Brunswick Corporation

Timothy S Reid

David J Belter

Gregg Donald Langenfeld

Jeffrey J Broman

David W Heidel

Randall J Poirier

Claus Bruestle

Christopher J Taylor

Eric S Mueller

Steve Wynveen

William J Towne

Wayne M Jaszewski

Steven J Amerling

Travis J Vaninetti

Michael A Torgerud

Douglas D Reichardt

Troy J Kollmann

David J Hilbert

Mark J Glodowski

Brad J Van Ruiswyk

Jeffrey A Zarembka

Brian L Merten

Corey L Bruno

Amir Abou Zeid

Peter Pickett

Steven Wynveen

A system for detecting collision risk to a secured marine vessel using a vision system of the marine vessel is provided, the system comprising: a plurality of cameras, including at least a first camera and a second camera, wherein each of the plurality of cameras is configured to be mounted to the marine vessel with an associated field of view of an environment of the marine vessel; one or more hardware processors configured to: determine that the marine vessel is secured; determine, based on image data generated by one or more of the plurality of cameras, that the marine vessel is at an increased risk of collision; and generate a collision alert based on the increased risk of collision.

Systems and methods for detecting elevated collision risk to a secured marine vessel using a vision system of the marine vessel

An assembly is for aligning and stabilizing first and second cowl portions on a marine engine. The assembly comprises an engagement member configured to be fixed to the first cowl portion and a retainer apparatus configured to be fixed to the second cowl portion. The retainer apparatus is configured to receive the engagement member when one of the first cowl portion and second cowl portion is moved towards the other of the first cowl portion and the second cowl portion. The retainer apparatus comprises a retainer body and opposing guide members that are pivotable with respect to the retainer body. As the retainer apparatus receives the engagement member, the engagement member engages and causes the guide members to pivot with respect to the retainer body such that the engagement member becomes sandwiched between the guide members, thus aligning and stabilizing the first and second cowl portions.

Assemblies for aligning and stabilizing portions of a cowling on a marine engine

An internal combustion engine for an outboard motor comprises a cylinder block having first and second banks of cylinders that extend transversely with respect to each other in a V-shape so as to define a valley there between. An exhaust manifold conveys exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine and is at least partially disposed in the valley. A supporting mechanism supports the exhaust conduit with respect to the internal combustion engine. The supporting mechanism is configured to allow the exhaust conduit to move with respect to the internal combustion engine in 360 degrees in a plane defined by the lateral and transverse axes, and laterally towards and away from the internal combustion engine, thereby facilitating assembly of the exhaust manifold and the internal combustion engine despite positional tolerance differences there between.

Outboard motors and exhaust systems for outboard motors having an exhaust conduit supported inside the V-shape

A tiller is for an outboard motor. The tiller has a base bracket that is configured to be rotationally fixed with respect to the outboard motor, a chassis bracket that is coupled to the base bracket, and a locking arrangement. The locking arrangement is movable into and between a locked position, wherein the chassis bracket is locked to and rotates together with the base bracket, and an unlocked position, wherein the chassis bracket is freely rotatable with respect to the base bracket about a vertical axis when the tiller is in a horizontal position.

Angularly adjustable tillers for outboard motors

An exhaust system is for a marine propulsion device having an internal combustion engine. The exhaust system comprises a catalyst housing having a housing inlet end that receives exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine and an opposite, housing outlet end that discharges the exhaust gas flow. A catalyst is disposed in the catalyst housing. An outlet collector receives the exhaust gas flow from the catalyst housing. The outlet collector comprises a collector inlet end that is engaged with the housing outlet end. One of the collector inlet end and housing outlet end overlaps with the other of the collector inlet end and housing outlet end at a joint. A seal is disposed at the joint between the collector inlet end and the housing outlet end. The joint is devoid of a cooling water jacket.

Exhaust systems for marine propulsion devices having sealing arrangements

Marine engine includes a cylinder block having first and second banks of cylinders that are disposed along a longitudinal axis and extend transversely with respect to each other in a V-shape so as to define a valley therebetween. A catalyst receptacle is disposed at least partially in the valley and contains at least one catalyst that treats exhaust gas from the marine engine. A conduit conveys the exhaust gas from the marine engine to the catalyst receptacle. The conduit receives the exhaust gas from the first and second banks of cylinders and conveys the exhaust gas to the catalyst receptacle. The conduit reverses direction only once with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Marine engines and exhaust systems for marine engines

Marine engines and exhaust systems for marine engines having a catalyst for treating exhaust

A cooling system for a marine engine is provided with various cooling channels which allow the advantageous removal of heat at different rates from different portions of the engine. A split flow of water is conducted through the cylinder head, in opposite directions, to individually cool the exhaust port and intake ports at different rates. This increases the velocity of coolant flow in the downward direction through the cylinder head to avoid the accumulation of air bubbles and the formation of air pockets that could otherwise cause hot spots within the cylinder head. A parallel coolant path is provided so that a certain quantity of water can bypass the engine block and avoid overcooling the cylinder walls.

Apparatus for cooling an engine of a marine propulsion system

A marine engine has an exhaust system comprising a cylinder block comprising first and second banks of cylinders that are disposed along a longitudinal axis and that extend transversely with respect to each other in a V-shape so as to define a valley there between. A catalyst receptacle is disposed in the valley and contains at least one catalyst that treats exhaust gas from the marine engine. An exhaust manifold conveys exhaust gas from the marine engine to the catalyst receptacle. The exhaust manifold has a first port receiving exhaust gas from the first bank of cylinders, a second port receiving exhaust gas from the second bank of cylinders, and a conduit conveying the exhaust gas from the first and second ports to the catalyst receptacle, wherein from the first and second ports to the catalyst receptacle, the conduit only reverses direction once with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Method for cooling a four stroke marine engine with multiple path coolant flow through its cylinder head

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 engine fuel system provides a low pressure lift pump to draw fuel from a fuel tank and cause the fuel to flow into a reservoir and a high pressure fuel pump which draws fuel from the reservoir and provides it to a fuel rail. An inlet conduit of the high pressure fuel pump is provided with a primary and a secondary opening. The secondary opening can be an orifice formed through a wall of the inlet conduit. The secondary opening is positioned, relative to the primary opening, at a location which assists in controlling the fuel level within the reservoir and the quantity of gaseous fuel contained within an ullage above the liquid pool of fuel.

Marine fuel system with an ullage control device

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

An engine control system determines a desired temperature range of air flowing into an intake manifold of the engine as a function of an operating characteristic, such as the load on the engine or the operating speed of the engine. A bypass conduit is provided in parallel with a heat exchanger, wherein both the bypass conduit and the heat exchanger are connected to an outlet of a compressor to direct air from the compressor to an intake manifold along the parallel paths. By manipulating an air valve in the bypass conduit, an engine control unit can regulate the temperature at an inlet of the intake manifold. A desired temperature is selected from a matrix of stored values as a function of the load on the engine and the engine operating speed.

Method and apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine

An engine is provided with a plurality of cylinders and cylinder liners that are shaped to define a plurality of spaces between the liners and the engine block. These spaces provided an insulative barrier that at least partially restricts the flow of heat from the liner into the engine block. This allows the liners to operate at elevated temperatures while avoiding a deleterious increase in the cooling water temperature as it flows through passages within the engine block.

Growing community of inventors

Fond du Lac, WI, United States of America

Timothy S Reid