Outboard motor cooling and anode system

Details Outboard motor cooling and anode system Outboard motor cooling and anode system

1998-04-07

2001-11-20

Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)

Marine propulsion

Means for accomodating or moving engine fluids

Cooling for engine

C204S166000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06319080

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a marine engine, and more particularly to an anode system for a marine engine.
2. Description of Related Art
Outboard motors often power sea-faring boats. Large internal combustion engines of these motors drive propellers to propel the boat. Such engines produce a lot of heat and are housed within a poorly ventilated cowlings that protect the engines from the corrosive effects of salt water.
Outboard motors usually employ an open-loop cooling system to maintain the engine temperature below a particular degree. Such cooling systems commonly draw water into the outboard motor through a water inlet on a submerged lower unit, and circulate the water through the engine block, cylinder head, exhaust manifold and exhaust guide. Saline water, however, can cause the engine components to corrode, especially due to the dissimilarities of metals in the engine and the exhaust system, and the electrically conductive nature of salt water.
One means for reducing the corrosive effects associated with using salt water as a coolant is to provide a sacrificial anode within one or more of the cooling passages of the engine. Sacrificial anodes are typically employed to retard the corrosive effects of salt water on an engine block. The anti-corrosion effect is also useful in preventing galvanic corrosion resulting from differences in the materials (e.g., iron and aluminum) comprising the engine and the exhaust system.
Salt water within an anode-protected cooling system tends to corrode and dissolve the anode to the exclusion of the metal block and cylinder head. To facilitate this effect, the anode is typically formed from a material which more readily releases electrons than the metal forming the cylinder block and cylinder head (i.e., it has a lower oxidation potential). The anode, comprised of a “sacrificial metal,” thus corrodes rather than the metal forming the engine. An outboard motor engine thus often includes several sacrificial anodes that are provided within the coolant passages in the cylinder block, adjacent to the engine cylinders.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present anode system involves an improved mounting arrangement for an anode within a cooling passage of an internal combustion engine. In one mode, an enhanced electrical contact is maintained between the anode and an engine body in order to extend the useful life of the anode. An internal combustion engine comprises an engine body that includes at least one coolant passage and an opening which communicates with the coolant passage. The anode extends at least partially through the opening, and a conductive member is connected to the anode and to the engine body. The conductive member places the anode in electrical contact with the engine body outside of the opening. Corrosion within the opening therefore does not affect electrical communication between the anode and the engine body.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an internal combustion engine for a marine drive comprises an engine body. The engine body includes at least one coolant passage and an opening that communicates with the coolant passage. An anode extends at least partially through the opening, and a sealing member is arranged to form a seal between the opening and an exterior of the engine body. The anode is mounted in the engine body such that at least a portion of the anode lies exposed on a side of the seal opposite the side on which the opening is located.
An additional aspect of the present invention involves an internal combustion engine comprising an engine body. The engine body includes at least one coolant passage and an opening that communicates with the coolant passage. An anode extends at least partially through the opening. A biasing device is arranged to act against and to bias the anode toward the opening. The anode includes a plurality of contact surfaces and is mounted on the engine body such that the plurality of contact surfaces are placed in electrical communication with the engine body at locations outside the opening.
Another aspect of the invention involves an improved biasing device for use with an engine anode. In one mode, the anode extends at least partially through an opening in an engine body, and a sealing member is arranged to form a seal between the opening and an exterior of the engine. A compression-type biasing device is positioned between at least a portion of the anode and at least a portion of the sealing member. The compression-type biasing device provides a force urging contact between the anode and the engine body, which greater than that provided by a grommet or similar seal.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.


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