Abstract:
An electrolytic protection system for stern drive marine motors having a cavitation plae, said system comprising an adaptors fixedly secured to said cavitation plate, and an anode mateable with said adopter.

Description:
RELATED CASES 
     This invention is described in my copending provisional application Ser. No. 61/964,222 filed Dec. 30, 2013 and now abandoned. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to marine products and is particularly directed to an electrolytic protection system for stern drive marine motors having a cavitation plate 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is well known to provide sacrificial anodes on marine products. On stern drive motors, it is customary to mount sacrificial anodes on the cavitation plate. However, the location of the cavitation plate provides little room to maneuver while installing or replacing anodes. Moreover, prior art methods of mounting anodes on the cavitation plate require that the attaching bolts be completely removed when replacing the anode. Due to the lack of space and the fact that the process of anode replacement takes place under water, and often in reduced visibility, it is easy for the attaching bolts to become misplaced or lost. Also, the procedure is difficult and time-consuming. Thus, the prior art methods and apparatus for anode replacement are unsatisfactory. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION 
     These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present invention and improved methods and apparatus are provided for installing and replacing sacrificial anodes on the cavitation plates of stern drive motors which allow quick and easy installation and replacement of sacrificial anodes without complete replacement of the attaching bolts. 
     These advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing an electrolytic protection system for stern drive marine motors having a cavitation plate, said system comprising an adapter fixedly secured to said cavitation plate, and an anode mateable with said adapter. 
     Accordingly, it is a object of the present invention to provide improved sacrificial anodes. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide improved methods for installing and replacing sacrificial anodes on the cavitation plate of stern drive motors. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus for installing and replacing sacrificial anodes on the cavitation plates of stern drive motors which allow quick and easy installation and replacement of sacrificial anodes. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus for installing and replacing sacrificial anodes on the cavitation plates of stern drive motors which allow quick and easy installation and replacement of sacrificial anodes without complete replacement of the attaching bolts. 
     A specific object of the present invention is to provide an electrolytic protection system for stern drive marine motors having a cavitation plate, said system comprising an adapter fixedly secured to said cavitation plate, and an anode mateable with said adapter. 
     There and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial side view showing a prior art anode mounted on the cavitation plate of a stern drive motor; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the cavitation plate and anode of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the adaptor of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the anode of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a front end view of the anode of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a stern drive motor indicated generally at  10 , having a cavitation plate  12  with a sacrificial anode  14  of the prior art secured to the cavitation plate  12  by two bolts  16 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the prior art anode  14  is formed with two openings  18  and the bolts  16  pass through openings  18  in the anode and engage threaded openings  20  in the cavitation plate  12 . 
     It will be clear from  FIG. 1 , that the area around the cavitation plate  12  is quite crowded. Consequently, it is quite difficult to manipulate tools and equipment to install and replace the anode  14 . This is especially true since the operation is usually performed under water and often in reduced visibility. To replace the anode  14 , it is necessary to completely remove the bolts  16 , to remove the old anode  14  and replace it with a new anode  14 , then to reinsert and tighten the bolts  16 . Working under these difficult conditions, it is easy to drop and lose one or more of the bolts  16 . 
     To overcome these problems, the present invention employs an adaptor  22 , as seen in  FIG. 3 , the adaptor  22  comprises a base  24  having a pair of spaced openings  26 , to allow passage therethrough of the bolts  16 , with a threaded shaft  28  mounted between the openings  26  and a nut  30  threadedly mounted on the shaft  28 . The adaptor  22  is fixedly mounted on the cavitation plate  12 , with the shaft  28  projecting upwardly, by passing bolts  16  through the openings  26  of the adaptor  22  and securing the bolts  16  in the threaded openings  20  of the cavitation plate  12 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the anode  32  of the present invention has a body  34  formed of sacrificial material, such as zinc, with a plate  36  formed of non-sacrificial material embedded in the upper surface  38  of the body  34  of the anode  32 . The anode  32  is generally E-shaped having a recess  40  underlining the plate  36  in the center prong  42  of the anode  32 . The recess  40  of the node body  34  is formed to slideably receive the base of said adapter. Also, plate  36  is formed with a slot  44  which opens to the rear end of plate  36  and is mateable with the shaft  28  of the adaptor  22 . To install or replace the anode  32 , the adaptor  22  is mounted on the cavitation plate  12 , as described above. Thereafter, the slot  44  of plate  36  is mated with shaft  28  of the adaptor  22  with the plate  36  of anode  32  located below the nut  30 . Finally, the nut  30  is tightened on the shaft  28  to clamp the plate  36 , and hence the anode  32  to the cavitation plate  12 . To replace the anode  32 , the nut  30  is loosened sufficiently to allow plate  36  to be moved out of engagement with shaft  28  to allow the old anode  32  to be removed and replaced. Thereafter, nut  30  is tightened to clamp the new anode  32  in place. Since this operation does not require removal of the nut  30 , it is not necessary to remove the wrench from the nut. Thus, the operation can be performed quickly and safely with no risk of losing the nut  30 . Preferably, the base  24  of the adaptor  32  and plate  36  of anode  32  are formed of aluminum, while threaded shaft  28  and nut  30  are formed of stainless steel. 
     Obviously numerous variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the embodiments of the present invention described above and shown in the accompanying drawing are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.