entire housing and installing a new bearing race, only the tower support and worn bearing race is removed and replaced, which represents a considerable cost saving.

1 . An assembly of a replaceable tower and a bearing race and circumferential bearings for supporting gear and shaft components for a marine engine outdrive contained in an outdrive housing, the tower comprising: 
 a hollow, cylindrically-shaped, tubular element defining upper and lower ends; a flange formed medially of the tower support, the flange defining base and rim portions; a circular shoulder support formed around the base portion of the flange; and, a channel cut-out circumferentially formed inside the upper end of the tubular element; the shoulder support being configured for supporting the bearing race, and the channel cut-out being configured for securement therein of the circumferential bearings; whereby: the bearing race is arranged and configured to support the gear drives and a centrally mounted shaft associated with the gear drives, and shaft components; the bearings are arranged and configured to support, center and rotatably secure therein the centrally mounted shaft; the flange being secured along its rim within a circular groove of the housing, and along its lower end within the housing; the tubular element being secured into the housing; and, the tower, bearings and bearing race being removable and replaceable when the bearings and bearing race become worn.    
     
     
         2 . An assembly of a replaceable tower and a bearing race and circumferential bearings for supporting gear drives and shaft components for a marine engine out-drive contained in an outdrive housing defining an upwardly disposed propeller drive cavity, the tower at its medial rim and lower end being secured within the housing along a respective medial circular recessed groove and lower shoulder or groove of the housing, securement of the tower within the housing including one of the following: press fitting, threading, and a pin and bolt connection; the tower comprising: a hollow, cylindrically-shaped, tubular element defining upper and lower ends; a flange formed medially of the tower support, the flange defining a rim portion; and, a channel cut-out circumferentially formed inside the upper end of the tubular element; the channel cut-out being configured for securement therein of the circumferential bearings; whereby: the bearing race is arranged and configured to support the gear drives and a centrally mounted shaft extending from the gear drives, and shaft components; the gear drives horizontally engaging a propeller drive shaft connected to a propeller, both being mounted within the propeller drive cavity; the bearings are arranged and configured to support, center and rotatably secure therein the centrally mounted shaft; the centrally mounted shaft is supported along a lower shoulder of the tubular element and by an idler shaft; the flange being secured along its medial rim within the medial recessed circular groove of the housing; the tower thereby being secured into the housing with reduced vibration of the gear drives and engine; the tower, bearings and bearing race being removable and replaceable when they become worn.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , in which the dimensions of the replaceable tower are: about 2.5-11 inches in overall height, and about 3-5 inches in overall diameter; the flange is about 1-5 inches wide and about 0.1-1 inches thick; and, the medial circular groove in the housing is about 0.1-1 inches in depth.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , in which a shoulder support is defined on the flange, and is up to about 2.5 inches wide.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 2 , in which a shoulder support is defined on the flange, and is about 0.05-0.07 inches wide.  
     
     
         6 . A method for supporting gear drives and shaft components contained in a housing of a marine outdrive engine, the housing defining an upwardly disposed propeller drive cavity, comprising: mounting a replaceable tower support within the housing, securement of the tower support within the housing including one of the following: press fitting, threading and a pin and bolt connection; the tower support defining a hollow, cylindrically shaped, tubular element defining upper and lower ends, a flange formed medially of the tower support, the flange defining a rim portion, and a channel cut-out circumferentially formed inside the upper end of the tubular element, the channel cut-out being configured for securement therein by circumferentially arranged bearings; 
 which comprises, supporting by the bearing race: gear drives, a centrally mounted shaft extending from the gear drives, and shaft components; horizontally engaging the gear drives with a propeller drive shaft, both being mounted within the propeller drive cavity; centering, securing and rotatably supporting the centrally mounted shaft with the bearings; supporting the centrally mounted shaft along a lower shoulder of the tubular element, and by an idler shaft; securing the flange along the rim within a medial circular recessed groove of the housing; the lower end of the tower support being secured within a lower circular shoulder or groove of the housing; thereby, securing the tower support into the housing with reduced vibration of the gear drives and engine; and, removing and replacing the tower support, bearings and bearing race when they become worn.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , in which the dimensions of the replaceable tower support are: about 2.5-11 inches in overall height, and about 3-5 inches in overall diameter; the flange is about 1-5 inches wide and, about 0.1-1 inches thick; and, the medial circular groove in the housing is about 0.1-1 inches in depth.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , in which a shoulder support is defined on the flange, and is up to about 2.5 inches wide.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , in which a shoulder support is defined on the flange and, is about 0.05-0.07 inches wide  
     
     
         10 . An assembly of an out-drive housing and an associated replaceable support tower, circumferential bearings and a bearing race, supported gear drives, and a centrally mounted shaft extending from the gear drives, the gear drives and drive shafts powering a marine engine outdrive being contained in the outdrive housing, the housing defining an upwardly disposed propeller drive cavity, the support tower at its medial rim and lower end being secured within the housing along a respective medial recessed groove and lower shoulder or groove of the housing, securement of the support tower within the housing including one of the following: press fitting, threading, and a pin and bolt connection, the support tower comprising: 
 a hollow, cylindrically-shaped, tubular element defining upper and lower ends, a flange formed medially of the support tower, the flange defining a rim portion, and a channel cut-out circumferentially formed inside the upper end of the tubular element, the channel cut-out being configured for securement therein of the circumferential bearings, whereby: the bearing race is arranged and constructed to support the gear drives, the centrally mounted shaft and the drive shafts; the gear drives horizontally engaging a propeller drive shaft connected to a propeller, both being mounted within the propeller drive cavity; the circumferential bearings are arranged and configured to support, center and rotatably secure therein the centrally mounted shaft; the centrally mounted shaft is supported along a lower shoulder of the tubular element, and by an idler shaft; the flange being secured along the rim within the recessed medial circular groove of the housing, and along its lower end along a circular shoulder or groove of the housing; the support tower thereby being secured into the housing with reduced vibration of the gear drives and engine; the support tower, bearings and bearing race being removable and replaceable when they become worn.    
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , in which the dimensions of the support tower are: about 2.5-11 inches in overall height and, about 3-5 inches in overall diameter; the flange is about 1-5 inches wide and, about 0.1-1 inches thick; and, the medial circular groove in the housing is about 0.1-1 inches in depth.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , in which a shoulder is defined on the flange, and is up to about 2.5 inches wide.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 10 , in which a shoulder is defined on the flange, and is about 0.05-0.07 inches wide.