Rotatable downwardly directed driveline

Claim 2

A combination of a boat and a substantially vertical downwardly directed drive unit for said boat, said combination comprising: a. said boat having a bottom; b. said boat having an opening in said bottom; c. said drive unit fitting into said opening; d. said drive unit comprising an input shaft; e. a single downwardly directed drive shaft; f. a propeller shaft; g. a first driving means between said input shaft and said drive shaft; h. a second driving means between said drive shaft and said propeller shaft; i. a casing for said input shaft, said drive shaft and said propeller shaft; j. said casing comprising a central housing for the upper part of said single drive shaft; said central housing extending below said bottom; k. said casing comprising a vertical housing for the lower part of said single drive shaft; l. two sets of lower tapered roller bearings; m. the lower end of said single drive shaft being positioned in said tapered roller bearings of said drive shaft; n. said lower tapered roller bearings being positioned with respect to the lower end of said vertical housing and inside of said vertical housing; o. two sets of upper tapered roller bearings; p. said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned between the upper part of said vertical housing and said central housing to allow relative rotation between said vertical housing and said central housing; at least one set of said two sets of upper tapered rollers bearings being positioned in said central housing below said bottom; q. said input shaft being in said boat; r. said drive shaft being in said boat and below the bottom of said boat; and, s. said propeller shaft being outside said boat.

Claim 3

A drive unit according to claim 1 and comprising: a. said vertical housing and said propelling means being connected to rotate; and, b. a steering means connecting with said vertical housing to rotate said vertical housing and said propelling means.

Claim 4

A drive unit according to claim 2 and comprising: a. said steering means comprising a resilient means to lessen mechanical stress.

Claim 5

A drive unit according to claim 2 and comprising: a. said steering means comprising a power means for rotating said vertical housing and propelling means; and, b. a resilient means between said power means and said vertical housing to lessen mechanical stress.

Claim 6

A combination according to claim 1 and comprising: a. said drive shaft having a central longitudinal passageway; and, b. a lubrication means for forcing a lubricant through said central longitudinal passageway.

Claim 7

A combination of a boat and a substantially vertical downwardly directed drive unit for said boat, said combination comprising: a. said boat having a bottom; b. said boat having an opening in said bottom; c. said drive unit fitting into said opening; d. said drive unit comprising an input shaft; e. a single downwardly directed drive shaft; f. a propeller shaft; g. a frist gear on said input shaft; h. a second gear on said drive shaft; i. said first gear and said second gear in a meshing contact relationship with each other; j. a third gear on said drive shaft; k. a fourth gear on said propeller shaft; l. said third gear and said fourth gear in a meshing contact relationship with each other; m. a casing for said input shaft, said drive shaft and said propeller shaft; n. said casing comprising a central housing for the upper part of said single drive shaft; said central housing extending below said bottom has been inserted; o. said casing comprising a vertical housing for the lower part of said single drive shaft; p. two sets of lower tapered roller bearings; q. the lower end of said single downwardly directed shaft being positioned in said tapered roller bearings of said drive shaft; r. said lower tapered roller bearings being positioned with respect to the lower end of said vertical housing and inside of said vertical housing; s. two sets of upper tapered roller bearings; t. said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned between the upper part of said vertical housing and said central housing to allow relative rotation between said vertical housing and said central housing; at least one set of said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned in said bottom; u. said input shaft being in said boat; v. said drive shaft being in said boat and below the bottom of said boat; and, w. said propeller shaft being outside said boat.

Claim 8

A combination of a boat and a substantially vertical downwardly directed drive unit for said boat, said combination comprising: a. said boat having a bottom; b. said boat having an opening in said bottom; c. said drive unit fitting into said opening; d. said drive unit comprising an input shaft; e. a single downwardly directed drive shaft; f. a propeller shaft; g. a frist gear on said input shaft; h. a second gear on said drive shaft; i. said first gear and said second gear in a meshing contact relationship with each other; j. a third gear on said drive shaft; k. a fourth gear on said propeller shaft; l. said third gear and said fourth gear in a meshing contact relationship with each other; m. a casing for said input shaft, said drive shaft and said propeller shaft; n. said casing comprising a central housing for the upper part of said single drive shaft; said central housing extending below said bottom has been inserted; o. said casing comprising a vertical housing for the lower part of said single drive shaft; p. two sets of lower tapered roller bearings; q. the lower end of said single downwardly directed shaft being positioned in said tapered roller bearings of said drive shaft; r. said lower tapered roller bearings being positioned with respect to the lower end of said vertical housing and inside of said vertical housing; s. two sets of upper tapered roller bearings; t. said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned between the upper part of said vertical housing and said central housing to allow relative rotation between said vertical housing and said central housing; at least one set of said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned in said bottom; u. said input shaft being in said boat; v. said drive shaft being in said boat and below the bottom of said boat; and, w. said propeller shaft being outside said boat.

