Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus mounted in a fuel tank has a fuel pump portion for sucking a fuel stored in the fuel tank and then discharging the fuel to the outside. The fuel supply apparatus includes a harness that is connected with an external power source; a power-sending connector portion a power-sending connector portion that is provided in a harness and has power-sending terminals having respective spring portions, a power-receiving connector portion that is provided in a fuel pump portion and has power-receiving terminals to be connected with the power-sending terminals, respectively, when contact pressure based on elastic force of the spring portions, as elastic portions, is provided thereto, and an insulator that covers at least base portions of the power-receiving terminals and at least parts of the spring portions of the power-sending terminals when the power-receiving terminals are connected with the power-sending terminals.

Abstract: a power-sending connector portion that is provided in a harness and has power-sending terminals having respective spring portions, a power-receiving connector portion that is provided in a fuel pump portion and has power-receiving terminals to be connected with the power-sending terminals, respectively, when contact pressure based on elastic force of the spring portions, as elastic portions, is provided thereto, and an insulator that covers at least base portions of the power-receiving terminals and at least parts of the spring portions of the power-sending terminals when the power-receiving terminals are connected with the power-sending terminals, respectively.

Abstract: A mounting structure for cables for a boat propulsion unit that enables easy insertion of cables into a pass-through hole, as well as highly reliable water-sealing is provided in a bottom cowling of the boat propulsion unit. The cables are inserted in through-holes in a rubber grommet by opening up a slit in the rubber grommet, and then inserting the rubber grommet in a pass-through hole in the port section. The rubber grommet is fit into the pass-through hole in the pressurized condition to water-seal the pass-through hole. The pass-through hole is molded integrally with the bottom cowling. A retaining plate is wrapped around the rubber grommet to prevent the slit from opening up, and the grommet is accommodated in the pass-through hole together with the retainer plate. Then, the retainer plate is fastened to the port section by mounting bolts. Thus, the rubber grommet is fixed within the pass-through hole, and provides water-sealing by filling the gap around the cables within the pass-through hole.

Abstract: The frequency of the internal clock is set at ½ of the frequency of an external clock as well as the width of the internal bus is configured to be twice as wide as the width of an external bus. A write control unit controls a bypass unit and a swap circuit unit and, when a plurality of packets are received, writes words of the packets such that headers H of the received packets are respectively arranged alternately in each packet storage sector between an even-numbered queue and an odd-numbered queue. A read control unit reads the words of the packets in parallel by two words at each time from the even-numbered queue and the odd-numbered queue.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a throttle actuator adapted to control an amount of intake air supplied to an engine, and a shift mechanism that controls shift operation between a neutral and at least a forward gear. The throttle actuator includes a member that is adapted to interfere with the shift mechanism so as to prevent shift actuation when the throttle is opened beyond a predetermined setting. As such, shift operation is prevented at high throttle openings, but throttle operation is still enabled.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a cowling enclosing the engine. A sidewall of the cowling has an air introduction opening for introducing ambient air to an air introduction chamber within the cowling. A protruded suction opening of an air duct in the air introduction opening has a flange extending generally toward the air introduction opening so as to deflect water from the opening.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a cowl having a top cowl and a bottom cowl that are detachably connected using a clamp apparatus. The clamp apparatus has a clamp engaging member on the top cowl, a clamp fixing member on the bottom cowl, and a clamp for connecting the top and bottom cowls. The clamp has an engaging section for engaging the clamp engaging member, a fixing section fixed on the bottom cowl by the clamp fixing member, a mounting pivot formed on the fixing section, and a supporting pivot linked to the mounting pivot. A line is defined between the engaging section and the mounting pivot. In an open clamp state, the supporting pivot is positioned away from the cowl beyond the line. In a closed clamp state, the supporting pivot is positioned adjacent to the cowl within the line. A biasing spring biases the clamp main body toward the cowl at least in the open clamp state.

