Patent ID: 9133910
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: B63H,F16D,F16H

Abstract:
1. A marine propulsion system comprising: an input drive shaft rotated by and receiving torque from an engine; an output shaft; a first driving gear fixed on the input shaft for common rotation with the input drive shaft; a counter rotating shaft arranged parallel to the input and output shafts; a driven gear fixed on the counter rotating shaft for common rotation with the counter rotating shaft, the driven gear on the counter rotating shaft being in constant mesh with the first driving gear on the input drive shaft so that the counter rotating shaft counter-rotates with the input drive shaft; a high speed gear mounted coaxially with and free to rotate about the counter rotating shaft; a low speed gear on the counter rotating shaft; a driven high speed gear fixed on the output shaft for common rotation with the output shaft, the driven high speed gear being in constant mesh with the high speed gear on the counter rotating shaft; a driven low speed gear on the output shaft being in constant mesh with the low speed gear on the counter rotating shaft; a high speed synchronizing clutch mechanism that engages the high speed gear on the counter rotating shaft to rotate at the same speed as the counter rotating shaft, said synchronizing clutch mechanism comprising a synchronizer hub that rotates in unison with the counter rotating shaft, a sliding sleeve mounted on the synchronizer hub and slidable to engage teeth on the body of the high speed gear in order to rotate the high speed gear in unison with the counter rotating shaft, at least one conical friction interface between the synchronizer hub and a body of the high speed gear, and at least one conical friction interface between the body of the high speed gear and the first driven gear on the counter rotating shaft; a shift actuator to shift the sliding sleeve into a high speed position and cause said friction surfaces to develop torque carrying capacity substantially equal to the engine torque prior to the shifting the sliding sleeve to engage the teeth on the body of the high speed gear; and a one-way clutch mechanism that enables the output shaft to rotate faster than the driven low speed gear on the output shaft and at the angular speed of the driven high speed gear on the output shaft.