Abstract: A catalyst exhaust system includes a catalyst housing having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a passage therethough. The outlet end includes a valve seat, and a water jacket surrounds the catalyst housing. A valve housing is in flow communication with the outlet end and in flow communication with said water jacket to accommodate a valve configured to allow passage of exhaust gases but prevent water from entering the catalyst housing passage and reaching a catalyst therein.

Abstract: A propulsion system having a low-friction exhaust bellows relative to an engine located in the interior of a marine vessel is provided. The engine has an exhaust discharge member in communication with a propulsion unit, and an exhaust passage having an exterior coupling member flexibly connected to pass exhaust from the exhaust discharge member to the propulsion unit. The interior surface of the passage is configured to provide a relatively smooth surface to the exhaust passing therein.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system includes an outboard powerhead mounted to a horizontal mounting plate within a boat platform recess. A steering arm is attached to a yoke that extends through the transom plate for rotating an attached propeller drive unit. The yoke includes integral fluid paths for hydraulic cylinders coupled to the yoke to pivot the propeller drive unit, and for powerhead cooling water. A removable gearcase plate allows the outboard powerhead, the horizontal mounting plate, the steering arm and the yoke to be pre-assembled and dropped down through the boat platform recess.

Abstract: An electrically controlled shift and throttle system for a watercraft having multiple control stations is disclosed. The system has a number of control units having an elongated lever arm which can be moved in forward and reverse directions for shifting the transmission among forward, neutral, and reverse operating modes, as well as controlling the throttle of the engine for varying the operating speed thereof. The control units are electrically connected to a controller which also is electrically connected to a shift gear motor and throttle motor. Switches associated with each of the control units enables one of the control units to be selected as a master control unit and the nonselected control units then operate as slave units. During operation, the angular position of the master control unit lever arm is duplicated in the nonselected control units so that all control unit lever arms have the same angular orientation.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is an oiling system for an outboard engine and includes an oil tank and an oil pump located within the tank. A manifold is coupled to the oil pump, and the manifold includes a solenoid controlled valve. The solenoid controlled valve controls the flow of oil through the manifold. The manifold further includes a plurality of check valves in flow communication with the solenoid controlled valve. The check valves are in flow communication between the solenoid controlled valve and the engine cylinders. The oil system, in the one embodiment, further includes a pressure regulator in flow communication with, and downstream from, the manifold. An outlet of the pressure regulator in flow communication with the oil tank, and allows oil to flow from the manifold to the tank when pressure in the system exceeds a preselected pressure. The oil system also includes a fuel solenoid controlled valve coupled to receive oil from the manifold and to supply oil to the engine fuel system.

Abstract: A load matching circuit is disclosed for use with a frequency controlled power supply. The load matching circuit includes an input connectable to the frequency controlled power supply and an output connectable to the load, such as an induction heating coil. A load matching section is connected between the input and the output to provide enough resonance to allow the power supply to operate at or below the maximum frequency when the load is connected to the power supply and at or above the minimum frequency when the load is disconnected from the power supply. In this manner, a solid-state variable frequency power supply can continue to run even when the external load is disconnected from the power supply.

Abstract: A vent control system having a closed biased vent valve is used to separate vapor and/or air from a liquid in an enclosed chamber. The closed biased vent valve has a float having an upwardly extending float arm which cooperates with a lever arm of the closed biased vent valve to prevent unintended release of vapor or liquid from the enclosed chamber. The upwardly extending float arm and the lever arm are coupled to one another when the float is located beneath a designated level in the enclosed chamber and are decoupled from one another when the float rises above the designated level. The vent control system is much less susceptible to vibration induced vent opening than a traditional vent valve. The vent control system is well suited for use in a fuel vapor separator that includes a housing having the enclosed chamber formed within it.

Abstract: A piston for a two-stroke direct fuel injection internal combustion engine coupled to drive a marine propulsion unit is provided. The piston has a generally cylindrical body with one or more grooves formed therein. Each groove defines an opening to receive a respective piston ring. A thermal-protection coating is applied by anodizing the interior of the grooves. The respective region of the piston cylindrical body surrounding the respective groove openings is free of the coating.

Abstract: Computerized system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine are provided. The system includes a speed-setting device operable to supply a signal indicative of a desired engine speed. A speed sensor is coupled to the engine to supply a signal indicative of the actual speed of the engine. An electronic control unit is coupled to receive the respective signals indicative of desired engine speed and actual engine speed. The control unit in turn includes a comparator configured to compare the respective signals indicative of desired and actual engine speed relative to one another and supply a comparator output signal based on the magnitude of any differences therebetween. A processor is responsive to the comparator output signal to adjust one or more engine operational parameters of the engine.