An Outboard Mounting Assembly and A Transom Arrangement Comprising Said Outboard Mounting Assembly

Abstract

A transom arrangement comprising an outboard engine arrangement provided with an electric motor having an output shaft for outboard propulsion, and comprising an outboard mounting assembly for mounting the outboard engine arrangement to a transom of a boat. The outboard mounting assembly comprises a mounting bracket having at least one upper arm comprising an upper mounting point connected to a rearward side of the outboard engine arrangement behind a center of gravity of the outboard engine arrangement, and at least one lower arm comprising a lower mounting point connected to a forward side of the outboard engine arrangement in front of the center of gravity. A steering stability line defined by a line through the upper mounting point and the lower mounting point may be slanted rearwards. A center of pressure may be situated rearward of the steering stability line and may be situated horizontally between the mounting points.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outboard mounting assembly for mounting an outboard engine arrangement to a transom of a boat, the outboard mounting assembly being configured to cooperate with an outboard engine arrangement provided with an electric motor having an output shaft for output propulsion, the outboard mounting assembly comprising:
 a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket comprising:
 at least one upper arm comprising an upper mounting point, which, in use, is connected to a rearward side of the outboard engine arrangement behind a center of gravity of the outboard engine arrangement; and 
 at least one lower arm comprising a lower mounting point, which, in use, is connected to a forward side of the outboard engine arrangement in front of the center of gravity. 
   
     
     
         2 . A transom arrangement comprising the outboard mounting assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outboard engine arrangement further comprises an adapter plate for supporting the electric motor, and wherein the upper mounting point is connected to the adapter plate. 
     
     
         4 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outboard engine arrangement further comprises a drive shaft coupled to the output shaft of the electric motor and a shaft housing for accommodating the drive shaft, wherein the lower mounting point, in use, is connected to the shaft housing. 
     
     
         5 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outboard mounting assembly comprises an upper motor mount connecting the at least one upper arm at its upper mounting point to the outboard engine arrangement, wherein the upper motor mount has a pressure surface which, in use, contacts the upper mounting point of the at least one upper arm and is substantially vertical and parallel to a propulsion direction of the outboard engine arrangement. 
     
     
         6 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the upper motor mount comprises an elastic buffer, between the outboard engine arrangement and the upper mounting point of the at least one upper arm, wherein the buffer is configured to dampen vibrations in a direction parallel to the pressure surface. 
     
     
         7 . The outboard mounting assembly according  claim 1 , wherein the outboard mounting assembly comprises a lower motor mount connecting the at least one lower arm at its lower mounting point to the outboard engine arrangement, wherein the lower motor mount has a pressure surface which, in use, contacts the lower mounting point of the at least one lower arm and is substantially perpendicular to a propulsion direction of the outboard engine arrangement, the pressure surface enhancing steering stability the outboard engine arrangement is mounted on a boat and operated. 
     
     
         8 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outboard mounting assembly further comprises a steering shaft housing and a steering shaft rotatable within the steering shaft housing and around a steering axis, wherein the mounting bracket is connected to the steering shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the outboard mounting assembly further comprises a tilt/trim unit comprising a tilt/trim shaft and a tilt/trim sleeve connected to the mounting bracket and being rotatable around the tilt/trim shaft and a tilt/trim axis, wherein the tilt/trim unit is configured to keep the outboard engine arrangement at a constant angle with the horizontal while boating, e.g. in an upright position. 
     
     
         10 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein, in operation, the tilt/trim sleeve is placed at a lower level than the upper mounting point of the at least one upper arm, and wherein the difference between a height of the tilt/trim shaft and a height of the upper mounting point of the at least one upper arm is less than 100 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the difference between the height of the tilt/trim shaft and the height of the upper mounting point of the at least one upper arm is less than 70 mm 
     
     
         12 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the difference between the height of the tilt/trim shaft and the height of the upper mounting point of the at least one upper arm is less than less than 50 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the tilt/trim shaft is fixedly connected to a first end of the steering shaft, wherein the tilt/trim unit further comprises at least one tilt/trim cylinder connecting a second end of the steering shaft to the outboard engine arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a steering stability line defined by a line through the upper mounting point and the lower mounting point is slanted rearwards, and wherein a center of pressure of the outboard engine arrangement is situated rearward of the steering stability line. 
     
     
         15 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein, in use, a distance in a horizontal plane between the steering stability line and the center of pressure is between 100 and 500 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one upper arm comprises a first upper arm and a second upper arm, wherein the first and the second upper arms extend around the outboard engine arrangement on opposite sides. 
     
     
         17 . The outboard mounting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lower arm comprises a first lower arm and a second lower arm, wherein the first and the second lower arms are arranged on opposite sides of the outboard engine arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . A transom arrangement, the transom arrangement comprising an outboard mounting assembly for mounting an outboard engine arrangement to a transom of a boat, the outboard mounting assembly being configured to cooperate with an outboard engine arrangement provided with an electric motor having an output shaft for output propulsion, the outboard mounting assembly comprising:
 a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket comprising:
 at least one upper arm comprising an upper mounting point, which, in use, is connected to a rearward side of the outboard engine arrangement behind a center of gravity of the outboard engine arrangement; and 
 at least one lower arm comprising a lower mounting point, which, in use, is connected to a forward side of the outboard engine arrangement in front of the center of gravity.