JP2012101652A - Engine case of outboard motor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the engine case of an outboard motor which has excellent user-friendliness, usability or the like, and can secure high watertightness.SOLUTION: An engine case 100 houses an engine inside the case and includes a propulsion machinery 15 outside the case. A case body 101 housing the engine and assemblies of peripheral parts of the engine, and a case cover 102 covering an opening at the upper part of the case body 101 are included therein. A muffler is installed on the outer side of a lower surface of the case, and a housing part housing the muffler and its exhaust hose is formed on the lower surface of the case.

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine case that houses an engine or the like constituting a power unit in an outboard motor.

  Major outboard propulsion engines or propulsion systems include outboard motors, inboard motors, and inboard motors. Outboard motors are called outboard drives, etc., and are composed of an engine, its catchers, drive system gears, shafts, screws, etc., and are generally mounted on a transom board at the stern of the hull. . Typically, it is mounted on a small boat or the like and has a steering function and a tilting function.

Inboard / outboard motors are called inboard engines / outboard drives, etc., as a method of installing propulsion engines such as small ships. This is a drive unit arranged outside the transom board.
Furthermore, an inboard motor is typically one of the methods for installing a propulsion engine such as a small boat. Also called inboard drive, the engine, reduction gear, and forward / reverse clutch are installed in the center of the ship, the propeller shaft is extended toward the stern, and the propeller is installed in the water from the bottom of the ship. The rudder that determines the traveling direction of the ship is often installed behind the propeller.

  As described above, each of the boats has advantages and disadvantages due to the difference in the engine mounting structure. For example, from the viewpoint of usability and the like, the engine room occupies a part of the hull in the inboard motor or the inboard / outboard motor, so that the living portion is reduced and the usability is deteriorated. On the other hand, since the outboard motor is outside the occupant part, it is easy to use in the hull, but it is not easy to use when getting on and off the stern and transporting things from the stern (fish, net or fishing line).

  In addition, from the viewpoint of watertight treatment, which is extremely important in this type of boat, the engine of the inboard motor or the inboard / outboard motor is suspended from the hole in the engine compartment ceiling. The engine compartment ceiling cover is only put on the engine compartment and does not have any sealing material or the like, so that water can easily enter the engine compartment from the ceiling surface. Furthermore, since the engine is inside the hull and the propulsion unit is outside the ship in the inboard / outboard motor, a connecting portion is required, and a large hole is made in the transom board to connect the two. The water tightness of this part is related to the rigidity or flatness of the transom board and significantly affects the water tightness. This water-tightness is extremely important not only for inboard motors or inboard / outboard motors but also for outboard motors.

Japanese Patent No. 3038606 Japanese Patent No. 2652861

In particular, regarding the watertightness, more specifically, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the engine (2) in the ship body and the propulsion device (8) outside the ship are connected via the universal joint (7). A large gap or space is required around the universal joint (7), and a large hole is opened in the transom board (5) at the rear of the hull, and it is not easy to ensure the water tightness of this hole part. Absent.
Further, in Patent Document 2, the engine (12) is rubber-mounted on the hull (11). Although it is necessary to guide the exhaust from the engine to the outside of the ship, a flexible part (23, 24) such as rubber is required for the exhaust system (19, 21, 22) because the engine swings with its rubber mount. Also in the exhaust system, a hole (19) that passes from the inside of the ship to the outside of the ship is necessary, and this hole is below the drive shaft in the case of underwater exhaust, and it is not easy to ensure water tightness.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an engine case for an outboard motor that is excellent in usability, usability, and the like and ensures high water tightness.

  An engine case of an outboard motor according to the present invention is an engine case of an outboard motor that houses an engine inside the case and a propulsion device outside the case, and houses an assembly of the engine and its peripheral components. It has a main body and a case cover which covers the opening of the upper part of the case main body.

  In the engine case of the outboard motor according to the present invention, a muffler is installed on the outside of the lower surface of the case, and an accommodating portion for accommodating the muffler and its exhaust hose is formed on the lower surface of the case.

  Further, in the engine case of the outboard motor of the present invention, a water absorption pump is installed at an appropriate position on the bottom surface of the case so that water can be absorbed by the water absorption portion disposed at the lowest part of the bottom surface of the case. Item 3. An engine case for an outboard motor according to item 1 or 2.

