Abstract: An outboard motor contains an engine. The engine is generally vertically disposed and has a cam chamber positioned on a forward-facing portion of the engine. The cam chamber is defined between a cam cover and a cylinder head assembly. A vapor separator is positioned on the cam cover and protrudes to the outside of the cam cover such that adequate clearance is maintained for a cam shaft arrangement within the cam chamber. The vapor separator has a downwardly facing lubricant outlet that returns lubricant to the cam chamber after the lubricant is separated from the crankcase ventilation gases. A fuel pump is preferably positioned so as to receive lubricant from the lubricant outlet. Moreover, a lubricant fill tube is preferably positioned at least partially higher than the lubricant outlet. In one embodiment, the fill tube is located to a side of the vapor separator while the fuel pump is located below the fill tube.

Abstract: An engine fuel injection system including a supply arrangement that includes a pair of conduits for supplying fuel to the plural injectors. The conduits are interrelated with the injectors in such a way that no one conduit supplies fuel to any two fuel injectors that fire simultaneously with or in sequence with each other.

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: A fuel injector mounting construction for an engine includes an improved thrust member. The engine is a direct injected, internal combustion engine. A fuel injector is provided for spraying fuel into a combustion chamber and inserted into an opening formed in a cylinder head. The fuel injector has a contact surface for receiving a loading or thrust force. The contact surface extends about the nozzle of the fuel injector. A seal member is provided for sealing a space between the fuel injector and the opening. The thrust member has a fixing section and a thrust section. A fixing member affixes the thrust member onto the cylinder head at the fixing section and thereby loads the thrust section onto the contact surface to exert a upon the contact surface toward the combustion chamber. At least one of the thrust section and the fixing section has a convex surface.

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 outboard motor includes an internal combustion engine having an induction system formed of a pair of vertically extending plenum chambers which communicate with the combustion chambers formed in the engine via a plurality of intake runners. A common throttle device is located upstream from the plenum chambers and communicates with the plenum chambers via an induction passage having an branch portion. The throttle device is arranged at least partially below an upper surface of the crankcase of the engine. Thus, the overall height of the engine is reduced, thereby reducing the overall height of an outer cowling member provided over the engine.

Abstract: Cooling arrangements that cool down fuel injectors exposed to the high temperature combustion in direct injected engines so that no heavy oil components deposit on nozzles of the fuel injectors. A bypass of water flow extends in the proximity of the boss where the fuel injector is inserted to expedite cooling of the fuel injector. A cavity extending toward the boss can replace the bypass or can be additionally provided. The fuel injector boss and a spark plug boss are connected with each other and make a wall that can obstruct water flow. Another bypass is provided to clear water away from a backwater formed at the wall. In case that some heavy oil components deposit on the injector nozzles for some reasons, a control system for controlling the fuel injection is allowed to adjust amounts of the fuel basically in response to the temperature of the injector nozzle.

Abstract: A cowling assembly for an outboard motor includes an improved construction that can supply relatively cool air containing little if no water to the induction device and that can also supply air to cool engine components without reducing the charging efficiency. The outboard motor has an engine that includes an air induction device and is enclosed by the cowling. The induction device has an air inlet opening. The cowling assembly defines a closed cavity in which the engine is contained and has an air intake duct that introduces air into the cavity. The intake duct adjoins the inlet opening and has an opening opened to the cavity and positioned lower than a lower end of the inlet opening. In one form, the cowling assembly has at least one front air intake opening formed on a side surface of its front portion. A rear air intake opening is also formed on a rear surface of its rear end portion.

Abstract: A fuel injector is mounting in a cylinder head assembly. The cylinder head assembly includes a mounting bore that extends into a recess wall that forms a portion of a combustion chamber. A sleeve is placed within the mounting bore. The fuel injector is secured with a nozzle portion extending through the sleeve. The fuel injector and sleeve interface is sealed by a heat resistant sealing member. The sleeve has any of a number of configurations designed to reduce the temperature of the nozzle. In addition, the nozzle can be recessed within the sleeve to reduce the direct exposure of the nozzle to flames propagated within the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A cylinder head in a direct fuel injected engine includes an improved construction and defines a combustion chamber with other components of the engine. The engine has a fuel injector arranged to spray fuel directly into its combustion chamber and positioned at one side of the cylinder head. The cylinder head has a coolant jacket through which coolant flows. At least one rib of the cylinder head is positioned on a generally opposite side relative to the fuel injector in the coolant jacket.

Abstract: A four stroke engine having at least two cylinders spaced vertically relative to each other. Each cylinder includes a cylinder body having a cylinder bore extending generally horizontally. Plurality of air intake ducts are provided for connecting a common plenum chamber and respective air intake passages which extends to respective combustion chambers. Each of the air intake ducts has a generally straight section extending generally horizontally and parallel to each other. The distance between the straight sections is less than the distance between the axes of the cylinder bores. Also, in another feature, throttle body means are interposed between duct members, which are upstream components of the air intake ducts, and the intake passages for controlling the flow of air to the combustion chambers.

