Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine includes an air injection port in a designated region of an exhaust conduit having a converging-then-diverging nozzle providing increased exhaust gas flow velocity and decreased exhaust gas pressure. In another embodiment, an injection air conduit is connected between an alternator blower and the engine exhaust conduit to supply injection air to the latter.

Abstract: A control system is provided which allows the operator of a marine vessel to select a transmission position (e.g. forward, neutral, or reverse) and an engine speed in the event that a throttle lever malfunctions. By providing messages to the operator on an annunciator and receiving selections from the operator on a plurality of push button switches, a microprocessor selects gear positions and engine operating speed in response to commands received from the operator.

Abstract: An outboard motor cooling water distribution system directs water from the water jacket of an engine through a container in which a conduit has a first inlet opening that is configured to cause a water stream to entrain debris from a region near a drain opening of the container and prevent the debris from building up in the vicinity of the drain opening. Debris which is heavier than the water is drawn upwardly through the first inlet opening of the conduit and conducted away from the container. Debris which is lighter than water is entrained in a second water flow and conducted through a second inlet opening of the conduit so that it can be drawn into the conduit and conducted away from the container. The creation of the first water flow maintains the area around the drain opening in a clean condition as a result of the velocity and direction of the water flow caused by the position and size of the first inlet opening of the conduit.

Abstract: A marine transmission provides first and second drive gears that have first and second driving surfaces in contact with first and second quantities of rheological fluid. First and second driven surfaces of a propeller shaft are also in contact with the rheological fluids within first and second cavities. Torque is transmitted between the drive gears and the propeller shaft through the increase in viscosity of the rheological fluid. A dog clutch can also be provided in order to lock the propeller shaft to the driving one of the first and second drive gears after the rheological fluid is used to spin up the propeller shaft to the appropriate speed.

Abstract: A method for calibrating the steering configuration for a marine propulsion system provides a procedure by which the steering alignment is changed by a known and symmetrical amount in order to identify and characterize the effect that such a change has on the operating efficiency of the marine vessel. Before the calibrating process is completed, the overall consistency of the vessel operation is measured to determine that the conditions are correct for the calibration procedure to commence. After analyzing the consistency of operation of the marine vessel, known and symmetrical changes, or perturbations, in the steering system are made and the effect of those changes are determined as a function of the fuel usage by the marine vessel. The effects on fuel usage are characterized as being beneficial, harmful, or negligible.

Abstract: A corrosion inhibiting system is provided with the ability to allow both primary and secondary portions of the circuit to be used in the alternative without having the primary and secondary systems interfere with each other by operating at the same time. By incorporating a continuity controller, such as a switch or a diode to selectively disconnect the sacrificial anode from the circuit, the primary and secondary systems can both be provided on a marine vessel, but used independently from each other. In that way, the primary and secondary corrosion inhibiting systems are prevented from interfering with each other during normal operation.

Abstract: A marine propulsion control system receives manually input signals from a steering wheel or trim switches and provides the signals to first, second, and third controllers. The controllers cause first, second, and third actuators to move control devices. The actuators can be hydraulic steering actuators or trim plate actuators. Only one of the plurality of controllers requires connection directly to a sensor or switch that provides a position signal because the controllers transmit signals among themselves. These arrangements allow the various positions of the actuated components to vary from one device to the other as a result of calculated positions based on a single signal provided to one of the controllers.

Abstract: A marine propulsion drive unit is provided with two energy absorbing structures, one comprising a crushable or deformable nose cone or leading edge of a driveshaft housing and the other comprising a frangible interface that allows the drive unit to separate from the hull of a marine vessel. The crushable or deformable nose cone is configured to absorb energy at relatively low impact velocities with submerged structures and the frangible interface is configured to absorb energy and then detach from the hull of the marine vessel at higher impact velocities.

Abstract: A valve actuating system determines a shape of its jam nut surface as a function of a resultant force on a ball stud exerted by a rocker arm on the ball stud during operation of the valve train. The contact surface of the jam nut, which is pressed against an associated surface of the head of an engine, is a conical surface with an included angle that is generally twice the magnitude of an angle between a resultant force on the ball stud and a central axis of the ball stud and its associated jam nut. Certain accommodations can be made in order to reduce the cost of the system that would occur if perfect mathematical preciseness with a most preferred embodiment of the present invention is employed.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the validity of a signal received by a GPS receiver. A signal that is unfiltered, either mathematically or electronically, is monitored to determine the variability of different occurrences of the signal. These occurrences, which may be sequential, are compared to each other in order to detect whether or not variation exists between one occurrence of the signal and a subsequent occurrence of the signal. If no variation exists, it is determined that the signal is invalid and that a loss of fix of the satellite signal has occurred. If sufficient variability exists in the signal, between successive occurrences, the signal is deemed to be valid and suitable for use to control a vehicle such as a marine vessel.

