The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 09, 1997
Filed:
Aug. 31, 1995
Andrew K Logan, Stillwater, OK (US);
Matthew W Jaeger, Fond du Lac, WI (US);
Terry D Axton, Stillwater, OK (US);
William E Hughes, Stillwater, OK (US);
David J Gruenwald, Butte des Monts, WI (US);
Brunswick Corporation, Lake Forest, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for separating solid material from cooling water in the cooling system of the engine block of a marine engine. The engine block comprises a plurality of cylinder bores surrounded by a cooling passage through which cooling water is pumped. The bottom portion of the block includes a drain outlet that communicates with the cooling passage and a tubular separating member has a first generally horizontal section that is sealed within the drain outlet. The tubular separator also includes a second section that is located within the cooling passage and extends downwardly from the inner end of the first section and is located between two adjacent cylinder bores. The lower end of the second section is closed and a port is provided in the side of the second section adjacent the closed end and facing toward one of the cylinder bores. The outer end of the first section of the tubular member, which is located on the exterior of the block, is connected through a suitable hose or conduit to an automatic drain valve which is located at a level beneath the engine block. When the ambient temperature falls beneath a selected value, the drain valve will open and water will drain from the engine block through the tubular separator to the drain valve, while solid debris will collect in the bottom of the cooling passage beneath the level of the port to prevent the debris from contacting the temperature responsive valve.