Claim 9

A combination according to claim 6 and comprising: a. a shaft bearing carrier; b. said lower tapered roller bearings being positioned by said shaft bearing carrier; c. said shaft bearing carrier being positioned with respect to said vertical housing; d. a first sealing means between the outer surface of said shaft bearing carrier and the inner surface of said vertical housing; and, e. a second sealing means between the outer surface of said vertical housing and the inner surface of said central housing.

Claim 10

A drive unit according to claim 7 and comprising: a. said second means comprising a bushing; b. a third sealing means between the inner surface of said bushing and the outer surface of said downwardly directed housing; and, c. a fourth sealing means between the outer surface of said bushing and the inner surface of said central housing.

Claim 11

A drive unit according to claim 7 and comprising: a. said first sealing means being an O-ring; and, b. said second sealing means comprising a bushing and an O-ring.

Claim 12

A drive unit according to claim 8 and comprising: a. said third sealing means and said fourth sealing means comprising O-rings.

Claim 13

A drive unit according to claim 6 and comprising: a. said vertical housing and said propelling means being connected to rotate; and, b. a steering means connecting with said vertical housing to rotate said vertical housing and said propelling means.

Claim 14

A drive unit according to claim 11 and comprising: a. said steering means comprising a resilient means to lessen mechanical stress.

Claim 15

A drive unit according to claim 11 and comprising: a. said steering means comprising a power means for rotating said vertical housing and propelling means; and, b. a resilient means between said power means and said vertical housing to lessen mechanical stress.

Claim 16

A drive unit according to claim 13 and comprising: a. said resilient means comprising a cushion, a first driving member and a driven member; and, b. said cushion being positioned between said driving member and said driven member to lessen the mechanical stress between the driving member and the driven member.

Claim 17

A combination according to claim 6 and comprising: a. a metallic anode attached to the lower part of said casing and under the bottom of said boat.

Claim 18

A combination according to claim 6 and comprising: a. said drive shaft having a central longitudinal passageway; and, b. a lubrication means for forcing a lubricant through said central longitudinal passageway.

Claim 19

A drive unit according to claim 14 and comprising: a. said drive shaft having a central longitudinal passageway; and, b. a lubrication means for forcing a lubricant through said central longitudinal passageway.

Claim 20

A drive unit according to claim 17 and comprising: a. a shear pin coupling mounted on the input end of said input shaft.

Claim 21

A combination of a boat and a substantially vertical downwardly directed drive unit for said boat, said combination comprising: a. said boat having a bottom; b. said boat having an opening in said bottom; c. said drive unit fitting into said opening; d. said drive unit comprising an input shaft; e. a downwardly directed drive shaft; f. a propeller shaft; g. a first driving means between said input shaft and said drive shaft; h. a second driving means between said drive shaft and said propeller shaft; i. a casing for said input shaft, said drive shaft and said propeller shaft; j. said casing comprising a central housing for the upper part of said drive shaft; said central housing extending below said bottom; k. said casing comprising a vertical housing for the lower part of said drive shaft; l. two sets of lower tapered roller bearings; m. the lower end of said shaft being positioned in said tapered roller bearings of said drive shaft; n. said lower tapered roller bearings being positioned with respect to the lower end of said vertical housing and inside of said vertical housing; o. two sets of upper tapered roller bearings; p. said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned between the upper part of said vertical housing and said central housing to allow relative rotation between said vertical housing and said central housing; at least one set of said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned in said central housing below said bottom; q. said input shaft being in said boat; r. said drive shaft being in said boat and below the bottom of said boat; s. said propeller shaft being outside said boat; t. a shaft bearing carrier; u. said lower tapered roller bearings being positioned by said shaft bearing carrier; v. said shaft bearing carrier being positioned with respect to said vertical housing; w. a frist sealing means between the outer surface of said shaft bearing carrier and the inner surface of said vertical housing; and, x. a second sealing means between the outer surface of said vertical housing and the inner surface of said central housing.

Claim 22

A combination of a boat and a substantially vertical downwardly directed drive unit for said boat, said combination comprising: a. said boat having a bottom; b. said boat having an opening in said bottom; c. said drive unit fitting into said opening; d. said drive unit comprising an input shaft; e. a downwardly directed drive shaft; f. a propeller shaft; g. a first driving means between said input shaft and said drive shaft; h. a second driving means between said drive shaft and said propeller shaft; i. a casing for said input shaft, said drive shaft and said propeller shaft; j. said casing comprising a central housing for the upper part of said drive shaft; said central housing extending below said bottom; k. said casing comprising a vertical housing for the lower part of said drive shaft; l. two sets of lower tapered roller bearings; m. the lower end of said shaft being positioned in said tapered roller bearings of said drive shaft; n. said lower tapered roller bearings being positioned with respect to the lower end of said vertical housing and inside of said vertical housing; o. two sets of upper tapered roller bearings; p. said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned between the upper part of said vertical housing and said central housing to allow relative rotation between said vertical housing and said central housing; at least one set of said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned in said central housing below said bottom; q. said input shaft being in said boat; r. said drive shaft being in said boat and below the bottom of said boat; s. said propeller shaft being outside said boat; t. a shaft bearing carrier; u. said lower tapered roller bearings being positioned by said shaft bearing carrier; v. said shaft bearing carrier being positioned with respect to said vertical housing; w. a frist sealing means between the outer surface of said shaft bearing carrier and the inner surface of said vertical housing; and, x. a second sealing means between the outer surface of said vertical housing and the inner surface of said central housing.

