Abstract: A crankshaft has a receiving platform for catching lubricant dropping from a main bearing assembly. The receiving platform has at least one wall disposed thereon. The wall has one point that is the furthest from the rotational axis of the crankshaft. One channel is defined in the platform and has an inlet disposed close to the point of the wall that is furthest from the rotational axis of the crankshaft. The channel has an outlet in the vicinity of a connecting rod bearing assembly, so that lubricant dropped on the receiving platform will flow to the connecting rod bearing assembly.

Abstract: A crankshaft has a receiving platform for catching lubricant dropping from a main bearing assembly. The receiving platform has at least one wall disposed thereon. The wall has one point that is the furthest from the rotational axis of the crankshaft. One channel is defined in the platform and has an inlet disposed close to the point of the wall that is furthest from the rotational axis of the crankshaft. The channel has an outlet in the vicinity of a connecting rod bearing assembly, so that lubricant dropped on the receiving platform will flow to the connecting rod bearing assembly.

Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, includes a diaphragm assembly for being connected between an engine exhaust path and an engine electronic control unit to transmit changes in exhaust gas pressure from the exhaust path to the control unit. In an exemplary embodiment, the diaphragm assembly includes a diaphragm housing and a diaphragm positioned in the housing and separating a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is configured to be in flow communication with the exhaust path and the second chamber is configured to be in flow communication with the engine control unit. The diaphragm housing, in the exemplary embodiment, includes a first housing member and a second housing member. An inner surface of the first housing member also is a side wall of the first chamber, and the inner surface has a conical shape to facilitate drainage of water from the first chamber. Also, the first chamber has a first volume and said second chamber has a second volume.

Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, is a pressure responsive valve for a marine engine that facilitates balanced operation of the engine. In an exemplary embodiment, the valve includes a first chamber and a second chamber. Coolant is in flow communication with the valve first chamber, and the engine cylinder head water jackets are in flow communication with the valve second chamber. A flow channel is between the valve first and second chambers, and a plunger is biased to close the flow channel to normally prevent flow from the first chamber to the second chamber. A diaphragm is coupled to the plunger and is responsive to pressure in the first chamber. During operation of the engine at low revolutions per minute (rpm), the pressure of the coolant in the valve first chamber is not sufficient to cause the diaphragm to move the plunger to the open position. As the engine speed increases, the pressure of the coolant also increases.

Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, includes a probe for sensing exhaust gas pressure in an exhaust path of a marine engine during engine operation. In an exemplary embodiment, the probe includes an elongate probe body and an engine engagement assembly secured to the probe body and configured to engage to the engine so that said probe body at least partially extends into the engine exhaust path. The probe body comprises a hollow, cylindrical shaped member, and at least one opening extends through a side wall of the cylindrical shaped member. A cap is secured to and closes an open end of the probe cylindrical shaped member, and a pellet is located, i.e., trapped, within the cylindrical shaped member. The engine engagement assembly includes a threaded portion sized to be threadedly engaged within an opening in flow communication with the engine exhaust path, and a tube connection portion sized to be inserted within a tube.

Abstract: A lubricant pump for supplying lubricant to an internal combustion engine, the pump comprising a housing defining a pump chamber, an inlet which is adapted to communicate with a source of lubricant and which communicates with the pump chamber, and an outlet which is adapted to communicate with the internal combustion engine and which communicates with the pump chamber, the housing also at least partially defining a fluid chamber, a source of fluid under pressure, a solenoid for selectively and alternatively affording and preventing communication of the fluid chamber with the fluid source, and a pumping member for drawing lubricant into the pump chamber in response to communication of the fluid chamber with the fluid source and for forcing lubricant out of the pump chamber in the absence of communication between the fluid chamber and the fluid source.

Abstract: An improved bracket and idler assembly for an internal combustion engine in which the bracket forms a portion of an air compressor for use with the engine.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a transom bracket adapted to be mounted on a boat transom and including laterally spaced rearwardly extending port and starboard portions, and a swivel bracket including a first leg connected to the transom bracket for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and a second leg extending generally perpendicularly to the first leg and including a transversely extending portion extending in closely adjacent relation to both of the rearwardly extending laterally spaced transom bracket portions and substantially bridging the space between the rearwardly projecting laterally spaced transom bracket portions.

Abstract: An outboard motor comprising a transom bracket which is adapted to be mounted on the transom of a boat and which includes first and second generally horizontally spaced apart portions, a tilt tube which extends through the transom bracket portions and along a generally horizontal tilt axis and which includes a first end portion extending outwardly of the first transom bracket portion and a second end portion extending outwardly of the second transom bracket portion, a swivel bracket mounted on the tilt tube for pivotal movement relative to the transom bracket about the tilt axis, a propulsion unit mounted on the swivel bracket for common movement therewith about the tilt axis and for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally vertical steering axis, the propulsion unit including a propeller shaft adapted to support a propeller, and a steering arm adapted to be connected to a remote steering system, and structure on both of the tilt tube end portions for permitting the remote steering system to be alt

