Inventors:
Brian R. White - Stillwater OK, US
Keith S. Ducotey - Stillwater OK, US
Brian S. Ritthaler - Stillwater OK, US
International Classification:
B63H 20/20
F16D 47/06
F16D 37/02
F16D 35/00
US Classification:
192 215, 192 482, 192 485, 192 51, 192 57, 440 75
Abstract:
A marine transmission provides first and second drive gears that have first and second driving surfaces in contact with first and second quantities of rheological fluid. First and second driven surfaces of a propeller shaft are also in contact with the rheological fluids within first and second cavities. Torque is transmitted between the drive gears and the propeller shaft through the increase in viscosity of the rheological fluid. A dog clutch can also be provided in order to lock the propeller shaft to the driving one of the first and second drive gears after the rheological fluid is used to spin up the propeller shaft to the appropriate speed.