Importance

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Abstract

A reversible stern drive system incorporates a continuous drive member looped about a first and second intermediate shaft and a propeller shaft to transmit rotational power from the intermediate shafts to the propeller shaft in either a first or second propeller rotational direction. Rotational direction of the propeller shaft is determined by selective coupling of either a first driven member to the first intermediate shaft by a first clutch or a second driven member to the second intermediate shaft by a second clutch. In a second embodiment of the invention, two separate continuous drive members are employed to drive two concentrically mounted propeller shafts. The first continuous drive member is looped about one of two sprockets on the first and second intermediate shafts and the first propeller shaft such that when one of the sprockets is coupled by a first clutch to the first intermediate shaft, the first propeller shaft rotates in a first propeller rotational direction. The second continuous drive member is looped about the other of the sprocket on the first and second intermediate shafts and the second propeller shaft such that when one of the sprockets is coupled to the second intermediate shaft by a second clutch, the second propeller shaft rotates in a second propeller rotational direction.

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First Claim