Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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MARINE PROPULSION DEVICE WITH
ARRANGEMENT FOR FLUSHING ENGINE COOLING JACKET
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to
marine propulsion devices and to internal combustion
engines therefor. Still more particularly, the
invention relates to internal combustion engines
having cooling jackets and to arrangements for
flushing such cooling jackets.
Reference to Prior Art
Attention is directed to the following
U.S. Patents:
3,003,456 H.D. Crozier October 10, 1961
3,550,612 L.J. Maxon December 29, 1970
4,108,190 G.R. Carlson August 22, 1978
4,619,618 W. Patti October 28, 1986
4,729,393 J.A. Ferguson March 8, 1988
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a marine
propulsion devise comprising bracket means adapted
for connection to a boat transom and a propulsion
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unit connected to the bracket means for pivotal
movement about a generally vertical steering axis
and for tilting movement about a generally
horizontal tilt axis, which propulsion unit includes
an internal combustion engine including an engine
block having a cooling jacket, a lower unit
supporting the engine block and including a
propeller shaft driven by the engine, a cover
removably supported by the propulsion unit in
enclosing relation to the engine and including a
portion having therein an opening, a conduit
extending from the engine block and through the
opening and including therein a bore communicating
with the cooling jacket and having an outer end
exteriorly of the cover, and valve means in the bore
for permitting inflow to the cooling jacket and for
preventing outflow from the cooling jacket.
The invention also provides a marine
propulsion device comprising bracket means adapted
for connection to a boat transom and a propulsion
unit connected to the bracket means for pivotal
movement about a generally vertical steering axis
and for tilting movement about a generally
horizontal tilt axis, which propulsion unit includes
an internal combustion engine including an engine
block having a cooling jacket, a lower unit
supporting the engine block and including a
propeller shaft driven by the engine, a cover
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removably supported by the propulsion unit in
enclosing relation to the engine and including a
portion having therein an opening, a conduit
extending from the engine block and through the
opening and including therein a bore communicating
with the cooling jacket and having an outer end with
an internal thread, and a plug removably and
threadably received in the threaded outer end of the
conduit.
The invention also provides an outboard
motor comprising bracket means adapted for
connection to a boat transom and a propulsion unit
connected to the bracket means for pivotal movement
relative thereto, which propulsion unit includes an
internal combustion engine comprising an engine
block including a cooling jacket, a lower unit
supporting the engine block and including a
propeller shaft driven by the engine, a pump for
supplying coolant to the cooling jacket during
normal operation of the outboard motor, and means
for supplying pressurized coolant to the cooling
jacket, which supplying means includes means for
attaching and detaching a common garden hose at a
location downstream of the pump.
The invention also provides an internal
combustion engine including an engine block having a
cooling jacket, a conduit extending from the engine
block and including a bore communicating with the
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cooling jacket and having an end portion with an
internal thread, a plug threadably and removably
received in the end portion and including a
restricted opening extending axially thereof and an
outer end having therein a recess for receipt of a
tool for rotating the plug relative to the conduit,
and valve means in the bore for permitting inflow to
the cooling jacket and for substantially preventing
outflow from the cooling jacket while affording
limited flow from the cooling jacket and through the
restricted opening so as to provide a tell-tale.
The invention also provides an outboard
motor comprising bracket means adapted for
connection to a boat transom and a propulsion unit
connected to the bracket means for pivotal movement
relative thereto, which propulsion unit includes an
internal combustion engine comprising an engine
block including a cooling jacket, a lower unit
supporting the engine block and including a
propeller shaft driven by the engine, a pump for
supplying coolant to the cooling jacket during
normal operation of the outboard motor, and means
for supplying pressurized coolant to the cooling
jacket without operating the engine and such that
the pressurized coolant bypasses the pump.
The invention also provides an outboard
motor comprising bracket means adapted for
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connected to the bracket means for pivotal movement
connection to a boat transom and a propulsion unit
relative thereto, which propulsion unit includes an
internal combustion engine comprising an engine
block including a cooling jacket, a lower unit
supporting the engine block and including a
propeller shaft driven by the engine, a pump for
supplying coolant to the cooling jacket during
normal operation of the outboard motor, and means
for supplying pressurized coolant to the cooling
jacket, which supplying means includes means for
attaching and detaching a common garden hose at a
location downstream of the pump.
The invention also provides a marine
propulsion device comprising bracket means adapted
for connection to a boat transom and a propulsion
unit connected to the bracket means for pivotal
movement about a generally vertical steering axis
and for tilting movement about a generally
horizontal tilt axis, which propulsion unit includes
an internal combustion engine including an engine
block having a cooling jacket, a lower unit
supporting the engine block and including a
propeller shaft drivingly connected to the engine, a
coolant pump drivingly connected to the engine and
communicating with the cooling jacket, a conduit
extending from the engine block and including
therein a bore communicating with the cooling jacket
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independently of the coolant pump and having an
outer end with an internal thread, and a plug
removably and threadably received in the threaded
outer end of the conduit.
The invention also provides a marine
propulsion device comprising bracket means adapted
for connection to a boat transom and a propulsion
unit connected to the bracket means for pivotal
movement about a generally vertical steering axis
and for tilting movement about a generally
horizontal tilt axis, which propulsion unit includes
an internal combustion engine including an engine
block having a cooling jacket, a lower unit
supporting the engine block and including a
propeller shaft drivingly connected to the engine, a
conduit extending from the engine block and
including therein a bore communicating with the
cooling jacket and having an outer end with an
internal thread, and a plug removably and threadably
received in the threaded outer end of the conduit.
