Brunswick Corporation

Brad J Van Ruiswyk

Steven J Amerling

John D Skroski

David Brian Griep

Mark A Baier

Randall J Poirier

Timothy S Reid

George D Idzikowski

Bradley R Stafford

David M Foulkes

Timothy J Eddy

Timothy R Walters

John A Bauer

An assembly is for aligning and stabilizing first and second cowl portions on a marine engine. The assembly comprises an engagement member configured to be fixed to the first cowl portion and a retainer apparatus configured to be fixed to the second cowl portion. The retainer apparatus is configured to receive the engagement member when one of the first cowl portion and second cowl portion is moved towards the other of the first cowl portion and the second cowl portion. The retainer apparatus comprises a retainer body and opposing guide members that are pivotable with respect to the retainer body. As the retainer apparatus receives the engagement member, the engagement member engages and causes the guide members to pivot with respect to the retainer body such that the engagement member becomes sandwiched between the guide members, thus aligning and stabilizing the first and second cowl portions.

Assemblies for aligning and stabilizing portions of a cowling on a marine engine

A cowl for an outboard marine propulsion device having an internal combustion engine. The cowl comprises a first cowl portion; a second cowl portion that mates with the first cowl portion to enclose the internal combustion engine; a service door on the second cowl portion, wherein the service door is positionable in an open position and in a closed position; and a carrying handle on the second cowl portion, wherein the carrying handle is accessible when the service door is in the open position and inaccessible when the service door is in the closed position. A plurality of latches are spaced apart around the perimeter. The latches latch the second cowl portion to the first cowl portion. An actuator assembly actuates each of the plurality of latches. The actuator assembly can be actuated by movement of the carrying handle.

Cowls and latching assemblies for cowls on outboard marine propulsion devices

A latching device is for a cowl on an outboard marine engine, the cowl having first and second cowl portions that are separated from each other in an open cowl position and that are latched together by the latching device in a closed cowl position. A retainer is adapted to be fixed to the first cowl portion and a latch is adapted to be fixed to the second cowl portion. The latch is movable into and between a latched position in which the latch is latched to the retainer and an unlatched position in which the latch is unlatched from the retainer. The latch comprises an engagement member, a bell crank, and a spring that is coupled to the engagement member and the bell crank. Movement of the bell crank with respect to the engagement member generates an overcenter force on the engagement member that facilitates latching and unlatching of the engagement member and the retainer.

Cowls and latching devices for outboard marine engines

A hinge assembly is for a cowl of an outboard motor. The hinge assembly is configured to connect a first portion of the cowl to a second portion of the cowl. The hinge assembly comprises an arm that is connected to one of the first and second cowl portions and a retainer that is connected to the other of the first and second cowl portions. The arm is movable with respect to the retainer between a registered position wherein the arm is retained by and pivotable with respect to the retainer to thereby pivotably connect the first portion of the cowl to the second portion of the cowl and an unregistered position wherein the arm is separated from the retainer so that the first portion of the cowl is separated from the second portion of the cowl.

Hinge assemblies for a cowl of an outboard motor

A cowl mounting system includes one or more stabilizer fulcrums spaced between front and rear cowl mounts and preloading the cowl to provide cowl stability in the mounted condition. The stabilizer fulcrums also provide port and starboard alignment guides during assembly.

Cowl mounting system for outboard marine drive

A support system for an outboard motor provides a restricted member that is attached to a bottom portion of the outboard motor and a restricting member that is attached to a support structure that is, in turn, attached to a transom of a marine vessel. The restricted member is prevented from moving in a starboard or port direction by a magnitude greater than a preselected magnitude that is defined by a gap between restricting and restricted surfaces that move into contact with each other when forces on the outboard motor cause a lower portion of the outboard motor to move by a magnitude greater than a predefined limit in either the port or starboard directions. Preselected gaps between restricting and restricted surfaces are sized to allow nominal vibration at low operating speeds of the outboard motor while restricting excessive lateral movement during operation at high speed.

Outboard motor support system

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.

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Waupun, WI, United States of America

Brad J Van Ruiswyk