초록 ▼

A bearing body for rotatably supporting a drive shaft for driving an impeller on a watercraft body includes a bearing chamber containing bearing members rotatably supporting the drive shaft. Seal members are disposed on both sides of the bearing members and partition the bearing chamber by making co

A bearing body for rotatably supporting a drive shaft for driving an impeller on a watercraft body includes a bearing chamber containing bearing members rotatably supporting the drive shaft. Seal members are disposed on both sides of the bearing members and partition the bearing chamber by making contact with an outside circumferential surface of the drive shaft. The seal members are disposed so that grease in the bearing chamber does not leak out through the contact portions between the seal members and the outside circumferential surface of the drive shaft, and a breather passage is communicated with the bearing chamber. Two bearing members within the bearing chamber have a space formed between the bearing members, e.g., to form a grease reservoir between the bearing members. The aforementioned bearing structure reduces the necessity of maintenance, e.g., supplying grease to a drive shaft bearing portion, or at least the reduces the required frequency of maintenance.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A drive shaft bearing structure for a watercraft having a drive shaft, an impeller and a watercraft body, said drive shaft bearing structure comprising:a bearing body rotatably supporting the drive shaft for driving the impeller on the watercraft body, said bearing body including a bearing member

1. A drive shaft bearing structure for a watercraft having a drive shaft, an impeller and a watercraft body, said drive shaft bearing structure comprising:a bearing body rotatably supporting the drive shaft for driving the impeller on the watercraft body, said bearing body including a bearing member rotatably supporting said drive shaft, a bearing chamber containing said bearing member, and a plurality of seal members disposed on a forward side and an after side of said bearing member, said seal members partitioning said bearing chamber and making contact with an outside circumferential surface of said drive shaft; and a breather passage, said breather passage being in communication with said bearing chamber and ambient air to allow for expansion of air and lubricant and having a first end portion and a second end portion. 2. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 1, wherein the second end portion of said breather passage opens into an interior of said watercraft body along an upper side of said bearing chamber.3. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 2, further comprising an opening port for an intake duct said second end portion of said breather passage being disposed along the opening port of the duct for communication between the interior of the watercraft and ambient air.4. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said breather passage is formed of a contractible, elastic member.5. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 1, wherein said breather passage includes a breather hose detachably fitted to said bearing body.6. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said bearing members are disposed within said bearing chamber, and a grease reservoir is formed between at least a pair of said bearing members separated by a predetermined spacing.7. A drive shaft bearing structure for a watercraft having a drive shaft, an impeller, and a watercraft body, said drive shaft bearing structure comprising:a bearing body rotatably supporting the drive shaft for driving the impeller on the watercraft body, said bearing body including a bearing member rotatably supporting said drive shaft, said bearing member having a first side and a second side, a bearing chamber containing said bearing member, and a plurality of seal members disposed on the first side and the second side of said bearing member, said seal members each having at least one contact portion, said seal members partitioning said bearing chamber and engaging an outside circumferential surface of said drive shaft with said at least one contact portions; a grease chamber, wherein said seal members prevent grease within said grease chamber from leaking from said grease chamber between said contact portions of said seal members and said outside circumferential surface of said drive shaft; and a breather passage, said breather passage being in communication with said bearing chamber and ambient air to allow for expansion of air and grease and having a first end portion and a second end portion. 8. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 7, wherein the second end portion of said breather passage opens into an interior of said watercraft body along an upper side of said bearing chamber.9. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 8, further comprising an opening port for an intake duct said second end portion of said breather passage being disposed along the opening port of the duct for communication between the interior of the watercraft and ambient air.10. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said breather passage is formed of a contractible, elastic member.11. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said breather passage is formed of a contractible, elastic member.12. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 7, wherein said breather passage includes a breather hose detachably fitted to said bearing body.13. A watercraft drive shaft bearing structure comprising:a drive shaft; an impeller operatively driven by said drive shaft; a rubber bearing body rotatably supporting the drive shaft for driving the impeller; a bearing member rotatably supporting said drive shaft, said bearing member having a first side and a second side; a bearing chamber containing said bearing member; a plurality of seal members disposed on the first side and the second side of said bearing member, said seal members each having at least one contact portion and said seal members partitioning said bearing chamber and engaging an outside circumferential surface of said drive shaft with said at least one contact portions; a grease chamber, wherein said seal members prevent grease within said grease chamber from leaking out from between said contact portions of said seal members and said outside circumferential surface of said drive shaft; and a breather passage, said breather passage being in communication with said bearing chamber and ambient air to allow for expansion of air and grease and having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion detachably connected to said bearing body to permit a delivery of grease to said grease chamber. 14. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 13, wherein the second end portion of said breather passage opens into an interior of said watercraft body along an upper side of said bearing chamber.15. The drive shaft bearing structure according to claim 13, further comprising an opening port for an intake duct said second end portion of said breather passage being disposed along the opening port of the duct for communication between the interior of the watercraft and ambient air.