Trim and tilt apparatus

Abstract

A trim and tilt system comprises a trim cylinder unit including a trim cylinder and a trim rod reciprocatingly received by the trim cylinder. The trim rod has a chamfer at distal end thereof. A trim receiver mounted on a swivel bracket has a curved, three-dimensional surface for applying a force to the trim rod. The curved, three-dimensional surface of the trim receiver and the distal end of trim rod are able to self-align so that the force applied to the trim rod is applied substantially along a longitudinal axis of the trim rod.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A trim and tilt system for use with a propulsion unit mounted on a marine craft, the trim and tilt system comprising:
 a stern bracket for mounting the trim and tilt system on the marine craft;   a swivel bracket for supporting the propulsion unit, the swivel bracket being pivotally connected to the stern bracket;   a tilt cylinder unit including a tilt cylinder and a tilt rod reciprocatingly received by the tilt cylinder, the tilt rod being connected to the swivel bracket;   a trim cylinder unit including a trim cylinder and a trim rod reciprocatingly received by the tilt cylinder, the trim cylinder unit being pivotably coupled to the tilt cylinder unit and the trim rod having a rounded distal end and at least one chamfer at a distal end thereof; and   a trim receiver mounted on the swivel bracket, the trim receiver having a curved three dimensional surface for receiving and applying a force on the trim rod, wherein the trim rod is able to substantially self-align with the trim receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the trim receiver is rotatably mounted on the swivel bracket. 
     
     
         3 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the trim receiver is pivotably mounted on the swivel bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the curved three dimensional surface is at least part of a hyperboloid surface. 
     
     
         5 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the curved three dimensional surface is at least part of a paraboloid surface. 
     
     
         6 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in  claim 1  further including a rounded surface at a distal end of the trim rod. 
     
     
         7 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the rounded surface tapers towards the trim cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in  claim 1  including a pair of spaced apart chamfers. 
     
     
         9 . A trim and tilt system for use with a propulsion unit mounted on a marine craft, the trim and tilt system comprising:
 a stern bracket for mounting the trim and tilt system on the marine craft;   a swivel bracket for supporting the propulsion unit, the swivel bracket being pivotally connected to the stern bracket;   a tilt cylinder unit including a tilt cylinder and a tilt rod reciprocatingly received by the tilt cylinder, the tilt rod being connected to the swivel bracket;   a trim cylinder unit including a trim cylinder and a trim rod reciprocatingly received by the tilt cylinder, the trim cylinder unit being pivotably coupled to the tilt cylinder unit and the trim rod having a distal end, the distal end of the trim rod having a rounded surface which tapers towards the trim cylinder and pair of spaced apart chamfers; and   a trim receiver rotatably mounted on the swivel bracket, the trim receiver having a curved three dimensional surface for receiving and applying a force on the trim rod, wherein the trim rod is able to substantially self-align with the trim receiver.