Brunswick Corporation

Brad J VanRuiswyk

Steven J Amerling

Devan R Faust

Steven J Andrasko

Matthew W Jaeger

Stephen R Collins

John I S Park

Mark W Henker

Wade A Loberger

John D Skroski

Andrew S Waisanen

Scott George Ahlswede

Douglas D Reichardt

Jeffrey A Zarembka

Timothy J Eddy

Ameer B Ambavaram

An outboard motor has a top cowl and a service lid on the top cowl is movable into and between a closed position enclosing the powerhead compartment and an open position providing manual access to the powerhead compartment from above the outboard motor. An engine is in the powerhead compartment, wherein a peripheral gap is defined between the top cowl and the engine. A serviceable engine oil device is in the peripheral gap and is manually accessible from above the outboard motor when the service lid is in the open position. A serviceable transmission fluid device is in the peripheral gap and is manually accessible from above the outboard motor when the service lid is in the open position. A serviceable gearcase fluid device is in the peripheral gap and is manually accessible from above the outboard motor when the service lid is in the open position.

Top-down serviceable outboard motors

A cowling is for a marine drive. The cowling has first and second cowl portions for enclosing a powerhead, and a latching device which is movable into a latched position in which the powerhead is enclosed by the first cowl and second cowl portions and an unlatched position in which the second cowl portion is movable with respect to the first cowl portion so that the powerhead is accessible. The latching device has an electric actuator configured to automatically move the latching device from the latched position to the unlatched position and a manually-operable input device which is accessible from outside of the cowling and is configured to actuate the electric actuator to thereby automatically move the latching device from the latched position to the unlatched position.

Cowlings for marine drives and latching devices for cowlings for marine drives

A hinge assembly is for a cowling on a marine drive. The cowling has a first cowl portion and a second cowl portion which together enclose a cowl interior. The hinge assembly has a first base frame configured for fixed attachment to an interior surface of the first cowl portion and a second base frame configured for fixed attachment to an interior surface of the second cowl portion. The second base frame is pivotally coupled to the first base frame by a connection device that enables manual removal of the second base frame from the intermediate frame without use of a tool, thus facilitating manual removal of the second cowl portion from the first cowl portion without the use of the tool.

Cowlings and hinge assemblies for cowlings on marine drives

A cowling has first and second cowl portions that enclose a powerhead on a marine drive. A latching assembly is for latching the first and second cowl portions together. The latching assembly has a retainer portion fixed to the first cowl portion and a latching portion fixed to the second cowl portion. The latching portion comprises a latch arm and a bell crank, the latch arm and bell crank being rotatable into and between a latched position in which the latch arm is latched to the retainer portion and an unlatched position in which the latch arm is unlatched from the retainer portion. A novel detent mechanism mechanically retains the latch arm and bell crank in the latched position and alternately in the unlatched position. A pair of bolted connections that fix the first and second cowling portions together and are located on opposite sides of the cowling.

Cowlings and latching assemblies for cowlings for marine drives

An apparatus is for operably connecting a marine drive to a marine vessel. A transom bracket is configured for fixed attachment to the marine vessel and for attachment to the marine drive such that the marine drive is trimmable up and down relative to the marine vessel about a trim axis. The transom bracket has a sidewall with a rigging opening through which at least one elongated rigging member extends for operably connecting the marine drive to the marine vessel, wherein the rigging opening is located along the trim axis. The rigging device has an elbow conduit with an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the outlet end is positionable into a plurality of clock positions relative to the inlet end.

Apparatuses and devices for operably connecting a marine drive to a marine vessel

A marine drive includes an engine; a cowl having first and second cowl portions. The first cowl portion is movable with respect to the second cowl portion into an open position in which the engine is manually accessible and a closed position in which the engine is enclosed; and a rigging port in the second cowl portion. The rigging port provides a passageway for rigging connectors extending from the engine to a component located remotely from the engine. A rigging opening provides manual access to the rigging connectors and the engine, including when the first cowl portion is in the closed position. A removable access door covers the rigging opening and prevents manual access to the engine and rigging connectors via the rigging opening. The removable access door is fastened to the second cowl portion by a removable fastener that is hidden from view.

Marine drives and arrangements for rigging marine drives

A cowling is for a marine drive. The cowling has a first cowling portion and a second cowling portion that mates with the first cowling portion along a perimeter edge so as to enclose the marine drive. A perimeter seal is disposed along the perimeter edge and is axially sandwiched between the first cowling portion and the second cowling portion to thereby prevent ingress of water into the cowling. The perimeter seal is retained on the second cowling portion and is axially compressed against the first cowling portion when the second cowling portion is axially mated with the first cowling portion.

Cowlings for marine drive having a perimeter seal

A marine drive includes an engine; a cowl having first and second cowl portions. The first cowl portion is movable with respect to the second cowl portion into an open position in which the engine is manually accessible and a closed position in which the engine is enclosed; and a rigging port in the second cowl portion. The rigging port provides a passageway for rigging connectors extending from the engine to a component located remotely from the engine. A rigging window provides manual access to the rigging connectors and the engine, including when the first cowl portion is in the closed position. A removable access door covers the rigging window and prevents manual access to the engine and rigging connectors via the rigging window. The removable access door is fastened to the second cowl portion by a removable fastener that is hidden from view.

A latching assembly is for a cowl on a marine drive, the cowl having a first cowl portion and a second cowl portion that mates with the first cowl portion. A latching device is configured to latch and unlatch the first cowl portion to the second cowl portion. An actuator actuates the latching device. A flexible connector has a first end coupled to the latching device and a second end coupled to the actuator. Actuation of the actuator pulls the flexible connector to rotate a pulley and actuate the latching device. One of the first and second ends has a spherical bearing that is nested in a cylindrical bearing and seated in a cavity in the pulley. Pulling on the flexible connector pulls the spherical bearing against the cylindrical bearing such that the cylindrical bearing is pulled against the cavity in the pulley, thereby causing the pulley to rotate.

Growing community of inventors

Waupun, WI, United States of America

Brad J VanRuiswyk