Abstract: An off-road vehicle having a frame, a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame, a seat supported by the frame and configured to support an operator, an engine supported by the frame, a body supported by the frame, and a liner coupled to the body, where the liner is configured to be positioned between the body and a heat source of the off-road vehicle, and an air gap extends between the liner and the body.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle having a frame, a plurality of ground engaging members operably coupled to the frame, a seat supported by the frame and configured to support an operator, an engine supported by the frame, a body supported by the frame, and a liner coupled to the body, where the liner is configured to be positioned between the body and a heat source of the off-road vehicle, and an air gap extends between the liner and the body.

Abstract: A marine engine has an internal combustion engine; an exhaust conduit that conveys exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine; a cooling water sprayer that sprays a first flow of cooling water into the exhaust conduit; and a cooling water jacket that conveys a second flow of cooling water alongside the exhaust conduit so that the second flow of cooling water cools the exhaust conduit. The first flow of cooling water and at least part of the second flow of cooling water are merged and then sprayed together into the exhaust conduit via the cooling water sprayer.

Abstract: Wrought structural components, including drive shaft housing components for marine outboard engines are disclosed. The components have a first face, a second face substantially parallel with respect to the first face, and a sidewall. The sidewall includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall each extending from the first face to the second face. The wrought structural components are constructed of a wrought aluminum alloy and are essentially free of draft angles. The alloys may have low silicon content, low copper content, high plane strain fracture toughness, high tensile ductility, and/or a low porosity. The wrought structural components may be prepared by extrusion.

Abstract: An outboard motor adapter plate couples a marine engine to a driveshaft housing, and includes an upper rim configured to be coupled to a lower surface of a cylinder block of the engine. A lower rim of the adapter plate is configured to be coupled to an upper surface of a sump located in the driveshaft housing. A wall defines a passageway having an inner perimetral surface, and the inner perimetral surface extends from the upper rim to the lower rim. A mounting area is configured for coupling a mount to the adapter plate. A shield covers at least a portion of the inner perimetral surface adjacent the mounting area, so as to at least partially thermally isolate the mount from heated fluid that drains from the cylinder block, through the passageway, and into the sump. A method and a shield for thermal isolation are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for on-board lubrication of a paint pumping piston including a reservoir for lubricant and a lubricant dispensing mechanism for delivering a predetermined repeatable amount of lubricant upon manual actuation of the lubricant dispensing mechanism. In one embodiment, a section of tubing acts as the reservoir, and in another embodiment, the reservoir is formed by a transparent or translucent chamber located adjacent an aperture in a pump housing to enable visual inspection of the level of lubricant in the reservoir. A lubricant delivery piston is actuated by an extension thereof projecting through an aperture in the housing, and a lubricant discharge nozzle is located adjacent the paint pumping piston proximate a bushing supporting the paint pumping piston. A breather valve prevents a vacuum in the reservoir as the lubricant is dispensed.

Abstract: A piston pump assembly with a rotatingly driven swashplate in driving relationship with a rocker arm and piston engaged with one end of the rocker arm. A spring urges the rocker arm and piston into contact with an annular ring carried by a bearing in the swashplate. The spring may be a separate leaf spring or may be formed integrally with the rocker arm. The rocker arm engagement with the piston uses a spherical ball-joint-like surface. The contact between each of the rocker arm and piston and the annular ring utilize spherical surfaces on the rocker arm and piston, with an elongated footprint on the rocker arm and a circular footprint on the piston. The piston is allowed a slight radial play in operation.

Abstract: An improved cooling arrangement for an electric motor in a pump assembly, including a resilient fan baffle having a planar main surface and a pair of wings extending perpendicularly out from the main surface to direct airflow away from the motor when the fan baffle is installed on the motor. A method of installing the fan baffle includes bending two ends of the periphery of the fan baffle to clear obstructions on the motor, and then releasing the ends to allow them to come together in a planar arrangement.

Abstract: An improved cooling arrangement for an electric motor in a pump assembly, including a resilient fan baffle having a planar main surface and a pair of wings extending perpendicularly out from the main surface to direct airflow away from the motor when the fan baffle is installed on the motor. A method of installing the fan baffle includes bending two ends of the periphery of the fan baffle to clear obstructions on the motor, and then releasing the ends to allow them to come together in a planar arrangement.

Abstract: A piston pump assembly with a rotatingly driven swashplate in driving relationship with a rocker arm and piston engaged with one end of the rocker arm. A spring urges the rocker arm and piston into contact with an annular ring carried by a bearing in the swashplate. The spring may be a separate leaf spring or may be formed integrally with the rocker arm. The rocker arm engagement with the piston uses a spherical ball-joint-like surface. The contact between each of the rocker arm and piston and the annular ring utilize spherical surfaces on the rocker arm and piston, with an elongated footprint on the rocker arm and a circular footprint on the piston. The piston is allowed a slight radial play in operation.

