IP Library › Granted Patent US 12680602
Granted Patent B1
US 12680602 · App. 18/161,622 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Dampening system for a gearbox on an airboat engine

Inventor: David W. Simpson (Vero Beach, FL)
Assignee: Simpson Quality Designs, Inc.
F16H57/028B63H7/02B63H23/06F16D3/12F16D3/64F16F15/124F16H2057/02043
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680602
App. No.
18/161,622
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A gearbox dampening system configured to absorb axial movement of the crank of the airboat engine to reduce damage causing vibration and noise is disclosed. The gearbox dampening system enables a gearbox to be releasably coupled to outer support structures of an engine to support the gearbox and enables one or more gears of the gearbox to be in communication with a crank of an airboat engine via one or more dampeners. In at least one embodiment, the one or more dampeners significantly reduces stresses imparted on the gears of the gearbox via axial movement of the crank of the engine created when the engine is running. In particular, axial movement of the crank of the engine, which would usually create noise, chatter and engine damage, is absorbed by the dampeners positioned between the crank and the one or more gears in the gearbox supporting an airboat propeller.

Claims (37)

1 . A gearbox dampening system, comprising:

at least one drive plate;

at least one dampener releasably attachable to the at least one drive plate and configured to transmit rotary motion from an airboat engine to at least one gear in a gearbox without the at least one gear being in rigid contact with a crank of the airboat engine;

wherein the at least one dampener comprises at least one flex plate stud receiver configured to receive a flex plate stud extending from at least one support in connection with the crank of the airboat engine; and

wherein the at least one dampener is configured to allow unrestrained axial movement of the crank of the airboat engine thereby permitting the axial movement of the crank of the airboat engine without creating necessitating axial movement in the at least one gear in the gearbox.

2 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive plate further comprises gearbox attachment holes.

3 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive plate is a cylindrical plate with a plurality of dampener receiving holes.

4 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 3 , wherein the dampener receiving holes are equally spaced from each other and equally spaced from a center of the at least one drive plate.

5 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 3 , wherein the dampener receiving holes have equal diameters.

6 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one support in connection with the crank of the airboat engine is at least one flex plate in communication with the crank of the airboat engine.

7 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one flex plate includes at least one ring gear configured to be releasably engaged by a starter motor.

8 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one dampener comprises at least one sleeve defining the at least one flex plate stud receiver and at least one axial force absorber attached to the at least one sleeve.

9 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one axial force absorber is at least one flange.

10 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 9 , wherein a thickness of the flange in a direction aligned with a longitudinal axis of the at least one dampener is greater than a maximum possible distance of travel of the crank of the airboat engine axially along a longitudinal axis of the crank.

11 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one flange has an outer diameter larger than a diameter of a dampener receiving hole in the at least one drive plate.

12 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one flange is positioned at a distal end of the at least one sleeve.

13 . The gearbox dampening system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one sleeve is cylindrical and configured to be received within a cylindrical dampener receiving hole in the at least one drive plate such that the at least one sleeve is free to rotate within the dampener receiving hole enabling the at least one dampener to prevent buildup of stress within the at least one dampener.

14 . An airboat, comprising:

an airboat hull;

an airboat engine attached a motor stand attached to the airboat hull;

a gearbox dampening system coupled to the airboat engine, comprising:

at least one drive plate;

at least one dampener releasably attachable to the at least one drive plate and configured to transmit rotary motion from the airboat engine to at least one gear in a gearbox without the at least one gear being in rigid contact with a crank of the airboat engine;

wherein the at least one dampener comprises at least one flex plate stud receiver configured to receive a flex plate stud extending from at least one support in connection with the crank of the airboat engine; and

wherein the at least one dampener is configured to allow unrestrained axial movement of the crank of the airboat engine thereby permitting the axial movement of the crank of the airboat engine without creating necessitating axial movement in the at least one gear in the gearbox.

15 . The airboat of claim 14 , wherein the at least one dampener comprises at least one sleeve defining the at least one flex plate stud receiver and at least one axial force absorber attached to the at least one sleeve.

16 . The airboat of claim 15 , wherein the at least one axial force absorber is at least one flange and wherein a thickness of the flange in a direction aligned with a longitudinal axis of the at least one dampener is greater than a maximum possible distance of travel of the crank of the airboat engine axially along a longitudinal axis of the crank.

17 . The airboat of claim 16 , wherein the at least one flange has an outer diameter larger than a diameter of a dampener receiving hole in the at least one drive plate.

18 . An airboat engine, comprising:

the airboat engine is configured to be attached to a motor stand attachable to an airboat hull;

a gearbox dampening system coupled to the airboat engine, comprising:

at least one drive plate;

at least one dampener releasably attachable to the at least one drive plate and configured to transmit rotary motion from the airboat engine to at least one gear in a gearbox without the at least one gear being in rigid contact with a crank of the airboat engine;

wherein the at least one dampener comprises at least one flex plate stud receiver configured to receive a flex plate stud extending from at least one support in connection with the crank of the airboat engine;

wherein the at least one dampener is configured to allow unrestrained axial movement of the crank of the airboat engine thereby permitting the axial movement of the crank of the airboat engine without creating necessitating axial movement in the at least one gear in the gearbox.

19 . The airboat engine of claim 18 , wherein the at least one dampener comprises at least one sleeve defining the at least one flex plate stud receiver and at least one axial force absorber attached to the at least one sleeve.

20 . The airboat engine of claim 19 , wherein the at least one axial force absorber is at least one flange and wherein a thickness of the flange in a direction aligned with a longitudinal axis of the at least one dampener is greater than a maximum possible distance of travel of the crank of the airboat engine axially along a longitudinal axis of the crank, and wherein the at least one flange has an outer diameter larger than a diameter of a dampener receiving hole in the at least one drive plate.