Cowls and latching devices for outboard marine engines
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B63H-020/00
B63H-020/32
E05C-003/14
E05C-003/12
출원번호
US-0871298
(2015-09-30)
등록번호
US-9580943
(2017-02-28)
발명자
/ 주소
Amerling, Steven J.
Van Ruiswyk, Brad J.
Stafford, Bradley R.
출원인 / 주소
Brunswick Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Andrus Intellectual Property Law, LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
22
초록▼
A latching device is for a cowl on an outboard marine engine, the cowl having first and second cowl portions that are separated from each other in an open cowl position and that are latched together by the latching device in a closed cowl position. A retainer is adapted to be fixed to the first cowl
A latching device is for a cowl on an outboard marine engine, the cowl having first and second cowl portions that are separated from each other in an open cowl position and that are latched together by the latching device in a closed cowl position. A retainer is adapted to be fixed to the first cowl portion and a latch is adapted to be fixed to the second cowl portion. The latch is movable into and between a latched position in which the latch is latched to the retainer and an unlatched position in which the latch is unlatched from the retainer. The latch comprises an engagement member, a bell crank, and a spring that is coupled to the engagement member and the bell crank. Movement of the bell crank with respect to the engagement member generates an overcenter force on the engagement member that facilitates latching and unlatching of the engagement member and the retainer.
대표청구항▼
1. A latching device for a cowl on an outboard marine engine, the cowl having first and second cowl portions that are separated from each other in an open cowl position and that are latched together by the latching device in a closed cowl position, the latching device comprising: a retainer adapted
1. A latching device for a cowl on an outboard marine engine, the cowl having first and second cowl portions that are separated from each other in an open cowl position and that are latched together by the latching device in a closed cowl position, the latching device comprising: a retainer adapted to be fixed to the first cowl portion;a latch adapted to be fixed to the second cowl portion;wherein the latch is movable into and between a latched position in which the latch is latched to the retainer and an unlatched position in which the latch is unlatched from the retainer;wherein the latch comprises an engagement member, a bell crank, and a spring that is coupled to the bell crank and the engagement member;wherein movement of the latch towards the latched position causes the engagement member to engage the retainer, and wherein further movement of the latch towards the latched position causes the bell crank to move with respect to the engagement member, which causes the engagement member to latch to the retainer;wherein movement of the latch away from the latched position causes the bell crank to move the engagement member, which causes the engagement member to unlatch from the retainer, and wherein further movement of the latch away from the latched position causes the engagement member to separate from the retainer; andwherein movement of the bell crank with respect to the engagement member generates an overcenter force on the engagement member that facilitates latching and unlatching of the engagement member and the retainer. 2. The latching device according to claim 1, wherein the bell crank rotates about a bell crank axis of rotation; wherein the engagement member rotates about an engagement member axis of rotation; and wherein the engagement member axis of rotation and the bell crank axis of rotation are parallel to each other and are laterally spaced apart from each other. 3. The latching device according to claim 2, wherein movement of the bell crank with respect to the engagement member acts against the spring as the bell crank passes by a centered position to an overcenter position wherein separating forces on the first and second cowl portions retain the latch in the latched position. 4. The latching device according to claim 3, wherein the spring acts to retain the bell crank and engagement member in a rotational position with respect to each other when the latch is in the unlatched position. 5. The latching device according to claim 4, wherein the spring is a coil spring that has a first end coupled to the bell crank and a second end coupled to the engagement member, wherein movement of the bell crank with respect to the engagement member extends the spring as the bell crank passes by the centered position. 6. The latching device according to claim 2, wherein the bell crank comprises a first engagement portion that engages with and causes rotation of the engagement member about the bell crank axis of rotation as the bell crank is rotated about the bell crank axis of rotation away from the latched position and wherein the bell crank comprises a second engagement portion that engages with the engagement member and retains the engagement member against the retainer when the bell crank is rotated into the latched position. 7. The latching device according to claim 6, wherein the bell crank comprises a plate and wherein the first engagement portion comprises a first flange that transversely extends relative to the plate and wherein the second engagement portion comprises a second flange that transversely extends relative to the plate, and wherein the first and second flanges are disposed on opposite sides of the engagement member and engage with opposite first and second engagement surfaces of the engagement member, respectively. 8. The latching device according to claim 7, wherein the first end of the spring is coupled to the second engagement portion of the bell crank and wherein the second end of the spring is coupled to the engagement member. 9. The latching device according to claim 2, wherein the engagement member further comprises an elongated engagement arm and a transverse end that transversely extends with respect to the elongated engagement arm. 10. The latching device according to claim 9, wherein the transverse end of the engagement member comprises an inner engagement surface that transversely extends relative to the first engagement surface and wherein rotation of the bell crank away from the latched position initially causes the inner engagement surface to separate from the retainer as the first engagement surface slides along and continues to abut the retainer and thereafter causes the engagement member, including the inner engagement surface and the first engagement surface, to rotate away from the retainer towards the unlatched position. 