Abstract: A lubricating system is disclosed for an engine arranged such that the crankshaft is vertically oriented. The crankshaft rotates within a crankcase chamber defined by the cylinder block and a crankcase cover connected thereto. First crankshaft support members which support half-bearings extend from the cylinder block. Mating half-bearings are supported by second crankshaft support members positioned opposite the first crankshaft support members. A baffle plate is positioned in the crankcase chamber between the crankcase cover and the crankshaft. At least one oil flow passage is defined through the crankcase chamber from a top end to a bottom end of the chamber. In one embodiment, oil is supplied through a main passage in the crankcase cover and a branch passage through each second crankshaft support members for lubricating the bearings.

Abstract: A protective cowling arrangement for the power head of an outboard motor and an air inlet arrangement therefor. The cowling arrangement is comprised of a cowling portion that defines an internal area in which the engine of the outboard motor is contained and a pair of expansion chambers formed on opposite sides of the cowling assembly and each of which is provided with a respective air delivery port at a forward end thereof for increasing the air flow area available to the interior of the cowling assembly and for placing the point of air admission away from components of the associated engine that should be protected. An improved water gutter and drain arrangement is also employed to prevent water from entering into the engine area.

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. Optionally, the controller may include a bottom hold device for holding a minimum value of the signal output from the pressure sensor, thus corresponding to the minimum pressure sensed by the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A tilt and trim arrangement for marine propulsion includes an improved construction. A swivel bracket, which carries a drive unit for pivotal movement about a steering axis includes a pair of ribs spaced apart transversely from each other. A clamping bracket is affixed to an associated watercraft and supports the swivel bracket for pivotal movement about a tilt axis. A hydraulic tilt device is provided for tilting the swivel bracket. The tilt device includes a cylinder housing, a piston slidably supported within the housing and a piston rod affixed to the piston. The cylinder housing has an upper section with a diameter that is smaller than a lower section, and the piston rod extends outwardly from the upper section. The piston rod is pivotally affixed to the ribs. The upper section of the cylinder housing is generally positioned between the ribs at least when the piston rod is fully retracted within the cylinder housing.

Abstract: An exhaust system for an outboard motor includes an improved construction that can reduce cost for providing an expansion chamber of an idle exhaust discharge. The outboard motor includes an engine and a protective cowling that surrounds the engine. The protective cowling includes a top and bottom cowling members. The expansion chamber of the idle exhaust route is defined by at least a bottom surface of the bottom cowling member and a separable member.

Abstract: A marine outboard drive, such as an outboard motor, includes both a splash plate and an anti-splash device. The anti-splash device includes a second splash plate that is provided on a lower mount, which couples together a swivel bracket and a drive housing. The second splash plate extends generally forwardly of the swivel bracket just under a lower portion of a clamp bracket that supports the swivel bracket. The anti-splash device preferably also includes a guide that is provided above the conventional splash plate for directing splashed water rearwardly so that the water is guided away from a mount cover that covers the lower mount. These features of the anti-splash device are particularly useful when the outboard drive is used with a pontoon boat.

Abstract: A direct fuel injected engine includes an improved construction for preventing a fuel injector from holding considerable heat therein. A cylinder head of the engine has a cavity opened to a combustion chamber. A fuel injector is placed within the cavity and is arranged to directly spray fuel into the combustion chamber. At least one heat insulator is disposed between the cylinder head and the fuel injector to insulate the fuel injector, at least in part, generally from the cylinder head.

Abstract: An outboard motor engine includes a plurality of cylinders. A fuel injector is disposed to inject a charge of fuel into an intake system. The fuel injector can form a portion of a direct injection system or a manifold injection system. The engine includes a processor that cycles each of the fuel injectors prior to energizing a fuel pump, a starter motor, or another electrical component of the outboard motor. By energizing the fuel injectors in sequence, a higher level of voltage can be applied to each fuel injector. In addition, by energizing the fuel injectors prior to energizing other electrical components, a higher level of voltage can be applied to each fuel injector.

Abstract: An improved arrangement of an outboard motor reduces the size of the outboard motor and improves a lubrication system of the outboard motor. Intake and exhaust passages are located along a side of a cylinder body. A crank case lubricant return passage is located on the same side of the cylinder body as the intake and exhaust passages. The return passages have openings located on an inner surface of the crank case. A breather passage connecting a cam chamber and an lubricant reservoir are located on a side of the cylinder body opposite the intake and exhaust passage. The lubricant reservoir including a drain and an insertion port. The insertion port being pointed towards the drain.