Abstract: An improved, low horsepower, compact, high driving power, outboard motor having a reducing transmission located in the upper portion of the driveshaft housing and lower unit so as to provide a larger reduction ratio while maintaining a small lower unit to reduce drag.

Abstract: An outboard motor oil pump driving arrangement wherein the oil pump is driven by a spline connection positioned between the engine crankshaft and the driveshaft. There is a spline connection also between the crankshaft and the driveshaft and this spline connection is spaced axially from the spline connection to the pump drive element with the splines being space from each other by a non-splined section so as to reduce stress risers and to make assembly and disassembly easy even if the parts are deformed.

Abstract: An ignition arrangement is provided for an internal combustion engine having an output shaft supported for rotation about an axis. The engine has a housing at least partially enclosing the output shaft and including at least one face. The output shaft has a portion extending through the one face of the engine housing and surrounded by the face. A timing pulley is affixed for rotation with the output shaft. A camshaft is supported for rotation about a second axis. A drive connects the timing pulley to the camshaft whereby the output shaft drives the camshaft. A flywheel is affixed for rotation with the output shaft wherein the timing pulley is closer to the face than the flywheel. A first ignition element is affixed for rotation with the timing pulley, and a pulser coil being in cooperation with the first ignition means.

Abstract: The present invention is an ignition control system for an engine having at least one combustion chamber and an ignition element for initiating combustion in the chamber. As one aspect of the ignition control, a switching circuit is provided for controlling the firing of the ignition element based upon either a signal received from a mechanism which detects and outputs a first firing timing signal or a computing mechanism which outputs a second firing timing signal based upon the first firing timing signal. As a second aspect of the ignition control, ignition elements are paired and fired together. In this arrangement, the ignition control includes a mechanism for counting outputted firing signals and assigning them values. These values are used to control the firing of the pairs of ignition elements, permitting the pairs of elements to be fired such that combustion initiation in individual combustion chambers corresponding is controllable.

Abstract: An improved and simplified outboard motor construction wherein the cooling and exhaust systems for the engine are formed with a minimum number of components and sealing joints and incorporating a non-metallic cam shaft for reduced cost and weight without sacrifice of durability. The exhaust system includes an elongated expansion chamber formed in the drive shaft housing. In addition, the drive shaft housing has a cylindrical section that is journaled within a swivel bracket for its steering movement. The volume between the external portion of the drive shaft housing and the internal portion of the swivel bracket forms a second expansion chamber that is employed for the low speed above the water exhaust gas discharge. The flow of cooling the water to and from the engine is controlled so that the exhaust gas interchange area between the power head and the drive shaft housing will be well cooled, as will the oil reservoir for the engine and the oil returned to it.

Abstract: An outboard motor comprises an engine contained within an engine compartment formed within a power head of the motor. The engine includes a generator having a stator and a rotor. The stator is cooled by a cooling component to reduce the operating temperature of the stator. The cooling component generally comprises a heat transfer plate or cooling jacket that is positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the stator to usher heat build-up away from the stator portion of the generator. The cooling jacket may be in fluid communication with other cooling jackets or may be a discrete system that is separate and distinct from other cooling systems of the motor.

Abstract: A tilt mechanism for a marine outboard drive includes a hydraulic cylinder assembly disposed transversely offset from the center axis of the tilt mechanism. The tilt mechanism includes a swivel bracket carrying a drive unit for pivotal movement about a generally vertically extending steering axis and a clamping bracket supporting the swivel bracket for pivotal movement about a generally horizontally extending tilt axis. The swivel bracket has wall portions transversely extending from the steering axis. One of the wall portions positioned nearer to the hydraulic cylinder assembly is reinforced greater than the other wall portion. Also, the clamping bracket comprises a pair of spaced members. One of the spaced members positioned nearer to the hydraulic cylinder assembly is reinforced greater than the other spaced member.

Abstract: A control for a marine propulsion unit including a water propulsion device powered by an engine through a transmission. The transmission has forward, neutral and reverse positions. The engine has at least one combustion chamber, an air and fuel supply system, and at least one ignition element corresponding to the combustion chamber for igniting an air and fuel mixture supplied to the combustion chamber. The control is arranged to delay the firing of the ignition element when the engine is idling from a normal firing timing, and arranged to advance the firing of the ignition element if the engine speed rapidly reduces and the position of the transmission is changed from neutral to reverse or forward.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a tiller lock which retains the rotational orientation of the outboard motor relative to a watercraft. The tiller lock allows the motor to be pivoted about a substantially horizontal tilt and trim axis while the tiller lock is engaged. The tiller lock includes a friction track advantageously arranged rearward of the tilt and trim axis. The positioning of the friction track protects the it from damage due to inadvertent contact with other components of the outboard motor mounting assembly. In particular, the friction track is protected throughout a full range of motion of the outboard motor. In addition, a pair of opposing brake members are alternately engageable with the friction track to secure the motor in a desired orientation. A bi-directional actuator handle urges either of the brake members into the friction plate independent of the other brake member to create a locking drag force which accompanies a substantially normal compressive force.

