Abstract: A crankcase arrangement for an engine includes an improved construction that allows lubricant to more freely flow through the crankcase and to quickly return to a lubricant reservoir even though the engine has a compact construction. A cylinder body of an exemplifying engine includes at least an upper bearing portion, intermediate bearing portion and lower bearing portion. A crankcase member, which defines a crankcase cavity with the cylinder body, includes an upper bearing section and a lower bearing section. An upper main bearing journal of a crankshaft is rotatably journaled between the upper bearing portion and the upper bearing section and a lower main bearing journal of the crankshaft is rotatably journaled between the lower bearing portion and the lower bearing section. A bearing cap is arranged to rotatably journal the crankshaft with the intermediate bearing portion. In a preferred form, the bearing cap includes a plurality of cap sections that are joined together.

Abstract: A fuel supply system is disclosed for a direct injected “V” type engine powering an outboard motor. The fuel supply system includes a pump for supplying fuel from a tank to a vapor separator. An electrical pump delivers fuel from the vapor separator to a mechanical high pressure pump, which delivers fuel under high pressure to a fuel manifold and further to a pair of fuel rails. The fuel rails supply fuel to fuel injectors for delivering fuel to the combustion chambers of the engine. Recesses are formed on a side of each cylinder head and one fuel rail is positioned within each recess. The mechanical high pressure pump is positioned vertically above the uppermost fuel injector so that any fuel vapor within the fuel rails will rise toward the fuel pump. Fuel vapor that accumulates within the high pressure fuel pump is returned to the vapor separator.

Abstract: An engine includes an improved induction system which reduces the girth of the engine, simplifies assembly, and improves better power output balance between the cylinders of the engine. The illustrated engine is a multi-cylinder engine and is designed to power an outboard motor; hence, the cylinders of the engine are arranged above one another. Thus, the engine comprises at least first and second combustion chambers. The induction system selectively communicates with the combustion chambers to supply a fuel/air charge thereto. The induction system includes a first intake passage leading to the first combustion chamber and having a first fuel injector communicating therewith, and a second intake passage leading to the second combustion chamber and having a second fuel injector communicating therewith.

Abstract: A marine drive transmission includes an improved shock-absorbing coupling mechanism. Engine power is transmitted to a propulsion device through a drive shaft and driven shaft. The drive shaft is coupled to the driven shaft by a coupling arrangement which has a first coupling mechanism and a second coupling mechanism. The second coupling mechanism is spaced apart from the first coupling mechanism in a direction along a common axis of the shafts. The shafts are coupled with each other selectively by one of the first and second coupling mechanisms. The first coupling mechanism desirably includes an elastic member or a viscosity coupling. The second coupling mechanism desirably includes a toothed mechanism, which functions as the primary coupling between the drive and driven shafts (i.e., overrides the first coupling) once a predetermines load has been applied to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for an anode of a corrosion protection system extends the useful life of the anode and hence the effectiveness of the system. The anode is mounted within an opening of an outboard motor engine. The engine also includes a coolant passage that extends through the engine and forms a portion of a cooling system. A biasing device biases the anode to contact the engine body. The anode also includes multiple contact surfaces which establish a plurality of electrical connections between the anode and the engine. In one mode, an electrically conductive cover links the anode to the engine at a point outside the opening. A seal is positioned between the opening and the cover to protect this electrical coupling. This outside connection thus ensures good electrical coupling between the anode and the engine body outside the presence of the coolant (e.g., salt water) flowing through the coolant passage.

Abstract: A lubrication system for a direct injected two-cycle engine is disclosed having a lubricant pump adapted to discharge lubricant into each crankcase chamber of the engine through a port positioned immediately adjacent the downstream side of reed valves of the air intake system. The lubricant is injected in a direction generally coincident with the rotational direction of the crankshaft. Drain ports are positioned in the lowermost scavenge passage of each cylinder and communicate lubricant from the scavenge passage to a return port formed through the wall of a crankcase chamber.

Abstract: A direct injected engine includes a multi-layer support that attaches injector drivers to the engine while substantially isolating the injector drivers from high and low frequency vibrations. One layer of the support is formed of a relatively hard material so as to dampen high frequency vibrations produced by the engine when running at high speeds (e.g., 5300 rpm). A second layer of the support is formed of a softer material so as to dampen low frequency vibrations produced by another electronic control component, such as, for example, an electronic control unit (ECU), which the support also attaches to the engine. The ECU is disposed between the engine and a housing containing the injector drivers. The first layer of the support in this structure substantially isolates both the electronic control unit and the injector drivers from engine vibrations, and the second layer of the support substantially isolates the injector drivers from ECU-produced vibrations.

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 outboard motor includes various protective covers for engine components. The outboard motor can include a protective cover for electrical wires which extend around an outer periphery of the engine, so as to protect the wires from being inadvertently dislodged when installing or removing an upper cowling. The outboard motor may also include a protective sleeve extending vertically, and through which wires are arranged to prevent the wires from contacting water which may collect in a lower portion of a powerhead of the outboard motor. Additionally, the outboard motor can also include a protective casing for electrical components including relays, fuses, and associated connectors. The protective casing includes a main storage portion and a substorage portion. The main storage portion includes a lid and is configured to have a watertight seal around only a portion of its outer periphery.

Abstract: A power tilt and trim system for an outboard drive includes an improved construction that can be formed in compact nature without significantly reducing its strength. The system includes a support member that couples to the outboard motor. The support member has a pair of bracket arms spaced apart from each other and one of the bracket arms has an opening. An actuator is nested between the bracket arms to tilt the outboard drive. A powering assembly is disposed next to the actuator and arranged to power the actuator. At least a portion of the powering assembly lies within the opening.

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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: An engine lubrication control includes an improved construction. The engine has a lubrication device that delivers lubricant to a crankcase of the engine in following rotational speed of a crankshaft rotating in the crankcase. The lubricant device includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a volume of the lubricant. The adjustment mechanism has at least two positions and increases the lubricant volume delivered when the mechanism is located at one of the positions relative to when the mechanism is located at the other position.