Marine propulsion – Means for accomodating or moving engine fluids – Cooling for engine
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-22
2002-02-05
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Means for accomodating or moving engine fluids
Cooling for engine
C123S041140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06343965
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a drain system for a marine propulsion engine and, more particularly, to a drain system that utilizes pressure actuated valves to open one or more drain passages to allow water to drain from the engine block and various other components of the marine propulsion system.
2. Description of the Art
Marine propulsion systems used for pleasure craft or working boats of various sizes typically use water from the body of water in which they are operated for engine cooling functions. This water is used in the cooling systems of the marine propulsion devices. Whether the marine propulsion cooling system is an open system, in which sea or lake water is passed through the engine to directly remove heat from the engine, or a closed system in which lake or sea water is drawn into a heat exchanger to remove heat from a coolant that is enclosed within a recirculated system to remove heat from the engine, lake or sea water is continually conducted through various conduits of the cooling system. It is therefore important to be able to remove the lake or sea water from the many passages and conduits of the marine propulsion system in order to avoid trapped water that could freeze and cause serious damage to the propulsion system.
It is common to provide a marine propulsion system with numerous openings through which cooling water can be drained, either into the bilge of the boat or overboard. Many different techniques and processes have been developed in order to facilitate the draining of the cooling system of a marine propulsion device by the operator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,266, which issued to Brogdon on Nov. 8, 1994, describes a fresh water flushing system for a marine engine in a boat for use, whether the boat is in or out of the water. The system comprises a control panel mounted on the interior of the boat, a plurality of tubular “T” shaped interconnection fittings in a raw sea water cooling conduit, and a fresh water flush valve therebetween. The components are connected for fresh water fluid flow with a plurality of standard radiator hoses. The fresh water flush valve has a valve plunger for establishing fresh water flow between the control panel and the “T” shaped interconnection fittings. Further, the fresh water flush valve has a plurality of axial outlet ports to proportionally direct the flow of fresh water to the appropriate “T” shaped interconnection fitting in the raw sea water cooling conduit of the marine engine. A valve plug is provided to secure a positive closure when the fresh water flow is disconnected. The valve plug has a tapered body and an “O” ring to effect a positive seal and ensure that no fluid backflow occurs when the flushing system is not in use and operation of the marine engine is operating under normal conditions in sea water. All of the fixed and moveable parts are fabricating from material that resists salt air and salt water corrosion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,331, which issued to Bland on Aug. 6, 1985, described a vent and drain assembly for marine propulsion devices. An outboard motor includes a powerhead shroud defining an engine compartment for an internal combustion engine and a vent and drain assembly for ventilating the engine compartment to the atmosphere and for draining liquids, such as water, from the engine compartment. The vent and drain assembly includes a valve member movably disposed in an aperture at a low point in the bottom wall of the powerhead shroud opening the engine compartment to the atmosphere. The valve member includes a domed portion which extends through the aperture and defines a cavity for entrapped air and an annular sealing flange which is located exteriorly of the shroud bottom wall. The valve member is held by gravity in an open position wherein the sealing flange is displaced outwardly from the shroud bottom wall for ventilation and draining and is moved to a closed position wherein the sealing flange is in sealing engagement with the shroud bottom wall in response to a rise in the water level above the shroud bottom wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,867, which issued to Shields et al on Apr. 18, 2000, discloses a drain system for a marine vessel. The drain system is provided for a marine vessel in which three types of drain operations can be performed at one common location near the transom of the marine vessel. A multiple conduit structure is provided with a plurality of fluid passages extending at least partially through its structure. A first fluid passage allows the bilge of the boat to be drained. A second fluid passage allows multiple locations on the engine to be drained through a common port. A second sealing plug is provided to close the second passageway that prevents fluid communication between the various fluid conduits used to drain the cooling water of the engine. A third fluid passage is provided through the multiple conduit structure to allow lubricating oil to be drained from the engine. A single hole through the transom of the boat is all that is required to allow the multiple conduit structure to be attached to the boat and extend through the transom for the purpose of draining the bilge, the engine cooling water, and the engine lubricating fluid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,285, which issued to Logan et al on May 13, 1997, discloses a drain valve for a marine engine. The drain valve assembly for automatically draining water from a cooling system of a inboard marine engine when the ambient temperature drops to a preselected value is described. The drain valve includes a cup-shaped base having a group of inlets connected to portions of a cooling system of the engine to be drained, and an open end of the base is enclosed by a cover. Each inlet defines a valve seat and a sealing piston is mounted for movement in the base and includes a series of valve members that are adapted to engage the valve seats. An outlet is provided in the side wall of the cup-shaped base. The valve members on the sealing pistons are biased to a closed position by a coil spring and a temperature responsive element interconnects the sealing piston with the cover. The temperature responsive element is characterized by the ability to exert a force in excess of the spring force of the coil spring when the ambient temperature is above approximately 50 degrees F., to thereby maintain the valve members in the closed position. When the temperature falls below the selected temperature, the temperature responsive element will react, thereby permitting the valve members to be opened under the influence of the spring to automatically drain water from the cooling system of the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,884, which issued to Meisenburg on Oct. 24, 1989, discloses a marine propulsion device with a thru-transom engine oil drain system. A fluid flow tube is provided which extends from the lower portion of the engine oil pan to a point on the boat transom below the pan. The upper end portion of the tube is connected through a control valve which communicates with the pan interior. The lower or discharge tube end portion is connected through a fitting extending through the transom. A removal plug is associated with the fitting and, when removed, permits oil to drain out through the transom and into an oil receptacle when the control valve is open.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,715, which issued Hedge on May 3, 1988, discloses a pressure actuated drain valve for marine drives. The pressure actuated drain valve for automatically draining the cooling water from a marine drive engine when the engine is stopped is disclosed. The drain valve includes a spring-loaded diaphragm which moves to a closed position when the engine water pump is operating to close an outlet from the engine cavities to be drained. The diaphragm automatically moves to its open position when the engine water pump is off to open the outlet to allow cooling water to drain from the engine cavities.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,598, which issued to Bland et al on Oct. 13, 1987, describes a marine propulsion device water suppl
Biggs Timothy M.
Hughes William E.
Jaeger Matthew W.
Logan Andrew K.
White Brian R.
Basinger Sherman
Brunswick Corporation
Lanyi William D.
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