Outboard motor with sound enhancement device and method for modifying sounds produced by air intake system of an outboard motor
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsAndrew S. Waisanen, Jeffrey C. Etapa
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Abstract
An outboard motor including a system for enhancement of a first subset of sounds having a desired frequency, and a method for modifying sounds produced by an air intake system for an internal combustion engine powering the outboard motor are described. The method includes collecting sounds emitted in an area proximate a throttle body of the engine. A first subset of the collected sounds, which have frequencies within desired frequency range, are then amplified. The amplified first subset of sounds are then transmitted to an area outside a cowl covering the engine.
Claims20
A method for modifying sounds produced by an air intake system for an internal combustion engine powering an outboard motor, the method comprising:
- routing intake air along a flow pathway defined through an air vent in a cowl covering the engine, to an open under-cowl environment surrounding the engine, and to a throttle body of the engine;
- collecting sounds emitted in an area of the open under-cowl environment proximate the throttle body of the engine via an inlet end of a sound enhancement duct, wherein the inlet end of the sound enhancement duct is not a part of the flow pathway;
- amplifying a first subset of the collected sounds having frequencies within a desired frequency range;
- and
- transmitting the amplified first subset of sounds to an area outside the cowl.
An outboard motor comprising:
- an internal combustion engine powering the outboard motor;
- a cowl covering the internal combustion engine;
- an air vent allowing intake air into the cowl;
- a throttle body metering flow of the intake air to the engine;
- a sound enhancement duct coupled to an inner surface of the cowl and having an inlet end located adjacent, but not coupled, to the throttle body and an outlet end located proximate an outer surface of the cowl;
- and
- a sound enhancement device located within the sound enhancement duct between the inlet end and the outlet end;
- wherein the sound enhancement device is tuned to amplify a first subset of sounds collected via the inlet end of the sound enhancement duct, the first subset of sounds having a desired frequency;
- and
- wherein the amplified first subset of sounds is transmitted to an area outside the cowl via the outlet end of the sound enhancement duct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.