Reverse gear

Abstract

A reverse gear for watercrafts includes an input shaft that receives rotational power of a main engine. A forward/reverse switching mechanism includes a reduction function and switches the rotational power of the input shaft among forward, neutral, and reverse states. An output shaft outputs the rotational power of the forward/reverse switching mechanism and rotates at a rotational speed that differs from a rotational speed of the input shaft due to the reduction function of the forward/reverse switching mechanism. A reduction mechanism includes a fixed reduction ratio, and reduces the rotational power of the output shaft and transmits the reduced rotational power to a propeller shaft. A forward/reverse housing accommodates the forward/reverse switching mechanism. A reduction housing accommodates the reduction mechanism. The forward/reverse housing and the reduction housing are detachably coupled one behind the other in an axial direction of the output shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reverse gear for watercrafts comprising:
 an input shaft configured to receive rotational power of a main engine;   a forward/reverse switching mechanism comprising a reduction function and configured to switch the rotational power of the input shaft among forward, neutral, and reverse states;   an output shaft configured to output the rotational power of the forward/reverse switching mechanism and to rotate at a rotational speed that differs from a rotational speed of the input shaft due to the reduction function of the forward/reverse switching mechanism;   a reduction mechanism comprising a fixed reduction ratio and configured to reduce the rotational power of the output shaft and to transmit the reduced rotational power to a propeller shaft;   a forward/reverse housing accommodating the forward/reverse switching mechanism; and   a reduction housing accommodating the reduction mechanism, the forward/reverse housing and the reduction housing are detachably coupled one behind the other in an axial direction of the output shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The reverse gear for watercrafts according to  claim 1 , wherein the forward/reverse switching mechanism comprises at least one of an input gear group and an output gear group, the input gear group and the output gear group each comprises a plurality of gears engaged with one another, and the forward/reverse switching mechanism comprises a reduction ratio that is changed by replacing at least one of the input gear group and the output gear group. 
     
     
         3 . The reverse gear for watercrafts according to  claim 1 , wherein the forward/reverse switching mechanism comprises a forward clutch and a reverse clutch that differ in a clutch size from each other.