Outboard Marine Drive

Abstract

An outboard marine drive with an engine is described. The marine drive can include a drive housing with an upper drive housing and lower drive housing. The drive housing can be attached to a transom of a marine craft. An upper gear drive assembly can be located in the upper drive housing. A transmission can be provided with the upper gear drive assembly in the upper drive housing. In addition, a lower gear drive assembly can be located in the lower drive housing and coupled to the upper gear drive assembly. A propeller shaft may also be coupled to the lower gear drive assembly.

1 . An outboard transom mounted marine drive with an engine, comprising:
 a drive housing having an upper drive housing and lower drive housing, the drive housing configured to be attached to a transom of a marine craft;   an upper gear drive assembly located in the upper drive housing;   a transmission with the upper gear drive assembly in the upper drive housing;   a lower gear drive assembly located in the lower drive housing and coupled to the upper gear drive assembly; and   a propeller shaft coupled to the lower gear drive assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , wherein the transmission has multiple speeds. 
     
     
         3 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , wherein the transmission receives power from the engine and transmits power to the lower gear drive assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , wherein the transmission includes a gear ratio selection for forward or reverse motion of the marine craft. 
     
     
         5 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , further comprising multiple forward gears in the transmission. 
     
     
         6 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , further comprising multiple reverse gears in the transmission. 
     
     
         7 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , wherein the transmission is a cone clutch. 
     
     
         8 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 7 , wherein the cone clutch provides forward, neutral and reverse motion of the marine craft. 
     
     
         9 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , further comprising a propeller attached to the propeller shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , further comprising a steering handle attached to the drive housing to steer the outboard marine motor. 
     
     
         11 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , further comprising a throttle control to control the speed of the outboard marine motor. 
     
     
         12 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , further comprising a rudder fin on the lower drive housing of the outboard marine motor. 
     
     
         13 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , further comprising a cavitation plate fin on the lower drive housing of the outboard marine motor. 
     
     
         14 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , wherein the lower drive housing partially extends below the bottom of the marine craft. 
     
     
         15 . The outboard marine motor as in  claim 1 , further comprising a flex coupler configured to transfer power between the engine and the transmission. 
     
     
         16 . An outboard marine motor with an engine, comprising:
 a drive housing with an upper drive housing and lower drive housing, the drive housing configured to be attached to a transom of a marine craft;   a upper gear drive assembly located in the upper drive housing;   a transmission with the upper gear drive assembly in the upper drive housing;   a lower gear drive assembly located in the lower drive housing and coupled to the upper gear drive assembly;   a power transfer gearing in the lower gear drive assembly with a first gear having a first gear size and the lower drive assembly that has a second gear having a second gear size similar to the first gear size; and   a propeller shaft coupled to the lower gear drive assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The outboard marine motor of  claim 16 , further comprising a lower drive housing that has a reduced size due to a near 1-to-1 gearing ratio of the power transfer gearing. 
     
     
         18 . The outboard marine motor of  claim 16 , wherein the gearing ratio between the upper gear drive assembly and the lower drive assembly is near 1.20. 
     
     
         19 . An outboard marine motor with an engine, comprising:
 a drive housing with an upper drive housing and lower drive housing, the drive housing configured to be attached to a transom of a marine craft;   a upper gear drive assembly located in the upper drive housing;   a gear reduction with the upper gear drive assembly in the upper drive housing;   a lower gear drive assembly located in the lower drive housing and coupled to the upper gear drive assembly;   a propeller shaft with an extended length greater than 12 inches that is coupled to the lower gear drive assembly; and   a propeller attached to the propeller shaft.