Abstract: A watercraft (10) having two sources of (22, 32) of cooling water (28, 34) for injection cooling of hot exhaust gas (30) being conveyed through an exhaust pipe (16) upstream of muffler (54). The first water source (22) may be an active apparatus such as the engine cooling apparatus (22). The second source of water (32) may be a passive apparatus such as a Pitot tube (38) formed in the stern drive (20) of the watercraft (10). By providing two independent sources of cooling water, the probability of exhaust component failures is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for restricting the areas of contact between components to be plated or coated and liquid solutions containing plating or coating agents, without the use of masking tape. Components made of electrically conductive material are suspended underneath a hood or bell housing which is sized and shaped to receive those portions of the components that should not be plated (or coated). Then the suspended components and the hood or bell housing are fully immersed in a bath of plating (or coating) solution, forming an air pocket under the hood or bell housing. This air pocket surrounds those portions of the components which are not to be plated (or coated) and prevents the liquid solution in the bath from touching those portions. The air acts as a mask that prevents paint or metal from contacting or adhering to surfaces not to be plated (or coated).

Abstract: A reciprocating pump includes a drive section and a pump section. The drive section has a reciprocating coil assembly to which alternating polarity control signals are applied by a reciprocating circuit during operation. A permanent magnet structure of the drive section creates a magnetic flux field which interacts with an electromagnetic field produced during application of the control signals to the coil. Depending upon the polarity of the control signals applied to the coil, the coil is driven in one of two directions of movement. The reciprocating circuit employs a storage capacitor and several switches to capture the energy of the reciprocating coil as the pump is driven downwardly. The charge is recycled as the capacitor dissipates, thereby reversing the polarity of the current through the coil and driving the coil assembly upwardly to its initial position.

Abstract: An oil system for an outboard marine engine is disclosed. The oil system includes an oil system housing having an inlet, an outlet, and an oil return. The housing includes a solenoid chamber to receive a solenoid therein to toggle lubricant flow from the inlet passage to either the return passage or the outlet passage. The oil is routed in a closed loop that includes an oil reservoir, the inlet to the oil system housing, through the housing, and is then returned to the oil reservoir. Periodically, the solenoid opens the closed loop system to divert oil to the two-stroke engine, at which time a remote vent valve is activated to allow air to enter the oil reservoir to displace the dispensed oil. The system preferably includes a replaceable oil filter to filter the continuous flow of oil in the closed loop system.

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: An oil temperature compensation control is disclosed for use with an oil delivery system in an outboard marine engine. The control includes an oil injection system that normally routes lubricant through a closed loop, and periodically diverts lubricant to the engine. The control includes a temperature sensor to acquire an oil temperature indicative signal, which preferably, is an indirect measurement of oil temperature. The control includes a microprocessor connected to receive the oil temperature indicative signal, and in response thereto, to control the period lubricant is routed to the engine by the oil injection system. The microprocessor includes a memory to store a look-up table that includes a solenoid pulse width for a variety of temperature signals so that the solenoid can be toggled based on the viscosity of the oil to provide proper lubrication to the engine regardless of external temperatures.

Abstract: An encapsulated device and method for making such encapsulated device containing a bladder disposed between a wall of the case and the encapsulant. The bladder defines a space devoid of encapsulant and contains a collapsible insert such as an open cell foam material, thereby allowing the unimpeded thermal expansion of the encapsulant. By reducing thermal expansion stresses on the encapsulated devices, the reliability of the encapsulated device is improved.

Abstract: A propeller assembly that includes an interchangeable drive sleeve, a resilient inner hub having a bore in which the drive sleeve is inserted, and a propeller including an outer hub in which the drive sleeve and resilient inner hub are inserted, is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the drive sleeve includes a cylindrical shaped body and a plurality of splines extend from an outer diameter surface of drive sleeve body. A bore extends through drive sleeve, and a plurality of grooves are in an inner diameter surface of the drive sleeve bore. These grooves are configured to mate with splines on a propeller shaft. Resilient inner hub includes a cylindrical shaped body and a plurality of tapered grooves in an inner diameter surface of the inner hub body. Each groove is arranged to receive one drive sleeve spline. The inner hub also includes a drive flange at one end thereof.

