Outboard Jack Plate Hinge and Limiting Strap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outboard motor mounting systems are prone to damage when encountering submerged objects due to a fixed mounting angle, which is insufficient for high-speed operations and often requires replacement of parts upon contact, limiting their effectiveness in shallow waters.
Innovation Solution
An integrated jack plate and kick-up bracket system that hingedly connects to the boat transom, featuring a limiting strap to control the rotation and prevent excessive angle, allowing the outboard motor to rise over obstacles while maintaining safety at high speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed mounting angle is used for the outboard motor, then the motor remains stable during normal operation, but the motor is prone to damage when encountering submerged objects
Solution Approach 1:
The jack plate assembly is designed with a hinge connection that allows it to rotate from a fixed parallel position to an angled kick-up position when the propeller encounters submerged objects. This dynamic movement enables the lower unit to rise over obstacles, reducing damage while maintaining stability during normal operation through the fixed parallel mounting configuration.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If kick up plates allow the outboard to swing up over 90 degrees, then the prop clears submerged obstacles effectively, but the prop may contact the boater operating the tiller
Solution Approach 1:
A limiting strap is pre-installed on the jack plate assembly to prevent rotation beyond a predetermined angle (less than 90 degrees). This preliminary constraint ensures that when the jack plate kicks up to clear submerged obstacles, the propeller cannot swing far enough to contact the boater operating the tiller, thus preventing secondary harm while maintaining obstacle-clearing effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional kick up plates use springs or sheering members, then the outboard can kick up over obstacles, but parts require replacement after contact with submerged objects
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting strap is pre-installed and designed to absorb the impact forces when the propeller contacts submerged objects. Instead of using springs or sheering members that require replacement, the limiting strap serves as a sacrificial component that cushions the shock and can be easily replaced, while the main structural components of the jack plate assembly remain intact and reusable.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the jack plate is hingedly connected to allow rotation, then the motor can clear submerged obstacles, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The jack plate assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the hinge connection mechanism that enables rotation, the limiting strap that controls rotation angle, and the mounting structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall design while achieving the kick-up capability. The hinge provides simple rotational movement, and the limiting strap adds minimal structural complexity to control the rotation angle.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated jack plate and kick up bracket is provided that is useful and safe even at relatively high boat speeds (e.g., in excess of 10 miles per hour). The bracket uses a jack plate to raise and lower an outboard. The jack plate is hingedly connected to the boat transom such that the jack plate assembly can rotate if the outboard has not been raised high enough to clear a submerged obstacle which the lower unit of the outboard motor strikes. Rotation of the jack assembly about the hinge is limited by a limiting strap affixed to the transom (or transom mounted portion of the bracket) and a lower portion of the jack assembly.