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.

Abstract: The present invention is an ignition control system controlling ignition firing timing of an ignition element associated with an engine having an output shaft powering a water propulsion device, an intake system including a throttle valve, and a sensor providing an output signal corresponding to each revolution of the output shaft. The ignition control system calculates a base ignition firing timing from a time between successive previous output signals, determines if a condition of engine acceleration or deceleration exists from a rate of change in the throttle valve position and modifies the basic ignition firing timing based on a condition of engine acceleration or deceleration.

Abstract: An improved control mechanism for a marine transmission that provides an effective shift control by forming a crank arm at the lower end of the shift rod which lies below a cylindrical bearing portion. These parts are passed through a key hole shaped opening in the lower unit so that when fully assembled, the bearing portion of the shift rod will be journaled in the cylindrical portion of the key hole shaped slot so as to provide a good bearing arrangement.

Abstract: An engine control for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine preferably includes at least two cylinders or combustion chambers. The engine control is arranged to run the engine in a first mode in which all cylinders are operating and a second mode in which at least one of the cylinders is disabled, such as by misfiring the ignition element corresponding thereto. The engine control is arranged to operate the engine in the second mode only when a predetermined condition, such as idle, is detected for a predetermined amount of time. The engine control is also arranged to prevent the operation of the engine in the second mode if an engine operating condition has changed states, even if the predetermined condition is detected.

Abstract: An improved fuel injection control for direct injected, multiple cylinder, internal combustion engines. The injection control is done by a feed back control device based upon an air fuel ratio sensor. The primary feature of this invention is that the respective injection timing for cylinders are shifted relative to each other so that at least one of the state of emissions contained in the burnt charge and the state of fuel efficiency is almost the optimal every cylinder. In one embodiment, the respective injection timings are controlled to be at the timing where emissions are almost the minimum at each cylinder. In another embodiment, one of the injection timings associated with the cylinder that has the air fuel ratio sensor is advanced than the timing where emissions are almost the minimum.

Abstract: A tilt and trim unit for a marine drive eases manual trim or tilt up of the drive, while presenting a compact construction. The unit includes a cylinder having upper and lower fluid chambers. A bypass arrangement selectively bypasses a shock absorbing mechanism of the tilt and trim unit. The bypass arrangement is formed by a sub-chamber and a valve positioned in series on one side of the fluid chambers. This arrangement produces a compact construction. The valve also desirably establishes three operating states for the tilt and trim unit. In one state, the valve is open and the tilt and trim unit is easily moved. In another state, the valve is closed to prevent movement of the tilt and trim unit. In a third state, the valve operates as a one-way valve permitting extension of the tilt and trim unit to raise the marine drive, but inhibiting retraction of the tilt and trim unit.

Abstract: An improved fuel supply system for a direct injected engine accommodated in outboard motors includes a pump drive mechanism, instead of a camshaft, for driving a high pressure fuel pump. A pair of the high pressure fuel pumps is applied in one embodiment and a single one is applied in another embodiment. A pulsation damper is further provided for smoothing output of the fuel pump. The pump drive mechanism is unified with a fuel supply conduit, which has a plurality of fuel injectors, for increasing rigidity of components and affixed to the cylinder body of the engine. Openings on the cylinder head of the engine for accommodating the fuel injectors are larger than the injectors so that accumulated tolerances are absorbed by the gap made between the opening and the injector.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of outboard motor that are comprised of a power head consisting of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and a surrounding protective cowling. Each embodiment also includes a drive shaft housing and lower unit, the latter of which contains a propulsion device for propelling an associated watercraft. The engines are mounted within the protective cowling so their crankshafts rotate about vertically extending axes. In each case the crankshaft is coupled to a drive shaft that depends into the drive shaft housing and lower unit for driving the propulsion device. A flywheel is affixed to the upper end of the crankshaft. A first accessory drive is affixed to the crankshaft below the flywheel for driving at least one engine accessory. The engine accessory is mounted at an upper end of the engine and at least in part within the outer peripheral surface of the flywheel in top plan view.

Abstract: A watercraft engine includes a lubrication system alarm control system which initiates an alarm when lubricant pressure within the lubrication system falls below an acceptable pressure. The alarm system compares lubricant pressure during engine operation with a lower pressure threshold which is determined as a function of engine speed. Thus, partial reductions in lubricant pressure are identified. Additionally, the alarm control system may be configured to emit an alarm if lubricant pressure fluctuates at a rate that is greater than a predetermined pressure fluctuation rate threshold.

Abstract: An outboard motor mounting arrangement wherein the swivel bracket and clamping brackets have interengaging sliding surfaces that take side thrusts and minimize loading on the tilt pin during trim operation. In addition, certain electrical cables and hydraulic conduits are juxtaposed to the steering shaft and mounted so that they pass through the various brackets in a location close to the various pivotal axes to minimize flexure and reduce the necessary length therefor.

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: 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: 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 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.