Abstract: Several embodiments of bilge devices for small watercraft that permit the use of small capacity bilge pumps and which ensure that the bilge pumps will not run dry during abrupt maneuvers are disclosed.

Abstract: An outboard motor generally comprises a power head. An engine is mountable within an engine compartment defined within the power head. The engine is lifting into and out of the engine compartment in part through the use of lifting lugs. The engine may have one or more lifting lugs positioned in various locations for use in suspending the engine from ropes or chains during installation. The lifting lugs may attach to an upper surface of the engine, a portion of the flywheel or a drive unit of a high pressure fuel pump. The lifting lugs may also be positioned in dead space such as that between cylinder banks of a v-type engine. Moreover, the lifting lugs may be removable or pivotable to reduce the protrusion of the lifting jugs from the engine when the outboard motor is in use.

Abstract: Several embodiments of the type two-cycle crankcase compression engines having exhaust control valves for controlling the effective compression ratio of the engine. The exhaust control valves are rotatably journaled in respective cylinder banks and are disposed at the same distance from a plane passing through the center of the valley between the cylinder banks as each other facilitating a common drive therefor. In one embodiment the exhaust control valves are disposed on the side of the cylinder banks adjacent the valley and in another embodiment they are disposed on the outside of the cylinder banks.

Abstract: Several embodiments of V-type outboard motors having direct cylinder injection using electronic fuel injectors driven by a solenoid driver. The solenoid driver is mounted in the otherwise void area between the cylinder banks of the engine. The solenoid driver is also cooled so as to provide long life and good operation. The cooling can be either by air or water or both. Mounting the solenoid driver in the valley between the cylinder banks also permits shortening of the conduits from the solenoid driver to the solenoids of the injector valves for their operation.

Abstract: A four-cycle outboard motor has an oil separator positioned within a head cover assembly. The oil separator is positioned within a recess of a cam cover, which forms a portion of the head cover assembly. A cover plate is interposed between the oil separator and a cam chamber. The oil separator includes a generally u-shaped labyrinth through which exhaust gases with entrained lubricant are sucked. A suction portion extends through the cover plate and facilitates communication between the cam chamber and the oil separator. An exhaust return line is connected to an induction system to draw gases through the oil separator back into the induction system.

Abstract: A fuel injection control strategy and system for engines for maintaining good performance under normal running conditions and also for providing cylinder engine speed slow-down under abnormal conditions without necessitating cylinder skipping except in extreme cases. This control is obtained primarily by retarding injection timing and/or reducing injection duration. Adjustment in spark timing may also be incorporated along with this routine.

Abstract: An outboard motor is configured for steering by a tiller arm. The tiller arm is moveable relative to the outboard motor about a transverse axis and is arranged to steer the motor about the vertical axis. The outboard motor further has a power head that contains a vibration engine and is comprised of a protective cowling and lower tray. A tiller arm mounting bracket is secured to the power head and a mounting structure extends from the tiller arm. A resilient member is juxtaposed between the mounting bracket and the mounting structure. A gap is defined between a face of the resilient member and the tiller arm such that the resilient member may freely vibrate within the gap without that face of resilient member contacting the tiller and directly translating vibrational energy to the tiller arm.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a steering lock which retains the rotational orientation of the outboard motor relative to a watercraft. The steering lock allows the motor to be pivoted about a substantially horizontal tilt and trim axis while the steering lock is engaged. The steering lock includes a friction plate which is advantageously straight. The friction plate is connected to the steering arm, and movement of either the steering arm or the friction plate requires movement of the other. At least one friction lock engages with the friction plate to secure the motor in a desired orientation. The friction lock is rigidly affixed to the outboard motor. The friction lock includes one or more disc pads. Movement of an operation lever urges the disc pads against the friction plate hold the friction plate and consequently, the steering arm, in a predetermined position.

Abstract: An outboard motor having a multi-cylinder four-cycle, internal combustion engine as a power plant. An improved crankcase ventilating system is provided wherein the camshaft chambers and then to the intake system through an extended conduit passing over the exhaust manifold so as to reduce the emissions of hydrocarbons. The intake system is designed to preclude uneven distribution of the ventilating gasses. The intake system also is comprised of a plenum device, a plurality of runners and throttle bodies and an intake manifold that are attached as a unit to the rest of the engine body. Locating pins assist in this attachment.

Abstract: An engine idle and speed control arrangement incorporating a butterfly-type throttle valve. The throttle valve is disposed so that it is at a relatively small angle to a plane containing the throttle valve axis and extending perpendicular to the direction of air flow through the induction passage. The peripheral edge of the throttle valve is configured so as to avoid binding. Bypass idle air flow is provided around the throttle valve as to provide substantially the entire idle air speed requirements of the engine. This arrangement permits better idle control since the idle air-flow changes will be more uniform in response to given angular changes in the position of the throttle valve.

Abstract: A lubricant supply system is provided for the induction system of a marine propulsion engine. The lubricant supply system delivers lubricant to the a flow controlling valve in the induction system upon shutting down of the engine and can be operated manually at the discretion of a user. The lubricant serves to reduce the likelihood of post-operation corrosion of the valve, particularly at the sliding support surfaces of the valve and also provides lubricant from startup operation.