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US 6,379,201 B1Granted
Marine engine cooling system with a check valve to facilitate draining
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsTimothy M. Biggs, Matthew W. Jaeger, Andrew K. Logan, Christopher J. Luckett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A marine engine cooling system is provided with a valve in which a ball moves freely within a cavity formed within the valve. Pressurized water, from a sea pump, causes the ball to block fluid flow through the cavity and forces pumped water to flow through a preferred conduit which may include a heat exchanger. When the sea pump is inoperative, the ball moves downward within the cavity to unblock a drain passage and allow water to drain from the heat generating components of the marine engine.
Claims20
A marine engine cooling system, comprising:
- a valve having first, second, and third ports, said valve having a cavity in fluid communication with said first, second, and third ports;
- a ball disposed within said cavity, the position of said ball within said cavity being a function of forces of gravity and the movement of fluid through said cavity;
- a pump having an outlet connected in fluid communication with said first port;
- a fluid conducting component connected in fluid communication between said pump and said third port, said ball being movable upward within said cavity to at least partially block fluid flow from said first to said second ports when fluid pressure at said first port is higher than fluid pressure at said second port, fluid communication between said second and third ports remaining unaffected by movement of said ball within said cavity, a fluid path from said second port to said first port remaining open when fluid pressure at said first port is not greater than fluid pressure at said second port.
1 more element
A marine engine cooling system, comprising:
- a valve having first, second, and third ports, said valve having a cavity in fluid communication with said first, second, and third ports, said third port being connected in fluid communication with a conduit between said cavity and said second port;
- a ball disposed within said cavity, the position of said ball within said cavity being a function of forces of gravity and the movement of fluid through said cavity;
- a pump having an outlet connected in fluid communication with said first port;
- a fluid conducting component connected in fluid communication between said pump and said third port, said ball being movable upward within said cavity to at least partially block fluid flow from said first to said second ports when fluid pressure at said first port is higher than fluid pressure at said second port, fluid communication between said second and third ports remaining unaffected by movement of said ball within said cavity, a fluid path from said second port to said first port remaining open when fluid pressure at said first port is not greater than fluid pressure at said second port.
1 more element
A marine engine cooling system, comprising:
- a valve having first, second, and third ports, said valve having a cavity in fluid communication with said first, second, and third ports, said first port being disposed below said second port, said third port being connected in fluid communication with a conduit between said cavity and said second port;
- a ball disposed within said cavity, the position of said ball within said cavity being a function of forces of gravity and the movement of fluid through said cavity, wherein upward movement of said ball within said cavity, away from said first port, blocks said second port and prevents flow through said cavity from said first port to said second port;
- a pump having an outlet connected in fluid communication with said first port;
- a fluid conducting component connected in fluid communication between said pump and said third port, said fluid conducting component being a heat exchanger, said ball being movable upward within said cavity to at least partially block fluid flow from said first to said second ports when fluid pressure at said first port is higher than fluid pressure at said second port, fluid communication between said second and third ports remaining unaffected by movement of said ball within said cavity, a fluid path from said second port to said first port remaining open when fluid pressure at said first port is not greater than fluid pressure at said second port;
- and
- an exhaust manifold having a waterjacket disposed in fluid communication with said second port to receive cooling water from said second port, said valve being attached for support to said exhaust manifold.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.