Importance

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Abstract

A fluid coupling is provided in a marine drive between the engine and the propulsion unit. The fluid coupling includes a fluid pump adapted to be driven by the crankshaft of the engine, and a turbine adapted to be driven by the fluid pump. A series of reactor vanes is provided in the fluid coupling. The reactor vanes are adapted to be driven in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the fluid pump. The turbine and the reactor vanes are connected to shafts which extend from the fluid coupling to a transmission housing. Each shaft is provided with a gear and a brake disc. An output shaft extends from the transmission housing, and includes a pair of freely rotatable gears engageable with the gears on the reactor shaft and the turbine shaft. Clutch mechanisms are provided on the freely rotatable output shaft gears for selectively engaging the reactor shaft gear and the turbine shaft gear to provide rotation of the output shaft in response to rotation of the reactor shaft and turbine shaft gears. A variable force brake is applied to a disc connected to the output shaft to govern the amount of power transferred by the output shaft to the propulsion unit. The variable force brake is selectively actuable to govern the output of the fluid coupling during low-speed operation to provide increased boat performance at such speeds.

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First Claim