Michael A Karls, 561601 Delafield St, Waukesha, WI 53188

6478543, Nov 12, 2002

Feb 12, 2001

09/781640

John A. Tuchscherer - Oshkosh WI
Daniel J. Schlagenhaft - Fond du Lac WI
Michael A. Karls - Hilbert WI
Robert B. Weronke - Oshkosh WI
Douglas A. Kiesling - West Bend WI
Mitesh B. Sheth - Fond du Lac WI
Donald F. Harry - Appleton WI
Randall J. Poirier - Howards Grove WI
Richard A. Davis - Mequon WI

Brunswick Corporation - Lake Forest

B63H 2334

416134R, 416 93 A

A torque transmitting device for use in conjunction with a marine propulsion system provides an adapter that is attached in torque transmitting relation with a propulsor shaft for rotation about a central axis of rotation. The first insert portion is attached in torque transmitting relation with the adapter and a second insert portion is attached in torque transmitting relation with a hub of the propulsor hub which can be a marine propeller or an impeller. A third insert portion is connected between the first and second insert portions and is resilient in order to allow the first and second insert portions to rotate relative to each other about the central axis of rotation. The adapter is shaped to prevent compression of the first, second, and third insert portions in a direction parallel to the central axis of rotation. The relative shapes of the various components and the resilience of the third insert portion, which can be a plurality of titanium rods, provides significant compliance of the device under low torque magnitudes, but at higher torque magnitudes it provides a significantly decreased compliance to facilitate torque transfer between a propulsor shaft and the propulsor hub.

6733352, May 11, 2004

May 9, 2003

10/434784

David J. Belter - West Bend WI
Steve Wynveen - Germantown WI
Michael A. Karls - Hilbert WI
Troy J. Kollmann - Fond du Lac WI

Brunswick Corporation - Lake Forest IL

B63H 2110

440 88C, 440 1

The temperature regulation system is provided which places a flow controlling valve at a location which can be different than the location of the temperature being controlled. In other words, a valve can be located at a remote position relative to, cooling passages of an engine block or head. Signals from temperature sensors are provided to a microprocessor of an engine control module and the engine control module controls the operation of the valve in response to the measured temperatures. The engine control module can select different temperature ranges as a function of selected operating conditions of the engine, such as engine speed. In addition, the engine control module can cycle the valve in order to free it of debris when it is sensed that the valve is not responding in an expected manner.

6146223, Nov 14, 2000

Apr 19, 1999

9/294974

Michael A. Karls - Hilbert WI
Robert B. Weronke - Oshkosh WI
Jeffrey J. Andrews - Fond du Lac WI

Brunswick Corporation - Lake Forest IL

B63H 2110

440 88

A marine propulsion device is provided with a water inlet system that comprises at least a plurality of frontal inlet openings at the tapered forward end of a gearcase portion of a housing structure. The water inlet system can be provided for an outboard motor or a stern drive unit. Additional water flow can be provided through side inlet formed in the housing structure of the marine propulsion device where both the frontal inlet openings and side inlet openings are connected with fluid communication with the water pump mounted within the housing structure.

5304079, Apr 19, 1994

May 17, 1993

8/063004

Michael A. Karls - Hilbert WI

Brunswick Corporation - Skokie IL

B63H 2110

440 88

A supplemental remote mounted marine engine cooling system (20) includes a supplemental water pickup (36) mounted to the boat (18), and a flow control valve (38) supplying supplemental cooling water therethrough from the water pickup (36) to the main cooling system (20) when main cooling system water pressure on the downstream side (48) of a check valve (44) in the flow control valve (38) is less than supplemental cooling system water pressure on the upstream side (46) of the check valve (44), and blocking supplemental water flow therethrough when main cooling system water pressure is greater than supplemental cooling system water pressure. The control valve (38) also includes a relief valve (50) between the check valve (44) and the water pickup (36) and discharging excess supplemental cooling water when the check valve (44) is blocking water flow therethrough and supplemental cooling system water pressure is above a given bypass relief threshold. The control valve (38) provides continuous flow therethrough to a first outlet having the check valve (44) and/or a second bypass outlet having the relief valve (50), at high boat speed, to minimize deadhead pressure and minimize reduction in top end boat speed otherwise resulting from the addition of a supplemental water pickup. The water pickup (36) is provided by a tube (106) slicing out a core of water along the underside of the boat hull (108) with minimal drag and turbulence.

