Marine propulsion – Means for accomodating or moving engine fluids – Cooling for engine
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-22
2003-01-14
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Means for accomodating or moving engine fluids
Cooling for engine
C114S18300R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06506085
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to a pump and drain apparatus for a marine vessel and, more particularly, to an integral structure wherein the pump and drain assembly is contained within a single housing structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many different mechanisms have been devised for draining and flushing cooling systems for marine propulsion devices. These draining systems typically comprise a method for opening one or more ports in the engine cooling system to allow cooling water to flow out of the cooling system and either into the bilge of a marine vessel or overboard. The draining operation is typically performed by a boat owner on a periodic basis to remove cooling water from the engine when the boat is not in use and, most particularly, when temperatures are expected to fall below the freezing point. Failure to drain water from the marine propulsion cooling system could result in severe damage if the entrapped water freezes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,715, which issued to Hedge on May 3, 1988, discloses a pressure actuated drain valve for automatically draining the cooling water from a marine drive engine when the engine is stopped. 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. 4,693,690, which issued to Henderson on Sep. 15, 1987, describes a quick drain assembly for a boat engine. The drain device for an inboard boat engine, especially an engine of the type having a water jacket to which a plurality of drain cocks are connected through which the engine coolant must be drained after each use of the engine is disclosed. The quick drain device is in the form of a barrel having a plurality of lateral tubes radiating therefrom. An expandable stopper is received within the barrel and covers the ends of the tubes and thereby prevents flow therethrough. The other ends of the lateral tubes are connected to the drain cocks or drain plugs located on the engine block. Removal of the expandable stopper simultaneously drains all of the drain plugs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,934, which issued to Biggs et al on Jul. 18, 2000, discloses an engine cooling system with a simplified drain and flushing procedure. An engine cooling system is provided with one or more flexible conduits attached to drain openings of the engine and its related components. First ends of the conduits are attached to the drain openings while the second ends are sealed by studs attached to a plate of a stationary bracket. A retainer is slidably associated with the flexible conduits and attached to a tether which is, in turn, attached to a handle. By manipulating the handle, the tether forces the retainer to slide along the flexible conduits and control the position of second ends of the flexible conduits. This allows the system to be moved from a first position with the second ends of the conduits above the first ends of the conduits to a second position with the second ends of the conduits below the first ends and in the bilge of the boat. The system allows an operator to stand in a single location and move the drain system from the first and second positions and back again without having to reach down into the engine compartment to remove drain plugs. The system allows the cooling system to be easily drained for flushed.
U.S. Pat. 5,123,369, which issued to Gross on Jun. 23, 1992, describes a marine valve structure. A valve apparatus for a marine vessel has a housing with first, second, and third ports and a valve member within the housing. The housing is mounted to the hull of the vessel with the first port communicating with the body of water outside of the vessel. The third port is connected to the cooling system of an engine in the vessel and the second is closed by a quick release plug. The valve member is movable to open and close communication with the outside. During the normal operation, water is drawn through the structure into the engine cooling system and is discharged overboard. In an emergency, the plug can be removed and the valve member moved to a 90° position in which the communication with the outside is closed, allowing the engine to draw water from within the hull and discharge it overboard. The structure can also be used with a service adapter for engine flushing and other maintenance.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,064, which issued to Logan et al on Oct. 24, 2000, discloses an engine drain system. An engine cooling system is provided with a manifold that is located below the lowest point of the cooling system of an engine. The manifold is connected to the cooling system of the engine, a water pump, a circulation pump, the exhaust manifolds of the engine, and a drain conduit through which all of the water can be drained from the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,342, which issued to Logan et al on Nov. 9, 1999, discloses a flushing system for a marine propulsion engine. A flushing system provides a pair of check valves that are used in combination with each other. One of the check valve is attached to a hose located between the circulating pump and the thermostat housing of the engine. The other check valve is attached to a hose through which fresh water is provided. Both check valves prevent flow of water through them unless they are associated together in locking attachment. The check valve attached to the circulating pump hose of the engine directs a stream of water from the hose toward the circulating pump so that the water can then flow through the circulating pump, the engine block, the heads, the intake manifold, and the exhaust system of the engine to remove sea water residue from the internal passages and surfaces of the engine. It is not required that the engine be operated during the flushing operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,063, which issued to Inoue et al on Aug. 2, 1994, describes a cooling system for a marine propulsion engine. A number of embodiments of cooling systems for marine propulsion units having water cooled internal combustion engines in which the cooling jacket of the engine is at least partially positioned below the level of the water in which the watercraft is operating are described. The described embodiments all permit draining of the engine cooling jacket when it is not being run. In some embodiments, the drain valve also controls the communication of the coolant from the body of water in which the watercraft is operating with the engine cooling jacket. Various types of pumping arrangements are disclosed for pumping the bilge and automatic valve operation is also disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,367, which issued to Fulks on Dec. 6, 1988, describes a marine engine flushing and emergency bilge pumping assembly. An assembly for a boat having an internal combustion engine which uses sea water as its coolant and a bilge which collects sea water is disclosed. The assembly comprises a Y-shaped pipe whose tail is connected to the water pump of the internal combustion engine, a first manually operable on-off valve for controlling the flow of sea water into the water pump located in one arm of the Y-shaped pipe, a second manually operable on-off valve for controlling the flow of an alternative source of water into the water pump located in the second arm of the Y-shaped pipe, and a length of flexible hose attached to the end of the second arm of the Y-shaped pipe, the free end of said hose being alternatively connectable to a source of fresh water or to the sea water in the bilge. The assembly may include a switch mounted on the Y-shaped pipe whenever the on-off valve between the engine's water pump and the hose leading to the sea is closed. This switch controls a red warning light mounted on the boat's console to give a visual warning to the boat operator that the connection between the sea water and the e
Casey Thomas P.
Jaeger Matthew W.
Brunswick Corporation
Lanyi William D.
Sotelo Jesus D.
LandOfFree
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