Abstract: An isolation valve and regulator assembly is disclosed for use in a lubrication system of an outboard marine engine. The valve is used to inject and regulate oil flow into the fuel system of the outboard marine engine. The regulating valve has a housing with an inlet to receive a first hose and an outlet to receive a second hose wherein the first and second hoses are non-interchangeable. Since the construction of the valve requires different sized inlet and outlet hoses, reverse installation is prevented. A passage between the inlet and the outlet includes a check valve for allowing fluid flow in only one direction. A regulating nozzle is provided that works in conjunction with the check valve to inject and regulate lubrication flow.

Abstract: A fuel storage and supply apparatus (22) for a watercraft (10) incorporating a plurality of connections (50,66) penetrating a housing (32) in a single opening in a fuel tank (12). Each connection is sealed by a radial O-ring (56,68) so that the connection may be rotated about a longitudinal axis without adversely affecting the seal. A single opening (34) in the tank may thereby be used to provide connections for a fill tube (66), fuel tube (50), vent (86), and electrical penetrations (150) for an intank pump (136) or level sensor (156).

Abstract: A vent plug includes a main body configured to be secured within an opening in a wall of a gear case in flow communication with an exhaust passageway through the gear case. The vent plug main body includes a flow passage therethrough and a planar flow restriction member extends across the flow passage that includes an opening. The main body also includes a variable flow restriction member chamber having an annular groove extending around the chamber. A variable flow restriction member is located in the chamber, and includes an opening having the same diameter as the diameter of the opening in the flow restriction member. The variable flow restriction chamber is movable within the chamber groove to adjust an amount of exhaust passing through the openings of the flow restriction member and the variable flow restriction member.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system having an integral-piece gimbal ring and steering means is provided. The system is made up of a gimbal housing affixed through the rear of a boat transom and a gimbal ring pivotally connected to the gimbal housing. The system is further made up of a steering assembly configured to provide pivotal movement of the gimbal ring relative to the gimbal housing about a steering axis. The gimbal ring and the steering assembly comprise an integral-piece assembly.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system (10) including a vertical drive unit (12) adapted to have a common upper gear case housing (26) for use with either one of a cone clutch shifting apparatus (60) or a clutch dog shifting apparatus (120). The upper gear case housing is designed to have bearing support surfaces (38) common to both applications and to have a bottom mating surface (27) adapted for attachment to a lower gear case (16) including either a clutch dog shifting apparatus (120) or a non-shifting power transfer apparatus (140). A shift linkage (110) is designed to have a first set of parts (80,82) adapted for connection to the cone clutch shifting apparatus (90) and having a second set of parts (102,104,106) adapted for connection to the clutch dog shifting apparatus (120) and having a third common set of parts (44,48,50) necessary for connection to either the cone clutch shifting apparatus or the clutch dog shifting apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a propulsion system for a watercraft. The system includes a rotatable body adapted for fixed external mounting on a hull forward a transverse centerline of the watercraft. A prop is coupled to, and rotatable with, the rotatable body. The prop is coupled to a power transmission drive train, which is, in turn, coupled to a drive motor. The rotatable body is further coupled to an angular drive configured for orienting the prop to produce a thrust in a desired direction during operation.

Abstract: A technique for adjusting the trim of a dual electric motor marine propulsion system is provided wherein offset or calibration signal levels are determined through a calibration sequence. The propulsion units are driven in a nominal direction, such as through a “straight-ahead” command. An operator adjusts levels of drive signals to the propulsion units to compensate for deviation from the desired navigational direction, such as due to mechanical and electrical tolerances and variations, as well as due to inherent torques or moments associated with the propulsion units. When the system is determined to navigate the craft in the desired direction, the offset or calibration values are stored. The values are then used during later control of the propulsion units as an inherent trim.

Abstract: A system for propelling and steering a watercraft is provided that includes a pair of electric motor propulsion units provided aft of a transverse centerline of the watercraft hull. A rudder is provided forward of the transverse centerline. The propulsion units may be driven to provide resultant thrust to navigate the watercraft in desired directions, automatically or in response to operator command inputs. The rudder, which may be extendable and retractable, may also be angularly positionable. Where angular positioning is provided, the orientation of the rudder may also be controlled in cooperation with the propulsion units to provide reactive forces by impingement of the rudder against the water, thereby enhancing the steering offered by the propulsion units.