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device comprising a transom bracket adapted to be mounted on a boat transom and including a rearwardly and laterally open socket, a swivel bracket connected to the transom bracket for pivotal movement about a horizontal tilt axis, a trail arm pivotally mounted on the swivel bracket for movement between a retracted position adjacent the swivel bracket and an extended position projecting from the swivel bracket and including an outer end receivable in the socket in the transom bracket and having a laterally extending projection, a latch member pivotally mounted on the transom bracket for movement between a retracted position and a latching position, which latch member includes a hook located, when the latch member is in the latching position, for engagement with the projection to prevent withdrawal of the outer end of the trail arm from the socket, and which hook is located, when the latch member is in the retracted position, clear of interferring engagement with travel o

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device comprising a transom bracket adapted to be mounted on a boat transom and including an upper surface, a swivel bracket connected to the transom bracket for pivotal movement about a horizontal tilt axis, a holding member pivotally mounted on the swivel bracket for movement about a horizontal second axis between a park position, a low-tilt position, and a high-tilt position, which holding member includes a low-tilt abutment surface engageable with the upper surface of the transom bracket when the holding member is in the low-tilt position and extending perpendicularly to a radial plane extending through the second axis and at a first radial distance from the second axis, a high-tilt abutment surface engageable with the upper surface of the transom bracket when the holding member is in the high-tilt position, which high-tilt abutment surface extends perpendicularly to a radial plane through the second axis and at a second radial distance from the second axis greater

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting an outboard motor on a boat transom, the apparatus comprising a transom bracket including an upper portion and a portion extending downwardly from the upper portion and having a surface adapted to engage the boat transom, means including a bolt member for releaseably clamping the downwardly extending portion to the boat transom, the bolt member including a portion extending outwardly from the surface of the downwardly extending portion, and a cover removeably fastened to the downwardly extending portion by screws to conceal the outwardly extending portion of the bolt member.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising an engine member including an intake manifold mounting face having therein a series of openings, an intake manifold including an exterior surface comprising an engine mounting surface on the manifold mounting face, and a carburetor mounting surface in spaced relation to the engine mounting surface, and a like series of intake passages extending between the mounting surfaces, terminating at the engine mounting surface in respective openings respectively located in alignment with the openings in the manifold mounting face, and terminating at the carburetor mounting surface in respective openings, a drain re-circulation system for delivering drains accumulating in the intake passages to intake passages other than the intake passages in which the drains accumulated, a system for supplying primer fuel to the intake passages, and a system for supplying operating fuel to a like series of carburetors, and a like series of carburetors on the carburetor mounting surface, which c

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device comprising a transom bracket adapted to be fixed to a boat transom and including a pattern of apertures spaced from an axis extending horizontally through the transom bracket when the transom bracket is boat mounted and including a forwardmost aperture, a thrust pin selectively insertable into any one of the apertures, a swivel bracket connected to the transom bracket for pivotal movement about the axis relative to the transom bracket and including a thrust transmitting surface for engagement with the thrust pin, and a cylinder/piston assembly having a first end connected to the transom bracket and a second end connected to the swivel bracket and extending forwardly of and below the pattern of apertures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an internal combustion engine comprising first and second cylinders and first and second cylinder head cavities respectively aligned and communicating with said first and second cylinders to respectively define compression ratios respectively associated with each of said first and second cylinders, and means for providing each of said first and second cylinders with respectively different compression ratios selected to maximized the power produced in each cylinder without knocking.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising an engine including an exhaust outlet, a lower unit adapted to be mounted on a boat for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally vertical steering axis, the lower unit including a rotatably mounted propeller driven by the engine, an annular chamber having a circumferential length and including a lower portion filled with water, an exhaust gas inlet located below the level of the water and communicating with the exhaust outlet, and an exhaust gas outlet located above the level of the water, and a seal for requiring exhaust gases flowing from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet to flow around the chamber through a distance substantially greater than 50% of the circumferential length of the chamber.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising a lower unit including a rotatably mounted propeller, an internal combustion engine mounted on the lower unit and drivingly connected to the propeller, the engine including an engine block, a crankshaft and flywheel assembly including a crankshaft rotatably supported by the engine block and having an end extending from the engine block, and a flywheel mounted on the end of the crankshaft for rotation therewith, and a voltage generator including a magnet mounted on one of the assembly and the engine block, and a coil mounted on the other of the assembly and the engine block, the coil being radially spaced from the magnet, and an annular power takeoff pulley mounted on the flywheel and surrounding the voltage generator in adjacent relation thereto axially of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device comprising an internal combustion engine including a coolant conduit having an upstream conduit portion, a downstream conduit portion, and a passage portion extending between the upstream portion and the downstream portion.

Abstract: An air silencer for an internal combustion engine including a fuel hose and an intake manifold supporting a carburetor, the carburetor including an end including a carburetor intake. The air silencer comprises a base member including a first opening, a second opening adapted for extension therethrough of the carburetor, and an opening for passage into the air silencer of the fuel hose, and the base member is mounted on the intake manifold independently of the carburetor. The air silencer also comprises a cover member removably mounted on the base member, and a baffle member removably mounted between the base member and the cover member to form a silencing chamber between the cover member and the baffle member, the baffle member including an opening adapted to communicate with the carburetor intake, and a silencer tube communicating between the first opening in the base member and the silencing chamber.