Outboard Marine Corporation

David F Haman

Chester G DuBois

Mark C Noble

Todd D Craft

Allan F Miller

Dale M Needham

A connecting rod and crankshaft assembly comprising a crankshaft having an axis and including axially spaced end bearing surfaces in concentric relation to the axis, an arcuate throw portion extending from one of the end bearing surfaces and along a curvilinear axis and including a maximum cross section which extends perpendicularly to the curvilinear axis and which includes a maximum rectilinear distance passing through the curvilinear axis, and a crank pin extending from the throw portion in eccentric relation to the axis, a connecting rod comprising an elongated main body, and a crank pin end portion extending from the main body and including a cylindrical surface extending along an axis extending perpendicularly to the elongation of the main body and defining a crank pin aperture receiving the crank pin, and axially spaced side surfaces each including a first side surface portion located adjacent the main body and extending for an arcuate distance around the axis of less than 180 degrees, which first side surface portions are axially spaced at a first distance, and a second side surface portion located remotely from the main body and extending for an arcuate distance around the axis of more than 180 degrees, which second side surface portions are axially spaced at a second distance less than the first distance, and a bearing assembly interposed between the crank pin and the cylindrical surface of the crank pin portion of the connecting rod.

Connecting rod and crankshaft assembly

An internal combustion engine comprising an engine block defining a cylinder having a longitudinal axis, an upper end, and a cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the axis, a piston reciprocally moveable in the cylinder along the axis, the piston having an upper surface, a cylinder head including a lower surface portion closing the upper end of the cylinder, the lower surface portion extending generally perpendicular to the axis and having therein an upwardly extending recess, the recess having an upper end, a lower end, and a height, the lower end of the recess having an area in a plane perpendicular to the axis, the area being equal to approximately one-fifth the cross-sectional area of the cylinder, the height being equal to at least one-third of the cylinder diameter, a fuel injector supported relative to the cylinder head for injecting fuel into the recess, and a spark plug which is supported relative to the cylinder head and which extends into the recess for creating a spark.

Fuel-injected internal combustion engine with improved combustion

A combustion chamber for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a cylinder head body having at least one generally dome-shaped combustion chamber defined by a lower surface of the body and having an intake side and an exhaust side, and a spark plug bore disposed in the combustion chamber so that when a spark plug is engaged in the bore, the dome-shaped portion is provided with an upper surface configured to shelter the electrode from direct impingement of a fresh charge introduced into the combustion chamber through the intake side.

Combustion chamber for internal combustion engine

A tiller arm and steering bracket assembly where the tiller arm is pivotally coupled to the steering bracket such that it can be selectively positioned in either a generally horizontal position or a generally vertical position. The tiller arm includes an underside having interference ribs that contact the steering bracket when the tiller arm is placed in the horizontal position. The interference ribs each have a retaining ledge that supports the tiller arm on the head portion of the steering bracket in an upright position substantially perpendicular to the steering bracket when it is placed in the vertical position. The steering bracket has integral crest formations which contact the retaining ledges to provide additional support to the tiller arm when it is placed in the vertical position. A bore formed through the steering bracket accepts a retaining pin that contacts the tiller arm at a point which prevents the tiller arm from unintentionally returning to the horizontal position. Additionally, the steering bracket may have a recess and a channel formed through the steering bracket for accepting and mounting thereto a starter switch and starter mechanism.

Tiller arm and steering bracket assembly

A lower motor cover attachment for an outboard motor includes a first lower motor cover half having an outer surface, an inner surface and an overboard water indicator opening, a second lower motor cover half having an outer surface and an inner surface, attachment formations located on respective inner surfaces of the first and second lower motor cover halves for use in releasably attaching the motor cover halves to the motor, and at least one fastener for engaging corresponding attachment formations and fastening the attachment formations of the first and second halves to the motor, wherein the overboard water indicator opening is disposed on the first lower motor cover so as to be substantially coaxial with at least one of the attachment formations, such that a tool inserted through the opening may engage the fastener in at least one of the attachment formations.

Hidden lower motor cover attachment means

A flushing system for an outboard marine motor includes an engine provided with at least one cylinder surrounded at least partially by a cooling jacket, an access port disposed on the engine and being in fluid communication with the cooling jacket, a flushing assembly being detachably engageable in the access port for permitting inflow of a flushing fluid into the cooling jacket, and a valve member disposed on the flushing assembly for selectively controlling the inflow of flushing fluid into the cooling jacket at the discretion of an operator.

