Abstract: An direct injected internal combustion engine includes a catalytic device for cleaning the exhaust gases of the engine. A control system of the engine is configured to adjust at least one of fuel injection timing, fuel injection duration and ignition timing so as to increase the temperature of the exhaust gases entering the catalytic device.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is fuel injected. A controller either detects or calculates engine speed, throttle angle and a rate of change of the throttle angle. A first fuel injection amount is preset during a preset period of time following engine starting and subsequently controlled by the controller. While being controlled, an amount of fuel injected is comprised of two components: a base amount determined by engine speed and throttle angle and an additional amount determined by throttle angle and a rate of change in throttle angle. Ignition timing also can be varied in the two component manner as well.

Abstract: An outboard motor comprises an engine mounted within an engine compartment. The engine comprises an induction system having an induction passage extending between a plenum chamber and a combustion chamber. A throttle valve is positioned along the passage. A bypass passage communicates with the passage at a location between the throttle valve and the combustion chamber. An adjustable valve controls flow through the bypass passage. The adjustable valve can be moved below a first preset throttle angle position and fixed above that preset throttle angle. The engine further comprises a fuel injector. The fuel injection amount is controlled by more than one control map. The control maps determine a fuel injection amount based on at least two sensed engine conditions. Based on throttle angle position, the control scheme determines which control map is used.

Abstract: A ventilation system for a watercraft engine includes an improved construction that can inhibit oil in an oil container from flowing into an air induction system even if the watercraft capsizes. The engine includes an engine body and an air induction system that introduces air to combustion chambers. A lubrication system is arranged to lubricate at least a portion of the engine body with lubricant oil. The lubrication system includes an oil tank assembly out of the engine body. A ventilation system is arranged to separate a gaseous component from a liquid component. The ventilation system includes a separator configured to separate the gaseous component from the liquid component. A ventilation passage connects the separator with the air induction system. A return passage couples a bottom portion of the ventilation passage with inside of the engine body.

Abstract: An outboard motor engine includes a feedback control system for controlling the air/fuel ratio of the air/fuel mixture combusted within the engine. The control system can be configured to vary the target output value of a combustion condition sensor in accordance with at least one engine operation characteristic, for example, but without limitation, engine speed or throttle position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing corrected throttle valve opening data to the ECU for calculation of various engine parameters includes computing a throttle opening adjustment value H by subtracting a sensed throttle valve opening S from a actual throttle valve opening D at engine idle. An adjusted throttle valve opening K is computed throughout the range of throttle openings by adding the adjustment value H to the sensed throttle valve opening S. In this manner, an erroneous sensed throttle valve opening S is corrected by the adjustment value H. The process of determining the throttle valve adjustment value preferably is performed at the engine idle state and can be triggered by a physical trigger; by connecting and disconnecting certain electronic devices from the ECU according to a prescribed pattern; by shifting an outboard motor from a neutral to a forward or reverse state; or by other triggering means.

Abstract: An outboard motor has an idle speed control in an induction and fuel injection system. The idle speed control controls the rate of flow of air through a bypass passage into the induction system to help improve engine performance. The bypass passage bypasses flow through the throttle body to increase the air flow while the throttle body is either closed or in a wide open position. Of course, the arrangement also can be used to increase the air flow in other orientations of the throttle valve. The bypass passage also is connected to a vent from a vapor separation tank such that vapor from the gas-filled vapor separation tank passes into the bypass air flow and is admitted into the intake system downstream of the throttle valve. The bypass air flow is subdivided between a number of the intake pipes. The bypass arrangement thus advantageously introduces a subdivided amount of ventilation air from the vapor separation tank into each of the plurality of combustion chambers formed within the engine.

Abstract: A two cycle engine includes an exhaust control valve, which opens and closes an exhaust port, and a controller for controlling the exhaust valve. The controller is configured to increase the effective cross-sectional area of the exhaust port when an engine speed increases beyond a specified value and to adjust the amount of fuel injected into the combustion chamber based upon the sensed position of the exhaust control valve. A method for controlling a two-cycle engine is also disclosed. The method comprises determining an engine speed, using the engine speed to determine a target position for an exhaust control valve, moving the exhaust valve towards the target position, sensing a position of the exhaust control valve, and determining a fuel injection amount from at least the sensed position of the exhaust valve and the engine speed.

Abstract: An engine for a watercraft includes an improved air induction system that can have a large plenum chamber notwithstanding being placed in a narrow engine compartment. The air induction system includes a plenum chamber member defining the plenum chamber. The plenum chamber member has an air inlet port for the plenum chamber. The air induction system also includes one or more throttle bodies. The throttle bodies have throttle valves admitting air to one or more combustion chambers from the plenum chamber. The throttle bodies are disposed within the plenum chamber. The construction of the air induction system not only provide a large capacity plenum chamber, but also protects the throttle bodies from water.

