TRIM AND TILT APPARATUS
A trim and tilt system comprises a trim cylinder unit including a trim cylinder and a trim rod reciprocatingly received by the trim cylinder. The trim rod has a chamfer at distal end thereof. A trim receiver mounted on a swivel bracket has a curved, three-dimensional surface for applying a force to the trim rod. The curved, three-dimensional surface of the trim receiver and the distal end of trim rod are able to self-align so that the force applied to the trim rod is applied substantially along a longitudinal axis of the trim rod.
1 . A trim and tilt system for use with a propulsion unit mounted on a marine craft, the trim and tilt system comprising:
a stern bracket for mounting the trim and tilt system on the marine craft;
a swivel bracket for supporting the propulsion unit, the swivel bracket being pivotally connected to the stern bracket;
a tilt cylinder unit including a tilt cylinder and a tilt rod reciprocatingly received by the tilt cylinder, the tilt rod being connected to the swivel bracket;
a trim cylinder unit including a trim cylinder and a trim rod reciprocatingly received by the tilt cylinder, the trim cylinder unit being pivotably coupled to the tilt cylinder unit and the trim rod having a rounded distal end and at least one chamfer at a distal end thereof; and
a trim receiver mounted on the swivel bracket, the trim receiver having a curved three dimensional surface for receiving and applying a force on the trim rod, wherein the trim rod is able to substantially self-align with the trim receiver.
2 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the trim receiver is rotatably mounted on the swivel bracket.
3 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the trim receiver is pivotably mounted on the swivel bracket.
4 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the curved three dimensional surface is at least part of a hyperboloid surface.
5 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the curved three dimensional surface is at least part of a paraboloid surface.
6 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in claim 1 further including a rounded surface at a distal end of the trim rod.
7 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the rounded surface tapers towards the trim cylinder.
8 . The trim and tilt system as claimed in claim 1 including a pair of spaced apart chamfers.
9 . A trim and tilt system for use with a propulsion unit mounted on a marine craft, the trim and tilt system comprising:
a stern bracket for mounting the trim and tilt system on the marine craft;
a swivel bracket for supporting the propulsion unit, the swivel bracket being pivotally connected to the stern bracket;
a tilt cylinder unit including a tilt cylinder and a tilt rod reciprocatingly received by the tilt cylinder, the tilt rod being connected to the swivel bracket;
a trim cylinder unit including a trim cylinder and a trim rod reciprocatingly received by the tilt cylinder, the trim cylinder unit being pivotably coupled to the tilt cylinder unit and the trim rod having a distal end, the distal end of the trim rod having a rounded surface which tapers towards the trim cylinder and pair of spaced apart chamfers; and
a trim receiver rotatably mounted on the swivel bracket, the trim receiver having a curved three dimensional surface for receiving and applying a force on the trim rod, wherein the trim rod is able to substantially self-align with the trim receiver.