Brunswick Corporation

James R Draxler

Richard H Snyder

Steven K Hansen

In a marine drive having a wiring harness (14) connected between the engine (2) and the helm (8), an alarm sensing module (26) is connected to the harness (14) and provides a warning of one or more abnormal engine conditions, without altering the existing wiring harness or adding wires thereto. A temperature switch (30) and an oil pressure switch (32) are provided at the engine, and the sensing module (26) is connected to the engine temperature gauge (10) and engine oil pressure gauge (12) at the helm. The module activates an alarm (28) in response to high engine temperature or low engine oil pressure.

Alarm system for marine drive

A spark plug terminal connector for providing an electrical connection of a lead to a spark plug terminal includes a U-shaped seat for receiving the spark plug terminal and a conductor formed integrally therewith for providing an electrical connection of the lead to the seat. A U-shaped spring grip is adapted to fit around the closed end of the U-shaped seat, and has a pair of resilient opposed engaging fingers for retaining the spark plug terminal within the seat. The engaging fingers urge the spark plug terminal against the seat for providing an electrical connection thereto. The connector may be disengaged from the spark plug terminal with a pull-off motion in a direction other than in line with the longitudinal axis of the spark plug terminal without incurring damage to the connector. The resilient opposed engaging fingers yield to allow the connector to pass during such disengagement, and return to their original position thereafter to provide a secure electrical connection after repeated engagements and disengagements.

Damage resistant spark plug terminal connector

A safety stop switch assembly (10) for controlling a device such as an outboard motor includes a toggle switch having a switch arm (12). A clip (16) is held in place around the switch arm (12) by a spring arm (21). The clip (16) can be attached to the operator by a lanyard (17). When the operator is sufficiently removed from the device, the lanyard (17) will pull the clip (16) away from the switch arm (12) and turn the switch off. The switch arm (12) can be used to control the outboard motor with or without the use of the clip (16).

Safety stop switch assembly

A marine propulsion apparatus includes an external combustion engine having a fuel pump connected by an electrically operated anti-syphon valve unit to a storage tank. The electrically operated anti-syphon valve unit includes a resiliently loaded valve means which is moved to open the valve unit either by an electrical operating means or by the normal pressure differential created by operation of the engine fuel pump.

Anti-syphon valve unit for marine fuel supplies apparatus

A two-cycle engine in such as an outboard motor includes an engine shaft and a flywheel mounted on the shaft and having an inner cylindrical hub portion. A rubber-like magnet strip is adhesively attached about the hub portion with an outer protective shield adhesively bonded to the strip. The strip includes upper and lower magnetic areas which are oppositely and radially magnetized to establish an axially directed field adjacent the outer periphery of the strip. A triggering coil unit includes a C-shaped core with the poles of the core radially aligned with the upper and lower areas of the magnet strip such that the field passes therethrough. The strip is magnetized after assembly by an electromagnetic unit having a semi-circular core with a U-shape cross-section aligned with the strip. A coil of a single turn or a plurality of turns are wound circumferentially in the semi-circular core to establish a magnetizing field directed from the semi-circular core radially into and through the one area of the strip to the hub, axially through the hub to the opposite area of the strip and returning to the core radially outwardly through the other area of the strip. The magnetizing field saturates the upper and lower areas of the strip to form oppositely polarized permanent magnets.

Permanent magnet pulse generator and method of forming and assembly

An outboard motor unit includes a shift lever pivotally mounted on a shaft to one side of powerhead with a central vertical neutral position and pivoted forwardly and rearwardly for forward and reverse drive. The unit includes an electric starter and a start pushbutton control mounted forwardly of the pivot shaft. The shift lever is formed with a forwardly projecting interlock plate having a central notch aligned with the button only in the neutral position. Forward or reverse pivoting causes the plate to move over the start button and prevents starting in other than neutral. The start button may be located such that the vertical lever moves over button in forward and a projecting plate moves over the button in reverse.

Growing community of inventors

Fond du Lac, WI, United States of America

James R Draxler