Abstract: A mounting structure for cables for a boat propulsion unit that enables easy insertion of cables into a pass-through hole, as well as highly reliable water-sealing is provided in a bottom cowling of the boat propulsion unit. The cables are inserted in through-holes in a rubber grommet by opening up a slit in the rubber grommet, and then inserting the rubber grommet in a pass-through hole in the port section. The rubber grommet is fit into the pass-through hole in the pressurized condition to water-seal the pass-through hole. The pass-through hole is molded integrally with the bottom cowling. A retaining plate is wrapped around the rubber grommet to prevent the slit from opening up, and the grommet is accommodated in the pass-through hole together with the retainer plate. Then, the retainer plate is fastened to the port section by mounting bolts. Thus, the rubber grommet is fixed within the pass-through hole, and provides water-sealing by filling the gap around the cables within the pass-through hole.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a cowling enclosing the engine. A sidewall of the cowling has an air introduction opening for introducing ambient air to an air introduction chamber within the cowling. A protruded suction opening of an air duct in the air introduction opening has a flange extending generally toward the air introduction opening so as to deflect water from the opening.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a cowl having a top cowl and a bottom cowl that are detachably connected using a clamp apparatus. The clamp apparatus has a clamp engaging member on the top cowl, a clamp fixing member on the bottom cowl, and a clamp for connecting the top and bottom cowls. The clamp has an engaging section for engaging the clamp engaging member, a fixing section fixed on the bottom cowl by the clamp fixing member, a mounting pivot formed on the fixing section, and a supporting pivot linked to the mounting pivot. A line is defined between the engaging section and the mounting pivot. In an open clamp state, the supporting pivot is positioned away from the cowl beyond the line. In a closed clamp state, the supporting pivot is positioned adjacent to the cowl within the line. A biasing spring biases the clamp main body toward the cowl at least in the open clamp state.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a throttle actuator adapted to control an amount of intake air supplied to an engine, and a shift mechanism that controls shift operation between a neutral and at least a forward gear. The throttle actuator includes a member that is adapted to interfere with the shift mechanism so as to prevent shift actuation when the throttle is opened beyond a predetermined setting. As such, shift operation is prevented at high throttle openings, but throttle operation is still enabled.

Abstract: The frequency of the internal clock is set at ½ of the frequency of an external clock as well as the width of the internal bus is configured to be twice as wide as the width of an external bus. A write control unit controls a bypass unit and a swap circuit unit and, when a plurality of packets are received, writes words of the packets such that headers H of the received packets are respectively arranged alternately in each packet storage sector between an even-numbered queue and an odd-numbered queue. A read control unit reads the words of the packets in parallel by two words at each time from the even-numbered queue and the odd-numbered queue.

Abstract: A crossbar includes input queue groups and a distribution processor. The input queue groups include multi-step input queues of data packets whose data transmission destinations are “address W” and “address Y” or “address X” and “address Z” and are provided respectively at input ports A and B and input ports C and D. The distribution processor distributes the data packet input into the input port to input queue group according to the data transmission destinations (that is, “address W”, “address Y”, “address X”, and “address Z”) of the input data.

Abstract: A shift and throttle control mechanism allows for control of the shift and throttle features of an outboard motor through two separate operators. For instance, one operator can be remotely positioned in the hull of an associated watercraft, while the other operator can be formed on a steering handle of the outboard motor. The shift and throttle control mechanism is also configured to fit within a cowling of the outboard motor, together with a four-cycle engine, without significantly increasing the size of the cowling. In one mode, the shift and throttle control mechanism includes a shift shaft arranged toward the front side of the engine. One of the operators is directly connected to shift shaft by a linkage rod. The other operator is connected by a shift control cable to a shift lever that is located on the side of the engine. This location of the shift lever allows the end of the shift control cable to be fixed within the cowling without increasing the cowling's size.

Abstract: An outboard motor outer cover arrangement The outboard motor is comprised primarily of a powerhead and a drive shaft housing and lower unit which depends from the powerhead. The powerhead is comprised of an internal combustion engine and a surrounding protective cowling. The protective cowling comprises a lower tray portion and a detachable main cowling portion that is detachably connected to the tray portion. An exhaust guide is provided at the upper end of the drive shaft housing and lower unit and the engine is supported on this guide plate as is the tray. A cover is detachably connected to the underside of the exhaust guide and is positioned in partially surrounding relationship to the upper portion of the drive shaft housing and lower unit so as to provide a neat appearance.

Abstract: An engine control mechanism cooperates with both a manual choke operator and a manual throttle operator. The manual throttle operator actuates a throttle control mechanism and a timing advance mechanism. A lost motion connection interconnects the manual throttle operator and the throttle control mechanism. The manual choke operator actuates a choke control mechanism to close the choke valves associated with the engine charge formers. The manual choke also operates the timing advance mechanism and the throttle control mechanism to advance the spark timing and to slightly open the throttle valves beyond an idle position when the choke valves are closed. Operation of the throttle control mechanism via the manual choke operator, however, does not affect the manual throttle operator due to the lost motion connection between the throttle operator and the throttle control mechanism.

Abstract: Three embodiments of a cowling and air inlet device for a power head of an outboard motor are disclosed and described which include an air inlet formed in an upper rear surface of the cowling and an air intake duct formed within the air inlet for supplying air to the engine induction system. Various arrangements of partitions are provided within the air inlet for permitting adequate air flow to the engine induction system but preventing water from entering the interior of the cowling and engine induction system. A cover portion which may be separate or part of the upper surface of the cowling is positioned above the air intake duct and at least a portion of the cover is higher than the upper surface of the cowling. This cover portion also has at least one opening therein for permitting air from the atmosphere to enter the air inlet.