Abstract: A watercraft includes a lubrication system having a lubricant pump assembly and a lubrication reservoir defined between a lower crankcase member and an oil cover. At least one oil passage connects a crankcase to the reservoir. The oil cover, or both the oil cover and the crankcase member may contain one or more baffles configured to impede a flow of oil away from the lubricant pump assembly. Additionally, the cover may include one or more projections securing one or more plugs within one or more countersink portions of the crankcase member.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes at least one combustion chamber formed by at least a first member and a second member that moves relative to the first member. The second member is coupled to an output shaft such that movement of the second member causes the output shaft to rotate. The engine also includes a cooling system configured to circulate coolant into thermal communication with at least a portion of the engine. An induction system is also included for providing a fuel/air charge to the combustion chamber. The induction system includes a charge former configured to form the fuel/air charge and a mounting plate that is attached to the carburetor. The mounting plate includes a first coolant passage that is in communication with the cooling system.

Abstract: A lubricant filler structure for an internal combustion engine includes a lubricant filler tube having a lower end connected to the crankcase and an upper end forming a filling port. The filler tube is disposed forwardly at an angle with respect to the vertical. The engine also has a cover member through which the lubricant filler structure extends. The cover member and the lubricant filler structure are configured to enhance accessibility of a lubricant filling port by the user.

Abstract: An outboard motor powers a watercraft and comprises an engine mounted within an engine compartment. The engine comprises an induction system having an induction passage extending between an air intake box to a combustion chamber. A throttle valve is positioned along the passage. A bypass passage communicates with the passage at a location between the throttle valve and the combustion chamber. An adjustable valve controls flow through the bypass passage. The adjustable valve can be closed at a first rate if a the watercraft is traveling at a speed greater than a preset value and at a second rate if the watercraft is traveling at a speed below the preset value.

Abstract: An outboard motor features a v-type internal combustion engine having a generally vertically extending crankshaft. Exhaust gases from combustion chambers are routed through a set of exhaust manifolds positioned within the valley defined by the two banks of cylinders. The exhaust flow is merged within a passage formed in the cylinder block prior to passing the exhaust flow into a passage formed within an exhaust guide plate to which the engine is mounted. The merged flow passage is positioned to allow a compact outboard motor construction. The motor also features a cooling pattern by which the exhaust manifold runners, the exhaust manifold, the cylinder head, the valley and the cylinders are cooled in that order.

Abstract: An engine control system includes an improved construction that can release an engine from an abnormal engine speed so that, for example, the operator can operate a shift actuator without any overload. The engine includes an air induction system that introduces air to the combustion chamber and includes a throttle valve. The throttle valve admits the air to flow through the air induction system unless placed in a closed position. A throttle valve position sensor is arranged to sense the position of the throttle valve. An engine speed sensor is also arranged to sense a rotational speed of the crankshaft. A control device is provided for slowing down the engine speed based upon a throttle position signal from the throttle valve position sensor and a speed signal from the engine speed sensor.

Abstract: An improved fuel supply arrangement for a direct fuel injected engine. In one feature, the fuel supply arrangement comprises a high pressure fuel pump for developing high pressure in fuel, a fuel injector for directly injecting the fuel into combustion chamber of the engine and a flexible conduit for connecting the high pressure fuel pump and the fuel injector. In another feature that is for a multi-cylinder engine, the fuel supply arrangement comprises a high pressure fuel pump for developing high pressure in fuel, a plurality of fuel injectors for directly injecting the fuel into respective combustion chambers of the engine, a fuel supply rail for supplying the fuel from the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel injectors and a flexible conduit for connecting the high pressure fuel pump and the fuel supply rail.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of direct injected V-type outboard motors provided with a very effective fuel supply system wherein the number of components can be significantly reduced as well as the elimination of many of the flexible conduits normally employed. This also permits the fuel system to be assembled as a relatively unitary assembly that can be then affixed to the engine. The arrangement is such that purging of the system from vapors during shutdowns is easily accomplished and the system can be purged without complicated construction. Furthermore, the system can be pressure tested by an arrangement where the low pressure system can bypass the high pressure system when the engine is not operating so as to be pressurized for testing purposes. However, when the high pressure system operates, then the bypass line will be closed by the shunting valve arrangement.

Abstract: An engine includes an electronic controller which samples the pressure in the induction system once per rotation of the crankshaft. The controller is configured to determine the minimum voltage signal output by the pressure sensor. The controller then uses the minimum pressure sensed by the pressure sensor to control the fuel injection of the engine. The controller may include two and/or three dimensional maps for predicting the appropriate timing for sampling the pressure sensor. The engine also includes a smoothing system so as to provide for more accurate sampling of the pressure within the induction system.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, which can be disposed in a water vehicle, includes an exhaust system having features improving the performance, ease of manufacturing, and/or the water preclusive effects thereof. The exhaust system can include an exhaust manifold defining a plurality of exhaust runners and being made from at least two parts. The exhaust system can also include a plurality of individual exhaust passages extending from exhaust ports of the engine to a forward end of the engine. The exhaust system can also include an exhaust passage which extends from the exhaust ports to varying elevations relative to the exhaust ports, as well as other features.

Abstract: An exhaust cleaning system for a marine propulsion engine that includes a catalyst positioned within a tube that communicates with an expansion chamber. A cooling jacket extends around at least a portion of the exhaust system and the liquid coolant is discharged into the exhaust system for flow with the exhaust gases. A number of different arrangements are shown for precluding the coolant from flowing back into the exhaust system and contacting the catalyst bed either when the watercraft is inverted and righted or in the event the engine is stopped and restarted.