Marine propulsion device

Abstract

A marine propulsion device includes a drive source, a first drive shaft rotationally drivable by the drive source, a drive gear rotatable integrally with the first drive shaft, a second drive shaft parallel or substantially parallel to the first drive shaft, a driven gear drivable by the drive gear and rotatable around a center axis of the second drive shaft, and a shift mechanism to switch a shift position. The drive gear and the driven gear are located in an upper portion of the marine propulsion device, and the shift mechanism is above the driven gear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A marine propulsion device comprising:
 a drive source;   a first drive shaft rotationally drivable by the drive source;   a drive gear rotatable integrally with the first drive shaft;   a second drive shaft parallel or substantially parallel to the first drive shaft;   a driven gear drivable by the drive gear and rotatable around a center axis of the second drive shaft; and   a shift mechanism to switch a shift position; wherein   the drive gear and the driven gear are in an upper portion of the marine propulsion device; and   the shift mechanism is above the driven gear.   
     
     
         2 . The marine propulsion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shift mechanism includes:
 a first bevel gear rotatable around the center axis of the second drive shaft;   a second bevel gear rotatable around the center axis of the second drive shaft and above the first bevel gear in an axial direction of the second drive shaft;   a pinion gear always engaged with the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear;   a dog clutch that is restricted from moving in a rotational direction with respect to the second drive shaft, movable in the axial direction of the second drive shaft, and capable of switching a rotating direction of the second drive shaft by selecting engagement with the first bevel gear or engagement with the second bevel gear; and   a drive mechanism to drive the dog clutch in the axial direction of the second drive shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The marine propulsion device according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a slide shaft inserted into the second drive shaft to move in the axial direction of the second drive shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The marine propulsion device according to of  claim 3 , wherein
 the drive mechanism includes a shift rod;   the shift rod includes a cam portion; and   the slide shaft movable in the axial direction of the second drive shaft when an upper end portion of the slide shaft is driven by the cam portion of the shift rod.   
     
     
         5 . The marine propulsion device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first bevel gear is always engaged with the driven gear to rotate integrally with the driven gear. 
     
     
         6 . The marine propulsion device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a propeller shaft rotationally drivable by the second drive shaft; wherein   an axial direction of the propeller shaft intersects the axial direction of the second drive shaft.   
     
     
         7 . The marine propulsion device according to  claim 1 , wherein a lower portion of the marine propulsion device is rotatable relative to the upper portion of the marine propulsion device. 
     
     
         8 . The marine propulsion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the driven gear is directly driven by the drive gear. 
     
     
         9 . The marine propulsion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the driven gear is drivable by the drive gear via a chain. 
     
     
         10 . A marine propulsion device comprising:
 a drive source;   a first drive shaft rotationally drivable by the drive source;   a drive gear rotatable integrally with the first drive shaft;   a second drive shaft;   a driven gear drivable by the drive gear and rotatable around a center axis of the second drive shaft; and   a shift mechanism to switch a shift position; wherein   the drive gear and the driven gear are in an upper portion of the marine propulsion device; and   the shift mechanism is above the driven gear.   
     
     
         11 . A marine propulsion device comprising:
 a drive source;   a first drive shaft rotationally drivable by the drive source;   a drive rotatable integrally with the first drive shaft;   a second drive shaft parallel or substantially parallel to the first drive shaft;   a driven gear drivable by the drive gear and rotatable around a center axis of the second drive shaft; and   a shift mechanism to switch a shift position; wherein   the drive gear and the driven gear are in an upper portion of the marine propulsion device; and   at least a portion of the shift mechanism is above the driven gear.