Abstract: A fluid pump for pumping a volume of fluid under pressure from a fluid source to a fluid dispenser includes an electric motor. A pump drive assembly is operably coupled to the motor for reducing an output of the motor. A pump assembly is operably coupled to the pump drive assembly and is fluidly communicable with the source of fluid, the pump assembly being actuated by the pump drive assembly, the actuation causing the pump assembly to pump the fluid. A single main housing, the main housing in part the pump drive assembly and having a pump housing defined therein, the pump housing being integral, unitary therewith for housing the pump assembly. A method of making a fluid pump for pumping a volume of fluid under pressure from a fluid source to a fluid dispenser.

Abstract: A fluid pump for pumping a volume of fluid under pressure from a fluid source to a fluid dispenser includes an electric motor. A pump drive assembly is operably coupled to the motor for reducing an output of the motor. A pump assembly is operably coupled to the pump drive assembly and is fluidly communicable with the source of fluid, the pump assembly being actuated by the pump drive assembly, the actuation causing the pump assembly to pump the fluid. A single main housing, the main housing in part the pump drive assembly and having a pump housing defined therein, the pump housing being integral, unitary therewith for housing the pump assembly. A method of making a fluid pump for pumping a volume of fluid under pressure from a fluid source to a fluid dispenser.

Abstract: A fluid pump for pumping a volume of fluid under pressure from a fluid source to a fluid dispenser includes an electric motor. A pump drive assembly is operably coupled to the motor for reducing an output of the motor. A pump assembly is operably coupled to the pump drive assembly and is fluidly communicable with the source of fluid, the pump assembly being actuated by the pump drive assembly, the actuation causing the pump assembly to pump the fluid. A single main housing, the main housing in part the pump drive assembly and having a pump housing defined therein, the pump housing being integral, unitary therewith for housing the pump assembly. A method of making a fluid pump for pumping a volume of fluid under pressure from a fluid source to a fluid dispenser.

Abstract: A fluid pump having a motor operably coupled to a pump assembly, the motor and pump assembly acting cooperatively to pressurize a fluid includes a pressure switch being in communication with the fluid under pressure and being in communication with the motor for sensing the fluid pressure and controlling the operation of the motor to maintain a selected fluid pressure. A method of controlling fluid pressure in a fluid pump, the fluid pressure being generated by activating a pump motor to operate a pump assembly.

Abstract: A diaphragm pump for pumping a fluid, such as paint, includes a diaphragm separating a first chamber for accommodating and dispensing the paint from a second chamber for accommodating a drive fluid, and a piston that reciprocates to drive the drive fluid within the second chamber in order to flex the diaphragm to provide the pumping action within the first chamber. The diaphragm pump also includes a backing ring mounted adjacent the diaphragm that is configured to distribute the drive fluid across the diaphragm to cause a flexible region of the diaphragm to flex toward the first chamber from the outer perimeter inward toward a central pumping surface in a rolling manner. This diaphragm movement results in substantially all of the paint adjacent the diaphragm within the first chamber to move out of the first chamber when the diaphragm reaches its travel limit, and thus improves the efficiency of the diaphragm pump.

Abstract: A pressure relief assembly for use with a paint pump having a chamber with a pressure relief port located immediately adjacent an inlet port of the pump. The pressure relief assembly includes a mounting member, inlet washer, rupture pad and outlet washer. The mounting member is threaded on its exterior surface and includes an inlet end, an outlet end, and a relief passage extending between the inlet and outlet ends. A rupture recess in the inlet end is sized to receive the inlet washer, rupture pad and outlet washer, with the rupture pad positioned between the washers. The inner diameter surface of the outlet washer is convex. The pressure relief assembly is screwed into the pump with the inlet end adjacent to the pressure relief port. The rupture pad forms a seal between the pump chamber and atmosphere that ruptures to vent the chamber when the pressure within the chamber exceeds a predetermined rupture pressure.

Abstract: A user-replaceable pumping chamber for a consumer piston pump has a reciprocating piston seal secured to the end of a piston by a threaded fastener. The chamber further has a smooth-bored cylindrical sleeve surrounding the seal to form a cylindrical wall for the chamber. The seal is retained to the piston by a threaded shoulder screw and washer acting against an O-ring in an end face of the seal. The housing has an aperture providing access to the cylindrical sleeve to permit levering a worn sleeve out of the housing.

Abstract: Single-piece manifold for use in pressurized painting equipment which is configured and arranged for joining a liquid inlet line, a pressure sensor, a filter, a pressure relief valve, and one or more liquid outlet lines by a streamlined network of passages in a compact and organized manner which eliminates static flow areas. The pressure sensor is assembled within the manifold in such manner as to avoid relative rotation between sensor components and thus avoid stressing electrical leads of the sensor.