Claim 23

A drive unit according to claim 19 and comprising: a. said second means comprising a bushing; b. a third sealing means between the inner surface of said bushing and the outer surface of said downwardly directed housing; and, c. a fourth sealing means between the outer surface of said bushing and the inner surface of said central housing.

Claim 24

A drive unit according to claim 19 and comprising: a. said first sealing means being an O-ring; and, b. said second sealing means comprising a bushing and an O-ring.

Claim 25

A drive unit according to claim 20 and comprising: a. said third sealing means and said fourth sealing means comprising O-rings.

Claim 26

A combination of a boat and a substantially vertical downwardly directed drive unit for said boat, said combination comprising: a. said boat having a bottom; b. said boat having an opening in said bottom; c. said drive unit fitting into said opening; d. said drive unit comprising an input shaft; e. a downwardly directed drive shaft; f. a propeller shaft; g. a first driving means between said input shaft and said drive shaft; h. a second driving means between said drive shaft And said propeller shaft; i. a casing for said input shaft, said drive shaft and said propeller shaft; j. said casing comprising a central housing for the upper part of said drive shaft; said central housing extending below said bottom; k. said casing comprising a vertical housing for the lower part of said drive shaft; l. two sets of lower tapered roller bearings; m. the lower end of said shaft being positioned in said tapered roller bearings of said drive shaft; n. said lower tapered roller bearings being positioned with respect to the lower end of said vertical housing and inside of said vertical housing; o. two sets of upper tapered roller bearings; p. said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned between the upper part of said vertical housing and said central housing to allow relative rotation between said vertical housing and said central housing; at least one set of said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned in said housing below said bottom; q. said input shaft being in said boat; r. said drive shaft being in said boat and below the bottom of said boat; s. said propeller shaft being outside said boat; t. said vertical housing and said propelling means being connected to rotate; u. a steering means connecting with said vertical housing to rotate said vertical housing and said propelling means. v. said steering means comprising a power means for rotating said vertical housing and propelling means; w. a resilient means between said power means and said vertical housing to lessen mechanical stress; x. said resilient means comprising a cushion, a first driving member and a driven member; and y. said cushion being positioned between said driving member and said driven member to lessen the mechanical stress between the driving member and the driven member.

Claim 27

A combination of a boat and a substantially vertical downwardly directed drive unit for said boat, said combination comprising: a. said boat having a bottom; b. said boat having an opening in said bottom; c. said drive unit fitting into said opening; d. said drive unit comprising an input shaft; e. a downwardly directed drive shaft; f. a propeller shaft; g. a first driving means between said input shaft and said drive shaft; h. a second driving means between said drive shaft And said propeller shaft; i. a casing for said input shaft, said drive shaft and said propeller shaft; j. said casing comprising a central housing for the upper part of said drive shaft; said central housing extending below said bottom; k. said casing comprising a vertical housing for the lower part of said drive shaft; l. two sets of lower tapered roller bearings; m. the lower end of said shaft being positioned in said tapered roller bearings of said drive shaft; n. said lower tapered roller bearings being positioned with respect to the lower end of said vertical housing and inside of said vertical housing; o. two sets of upper tapered roller bearings; p. said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned between the upper part of said vertical housing and said central housing to allow relative rotation between said vertical housing and said central housing; at least one set of said two sets of upper tapered roller bearings being positioned in said housing below said bottom; q. said input shaft being in said boat; r. said drive shaft being in said boat and below the bottom of said boat; s. said propeller shaft being outside said boat; t. said vertical housing and said propelling means being connected to rotate; u. a steering means connecting with said vertical housing to rotate said vertical housing and said propelling means. v. said steering means comprising a power means for rotating said vertical housing and propelling means; w. a resilient means between said power means and said vertical housing to lessen mechanical stress; x. said resilient means comprising a cushion, a first driving member and a driven member; and y. said cushion being positioned between said driving member and said driven member to lessen the mechanical stress between the driving member and the driven member.

Claim 28

A drive unit according to claim 23 and comprising: a. said drive shaft having a central longitudinal passageway; and, b. a lubricant means for forcing a lubricant through said central longitudinal passageway.

Claim 29

A drive unit according to claim 24 and comprising: a. a shear pin coupling mounted on the input end of said input shaft.