Abstract: An outboard motor is provided with two distinct and separate streams of air flowing through its cowl structure. One stream of air is intended to cool various heat emitting components under the cowl and the other stream of air is intended to provide required air for combustion within the cylinders of the engine. The two streams of air flow along first and second flow paths which are maintained in isolation with respect to each other so that the air in the two streams of air are not mixed together. In that way, heat is prevented from decreasing the density of the air stream flowing into the cylinders for combustion within the engine.

Abstract: A marine outboard engine for a watercraft is disclosed. The marine outboard engine features a padded section adapted to provide a padded area for carrying the outboard engine over the shoulder of a person.

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: In cowling structure for an outboard motor, a through hole is formed below an upper-cowling joining surface of a lower cowling; control cables are supported with a cable supporting groove of a back side plate, and the back side plate is fixed to the through hole; a sealing member that is covered on the outside of the control cables, is fitted into the through hole; a groove of a front side plate is placed around the control cables, and the front side plate is set onto the sealing member; and the sealing member is fixed to the lower cowling by a bolt together with the front side plate. The cowling structure for an outboard motor can prevent water intrusion by removing a notch on an upper-cowling joining surface of a lower cowling.

Abstract: In an outboard engine unit, a cover assembly, defining a lower half section of an engine room, is composed of left and right cover members each formed of resin, and a bracket is fixed to a rear portion of the engine or engine support structure. The left and right cover members are fixed at their respective rear portions to the bracket. Centerline of an engine cylinder is offset from a centerline of the engine room toward one of left and right sides of the unit, and an ignition plug is provided on the other side opposite from the one side toward which the engine cylinder centerline is offset.

Abstract: An engine is disposed in a top cowling. Burned gas produced in the engine is discharged to the outside through a first exhaust pipe, a second exhaust pipe, a third exhaust pipe, exhaust passage, and a exhaust passage. A catalyst is disposed to be housed in the first exhaust pipe and the second exhaust pipe. The first exhaust pipe and the second exhaust pipe are disposed in the top cowling. A fan is provided above the catalyst. As a result of this unique structure, a temperature increase in the cowling is prevented from being caused by heat radiated from the catalyst.

Abstract: A sealing structure of an outboard motor includes a bottom cowling covering a lower part of an engine, a top cowling covering an upper part of the engine, and a sealing material via which the top cowling is coupled to the bottom cowling. The sealing material includes an installation base member fitted on the bottom cowling. The installation base member has a roughly U-shaped cross-section with an opening into which the top end of the bottom cowling is inserted. A hollow seal member is provided on an outer wall of the installation base member and makes elastic contact with an inner surface of the bottom end of the top cowling. A lip projects outward from the hollow seal member. An upper surface of the lip makes elastic contact with a bottom surface of the bottom end of the top cowling.

Abstract: An outboard motor has an engine, a cowling for accommodating the engine, and an air duct for introducing ambient air into the cowling 11. An air filter is provided in the air duct. One or more sensors detect when the air filter is clogged. When air filter clogging is detected, a warning signal is triggered.

Abstract: A watercraft has an outboard motor mounted to a hull and a remotely mounted air intake system. The outboard motor has an engine and an air/fuel mixing device. The air intake system is disposed within the hull and may include one or more filters for removing foreign materials and/or moisture from the intake air. The filtered air is routed via one or more ducts directly to the engine so as to not allow the outboard motor to appreciably heat the air before the air reaches the engine.

Abstract: An outboard engine unit having plural electronic components is disclosed. The electronic components are wholly supported by a single bracket which is mounted to a crankcase through a vibration damping rubber grommet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for silencing an engine are disclosed. A silencer is disposed about a motor and is molded to substantially match at least one of a contour of the cover and a contour of the motor to silence noise transmitted from the motor.

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 boat has an outboard motor mounted to a hull and a remotely mounted cooling air system. The outboard motor has a cowling housing an engine. The cooling air system receives air from within the hull and includes a ventilating fan box. The ventilating fan box may be located within the hull or the cowling of the outboard motor. Cooling air is routed via one or more ducts to the cowling so as to cool the engine while inhibiting moisture from the entering the cowling. The cooling air is preferably blown toward the bottom of the engine.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes a cowling enclosing an engine, an ambient air intake defined by the cowling, and an intake passage introducing ambient air taken through the ambient air intake to the engine. The intake passage extends out of and above a top section of the cowling. An inlet portion of the intake passage communicates with the ambient air intake, and an outlet portion thereof communicates with an air inlet leading to a silencer of the engine the air inlet is positioned vertically higher than the intake passage inlet portion.

