Marine propulsion – Means for accomodating or moving engine fluids – Cooling for engine
Reexamination Certificate
2003-07-15
2004-10-26
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Means for accomodating or moving engine fluids
Cooling for engine
Reexamination Certificate
active
06808432
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a cooling system for a marine propulsion device and, more particularly, to a cooling system for a stern drive propulsion device which provides a cover under which water can be sprayed to provide additional cooling to certain portions of the out drive component of the stern drive system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 1,099,684, which issued to Barlow et al on Jun. 9, 1914, describes an engine cooling system which draws water from a body of water in which a marine vessel is operated and directs the water to a cooling Jacket of an internal combustion engine of a marine propulsion device.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,240,181, which issued to Chandler et al on Mar. 15, 1966, describes an outboard motor attachment that comprises a scoop disposed behind a propeller of a marine propulsion device. The system is intended for use when a normally operable cooling system fails.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,969, which issued to Griffin on Feb. 28 1978, describes an auxiliary water system for an outboard motor. A cooling water system is adapted to be used with an outboard motor when its water pump has failed. It includes a conduit adapted to have one end connected to one of the two water outlets adjacent the portion of the motor above the shaft housing of an outboard motor. An enlarged inlet is secured to the other end of the conduit and is releasably connected to the lower portion of the shaft housing so that it faces forward to receive water flow responsive to movement of the motor through the water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,351, which issued to Tousey on Feb. 1, 1983, describes a marine stern drive cooler. The cooling apparatus is intended for use with a stern drive unit which has a conduit for carrying water from below the water level to a position over the marine stern drive unit so that water can be sprayed on the stern drive unit. A water receiving aperture is in communication with a lower unit of the conduit and opens generally horizontally and forwardly for receiving water into the conduit. A water dispensing aperture communicates with an upper portion of the conduit and dispenses the water on the exterior of the marine stern drive unit thereby cooling a portion of the unit out of the water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,372, which issued to Hebert on Jun. 17, 1986, describes a water ejector and injector attachment for boats. A water ejector and injector attachment for the motor of a boat comprises a motor adapted to be secured to the frame of the boat carrying a propeller at its lower end and defining a cavitation plate extending rearwardly thereof and having a bore therethrough, at least one recess in the lower surface of the cavitation plate and a trim tab projecting downwardly from the cavitation plate and positioned adjacent rearwardly of the propeller. The trim tab has a passageway therethrough having one end communicating with the bore of the cavitation plate. A plate member integral therewith and has at least one protrusion upwardly extending therefrom, each of the protrusions mates in the recession of the cavitation plate. An elongated tube is provided through the bore in the cavitation plate with one end secured to and communicating with the passageway of the trim tab and the other end terminating in the bilge of the boat. A spring biases the trim tab upwardly whereby the protrusions engage the recesses in the cavitation plate. A handle is provided for moving the trim tab downwardly to disengage the protrusions from the recesses thereby allowing rotational movement of the trim tab.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,345, which issued to Brodbeck et al Aug. 23, 1994, describes a water pickup and cooling apparatus for boat drive system. It comprises a water pickup for gathering water from the body of water in which the boat is operating and a spray nozzle that directs a stream of cooling water towards the outer surface of the housing containing the drive assembly gears and shafts. The drive assembly of a typical stern drive for a boat is the linkage that transmits the power generated by the engine to the propeller. To remove the excess frictional heat generated within the drive assembly under high horsepower operation, a cooling apparatus collects water through a water intake opening when the boat is moving forward through the water. A lip formed adjacent to the intake opening assists in directing the water into the opening and forces the water up to and through the spray nozzle. The cooling water is discharged through an opening in the spray nozzle and is directed towards the rear surface of the drive assembly housing. Additionally, a spray direction plate may be mounted on the drive assembly housing to assist in the distribution of the cooling water over the outer surface of the drive assembly housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,380, which issued to Claussen on Feb. 16, 1999, describes an intercooler for a stern drive of a boat. The intercooler for the stern drive of a boat includes a cover that is attached to the stern drive housing. The cover includes an inner compartment which communicates internally with the stern drive and accommodates lubricating oil used by the stern drive. An outer jacket is disposed adjacent the compartment. Ambient water is introduced into and discharged from the water jacket such that the ambient water circulates through the jacket to cool the inner compartment and the oil contained therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,566, which issued to Kermis et al on Jun. 5, 2001, describes a cooler for a marine stern drive. A cooling apparatus for the stern drive unit of a marine inboard-outboard drive system is described. It uses the ram effect and has an intake tube carried on the stern drive unit with its intake end in the water. The tube has an intake port held below the water surface for accepting water by the ram effect while the boat is moving forward. The water is carried by the tube to a system for delivering water from the intake tube to the stern drive unit for cooling it. According to the invention, the bottom of the intake tube is closed and the intake port is formed closely adjacent to the bottom of the tube in a selected part of a wall facing forward when the boat is in a forward motion.
The patents described above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in the description of the present invention.
Products called “drive showers” are available commercially for attachment to stern drive devices. These products comprise a tube that is shaped to be attached to an fit the contours of a stern drive device, with inlet ends disposed below a surface of water when the stern drive is operated on a body of water. The water is caused to flow through the conduit, as a result of a ram action, and flows upwardly through the conduit to a series of openings within the conduit that are disposed above a heat producing portion of the out drive of the marine propulsion device. Devices of this type are available in commercial quantities from the Simrek Corporation and are referred to as “Multiport Drive Showers.”
Those skilled in the art of marine propulsion devices are knowledgeable of many different, systems that are used to cool the out drive of a stern drive system. These systems include internal passageways that direct water through the heat producing portions of the system and typically flow through water jackets formed in castings of the out drive housing and through water jacket passages within the engine itself. In addition, many types of water cooling systems are known which draw water from a body of water in which the marine propulsion device is operated and cause that water to be directed against various outer surfaces of the housing to cool those surfaces and, in turn, to remove heat from heat producing components within the out drive itself. These heat producing components include, but are not limited to, bevel gears that transmit torque between a horizontal shaft driven by an engine and a vertical driveshaft which is contained within the out drive housing.
Known systems that provide showers o
Davis Richard A.
Griffiths John M.
Jaszewski Wayne M.
Phillips George E.
Avila Stephen
Brunswick Corporation
Lanyi William D.
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