Water-cooled engine control
AssigneeBombardier Motor Corporation of America
InventorsMark J. Skrzypchak, Michael J. French, Gregry M. Remmers, Scott A. Koerner, Philip J. Bylsma, Mike A. Tanner, Dale A. Wiegele
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic control unit for a combustion engine having a water coolant passageway in heat transfer adjacency to the unit and adapted to remove heat from the unit. An ECU for combustion engine, comprising: electrical input circuits, electrical control circuits, electrical fuel injection output drive circuits, electrical oil pump output drive circuits and electrical ignition circuits. An ECU is disclosed which is adapted to verify firing of the ignition coils of the engine.
Claims31
A method of cooling an ECU for an internal combustion engine in a marine propulsion system having a lower unit extending into a body of water, the ECU including a housing containing control circuitry, the housing having a water cooling passage in heat transfer adjacency to and extending above said circuitry, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing water into the engine through the lower unit;
- passing the introduced water to the cooling passage of the ECU above the circuitry to dissipate heat therefrom;
- and
- returning the heated water back to the body of water.
An ECU for a marine propulsion system, said ECU comprising:
- heat-producing circuitry;
- and
- a housing containing said circuitry and comprising a water coolant passageway in heat transfer adjacency above said circuitry and adapted to remove heat therefrom.
An ECU for a combustion engine, said ECU comprising:
- a housing comprising a top and a water passage therethrough;
- electrical input circuits, located within the housing;
- electrical control circuits, located within the housing;
- electrical fuel injection output drive circuits, located within the housing;
- electrical oil pump output drive circuits, located within the housing;
- and a portion of the electrical ignition circuit immediately prior to the ignition coils located within the housing, so that the ECU can communicate electrically with the ignition coils.
A coolant kit for an ECU of an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a housing comprising a top and a water passageway therein adapted to be placed in heat transfer adjacency to a first part of the ECU and having an inlet and an outlet;
- a water inlet conduit adapted to be connected to a source of liquid coolant flowing through the engine and to an inlet of the water passageway and to provide fluid communication therebetween;
- and
- a water outlet passageway adapted to be connected to a liquid coolant removal device and to an outlet of the water passageway and to provide fluid communication therebetween, so as to dispose of water exiting the water passageway and to conduct heat away from the ECU.
A method of cooling a heat-generating electrical circuit in a marine propulsion system, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) diverting through the system a portion of the water through which the motor is providing propulsion;
- and
- (b) routing the water in heat transfer communication with the circuitry and above the circuitry.
A motor used for propulsion through water, the motor comprising:
- (a) heat-generating circuitry used in the operation of the motor;
- and
- (b) a water passageway in heat transfer communication with the circuitry, the passageway in fluid communication with, and adapted to receive water diverted from, the water through which the engine is providing propulsion, said passageway extending above the circuitry in operation in the motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.