Brp US Inc.

Outboard Marine Corporation

Bombardier Motor Corporation of America

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.

Bombardier Motor Corporation

Richard M McChesney

Mark C Noble

George Broughton

Rudolf Wendler

Chester G DuBois

Peter E Lucier

Laverne Tatge

Michael W Freitag

Paul E Westhoff

Dave Calamia

Jeffrey Wasil

Gerald Ewens

Matt Leppala

James R Jones

Darrell Wiatrowski

Peter W Brown

John Charles Scott

Samuel McGinley

Heinrich E Luksch

David F Haman

Richard T Tunkieicz

John Valek

Simon Pfiffner

Matthew L Bridge

Robert K Turner

Nicolas Schmidt

Scott D Clements

Ben Balaji

A fuel system for an engine is provided. A fuel injector of the engine has an injector inlet and an injector outlet. The fuel system includes a fuel vapor separator, a fuel supply conduit, an injector conduit, a fuel return conduit, and a vapor return conduit. A first end of each of the fuel supply, injector and vapor return conduits is fluidly connected to the fuel vapor separator. A first end of the fuel return conduit is fluidly connectable to a fuel tank. A second end of the fuel supply conduit is fluidly connectable to the fuel tank. A second end of the injector conduit is fluidly connectable to the injector inlet. A second end of the fuel return conduit is fluidly connectable to the injector outlet. A second end of the vapor return conduit is fluidly connectable to the fuel tank. A marine outboard engine is also provided.

Fuel system for internal combustion engine and marine outboard engine

A marine outboard engine comprises an internal combustion engine, a gearcase defining a gearcase chamber, a plurality of gears disposed in the gearcase chamber, a driveshaft operatively connecting the crankshaft to the plurality of gears, an output shaft disposed at least in part in the gearcase chamber and being operatively connected to the plurality of gears, a rotor connected to the output shaft for propelling the marine outboard engine, a lubricant reservoir for holding lubricant, a first lubricant conduit fluidly connecting the lubricant reservoir to the crankcase chamber for supplying lubricant from the lubricant reservoir to the crankcase chamber, and a second lubricant conduit fluidly connecting the lubricant reservoir to the gearcase chamber for supplying lubricant from the lubricant reservoir to the gearcase chamber.

Marine outboard engine lubrication

An internal combustion engine assembly has a crankcase, a cylinder block connected to the crankcase, the cylinder block defining at least one cylinder, at least one piston disposed in the at least one cylinder, a crankshaft disposed at least in part in the crankcase and operatively connected to the at least one piston, and a flywheel operatively connected to and driven by the crankshaft. The crankshaft rotates in a first direction about a crankshaft axis. The flywheel rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction about the flywheel axis. A clutch selectively operatively connects the crankshaft to the flywheel. A marine outboard engine having the internal combustion engine assembly is also disclosed.

Internal combustion engine assembly having a flywheel

A pontoon boat has left and right pontoons extending longitudinally, a tunnel therebetween, and a deck supported thereon. Bow and stern ends, and a boat length therebetween, are defined by at least one of the pontoons and the deck. An opening of the deck communicating with a tunnel thereunder has an outboard engine mounted therein and a hatch disposed thereover. A longitudinal center plane is vertical and equidistant from the bow and stern ends. A drive unit of the engine has a driveshaft, a propeller shaft operatively connected thereto, and a propeller connected to the propeller shaft. A mounting bracket connects the drive unit to the deck. The engine is disposed forward of the stern end by a distance at least equal to one-fourth of the boat length. The engine is aligned with or rearward of a longitudinal center plane. A method of operating the pontoon boat is also disclosed.

Pontoon boat

A variable pitch propeller comprises a plurality of blades pivotally connected to a hub. Each of the plurality of blades has a base having a leading end and a trailing end. The trailing edge has a notch therein forming a discontinuity in a profile of the trailing edge. The notch is sized and shaped so as to accommodate passage therethrough of a portion of the leading edge of an adjacent blade when the blade and the adjacent blade are pivoted. A blade for a variable pitch propeller is also presented.

Variable pitch propeller and associated propeller blade

A hydraulic system for a marine propulsion system comprises an actuator adapted for moving at least a portion of the propulsion system between a first position and a second position. A first pump is selectively communicating with the actuator by a first fluid line. The first pump supplies hydraulic fluid via the first fluid line to the actuator for moving the at least portion of the propulsion system towards the first position. A second pump selectively fluidly communicates with the actuator by a second fluid line. The second pump supplies hydraulic fluid via the second fluid line to the actuator for moving the at least portion of the propulsion system towards the second position. An electronic control unit (ECU) electrically connected to the first pump and to the second pump for controlling the operation of the first pump and the second pump.