11. The latching device according to claim 10, wherein rotation of the bell crank towards the latched position initially causes the engagement member, including the inner engagement surface and the first engagement surface, to translate about the bell crank axis of rotation towards the retainer until the first engagement surface abuts the retainer and thereafter move towards and engages with the retainer. 12. The latching device according to claim 2, further comprising a handle that is coupled to the bell crank and rotatable about the bell crank axis of rotation; wherein rotation of the handle about the bell crank axis of rotation causes rotation of the bell crank. 13. The latching device according to claim 12, further comprising a handle retainer assembly that couples the handle to the bell crank such that the handle is movable into and between a rotationally fixed position in which the handle is prevented from rotating about the bell crank axis of rotation and a rotatable position in which the handle is rotatable about the bell crank axis of rotation. 14. The latching device according to claim 13, wherein the handle retainer assembly further comprises a handle shaft about which the handle is pivotable between the rotationally fixed position and the rotatable position, wherein the handle shaft extends transversely to the bell crank axis of rotation. 15. The latching device according to claim 14, wherein the handle retainer assembly further comprises a handle retainer that houses the handle in the rotationally fixed position, wherein the handle is pivoted about the handle pivot shaft to remove the handle from the handle retainer. 16. The latching device according to claim 15, further comprising a clevis housing that supports the handle pivot shaft, wherein the clevis housing comprises clevis ears that have throughbores that receive the handle pivot shaft and wherein the handle further comprises handle ears that have throughbores that also receive the handle pivot shaft to thereby pivotably couple the handle to the clevis housing. 17. The latching device according to claim 16, further comprising a bell crank pivot shaft that extends along the bell crank axis of rotation and connects the bell crank to the clevis housing such that the handle, clevis housing and bell crank rotate together about the bell crank axis of rotation as the handle is rotated about the bell crank axis of rotation. 18. A latching device for a cowl on an outboard marine engine, the cowl having first and second cowl portions that are separated from each other in an open cowl position and that are latched together by the latching device in a closed cowl position, the latching device comprising: a retainer adapted to be fixed to the first cowl portion;a latch adapted to be fixed to the second cowl portion;wherein the latch is rotatable into and between a latched position in which the latch is latched to the retainer and an unlatched position in which the latch is unlatched from the retainer;wherein the latch comprises an engagement member, a bell crank, and a spring that is coupled to the bell crank and the engagement member;wherein rotation of the latch towards the latched position causes the engagement member to engage the retainer, and wherein further rotation of the latch towards the latched position causes the bell crank to rotate with respect to the engagement member, which causes the engagement member to latch to the retainer;wherein rotation of the latch away from the latched position causes the bell crank to rotate the engagement member, which causes the engagement member to unlatch from the retainer, and wherein further rotation of the latch away from the latched position causes the engagement member to separate from the retainer; andwherein rotation of the bell crank with respect to the engagement member generates an overcenter force on the engagement member that facilitates latching and unlatching of the engagement member and the retainer. 19. The latching device according to claim 18, wherein the bell crank rotates about a bell crank axis of rotation; wherein the engagement member rotates about an engagement member axis of rotation; and wherein the engagement member axis of rotation and the bell crank axis of rotation are parallel to each other and are laterally spaced apart from each other; wherein movement of the bell crank with respect to the engagement member acts against the spring as the bell crank passes by a centered position to an overcenter position wherein separating forces on the first and second cowl portions retain the latch in the latched position; andwherein the spring acts to retain the bell crank and engagement member in a rotational position with respect to each other when the latch is in the unlatched position. 20. A cowl on an outboard marine engine, the cowl comprising: first and second cowl portions that are separated from each other in an open cowl position and that are latched together by the latching device in a closed cowl positiona retainer fixed to the first cowl portion;a latch fixed to the second cowl portion;wherein the latch is movable into and between a latched position in which the latch is latched to the retainer and an unlatched position in which the latch is unlatched from the retainer;wherein the latch comprises an engagement member, a bell crank, and a spring that is coupled to the bell crank and the engagement member;wherein movement of the latch towards the latched position causes the engagement member to engage the retainer, and wherein further movement of the latch towards the latched position causes the bell crank to move with respect to the engagement member, which causes the engagement member to latch to the retainer;wherein movement of the latch away from the latched position causes the bell crank to move the engagement member, which causes the engagement member to unlatch from the retainer, and wherein further movement of the latch away from the latched position causes the engagement member to separate from the retainer; andwherein movement of the bell crank with respect to the engagement member generates an overcenter force on the engagement member that facilitates latching and unlatching of the engagement member and the retainer.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (22)
Daleiden James G. (Fond du Lac WI) Idzikowski George D. (Oshkosh WI), Cam-type latching mechanism for securing cowl sections together.
Binversie Gregory L. (Grayslake IL) Petersen H. Norman (Kenosha WI) Macier James E. (Beach Park IL) Daniels John M. (Round Lake Park IL), Marine propulsion device with trailing mechanism including positive mechanical latch.
Alby, Jeremy L.; Gunderson, Martin E. Olson; Halley, Stuart M.; Krupp, Timothy D.; Uppgard, Darin C.; Walczak, Thomas J.; Zebley, Jr., John F., Multiple part cowl structure for an outboard motor.
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