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: A sealing structure of an outboard motor comprises: a bottom cowling 11 covering a lower part of an engine 102; a top cowling 12 covering an upper part of the engine 102; and a sealing material 30 through which said top cowling 12 is attached to said bottom cowling 11, a bottom end 12a of said top cowling 12 being installed on an outer side of a top end 11a of said bottom cowling 11, wherein said sealing material 30 comprises: a cross-section roughly reversed U-shaped installation base member 31 fitted on the bottom cowling 11 by having the top end 11a of the bottom cowling 11 inserted in an opening thereof, a hollow seal member 32 which is fitted on an outer wall of the installation base member 31 and makes an elastic contact with an inner surface of the bottom end 12a of the top cowling 12; and a lip 33 projecting outward from the hollow seal member 32 and of which an upper surface makes an elastic contact with a bottom surface of the bottom end 12a of the top cowling 12.

Abstract: An outboard motor 1 has a cowling 10 of a two-piece structure including a top cowl 11 and a bottom cowl 12. Mating portions of the top and bottom cowls include a watertight seal. A first, horizontally-directed sealing portion is not visible from outside the cowling. A second, vertically-directed sealing portion is positioned inwardly from the first sealing portion. In some embodiments, an elongate rib depends from the top cowl generally into the bottom cowl. In other embodiments, the second sealing portion is positioned generally above the first sealing portion.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine. A cowling body defines an internal cavity in which the engine is enclosed. A partition member divides the internal cavity into a first cavity and a second cavity. The first cavity communicates with outside through a first opening for introducing ambient air into the first cavity. The second cavity encloses the engine therein. The partition member has a second opening through which the air in the first cavity moves to the second cavity. The cowling body and the partition member are made of a nonferrous metal. The partition member is adhered to the cowling body.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a top cowl and a bottom cowl. A elongate thickened portion protrudes inwardly from an inner surface of the top cowl into an engine compartment. A bottom opening edge of the top cowl mates with the bottom cowl. The elongate thickened portion extends along the length of top cowl from the forward end of the opening edge to a rearward end of the opening edge. A mold for forming the top cowl has an entrance sprue that is located in a position corresponding to the position of one end of an opening edge of the top cowl. An exit sprue of the mold is located in a position corresponding to the position of an opposing end of the opening edge of the top cowl. The mold defines a top cavity and side cavities that are used to mold the top cowl.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a cowling comprising a top cowl that is removably engagable with a bottom cowl. A mating portion of the top cowl and the bottom cowl is sealed when the top and bottom cowls are engaged so as to prevent or inhibit water from entering the cowling through the mating portion. A splash-proof rib portion is attached to an inner face of the top cowl and extends downwardly preferably around the entire periphery of the top cowl. The depending rib portion is disposed inside of the upper end of the bottom cowl when the top cowl is mounted on the bottom cowl.

Abstract: An outboard motor has an engine, a cowling for accommodating the engine, and an air duct for introducing ambient air into the cowling 11. An air filter is provided in the air duct. One or more sensors detect when the air filter is clogged. When air filter clogging is detected, a warning signal is triggered.

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 having an air suction device comprising a main part having an engine, a top cover mounted on a top portion of the main part, the top cover being composed of a main cover having an air space surrounding an outer surface of the engine and of an auxiliary cover which is provided on the main cover so as to cover the main cover and to form an air suction room therein, an opening provided on the main cover so as to communicate between the air space in the main cover and the air suction room in the auxiliary cover, an air suction port provided on the auxiliary cover so as to communicate the air suction room in the auxiliary cover to atmosphere, and a water proof sheet mounted in the auxiliary cover in order to cover the opening.

Abstract: A marine propulsion device is provided with an air control system that draws air from the region under the cowl of the outboard motor and induces a flow of air out of the region. The air is caused to flow through a second opening formed in the cowl. As a result, air drawn into the cowl through a first opening can flow either into the engine through its throttle body mechanism or out of the space under the cowl, as induced by the operation of the fan.

Abstract: In an outboard engine unit, a cover assembly, defining a lower half section of an engine room, is composed of left and right cover members each formed of resin, and a bracket is fixed to a rear portion of the engine or engine support structure. The left and right cover members are fixed at their respective rear portions to the bracket. Centerline of an engine cylinder is offset from a centerline of the engine room toward one of left and right sides of the unit, and an ignition plug is provided on the other side opposite from the one side toward which the engine cylinder centerline is offset.

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 latch mechanism for a cowl of an outboard motor provides a handle and retaining mechanism for the handle which define a detent position when the handle is in a latching or closed position. A protrusion of the handle rotates in a plane which places it between a roller and a metallic ball when the handle is in a latching position. The metallic ball is shaped to be received in a groove formed in the protrusion in order to define the detent position when the handle is in its latched position.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine having an air intake device. The cowling has an engine room in which the engine is disposed. One or more air intake openings are formed through the cowling. A water separation device is included in the cowling interposed between the air intake opening and the engine room. A first intake passage of the water separator communicates with the ambient air opening. A second intake passage communicates with an upper portion of the first intake passage. If a large flow of water enters the first intake passage through the air opening, such water flows out of the cowling through another opening and/or into a holding chamber formed in the cowling so as not to flow into the second intake passage.