4752257, Jun 21, 1988

Dec 18, 1986

6/943612

Michael A. Karls - Hilbert WI
William P. Lang - Oshkosh WI

Brunswick Corporation - Skokie IL

B63H 2126

440 76

A marine propulsion system (10) with a depending gear case (20) having water inlet openings (32 and 34) is provided with water intake plates (62 and 64) covering the water inlet openings (32 and 34) and having outer forward lips (66 and 68) spaced forwardly and outwardly of the water inlet openings (32 and 34) and outwardly of tapered gear case sections (36 and 38) leading to such openings. The water intake plates (62 and 64) define with the gear case (20) entrance cavities (70 and 72) around the water inlet openings (32 and 34), trapping additional water and directing same inwardly into the water inlet openings (32 and 34) for increasing water flow to a transverse passage (30) and to the water pump (16).

5470263, Nov 28, 1995

Apr 28, 1994

8/234397

John M. Griffiths - Fond du Lac WI
David A. Gussert - Englewood FL
Michael A. Karls - Hilbert WI

Brunswick Corporation - Lake Forest IL

B63H 2128

440 75

A marine drive has a reverse thrust cup on the propeller shaft between the propeller hub and the rear retaining nut. The reverse thrust cup permits the propeller hub to slide on the propeller shaft fore and aft. When the marine drive is in the forward direction the rearward thrust of the propeller forces the propeller hub to the forward position thereby directing engine exhaust out the rear of the propeller hub. Conversely, when the marine drive is in the reverse direction, the forward thrust created by the propeller hub forces the propeller hub to the rearward position thereby directing exhaust out a forward exhaust opening forward of the propeller blades increasing the reverse thrust of the marine drive.

6068529, May 30, 2000

Apr 27, 1999

9/300030

Robert B. Weronke - Oshkosh WI
Michael A. Karls - Hilbert WI
Roger E. Koepsel - Oshkosh WI
Donald F. Harry - Appleton WI

Brunswick Corporation - Lake Forest IL

B63H 2028

440 88

An improved twin propeller marine propulsion unit. A vertical drive shaft is journaled in the lower gearcase and drives a pair of bevel gears. A pair of concentric propeller shafts are mounted in the lower torpedo section of the gearcase and each shaft carries a propeller. A slidable clutch is movable between a neutral, a forward, and a reverse position and serves to operably connect the outer propeller shaft with one of the bevel gears when the clutch is moved to the forward drive position. A gear is mounted for sliding movement in unison with the clutch and acts to operably engage the inner propeller shaft with the second bevel gear when the clutch is in the forward drive position so that both propellers are driven in opposite directions to provide forward motion for the watercraft. The propulsion unit also includes a dual cooling water pick-up system in which seawater is drawn to the water pump both through a series of vertical inlet ports in the gearcase and through a plurality of inlet holes that are located in the forward end of the lower torpedo section. Exhaust gas from the engine is discharged through the rear end of the lower housing section through axial passages in the hub of the forward propeller and then across the outer surface of the rear propeller.

5244348, Sep 14, 1993

Dec 18, 1991

7/809938

Michael A. Karls - Hilbert WI
Daniel R. Lindgren - Fond du Lac WI

Brunswick Corporation - Skokie IL

F01D 530

416204R

A shock absorbing drive sleeve (50) is provided by a molded plastic member directly mounting the propeller hub (14) to the propeller shaft (22). The sleeve has a rearward inner diameter portion (52) engaging the propeller shaft in splined relation, and a forward inner diameter portion (56) spaced radially outwardly of and disengaged from the propeller shaft. The drive sleeve has a rearward outer diameter portion (58), and a forward outer diameter portion (60) engaging the propeller hub. The drive sleeve and the propeller hub are tapered relative to each other such that a forward outer diameter portion (60) of the drive sleeve snugly engages the propeller hub, and a rearward outer diameter portion (58) is spaced slightly radially inwardly of the hub by a small gap (62) and may partially rotate relative to the propeller hub in response to rotation of the propeller shaft drivingly engaging the rearward inner diameter portion. When the propeller strikes an object, the shock is absorbed by torsional twisting of the drive sleeve wherein the rearward inner diameter portion and the rearward outer diameter portion continue to rotate to a further rotated position than the forward outer diameter portion, whereafter the splined teeth of the rearward inner diameter portion shear.