Abstract: An operator-actuated inlet grate clean-out mechanism which can be actuated by pushing and pulling a cable or rotating a shaft from the driver's seat of a boat. A weed wiper which is arranged to push weeds off of a pivotable cantilever-tine inlet grate as the wiper travels along the tines and toward the aft tips of the tines. As the wiper sweeps along the inlet grate tines, it bears against the inlet grate and causes the grate to swing downward to a position where the aft tips of the cantilever tines are spaced from the pump jet housing. Because the weeds wrap and ball around the inlet grate, they also slide off easily when pushed or dragged by the sweeping wiper bar.

Abstract: An exhaust system for inboard/outboard marine propulsion system. The exhaust system includes intermediate exhaust pipes which are physically separate components than the water separator. A sealed latching mechanism connects an outlet portion of the intermediate exhaust pipes to an inlet portion of the water separator. The sealed latching mechanism is secure yet flexible, and allows the orientation of the intermediate exhaust pipe to be adjusted relative to the water separator, thus allowing the exhaust system to be installed and serviced without dismounting or loosening the engine. The intermediate exhaust pipes also have a flared inlet part to facilitate alignment of the intermediate exhaust pipe at the exhaust elbow.

Abstract: A flushing device (30) for the cooling system of a marine drive (10) includes a housing (32) having an inlet (34) for receiving pressurized flushing coolant, an outlet (36) for discharging the flushing coolant to the marine drive cooling system, a pulsation chamber (33) between the inlet (34) and outlet (36), and a pulsation mechanism (40) in the pulsation chamber (38) and receiving the pressurized flushing coolant and imparting a pulsation movement thereto and delivering pulsating flushing coolant to the outlet (36).

Abstract: A marine propeller (10) has an integral aft skirt portion (30, 74) with a plurality of slots (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44) extending forwardly from the trailing end (32, 72) and dividing the skirt portion into a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments (46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) separated from each other at the trailing end by respective slots therebetween and integrally joined to each other at the outer hub (14) forwardly of the slots. Aft trailing blade tips (28e) of the propeller blades (24, 26, 28) meet the outer hub at points (60) offset from the slots to prevent engine exhaust in the through hub exhaust passage (22) from seeking the negative pressure backside surfaces (28b) of the propeller blades through the slots.

Abstract: A fuel line cooler (34) is provided for a marine propulsion system (2) having a water cooled internal combustion engine (4) in a heat retentive compartment (5). The fuel line cooler (34) has an inlet (36) in communication with the source (14, 12) of cooling water for the engine (4), and has an outlet (38) for discharging water. The fuel line cooler (34) is cooled by sea water during running of the engine (4). Upon turn off of the engine (4), the cooled water in the fuel line cooler (34) is in heat transfer relation with the fuel and prevents vaporization and or spewing of the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel line cooler (34) is provided for a marine propulsion system (2) having a water cooled internal combustion engine (4) in a heat retentive compartment (5). The fuel line cooler (34) has an inlet (36) in communication with the source (14, 12) of cooling water for the engine (4), and has an outlet (38) for discharging water. The fuel line cooler (34) is cooled by sea water during running of the engine (4). Upon turn off of the engine (4), the cooled water in the fuel line cooler (34) is in heat transfer relation with the fuel and prevents vaporization and or spewing of the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel line cooler (34) is provided for a marine propulsion system (2) having a water cooled internal combustion engine (4) in a heat retentive compartment (5). The fuel line cooler (34) has an inlet (36) in communication with the source (14, 12) of cooling water for the engine (4), and has an outlet (38) for discharging water. The fuel line cooler (34) is cooled by sea water during running of the engine (4). Upon turn off of the engine (4), the cooled water in the fuel line cooler (34) is in heat transfer relation with the fuel and prevents vaporization and or spewing of the fuel.

Abstract: A coupling assembly (17) for coupling the crankshaft (18) of an inboard engine (11) to the input shaft (19) of an outboard propulsion unit (15) has a coupling member (21) stamped from steel. The coupling member (21) is attached to the engine flywheel (20) at three points at the vertices of the triangular coupling member base. An elastomeric annulus (23) couples the coupling member (21) to the input shaft (19).

Abstract: A marine drive for a boat includes a torque converter between the engine and propulsion unit. The torque converter has a slip condition in which a torque magnifying, fluid coupling is interposed between the engine and the propulsion unit. The slip of the torque converter enhances acceleration of the boat by permitting rapid increases in engine speed and power through relieving propeller loading of the engine. The torque converter has a lock-up condition in which the input and output shafts are directly and mechanically coupled together to provide highly efficient, sustained speed operation of the boat. A control operates the torque converter between the slip and lock-up conditions. This control may be obtained responsive to operating conditions in the engine or torque converter, such as engine speed, torque converter slip, throttle position, intake manifold vacuum, and engine ignition advance.

Abstract: A steering system for a steerable marine drive has a fluid filled cylinder with the housing connected to the boat and the piston connected to the steering arm of the marine drive. The piston contains valves operated by the control cable connected to the steering wheel of the boat. When the valves are closed, the piston, and hence the marine drive, is locked in position. Propeller torque or other forces imposed on the marine drive are transferred to the boat rather than to the control cable and the steering wheel. To steer the marine drive, the control cable initially opens the valves in the piston, unlocking the marine drive. Thereafter it moves the marine drive to the desired position. A lost motion mechanism, including that used in a vane steering system, may be utilized for this purpose. Alternately, the piston may lock the lost motion mechanism rather than the marine drive, to prevent the transmission of forces to the steering wheel.

Abstract: A fluid cooler for hydraulic or other fluids in the marine drive is provided in the exhaust pipe of a marine drive so that cooling water in the exhaust pipe may remove heat from fluid in the cooler. The cooler may comprise fins on the exterior of the portion of the exhaust pipe containing the cooling water. The fins extend into a chamber through which the fluid circulates. Or, the cooler may comprise a pipe embedded in the wall of the portion of the exhaust pipe containing the cooling water. The fluid flows through the pipe for cooling.