  Further, in the engine case of the outboard motor according to the present invention, a partition wall is provided along the substantially vertical direction inside the case, and the water absorption between the upper end portion of the drainage guide passage set inside the partition wall and the water absorption pump. It is characterized by routing the supply pipe.

  Further, in the engine case of the outboard motor of the present invention, the recesses provided on both side edges of the front surface of the case communicate with the through holes formed in the transom board corresponding to the recesses, and the water accumulated on the hull floor is It is characterized by being guided downward through the dent and discharged.

  In the engine case of the outboard motor according to the present invention, a muffler cover that is engaged with the bottom of the case and covers the muffler is provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the opening part of a case main body upper part can be covered with a case cover, and the engine unit etc. which were accommodated in the engine case can be protected effectively from a flooded environment. Moreover, the engine case itself can be made into a structure specialized in watertightness and design by handling the holding of the engine unit, the propulsive force of the propulsion device, and the like on the frame side. Further, the engine unit can be suspended and attached while the engine case is attached to the hull, and the attachment and removal are extremely simple, and the usability and usability are extremely excellent.

It is a perspective view which shows the example of the ship or boat which mounts the outboard motor which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the outboard motor of this invention. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the outboard motor of this invention. It is a side view which shows the external appearance of the outboard motor of this invention. It is a rear view which shows the external appearance of the outboard motor of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example inside the engine case in the outboard motor of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the main components inside the engine case in the outboard motor of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure and arrangement example of the engine unit of the outboard motor of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure and arrangement example of the intake / exhaust system of the outboard motor of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure and arrangement example of the power transmission mechanism of the outboard motor of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure and arrangement example of the frame of the outboard motor of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the case cover open state in the engine case of the outboard motor of this invention. It is a bottom view showing an example of muffler arrangement in the engine case of the outboard motor of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the muffler accommodating part in the engine case of the outboard motor of this invention. It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the muffler accommodating part in the engine case of the outboard motor of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the II line | wire of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure around the bilge pump and the example of arrangement | positioning in the engine case of the outboard motor of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure and arrangement example around the partition wall for drainage in the engine case of the outboard motor of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the II-II line of FIG.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an engine case of an outboard motor according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a ship or a boat equipped with an outboard motor 10 according to the present invention. In this example, the ship is typically small and medium, and has a transom board 2 (stern board) at the rear of the hull 1. The outboard motor 10 is mounted using the transom board 2 as shown. Note that, in the main points of the respective drawings referred to below, the front (the bow side) is indicated by an arrow Fr, and the rear (stern side) is indicated by an arrow Rr. Moreover, the left-right direction (hull width direction) of a hull is shown by the arrow L and the arrow R, respectively as needed.

  First, in the hull 1 according to the present embodiment, a ship floor 3 is laid at the bottom of the hull 1 as shown in FIG. 1, and a transom board 2 is disposed at the rear end of the ship floor 3. A cockpit 4 is provided in the vicinity of the center of the ship floor 3, and devices, instruments, instruments, and the like necessary for steering including the handle 5 are disposed in the cockpit 4. The outboard motor 10 is integrally equipped with power, a propulsion device, a steering device, a tilt device, and the like, and is configured as a so-called all-in-one type. The outboard motor 10 can be operated if there are normal equipment such as a fuel tank and a battery on the hull 1 side. is there.

  In addition, the ship is not limited to the illustrated example, and there is also a hull having a bracket for mounting an outboard motor on the rear side of the transom board, that is, a stern plate or a part corresponding to the stern plate on the stern of the hull. The outboard motor 10 of the present invention can be effectively applied to a type having members.

  2 to 5 show the appearance of the outboard motor 10, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outboard motor 10, FIG. 3 is a front view, FIG. 4 is a side view, and FIG. The outboard motor 10 has an engine case 100, and an engine unit which is a power source described later is accommodated in the engine case 100, and a screw (propeller) is disposed below the rear portion of the engine case 100. Is driven to rotate. The engine case 100 also functions as an exterior member that constitutes the exterior of the outboard motor 10 and exhibits an exterior with a sense of unity as a whole.