Abstract: An outboard motor comprises a cowling, having a top cowling and a bottom cowling, that cooperate to define an engine compartment. An intake air duct draws outside air into the engine compartment. A water collecting part is arranged in the bottom cowling for accumulating water that may enter the cowling through the air duct. A water passage may also be provided for guiding water from the intake air duct to the water collecting part. The water passage may have air openings for allowing air to enter the engine compartment independent of the water. A floor of the engine compartment may be adapted to contain water splashing and direct water to a water collecting part.

Abstract: A cowling structure for an outboard motor having a top cowl and a bottom cowl for covering an engine, and sealing a mating face between the top cowl and the bottom cowl, including an annular sealing rail forming a sealing face and is attached to the bottom cowl. The annular sealing rail has a tight fitting part and an attaching part on the outer and inner sides of the sealing face, respectively.

Abstract: A cowling assembly for an outboard motor includes a top cowling and a bottom cowling for covering an internal combustion engine for an outboard motor. The top cowling is formed by pressing a nonferrous material. The top cowling includes an opening edge and attaching surfaces of an annular rail are secured to an inner side of the opening edge of the top cowling thereby reinforcing the opening edge and enhancing its mounting strength. Furthermore, a seal formed along an opening edge of the bottom cowling and the opening edge and annular rail of the top cowling provides enhanced sealing by extending the sealing surfaces in different directions.

Abstract: An outboard motor can includes an engine for driving a propulsion device, a cowling for covering the engine, a fresh air intake opening formed in the cowling for drawing fresh air, and an engine compartment defined in the cowling. The outboard motor can have a bottom part defined below the engine compartment, a water collecting part disposed below the bottom part for receiving water that entered the cowling, a water passage for communicating the bottom part and the water collecting part, and a drain hole formed in a bottom portion of the water collecting part.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a cowling for enclosing an engine. Air inlet openings are formed in the cowling. An air intake chamber connects the air inlet openings and an air intake duct. Air that flows through the air inlet openings passes through the air intake chamber to the air intake duct. The air is then introduced into the engine. A front wall of the air intake chamber has a center portion positioned rearwardly of outer portions of the front wall. The air intake duct is positioned rearwardly of the front wall of the air intake chamber. The air inlet openings are positioned on both sides of the air intake duct. A rear wall is positioned rearwardly of the air intake duct. Each of the air inlet openings extends from the rear wall to one of the outer ends of the front wall of the air intake chamber.

Abstract: A boat includes an outboard motor having an internal combustion engine enclosed within a cowling. The cowling has a rear inlet port for allowing outside air to be drawn into the cowling. A closure member selectively closes the inlet port depending upon a certain engine operating parameters. In another embodiment, the cowling also includes a front air inlet port, and a front closure device for selectively opening and closing the front inlet port.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a cowling structure that includes a top cowl and a bottom cowl. The top cowl has a hook mounting member which is bonded to an inner side of the top cowl. The hook mounting member has a top cowl hook configured to engage a bottom cowl hook mounted to the bottom cowl. The hook mounting member is formed by pressing a nonferrous metal plate. A hook fixing part of the housing mounting member is coupled to the top cowl hook and is formed by the way of drawing in the pressing process.

Abstract: An outboard engine with a cover for allowing for an improved outward appearance is disclosed. The engine includes a leg case that houses a drive shaft for transmitting the output from the engine to a propeller. The cover covers the leg case. The cover is formed integrally, and a front part is designed to be opened. The front part is opened and is made to encase and cover a periphery of the leg case.

Abstract: A cowling for an outboard marine engine includes an upper motor cover and a lower motor cover that cover an engine, and a gear case that houses a drive mechanism. The upper motor cover detachably mates with the lower motor cover along corresponding edges. At least one mating edge on one side of each cover has a non-linear profile for assisting with cover alignment during assembly. The lower motor cover is configured to be assembled to one of a plurality of upper motor covers depending on engine size, and each upper motor cover is configured to be assembled to one of a plurality of top caps depending on whether the engine uses an electric starter or a pull starter.

Abstract: A locking system is provided for the cowl structure of an outboard motor. An impulse sensitive locking mechanism is configured to rotate into a locking position in response to an impact, or impulse force, exerted against the outboard motor. This rotation of the impulse sensitive locking mechanism prevents a retention component of the latch structure from moving toward an unlatched position in response to the impact exerted on the outboard motor. This, in turn, prevents the first and second latch members from disengaging with each other and allowing a portion of the cowl to disengage from the outboard motor.

