Patent ID: 8465257

Claim:
A marine outboard engine, comprising: a cowling; an engine disposed in the cowling; a driveshaft disposed generally vertically, the driveshaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the driveshaft being operatively connected to the engine; a gear case disposed generally below the engine; a propeller shaft disposed at least in part in the gear case, the propeller shaft having a propeller shaft axis oriented generally perpendicularly to the driveshaft, the propeller shaft being operatively connected to the second end of the driveshaft; an actuator disposed within the gear case, the actuator having a cam, the actuator being movable relative to the gear case between a first position, a second position and a third position, the second position being between the first position and the third position; at least one recess formed in the cam, each of the at least one recess lying generally in a corresponding plane parallel to the propeller shaft axis, each of the at least one recess having a first segment, a second segment and a third segment, the second segment being between the first segment and the third segment, the first segment being oriented at a first angle relative to the propeller shaft axis; the second segment being oriented at a second angle relative to the propeller shaft axis, the second angle being greater than the first angle; and the third segment being oriented at a third angle relative to the propeller shaft axis, the third angle being smaller than the second angle; a propeller hub mounted to the propeller shaft; and at least one propeller blade pivotably mounted on the propeller hub, the at least one propeller blade being pivotable with respect to the propeller hub about a corresponding pivot axis, each pivot axis being oriented generally perpendicularly to the propeller shaft axis; at least one cam follower disposed on a corresponding one of the at least one propeller blade and being adapted to engage a corresponding one of the at least one recess, the at least one cam follower engaging the first segment of its corresponding one of the at least one recess when the actuator moves between the first and second positions to vary a pitch of the at least one propeller blade between a first pitch and a second pitch, and the at least one cam follower engaging the second segment of its corresponding one of the at least one recess when the actuator moves between the second and third positions to vary the pitch of the at least one propeller blade between the second pitch and a third pitch.