Brunswick Corporation

Eric S Mueller

Jeffrey J Broman

David J Belter

Steven J Gonring

Timothy S Reid

Paul M Radavich

John N Oenick

Wayne M Jaszewski

Kevin R Anderson

Michael J Lemancik

Claus Bruestle

Trevor George

Christopher J Misorski

Troy J Kollmann

Daniel J Balogh

Wade A Loberger

Steve Wynveen

Mitesh B Sheth

Chetan A DharmadhIkari

A marine battery pack including an enclosure defining a cavity, a plurality of cell modules within the cavity, each comprising a plurality of battery cells, and at least one sensor configured to sense at least one of a temperature, a pressure, a presence of water, and a gas content within the cavity. A controller is configured to detect an event warranting decommission of the battery pack based on the temperature, the pressure, the presence of water, and/or the gas content within the cavity, and then to automatically operate a pump to intake water from outside of the enclosure and pump water through the cavity from an inlet port in the enclosure to an outlet port in the enclosure so as to cool the plurality of battery cells.

Marine battery safety system and method

A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel includes an engine effectuating rotation of an output shaft, multiple batteries configured to power a marine vessel load, and an alternator having a rotor that is driven into rotation by the output shaft and that outputs a charge current to the batteries. The marine propulsion system further includes a control system configured to operate the engine in a propulsion mode and a generator mode. Upon receiving a generator mode command to start the engine in the generator mode, the control system operates the engine in accordance with a set of generator parameters to charge the batteries while a shift system of the marine propulsion system is locked in a neutral position such that the propulsor cannot be engaged and the marine vessel remains stationary.

Marine propulsion and generator systems and methods

A system for draining a cooling system of a power generation system on a marine vessel includes a pump in fluid communication with the cooling system, the pump actively removing cooling water from the cooling system. An outlet drain discharges the cooling water. A controller starts the pump in response to an operator command to stop a prime mover of the marine power generation system and/or a speed of the prime mover being below a threshold speed. In one example, a temperature sensor determines a temperature of the cooling water in the cooling system, and the controller stops the pump in response to the temperature of the cooling water exceeding a threshold temperature. In another example, a sensor determines a pressure and/or a level of the cooling water in the cooling system, and the controller stops the pump in response to the pressure and/or the level of the cooling water dropping below a threshold pressure or a threshold level, respectively.

Cooling system for a power generation system on a marine vessel

A hull assembly for a pontoon boat includes a hull extending in a longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end. A first thruster assembly is attached to a first lateral side of the hull. A second thruster assembly is attached to a second lateral side of the hull. The first and second thruster assemblies include respective thrust units that are each movable between a deployed position and a stowed position.

Hull assembly for a pontoon boat

An electromechanical lockout device for a remote control on a marine vessel includes an electric actuator and a locking pin having an engagement end and a second end. The locking pin is arranged with respect to a control lever such that the locking pin is positionable in a locked position, where the engagement end of the locking pin prevents rotation of the control lever into a reverse position, and in a retracted position, where the engagement end of the locking pin allows rotation of the control lever into the reverse position. A method of controlling lockout for a remote control includes sensing a position of a control lever, calculating a rate of change of the position, and engaging a lockout to prevent a gear system from shifting into reverse gear if the rate of change exceeds a threshold rate of change.

Lockout for remote controls on marine vessels

An outboard motor is provided with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system that provides a heat exchanger which reduces the temperature of the exhaust gas prior to introducing the exhaust gas to the cylinders of the engine. The heat exchanger can be integral to the engine, particularly the cylinder head of the engine, or it can be disposed outside the structure of the engine. When disposed outside the structure of the engine, the heat exchanger can comprise a tubular structure that causes exhaust gas and water, from the body of water, to flow in thermal communication with each other. Alternatively, the heat exchanger which is disposed outside the structure of the engine can use a cavity within the driveshaft housing as a heat exchanger with water being sprayed into the stream of exhaust gas as it passes from the engine to the cavity.

Outboard motor with exhaust gas recirculation cooling

A marine propulsion device is provided with a turbocharger that is located above all, or at least a majority of, the cylinders of an engine. The exhaust gases are directed to one side of the engine and the compressed air is directed to an opposite side of the engine. The turbocharger is located at a rear portion of the engine behind the crankshaft.

Turbocharger configuration for an outboard motor

A system is provided for monitoring changes in the operation of a valve system of an engine. An accelerometer provides vibration-related signals that are obtained by a microprocessor or similarly configured device and compared to a reference or baseline magnitude. The obtaining step can comprise the steps of measuring, filtering, rectifying, and integrating individual data points obtained during specific windows of time determined as a function of the rotational position of the crankshaft of the engine. These windows in time are preferably selected as a function of the position of exhaust or intake valves as they move in response to rotation of cams of the valve system.

Method for monitoring the operating condition of an engine valve system

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.

Auxiliary control of airflow through an engine enclosure of an outboard motor

An engine is made by providing a layer of material between the outer surface of a cylinder liner and the inner surface of the cylinder opening within an engine block. The material can be a polymer or a ceramic. Polyether ether ketone or polyethylene terephthalate can be a polymer used for these purposes. Zirconia or yttria can be ceramic used for these purposes. An electro-deposited paint can serve as the layer of thermally insulative material.

Insulated cylinder liner for a marine engine

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.

Growing community of inventors

Fond du Lac, WI, United States of America

Eric S Mueller