Abstract: A cowling for an outboard marine engine includes an upper motor cover and a lower motor cover that cover an engine, and a gear case that houses a drive mechanism. The upper motor cover detachably mates with the lower motor cover along corresponding edges. At least one mating edge on one side of each cover is generally V-shaped for assisting with cover alignment during assembly.

Abstract: A cowling assembly for an outboard motor includes a top cowling and a bottom cowling for covering an internal combustion engine. The top cowling is formed by pressing a nonferrous material, and has a curved part formed around an opening edge thereof by pressing the opening edge inward into a curled or a hemming shape. A hook mounting member for supporting a hook that attached the top cowling to the bottom cowling is secured to the inside of the top cowling and is engaged with the curved part formed around the opening edge.

Abstract: An outboard has a housing unit mounted on an associated watercraft. An engine is disposed on the housing unit. A cowling surrounds the engine. The cowling has an inlet port through which atmospheric air enters inside of the cowling. At least a substantial portion of the cowling is made of a nonferrous metal.

Abstract: A rigging apparatus is provided for an outboard motor in which an attachment member is shaped to be rigidly attached to a housing structure, or cowl, of an outboard motor, without the need for additional hardware such as clamps, brackets, or screws. The attachment member is shaped to receive a threaded sleeve in threaded association therewith so that hoses, wires, and cables can be protected within the threaded sleeve. An attachment member of the rigging apparatus is made to be asymmetrical to avoid improper assembly into an opening of the housing structure of an outboard motor.

Abstract: A recoil starter has a guide surface with limited polar symmetry about the axis of the pull-rope limiting rotational orientation of the pull-handle in the at-rest position to less than three angular positions.

Abstract: An air intake system for an outboard motor provides parallel air flow paths between an opening formed in a cowl of the outboard motor and an air intake manifold of an engine under the cowl. A first air path flows in a relatively direct path between the opening in the cowl and the first inlet of a plenum chamber. A second air flow flows in a less direct path from the opening in the cowl to a second inlet of the plenum chamber. The second air flow is used to remove heat from a preselected component, such as an alternator, before it rejoins the first air flow within the cavity of the plenum chamber and is directed, in combination with the first air flow, through an intake air conduit connected to an outlet of the plenum chamber and to an air intake manifold of the engine.

Abstract: An outboard motor having an intake passage unit for introducing air into an engine compartment is provided. The intake passage unit has two intake passage portions disposed at the left and the right of an engine, extending vertically, to reduce the fore-and-aft length of an engine cover. The left and right intake passage portions communicate at their upper portions with air introduction openings formed in the engine cover.

Abstract: A cowl latching system is provided which facilitates the installation of a removable cowl with respect to a stationary cowl structure and allows these two components to be locked together as a result of a simple downward movement in a vertical direction of the removable cowl with respect to the stationary structure. Removal of the removable cowl is also facilitated by allowing these components to be disengaged from each other as a result of a rotation of the removable cowl relative to the stationary cowl structure after a manually operable latch is released.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes a vertical multi-cylinder engine, a fly-wheel magneto device, a partition plate, and a ventilation fan. The vertical multi-cylinder engine is disposed in an engine cover and comprises a crank case and a crank shaft, the crank shaft being rotatably disposed and protruding upward from the crank case. The fly-wheel magneto device is disposed on the protruding portion of the crank shaft. The partition plate is disposed in the engine cover and partitions the inside of the engine cover into an engine air-inlet space and a space including a heat-generating source, the engine air-inlet space being disposed at the upper portion of the engine cover, and the space including a heat-generating source being disposed at the lower portion of the engine cover. The ventilation fan is disposed in the lower space below the partition plate.

Abstract: An operational condition of an outboard motor 1 is detected by an ECU 29, and transmitted via a communication unit 228, from a communication apparatus 283 to a base station 30. Antennas 32 and a cable 33 are arranged along an inner surface of an engine cover 12. The cable 33 is provided with a connector 34 for connecting the antenna 32 to a communication unit 28 and a GPS receiving circuit 31. The communication apparatus and the antennas are held floating in a case 351 which is filled with a gel, and the case 351 is fixed to the engine cover 12. A communication unit 28 is provided inside an engine cover 12. A housing portion 41 for a portable phone PH is provided pivoted about the cover 12 in such a manner that the portable phone is removable from the housing portion 41.

Abstract: A protective containment device is provided to serve as a strain relief component for hoses, wires, and push-pull cables extending through a front surface of an outboard motor. The protective containment device is formed from first and second portions that are assembled together with a flexibly connected divider that segregates certain components within the protective device from other components. A cylindrical ring, made of first and second retainers, is disposed around an outer surface of the cylindrical conduit to hold the first and second portions together and to retain a flexible tube in place.