Hydraulic system for marine propulsion systems

A propeller assembly is disclosed, comprising propeller blades pivotably mounted on a propeller hub. A cam follower is disposed on each propeller blade. A cam is movable between a first position, a second position and a third position. Recesses formed in the cam have a first segment, a second segment and a third segment, oriented at first, second and third angles. The first segment is oriented at a first angle relative to the central axis. The cam followers engage the first segment of the recesses when the cam moves between first and second positions to vary the pitch of the propeller blades between a first pitch and a second pitch. The cam followers engage the second segment of the recesses when the cam moves between second and third positions to vary the pitch of the propeller blades between the second pitch and a third pitch.

Variable pitch propeller

A marine outboard engine is described, having an engine disposed in a cowling. The engine has a cooling system. A first pump is disposed inside the cowling below a water line of the outboard engine. The first pump is continuously driven by the engine during operation of the engine. The first pump is a centrifugal pump having an inlet in fluid communication with an exterior of the marine outboard engine below the water line and an outlet in fluid communication with the cooling system. A second pump is disposed inside the cowling below the water line. The second pump has an inlet in fluid communication with an exterior of the marine outboard engine below the water line and an outlet in fluid communication with the cooling system. An electric motor is operatively connected to the second pump for selectively driving the second pump during operation of the engine.

System and method for cooling a marine outboard engine

A propeller assembly has first and second propeller blades pivotably mounted on a propeller hub. The first and second propeller blades are pivotable with respect to the propeller hub about corresponding first and second pivot axes to vary a pitch of the first and second propeller blades. A support member has a first end at least partially disposed within the first propeller blade and a second end at least partially disposed within the second propeller blade. The first end has a first central longitudinal axis generally coaxial with the first pivot axis. The second end has a second central longitudinal axis generally coaxial with the second pivot axis. A gear case having a propeller and a marine outboard engine having a propeller are also disclosed.

A marine outboard engine has upper and lower engine covers, a swivel bracket, a stern bracket, an engine, a driveshaft, a gear case, a propeller shaft, and a variable pitch propeller. A hydraulic system includes hydraulic steering, trim, and propeller pitch actuators, and at least one valve having at least one inlet, and first, second, and third outlets. The first, second, and third outlets fluidly communicate with the hydraulic steering, trim, and propeller pitch actuators respectively. A pump fluidly communicates with the at least one inlet of the at least one valve. A reservoir stores hydraulic fluid. A control unit controls the at least one valve to control a flow of hydraulic fluid through each of the first, second, and third outlets based at least in part on a signal received from a pressure sensor. Methods of controlling the hydraulic systems are also disclosed.

Hydraulic system for a marine outboard engine

A marine outboard engine is disclosed which comprises a drive unit, a tilt/trim/steering subsystem and a stern bracket adapted for connection to an associated watercraft. The tilt/trim/steering subsystem connects the drive unit to the stern bracket and comprises a first rotary actuator carrying the drive unit for pivotal movement about a steering axis that extends generally vertically, and a second rotary actuator connected to the first rotary actuator and supporting the first rotary actuator and the drive unit for pivotal movement about a tilt/trim axis that extends generally horizontally.

Integrated tilt/trim and steering subsystem for marine outboard engines

A marine outboard engine has an upper motor cover, a lower cover, an engine, a driveshaft, a gear case, a rotor shaft, and a bladed rotor. First and second exhaust housings are disposed in the lower cover below the engine. The second exhaust housing at least partially surrounds the first exhaust housing. A first exhaust chamber is formed by the first exhaust housing. The first exhaust chamber fluidly communicates with the engine. A second exhaust chamber is formed between the second exhaust housing and the first exhaust housing. The second exhaust chamber fluidly communicates with the first exhaust chamber. A third exhaust chamber formed between the second exhaust housing and the first exhaust housing below the second exhaust chamber is also disclosed. The third exhaust chamber fluidly communicates with the second exhaust chamber and an exterior of the marine outboard engine.

Marine outboard engine exhaust system

A submersible outboard motor that can be stored at or deployed at a subsurface location. The outboard motor includes an internal combustion engine, such as a two-stroke engine, that is fuel-injected. The use of the fuel injection and the design of the engine permits the outboard motor to be started at a surface location once retrieved from its subsurface location.

Submersible outboard motor having fuel injection

An engine system having a low EMI/RFI signature. The system comprises a two-stroke engine having a cylinder with a piston sized for reciprocal motion through the cylinder. The two-stroke engine further includes an injector deployed in communication with the combustion chamber to discharge a fuel into the combustion chamber. An electronic control unit controls the injection and ignition for the engine, and an EMI/RFI reduction system is utilized to lower the electromagnetic and radio frequency interference signature of the engine.

Low signature EMI/RFI engine

An engine in which the cylinders are scavenged according to a cross scavenging technique. The engine includes one or more cylinders in each of which a piston is disposed for reciprocal motion. The engine further includes a direct fuel injection system that allows controlled input of fuel into each cylinder to promote more efficient operation of the cross scavenged engine.

Growing community of inventors

Waukegan, IL, United States of America

Richard M McChesney