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US 8,696,394 B1Granted
Marine propulsion systems and cooling systems for marine propulsion systems
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsGregg D. Langenfeld, Ryan G. Bonde, Scott G. Ahlswede
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A marine propulsion system comprises an internal combustion engine, a cooling circuit carrying cooling fluid that cools the internal combustion engine, a sump holding oil that drains from the internal combustion engine, and a heat exchanger receiving the cooling fluid. The oil that drains from the internal combustion engine to the sump passes through and is cooled by the heat exchanger.
Claims21
A marine propulsion system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- a cooling circuit carrying cooling fluid that cools the internal combustion engine;
- a sump holding oil that drains from the internal combustion engine;
- a heat exchanger receiving the colling fluid;
- wherein the oil that drains from the internal combustion engine to the sump passes through and is cooled by the heat exchanger;
- wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of passages carrying the cooling fluid;
- and
- a cooling jacket adjacent the sump, the cooling jacket receiving the cooling fluid directly from the heat exchanger and cooling the sump.
5 more elements
A marine propulsion system, the marine propulsion system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- a sump holding oil that drains by gravity from the internal combustion engine;
- a heat exchanger that is disposed at least partially between the internal combustion engine and the sump;
- wherein as the oil drains by gravity from the internal combustion engine to the sump, the oil passes through the heat exchanger;
- a cooling circuit comprising an upstream first portion that receives cooling water from a body of water in which the marine propulsion system is operating, wherein the first portion circulates cooling water through the internal combustion engine;
- the cooling circuit further comprising a downstream second portion that discharges the cooling water from the first portion back to the body of water in which the marine propulsion system is operating, wherein the second portion conveys the cooling water through the heat exchanger to thereby cool the heat exchanger;
- a thermostat that separates the first portion of the cooling circuit from the second portion of the cooling circuit, wherein the thermostat controls discharge of the cooling water from the first portion of the cooling circuit to the second portion of the cooling circuit based upon a temperature characteristic of the marine propulsion system.
4 more elements
An outboard motor comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- a sump holding oil that drains by gravity from the internal, combustion engine;
- a heat exchanger that is disposed at least partially between the internal combustion engine and the sump such that as the oil drains by gravity from the internal combustion engine to the sump, the oil passes through the heat exchanger;
- wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of cooling passages that are spaced apart and transversely oriented to the oil that drains from the internal combustion engine to the sump so that the oil passes between the passages as the oil drains to the sump;
- and
- a cooling circuit providing cooling fluid from the internal combustion engine to the plurality of cooling passages.
3 more elements
An outboard motor comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- a sump holding oil that drains from the internal combustion engine;
- a heat exchanger that is disposed at least partially between the internal combustion engine and the sump such that as the oil drains by gravity from the internal combustion engine to the sump, the oil passes through the heat exchanger;
- wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of cooling passages that are spaced apart and transversely oriented to the oil that drains from the internal combustion engine to the sump so that the oil passes between the passages as the oil drains to the sump;
- a cooling circuit comprising an upstream first portion that receives cooling water from a body of water in which the marine propulsion system is operating, wherein the first portion circulates cooling water through the internal combustion engine;
- the cooling circuit comprising a downstream second portion that discharges the cooling water from the first portion back to the body of water in which the marine propulsion system is operating,
- wherein the second portion conveys the cooling water to the heat exchanger to thereby cool the heat exchanger;
- and
- an adapter plate supporting the internal combustion engine, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed between the adapter plate and the sump;
- wherein the adapter plate defines an opening, though which the oil drains from the internal combustion engine to the sump;
- and wherein the frame is coupled to the adapter plate such that the frame covers the opening.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.