The invention also provides a marine
propulsion device comprising bracket means adapted
for connection to a boat transom and a propulsion
unit connected to the bracket means for pivotal
movement about a generally vertical steering axis
and for tilting movement about a generally
horizontal tilt axis, which propulsion unit includes
an internal combustion engine including an engine
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block having a cooling jacket, a lower unit
supporting the engine block and including a
propeller shaft drivingly connected to the engine, a
coolant pump drivingly connected to the engine and
communicating with the cooling jacket, a conduit
extending from the engine block and including
therein a bore communicating with the cooling jacket
independently of the coolant pump and having an
outer end with an internal thread, and a plug
removably and threadably received in the threaded
outer end of the conduit.
Other features and advantages of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in
the art upon review of the following detailed
description, claims, and drawings.
THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevational view,
partially in section, of a boat mounted marine
propulsion device incorporating various of the
features of the invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary
view of a portion of the marine propulsion device
shown in Figure 1.
Before one embodiment of the invention
is explained in detail, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited in its application to
the details of the construction and the arrangements
of the components set forth in the following
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description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced or being carried out in various
ways. Also, it is to be understood that the
phraseology and terminology used herein is for the
purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Shown the drawings is a marine
propulsion device in the form of an outboard motor 11
including bracket means 13 adapted to be attached to
a boat transom 15 and a propulsion unit 17 connected
to the bracket means 15 for a pivotal movement about
a generally vertically steering axis and about a
generally horizontal tilting axis.
The propulsion unit 17 includes an
internal combustion engine 19 comprising an engine
block 21 defining an interior cooling jacket 23. Any
suitable engine construction can be employed. The
propulsion unit 17 also includes a lower unit 25
comprising a drive shaft housing 27 which, at its
upper end, supports the engine block 21, and which,
at its lower end, has attached thereto a gear case 29
which rotatably supports a propeller shaft 31 having
mounted thereon a propeller 33. The propeller shaft
31 is drivingly connected to the engine 19 via a
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drive shaft 35 rotatably supported in the drive shaft
housing 27.
The propulsion unit 17 also includes a
pump 37 for supplying coolant to the engine cooling
jacket 23. Any suitable pump, preferably driven by
the drive shaft 35, can be employed.
The pump 37 communicates with an inlet
conduit 39 leading to a water intake 41 in the lower
unit 25. In addition, a coolant supply conduit 43
extends from the pump 37 to the cooling jacket 23 to
supply coolant to the cooling jacket 23 in response
to drive shaft rotation.
Extending from the cooling jacket 23
and shown schematically is a conduit 44 for
discharging coolant from the cooling jacket 23. Any
suitable construction can be employed.
Supported by the propulsion unit 17,
and in enclosing relation to the engine 19, is a
cover or cowl 45. Any suitable cowl construction can
be employed.
As thus far described, the construction
is conventional.
The propulsion unit 17 also includes
means facilitating flushing of the cooling jacket 23
and including means for readily attaching and
detaching the male end of a common garden hose so as
to enable supply of flushing water to the cooling
jacket 23.
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More specifically, in this last regard,
while other specific constructions can be employed,
in the disclosed construction, such flushing means
comprises a conduit 51 extending from the engine
block 21 and through an opening 53 in the cowl or
cover 4S, which conduit 51 includes an internal
passage 55 communicating with the cooling jacket 23
and having an outer end 57 which is provided with an
internal thread adapted to receive the male end of a
common garden hose.
Removably located in the outer end 57
of the internal passage 55 is a threaded plug 61
which, when threaded into the passage 55, closes the
passage 55 to generally prevent the escape of coolant
from the cooling jacket 23.
Preferably, the plug 61 includes means
in the form of a relatively small axially extending
restricted bore 65 for draining a restricted amount
of coolant from the cooling jacket 23.
In addition, the plug 61 includes, on
the outer surface thereof, a recess 69, such as a
diametric slot, adapted for receipt of a tool, such
as a screw driver, for effecting rotation of the plug
61 relative to the passage 55, and thereby to enable
removal of the plug 61 from the passage SS and to
enable tightly seating the plug 61 in the passage 55
to prevent coolant flow from the cooling jacket 23
between the plug 61 and the passage 55.
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1333~59
It is particularly noted that passage
of the conduit 51 through the opening 53 in the cover
45 enables flushing of the engine 19 without
requiring removal of the cover 45. Of course, at
least some of the advantages of the invention can be
provided if the passage 55 terminates inside the
cover 45, whereby the cover is removed to afford
flushing of the engine 19.
Preferably, the passage 55 is also
provided with means for preventing outflow of coolant
from the cooling jacket 23 when the plug 61 is
removed and for permitting inflow of water to the
cooling jacket 23 when the plug 61 is removed. While
various other constructions can be employed, such as
a ball check valve, in the disclosed construction,
such means comprises a reed valve 71. If desired,
the reed valve 71 can be provided with a small
aperture 67 to afford limited coolant flow from the
cooling jacket 23 and through the bore 65 to the
exterior of the cover 45 so as to provide an
overboard indicator or tell-tale.
In operation, when it is desired to
flush the engine 19, the plug 61 is initially removed
from the passage 55 in the conduit 51, and in place
thereof, the male end of a common garden hose is
threadably inserted. Turning on the supply of water
to the garden hose will thus open the reed valve 71
and will effect flushing of the cooling jacket 23 of
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the engine 19. When the flushing is completed, the
male end of the common garden hose can be threadably
removed from the conduit Sl. During such removal,
loss of fluid from the cooling jacket 23 is prevented
by the reed valve 71. After the male end of the
garden hose is removed, the plug 61 can be reinserted
and tightened in order to prevent undue stress on the
reed valve and, if provided with a restricted bore
65, to provide a tell-tale indicating that the pump
is working.
Various of the features of the
invention are set forth in the following claims.
