Fluid mounting system for a marine engine

A system for mounting an inboard marine engine to the hull of a boat comprising:

• a pair of resilient forward engine mounts interconnecting the engine and engine support structure on the hull, said forward engine mounts disposed in lateral alignment on opposite sides of the engine;
• each of said forward mounts including rigid upper and lower connector means for effecting the interconnection between the engine and the support structure, a solid elastomer member disposed between and bonded to said connector means, and fluid dampening means disposed between said elastomer and one of said connector means, a housing attached to said one connector means and providing an enclosure for said fluid dampening means;
• and
• said fluid dampening means adapted to operate with said elastomer member to dampen vibrations and low shock loads transmitted from the engine to the hull under normal operating conditions;
• wherein said fluid dampening means comprising a damping chamber filled with a liquid, a flexible diaphragm adjacent said housing bottom wall and forming one wall of said chamber, an inertia track within the chamber between the elastomer element and said diaphragm, said inertia track having an aperture permitting flow of the liquid therethrough in response to movement of said elastomer element under load, said aperture having a size such that the flow of liquid therethrough is essentially prevented under high shock loads.

A fluid mount for mounting an inboard marine engine to the hull of a boat comprising:

• a generally cup-shaped housing defining an open cylindrical interior;
• an annular elastomer member including rigid inner and outer connecting members bonded thereto;
• the outer connecting member having a cylindrical outer surface adapted to be pressed tightly into the interior of the housing and to define therewith an interior fluid chamber;
• an annular flexible diaphragm disposed in the fluid chamber and spaced from the bottom of the housing to define with the elastomer member a liquid-filled damping chamber;
• a rigid annular disc disposed in the damping chamber and dividing the damping chamber into upper and lower subchambers, said disc having an aperture therein permitting flow of the liquid between said sub-chambers;
• and,
• said aperture being of restricted size whereby flow of liquid through the aperture is prevented under high shock loads imposed on the boat.