US-12623763-B1 - Gearcase assemblies for marine drives having combination filling/draining devices

Abstract

A gearcase assembly for a marine drive has a torpedo housing having a cavity for containing lubricant, a passage configured for filling and draining of the lubricant to and from the cavity, a first bore and a second bore which connect the passage to opposite sides of the cavity, respectively, and a combination filling/draining device having a filling configuration in which inflow of the lubricant to the cavity via the first bore is restricted, a draining configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the first bore is comparatively less restricted, and a closed configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the passage is prevented.

Inventors

• Brad J. VanRuiswyk
• Steven D. Draves

Assignees

• BRUNSWICK CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20230613

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A gearcase assembly for a marine drive, the gearcase assembly comprising: a gearcase housing having a cavity for containing lubricant; a passage providing an inlet to the cavity from outside the marine drive, the passage configured for filling and draining of the lubricant to and from the marine drive; and a combination filling/draining device having alternate configurations including a filling configuration in which inflow of the lubricant to the cavity via the inlet is restricted, a draining configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the inlet is comparatively less restricted, and a closed configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the inlet is prevented.
2. 2 . A gearcase assembly for a marine drive, the gearcase assembly comprising: a gearcase housing having a cavity for containing lubricant; a passage configured for filling and draining of the lubricant to and from the cavity via an inlet; a first bore and a second bore which each connect the passage to the cavity; and a combination filling/draining device having a filling configuration in which inflow of the lubricant to the cavity via the first bore is restricted, and a draining configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the first bore is comparatively less restricted, wherein the combination filling/draining device prevents inflow of the lubricant to the cavity via the first bore and wherein the combination filling/draining device permits outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the first bore.
3. 3 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the second bore is located further from the inlet than the first bore.
4. 4 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the first bore and the second bore are located on opposite sides of the cavity, respectively.
5. 5 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the combination filling/draining device further has a closed configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the passage is prevented.
6. 6 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the combination filling/draining device comprises a fitting.
7. 7 . A gearcase assembly for a marine drive, the gearcase assembly comprising: a gearcase housing having a cavity for containing lubricant; a passage configured for filling and draining of the lubricant to and from the cavity; a first bore and a second bore which each connect the passage to the cavity; and a combination filling/draining device having a filling configuration in which inflow of the lubricant to the cavity via the first bore is restricted, and a draining configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the first bore is comparatively less restricted, wherein the combination filling/draining device includes a fitting disposed in the passage in the filling configuration and wherein the fitting is removed from the passage in the draining configuration.
8. 8 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the fitting comprises a stem which blocks the first bore in the filling configuration.
9. 9 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the stem has a through-bore which facilitates filling of the lubricant, and wherein the fitting further comprises a plug which is coupled to the stem to close the through-bore when the combination filling/draining device is in a closed configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the passage is prevented.
10. 10 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the plug comprises a fastener which is fastened to the stem in the closed configuration.
11. 11 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a vent plug configured to vent the cavity.
12. 12 . A gearcase assembly for a marine drive, the gearcase assembly comprising: a gearcase housing having a cavity for containing lubricant; a passage configured for filling and draining of the lubricant to and from the cavity; a first bore and a second bore which connect the passage to opposite sides of the cavity; respectively; and a combination filling/draining device comprising: a filling configuration in which inflow of the lubricant to the cavity via the first bore is restricted, a draining configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the first bore is comparatively less restricted, and a closed configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the passage is prevented.
13. 13 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the combination filling/draining device prevents inflow of the lubricant to the cavity via the first bore and wherein the combination filling/draining device permits outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the first bore.
14. 14 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the passage has an inlet and wherein the second bore is located further from the inlet than the first bore.
15. 15 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the first bore and the second bore are located on opposite sides of the cavity, respectively.
16. 16 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the combination filling/draining device further has a closed configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the passage is prevented.
17. 17 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the combination filling/draining device comprises a fitting.
18. 18 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the fitting is disposed in the passage in the filling configuration and wherein the fitting is removed from the passage in the draining configuration.
19. 19 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the fitting comprises a stem which blocks the first bore in the filling configuration.
20. 20 . The gearcase assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the stem has a through-bore which facilitates filling of the lubricant, and wherein the fitting further comprises a plug which is coupled to the stem to close the through-bore when the combination filling/draining device is in a closed configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the passage is prevented.

Description

FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to marine drives and more specifically to gearcases and propulsors for marine drives. BACKGROUND The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference in entirety. U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,704 discloses a shock absorbing drive sleeve which mounts a marine drive propeller to a propeller shaft. U.S. Pat. No. 8,267,732 discloses a marine drive having a lower gearcase with a vertical drive shaft driving a horizontal propeller shaft in a torpedo housing having a vent plug setting the level of lubricant in the lower gearcase to be substantially at the top of the torpedo housing. U.S. Pat. No. 10,752,328 discloses a gear mounting assembly for causing rotation of a propeller on a marine drive. SUMMARY This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. The present disclosure further provides a gearcase assembly for a marine drive, the gearcase assembly having a torpedo housing having a cavity for containing lubricant, a passage configured for filling and draining of the lubricant to and from the cavity, a first bore and a second bore which each connect the passage to the cavity, and a combination filling/draining device having a filling configuration in which inflow of the lubricant to the cavity via the first bore is restricted, and a draining configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the first bore is comparatively less restricted. In non-limiting embodiments, the combination filling/draining device prevents inflow of the lubricant to the cavity via the first bore and the combination filling/draining device permits outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the first bore. In non-limiting embodiments, the passage has an inlet and the second bore is located further from the inlet than the first bore. In non-limiting embodiments, the first bore and the second bore are located on opposite sides of the cavity, respectively. In non-limiting embodiments, the combination filling/draining device further has a closed configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the passage is prevented. In non-limiting embodiments, the combination filling/draining device comprises a fitting. The fitting may be disposed in the passage in the filling configuration and wherein the fitting is removed from the passage in the draining configuration. The fitting may comprise a stem which blocks the first bore in the filling configuration. The stem may have a through-bore which facilitates filling of the lubricant, and the fitting may further comprise a plug which is coupled to the stem to close the through-bore when the combination filling/draining device is in a closed configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the passage is prevented. The plug may comprise a fastener which is fastened to the stem in the closed configuration. A vent plug may be configured to vent the cavity, The present disclosure provides a gearcase assembly for a marine drive, the gearcase assembly having a torpedo housing having a cavity for containing lubricant, a passage configured for filling and draining of the lubricant to and from the cavity, a first bore and a second bore which connect the passage to opposite sides of the cavity, respectively, and a combination filling/draining device comprising: a filling configuration in which inflow of the lubricant to the cavity via the first bore is restricted,a draining configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the first bore is comparatively less restricted, anda closed configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the passage is prevented. In non-limiting embodiments, the combination filling/draining device prevents inflow of the lubricant to the cavity via the first bore and wherein the combination filling/draining device permits outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the first bore. The passage may have an inlet and wherein the second bore is located further from the inlet than the first bore. The first bore and the second bore are located on opposite sides of the cavity, respectively. The combination filling/draining device further has a closed configuration in which outflow of the lubricant from the cavity via the passage is prevented. The combination filling/draining device may comprise a fitting. The fitting being disposed in the passage in the filling configuration and wherein the fitting is removed from the passage in the draining configuration. The fitting may comprise a stem which blocks the first bore in the filling configuration. The stem may have a through-bore which facilitates filling of the lubricant, and wherein the fitting further comprises a plug which is coupled to the