Apparatuses for removably supporting a steerable marine drive on a marine vessel
Apparatuses are for removably supporting a marine drive on a marine vessel. The apparatuses have a transom bracket assembly having a swivel cylinder, a steering bracket assembly having a swivel tube disposed in and steerable relative to the swivel cylinder through a steering range, the steering range being delimited by opposing steering stops, wherein the transom bracket assembly comprises annular mouth configured so that as the swivel tube is inserted into the swivel cylinder, the steering bracket assembly operably engages the annular mouth and is thereby caused to rotate into alignment with the steering range.
1 . An apparatus for removably supporting a marine drive on a marine vessel, the apparatus comprising:
a transom bracket assembly having a swivel cylinder;
a steering bracket assembly having a swivel tube that is steerable relative to the swivel cylinder within a steering range, the steering range being delimited by operative engagement between an engagement member and opposing steering stops; and
a ramped surface configured so that as the swivel tube is inserted into the swivel cylinder the engagement member slides along the ramped surface, which rotates the steering bracket assembly relative to the transom bracket assembly until the engagement member is brought into alignment between the opposing steering stops.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the swivel tube defines a steering axis for the marine drive, wherein the steering range extends only part way about the steering axis.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ramped surface is one of a pair of diametrically opposed ramp surfaces configured for engagement by the engagement member during insertion of the swivel tube into the swivel cylinder.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the steering bracket assembly comprises a steering arm extending from the marine drive and wherein the swivel tube extends transversely from the steering arm.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the engagement member extends transversely from the steering arm and is spaced apart from the swivel tube.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ramped surface is on the transom bracket assembly.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein once the swivel tube is fully inserted into the swivel cylinder the engagement member is configured to engage the opposing steering stops during steering of the marine drive, which prevents steering of the marine drive beyond the steering range.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the opposing steering stops comprise end surfaces, wherein steering of the marine drive in a first direction brings the engagement member into abutment with a first one of the end surfaces, and wherein steering of the marine drive in an opposite, second direction brings the engagement member into abutment with a second one of the end surfaces.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement member comprises a bolt.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the transom bracket assembly comprises an annular mouth for receiving the swivel tube and wherein the diametrically opposed ramp surfaces are on the annular mouth.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the opposing steering stops constitute end surfaces on the diametrically opposed ramp surfaces, respectively, and wherein the steering range is defined between the end surfaces.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the diametrically opposed ramped surfaces merge together on a first side and taper away from each other towards an opposite, second side.
13 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to retain the swivel tube in the swivel cylinder.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking arm that is movable into a locked position in which the locking arm prevents removal of the swivel tube from the swivel cylinder, and an unlocked position in which the locking arm permits removal of the swivel tube from the swivel cylinder.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the locking arm has an inner end that operably engages the swivel tube and prevents removal of the swivel tube from the swivel cylinder, and further comprising a lock spring providing a spring force that biases the locking mechanism into the locked position.
16 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the swivel tube comprises a flange, and wherein the locking arm in the locked position overlaps the flange to prevent removal of the swivel tube from the swivel cylinder.
17 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the locking arm includes an inner end having a ramp surface that is engaged by the flange as the swivel tube is inserted into the swivel cylinder, wherein engagement of the ramp surface by the flange cams the locking arm out of the locked position.
18 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a return spring providing a spring force which biases the swivel tube outwardly relative to the swivel cylinder, wherein the spring force is sufficient to bias the swivel tube outwardly relative to the swivel cylinder, in particular such that moving the locking arm into the unlocked position permits the return spring to move the swivel tube outwardly relative to the swivel cylinder.
19 . An apparatus for removably supporting a marine drive on a marine vessel, the apparatus comprising:
a transom bracket assembly having a swivel cylinder and an annular mouth; and
a steering bracket assembly having a steering arm and a swivel tube that extends transversely from the steering arm and defines a steering axis for the marine drive, the swivel tube being insertable into and steerable relative to the swivel cylinder through a steering range delimited by opposing steering stops;
wherein the steering bracket assembly comprises an engagement member that extends transversely from the steering arm and is spaced apart from the swivel tube, the engagement member being configured to operably engage the annular mouth as the swivel tube is inserted into the swivel cylinder, which causes the steering bracket assembly to rotate about the steering axis into alignment with the steering range.
20 . An apparatus for removably supporting a marine drive on a marine vessel, the apparatus comprising:
a transom bracket assembly having a swivel cylinder;
a steering bracket assembly having a swivel tube disposed in and steerable relative to the swivel cylinder through a steering range delimited by opposing steering stops;
wherein the transom bracket assembly comprises an annular mouth configured so that as the swivel tube is inserted into the swivel cylinder, the steering bracket assembly operably engages the annular mouth and is caused to rotate into alignment with the steering range, the annular mouth including diametrically opposed ramp surfaces configured for engagement by an engagement member on the steering bracket assembly during insertion of the swivel tube into the swivel cylinder; and
a locking mechanism including a locking arm that extends through a body of the annular mouth and between the diametrically opposing ramped surfaces, the locking arm being movable into a locked position in which the locking arm prevents removal of the swivel tube from the swivel cylinder and an unlocked position in which the locking arm permits removal of the swivel tube from the swivel cylinder.