Flushing system for outboard motor

A shift interlock system for preventing the starting of an outboard motor when the motor is in gear, the outboard motor having an engine, a starter housing, a starter pulley enclosed by the housing, and a transmission shift lever having a neutral setting, a reverse setting and a forward setting. The system includes a subhousing secured to the starter housing, a plunger mounted in the subhousing for reciprocal linear movement between a retracted position, and an extended position in which the plunger engages the starter pulley to prevent the rotation of the pulley, the plunger being biased in the extended position, and a cam member disposed in the subhousing to pivot between a neutral position in which the cam member overcomes the biasing force and retracts the plunger, and at least one drive gear position in which the cam member permits the extension of the plunger. Also included is an operating link connected to the transmission lever and to the cam member for selectively positioning the cam member to extend the plunger when the transmission lever is in a forward or reverse setting.

Shift interlock system

A marine propulsion device comprising a propulsion unit including a gearcase having a cylindrical inner surface centered on an axis, a propeller shaft which is located inside the inner surface, which is supported by the gearcase for rotation about the axis, and which has a rearward end adapted to have mounted thereon a propeller, and an annular oil seal extending between the propeller shaft and the inner surface, and a mechanism for protecting the oil seal from foreign matter, the mechanism including an annular member fixed on the propeller shaft, located between the oil seal and the rearward end of the propeller shaft, and spaced from the oil seal, the member having a generally circular outer surface spaced closely adjacent the inner surface and having a beveled surface portion facing the rearward end of the propeller shaft.

Marine propulsion device with improved oil seal protection device

Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device including a lower unit having a gear case normally submerged in water and a propeller rotatably mounted in and extending rearwardly of the gear case. One or more grooves in the outer surface of the forward portion of the propeller outer hub in front of the propeller blade serves to trap and store fish line or the like which becomes entangled in the propeller and thereby prevent such materials from entering the gear case. The groove extends around at least a portion of the outer periphery of the forward position of the propeller outer hub, includes one or more portions which are open to a hollow interior area in the propeller, and has sufficient dimensions to serve as a barrier against propagation of fish line or the like along the outer surface of the propeller outer hub toward the gear case.

Marine propeller including fish line trap

A wrist pin lubricating system for a multi-cylinder two-cycle engine comprises a passage system for collecting and distributing crankcase condensate to the piston wrist pin bearings. A slot in each piston skirt provides continuous communication between each wrist pin bearing and a passage in the cylinder wall delivering condensate from the engine crankcases. The condensate is collected at the low point of each crankcase and is pumped to the wrist pin bearings by the pressure differential between two crankcases. Check valves are provided in the passages to maintain a directional flow of the condensate.

Wrist pin lubrication system for two-cycle engines

Disclosed herein is an automatically forced fluid supply system for lubricating a crankpin in an internal combustion engine of the type wherein lubricant is suspended in a gaseous medium within the engine, the automatically forced fluid supply system comprising a crankpin including an end, an exterior bearing surface, and an interior passageway extending from the end and opening through the bearing surface, and a scoop, adjacent the crankpin end and communicating with the passageway, for intercepting lubricant in response to movement of the crankpin through the gaseous medium having therein the suspended lubricant and for conveying the intercepted lubricant to the interior passageway for distribution onto the bearing surface.

Automatically forced fluid supply system

Disclosed herein is an internal combustion engine comprising a crankcase, a cylinder extending from the crankcase and having an inlet port, a piston located in the cylinder, a transfer passage located between the crankcase and the cylinder inlet port, a fuel pump adapted to communicate with a source of fuel for normal operation, a carburetor having an air induction passage communicating with the crankcase and including a venturi, which carburetor also includes a float bowl communicating with the fuel pump and a high speed nozzle communicating between the float bowl and the venturi, a low speed fuel nozzle communicating with the transfer passage adjacent the inlet port, and a fuel line communicating between the float bowl and the low speed nozzle and including therein check valve means preventing flow from the transfer passage to the float bowl and permitting flow from the float bowl to the transfer passage, which fuel line also includes fuel flow metering means.

Growing community of inventors

Waukegan, IL, United States of America

David F Haman