Abstract: A die casting method for use with semi-solid metal billets allows the removal of air from portions of the billet as it is compressed and deformed to flow into a cavity of a die. The die is formed in a manner that captures other potential defects and impurities in portions of the finished die cast product that can easily be removed subsequent to the completion of the die casting operation. The air is removed through passages formed in a generally cylindrical rod that extends through a second surface of the die to allow the air to flow from pockets formed by a concavity of the billet and through the air conduit to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A hybrid marine vessel is provided with a system that inhibits the movement of the marine vessel under its own power when the marine vessel is connected or recharging to a stationary source of energy on shore. This avoids significant damage that could otherwise occur if the marine vessel moves away or attempts to move away from the dock when connected by a cable or other device to a stationary structure. The system detects a potential connection between the boat and a stationary shore component, such as a source of energy, and inhibits the transmission from being placed in a forward or reverse gear position under those conditions. Similarly, if the boat is already in a forward or reverse gear position, the system inhibits its being placed into a battery recharging mode.

Abstract: A control system for a hydraulic steering cylinder utilizes a supply valve and a drain valve. The supply valve is configured to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid from a pump to either of two cavities defined by the position of a piston within the hydraulic cylinder. A drain valve is configured to control the flow of hydraulic fluid away from the cavities within the hydraulic cylinder. The supply valve and the drain valve are both proportional valves in a preferred embodiment of the present invention in order to allow accurate and controlled movement of a steering device in response to movement of a steering wheel of a marine vessel.

Abstract: A catalyzed exhaust system for an outboard motor engine rotates its catalyst device in a catalyst housing above an adapter plate which supports the engine and separates it from the driveshaft housing. The exhaust gas is directed initially in an upwardly direction and then is turned downwardly to provide space for location and easy access to the catalyst device. A coolant, such as water drawn from a body of water, is reversed in direction of flow several times in order to advantageously fill certain cooling channels in an upward direction. In addition, various coolant channels are vented to remove potential pockets of air in their upper regions.

Abstract: An engine structure is provided with a bedplate and an oil pan. The bedplate is configured to have an integrally formed balance shaft bearing support. A bearing cap is either a separate component or a component that is formed as an integral part of the oil pan. The bearing cap and the balance shaft bearing support structures are attachable to each other to capture the bearing portions of the balance shafts therebetween.

Abstract: A support system for an outboard motor provides a restricted member that is attached to a bottom portion of the outboard motor and a restricting member that is attached to a support structure that is, in turn, attached to a transom of a marine vessel. The restricted member is prevented from moving in a starboard or port direction by a magnitude greater than a preselected magnitude that is defined by a gap between restricting and restricted surfaces that move into contact with each other when forces on the outboard motor cause a lower portion of the outboard motor to move by a magnitude greater than a predefined limit in either the port or starboard directions. Preselected gaps between restricting and restricted surfaces are sized to allow nominal vibration at low operating speeds of the outboard motor while restricting excessive lateral movement during operation at high speed.

Abstract: A marine transmission provides a cylindrical spool valve that is disposed within the gear case of the transmission and has a movable portion that is axially movable in a vertical direction to select forward, neutral, and reverse gear positions of the transmission. A piston assembly provides a primary piston and two auxiliary pistons which cooperate with each other to provide appropriate hydraulic forces which move a dog clutch into engagement with forward or reverse gears or toward a location in non-engagement with neither the forward nor reverse gears. The spool valve is generally cylindrical and disposed within a narrow column portion of the gear case of a marine propulsion system.

Abstract: A control system for an outboard motor provides an EGR valve and an idle exhaust relief valve which are under the control of a controller that opens and closes the valves as a function of the rotational speed of a crankshaft of the engine. The EGR valve controls the flow of exhaust gas from an exhaust gas conduit to an air intake manifold. The idle exhaust relief valve controls the flow of exhaust gas from the exhaust conduit to a location at atmospheric pressure. In addition, the idle exhaust relief valve is used to allow air to flow from the atmosphere into the exhaust conduit when the engine is turned off.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of batteries in a hybrid marine vessel utilize a compartment to store the batteries and various conduits to conduct air to and from that compartment. A heat exchanger can draw air from the compartment and cool the air for use in the cabin of the marine vessel. The air from the cabin can be directed into the compartment to provide a flow of air that carries heat away from the batteries in the compartment and toward the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An engine is provided with a cavity so that a catalyst member can be contained within the engine when an engine head portion is attached to an engine block portion. This attachment of the engine head portion and engine block portion, which forms the engine structure, captivates the catalyst member within the cavity without the need for additional brackets and housing structures. The cavity is preferably located above or at the upper regions of first and second exhaust conduits which direct exhaust upwardly from the engine head portion toward the cavity and downwardly from the cavity within the engine block portion. The first and second exhaust conduits are preferably formed as integral structures within the engine head portion and engine block portion.