Internal-combustion engines – Accessories – Covers – trays – vibrators – corrosion inhibitors – air filters
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-19
2002-09-10
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Accessories
Covers, trays, vibrators, corrosion inhibitors, air filters
C123S479000, C123S630000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06446593
ABSTRACT:
PRIORITY INFORMATION
This invention is based on and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 11-296752, filed Oct. 19, 1999, the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electrical systems for a marine drives, and more particularly to control arrangements of electrical systems and trim systems for marine drives.
2. Description of Related Art
A typical marine outboard drive such as an outboard motor has an internal combustion engine atop a drive unit of the motor. The engine usually drives a propulsion device such as a propeller which is rotatably affixed at the bottom of the drive unit and is placed in a submerged position so as to propel the associated watercraft. The engine burns air/fuel charges in at least one combustion chamber to reciprocate a piston. The piston then rotates a crankshaft connected thereto. Typically, the engine includes an ignition system for intermittently firing the air/fuel charges. The crankshaft drives a driveshaft The driveshaft is coupled to a propeller shaft, with which the propeller rotates. The output of the engine thus powers the propulsion device.
In all fields of engine design, there is increasing emphasis on obtaining high performance in output. This trend has resulted in employing multiple cylinders, such as six cylinders arranged in V-configuration. Increasing the number of cylinders, however, makes ignition control, i.e., typically timing control, more complicated. Moreover, in order to enhance and maintain good performance of the engine, the ignition timing is desirably advanced or delayed in response to various engine running conditions. This further complicates ignition control.
In addition, the engine is occasionally furnished with a fuel injection system configured to obtain more effective emission control, better fuel economy and, at the same time, continued high or higher power output. The fuel injection system can include fuel injectors that spray fuel directly or indirectly into combustion chambers of the engine. Injection timing and duration are fairly important factors that often are tightly controlled.
More recently developed engines thus employ an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls at least the ignition fining of the ignition system, the injection timing and the injection duration of the fuel injection system. An electrical power source supplies power to a number of electrical components and accessories as well as the ignition system and the fuel injection system. The current and voltage are usually controlled by the ECU. The power control, however, generates heat in the ECU and can disrupt the ignition timing, injection tuning and duration controls.
A need therefore exists for an improved electrical system for an internal combustion engine that has reduced deleterious effects upon at least the ignition timing control. If the engine has a fuel injection system, then the electrical system preferably also has reduced effects upon the injection timing and duration controls.
The multiple cylinder engine, on the other hand, inevitably has a large size. In addition to this large size, the engine carries a number of engine related components, including the foregoing electrical components around an outer surface thereof, and thus the overall size of the outboard motor is greatly increased. For instance, a starter motor is mounted on a surface of the engine. The fuel injection system further includes a low-pressure fuel pump, a high-pressure fuel pump and a vapor separator that also are mounted on engine sides. These components are somewhat cumbersome and increase of the overall size of the outboard motor.
The engine usually is enclosed within a protective cowling. For many reasons (i.e., reduced air drag, ease of storing, portability), the protective cowling desirably has a reduced size. A space defined between the engine and the inner surface of the cowling, in which space the above-mentioned components are positioned, should be very compactly arranged.
Another need thus exists for an improved electrical system for a marine outboard drive that is compactly configured so as to be placed at any position in a space defined between an engine and an inner surface of a protective cowling.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an electrical system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The engine includes a combustion chamber, a fuel supply unit arranged to supply fuel to the combustion chamber, and an igniting unit arranged to fire the fuel in the combustion chamber. The electrical system comprises a power source arranged to supply electricity to the fuel supply unit and the igniting unit. A first control device is arranged to control the fuel supply unit and the igniting unit. A second control device is arranged to detect abnormalities in the supply of electricity. The second control device is physically separated from the first control device.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an internal combustion engine comprises a cylinder block defining a cylinder bore. A piston reciprocates within the cylinder bore. A cylinder head member closes one end of the cylinder bore and, together with the cylinder bore and the piston, defines a combustion chamber. A fuel injector is arranged to spray fuel into the combustion chamber. A spark plug fires the fuel in the combustion chamber. A spark former is arranged to form a spark at the spark plug. Both the fuel injector and the spark former are electrically operable. A first control unit is arranged to control each operation of the fuel injector and the spark former. A second control unit is arranged to watch each electrical power condition of the fuel injector and the spark former. The first and second control units are physically separated from each other.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a marine outboard drive is provided. The marine outboard drive is powered by an internal combustion engine having at least an ignition system. The marine outboard drive comprises a drive unit. A bracket assembly is adapted to be mounted on an associated watercraft. The bracket assembly supports the drive unit for pivotal movement about a tilt axis extending generally horizontally. An actuator is arranged to selectively raise and lower the drive unit relative to the bracket assembly. An electrically operable powering device is arranged to power the actuator. A first control unit is arranged to control the ignition system. A second control system is arranged to control the powering device. The first and second control units are defined separately from each other.
Further aspects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments which follow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3996915 (1976-12-01), Demetrescu
patent: 4040395 (1977-08-01), Demetrescu
patent: 4911123 (1990-03-01), Ellicott
patent: 4955340 (1990-09-01), Elliott
patent: 5203292 (1993-04-01), Motose
patent: 5207186 (1993-05-01), Okita
patent: 5685802 (1997-11-01), Kanno
patent: 5706783 (1998-01-01), Sawada
patent: 5809974 (1998-09-01), Osakabe
patent: 6032640 (2000-03-01), Evans
Benton Jason
Kamen Noah P.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
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