  Referring also to FIG. 1, engine case 100 is configured as a housing having substantially the same width as the stern portion (typically, transom board 2) of hull 1. In this example, the basic form of the engine case 100 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and the longitudinal direction of the rectangular parallelepiped is the hull width direction (hereinafter abbreviated as the ship width direction). The engine case 100 includes a case main body 101 that houses the engine unit and its peripheral components or members, and a case cover 102 that covers an upper opening 101a (see FIG. 12) of the case main body 101.

  Here, the engine unit accommodated in the engine case 100 and its peripheral components will be described. The outboard motor 10 of the present invention uses an internal combustion engine as a main power as its power unit, and drives this to drive the propulsion unit. FIG. 6 shows a configuration example inside the engine case 100 in the outboard motor 10, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a main configuration inside the engine case 100. In the engine case 100, the engine unit 11 constituting the power unit is arranged and accommodated in a compact and well-balanced manner. In this embodiment, two engine units 11 are provided, and a pair of engine units 11 are arranged in a center distribution on the left and right sides of an engine case 100 in which the longitudinal direction of the casing is the ship width direction. Each engine unit 11 is connected to an intake system 12 and an exhaust system 13, and a power transmission mechanism 14 is coupled to each output end (crankshaft). The power transmission mechanism 14 is coupled to the propulsion unit 15 at the center in the left-right direction on the rear side of the engine unit 11, and these outboard motor components are mounted and supported on the frame 16 as shown in FIG.

  More specifically, the engine unit 11 uses a water-cooled in-line four-cylinder four-cycle gasoline engine in this example. The number of engine cylinders and the like can be appropriately changed as necessary, and is not limited to this example. Referring to FIG. 8, in engine unit 11, crankcase 17, cylinder block 18, cylinder head 19 and cylinder head cover 20 are integrally coupled so as to sequentially overlap, and an oil pan 21 is attached to the lowermost part. The crankshaft of each engine unit 11 is disposed along the ship width direction (left-right direction), and the engine output shaft coupled to the shaft end is disposed on both the left and right sides, that is, the engine of the right engine unit 11. The output shaft is arranged on the right side, and the engine output shaft of the left engine unit 11 is on the left side.

  Next, in the intake system 12, a single air cleaner 22 is disposed between the engine units 11 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, intake manifolds 23 are coupled to the front side of the cylinder head 19 of the right engine unit 11 and to the rear side of the cylinder head 19 of the left engine unit 11, respectively. The air cleaner 22 is connected to each other via an intake pipe 24. An intake pipe 25 extends from the front surface of the air cleaner 22 to the hull 1 side in front of the engine case 100 (see FIG. 9), and takes in air from an air intake port at the tip thereof. The air intake is installed in a room or space that is not exposed to waves, splashes, rain, or the like in the hull 1. As shown in FIG. 8, each engine unit 11 branches from a single intake pipe 25 to a plurality (four in this example) of intake manifolds 23.

  In the exhaust system 13, as shown in FIG. 7 and the like, exhaust manifolds 26 are coupled to the rear side of the cylinder head 19 of the right engine unit 11 and to the front side of the cylinder head 19 of the left engine unit 11, respectively. Connected to a single exhaust pipe 27. An exhaust hose 28 is connected to the exhaust pipe 27, and a muffler 29 is connected to the exhaust hose 28. An exhaust hose 30 is connected to the muffler 29, and exhaust gas is discharged from an exhaust outlet 31 attached to the exhaust hose 30.

  The muffler 29 is installed outside the lower surface of the case body 101 of the engine case 100 as will be described later. In this case, the muffler 29, the exhaust hose 30 and the like are arranged so as not to substantially protrude from the lower surface of the case body 101, and the left and right sides of the rear side of the case body 101 are well balanced from the exhaust outlets 31 arranged near the lower portions. These are exhausted into water and will be described later.

  The power transmission mechanism 14 transmits the output of the engine unit 11 to the propulsion device 15. In the power transmission mechanism 14, a speed reducer 32 is connected to the engine output shafts of the left and right engine units 11 as shown in FIG. 10. A gear group is rotatably supported in a casing 33 of the speed reducer 32, and a drive shaft 34 is connected to the output shaft. The left and right drive shafts 34 are arranged concentrically and horizontally in the left-right direction, and are connected to the intermediate speed reducer 35 at the left-right center. The drive shaft 34 is connected to the speed reducer 32 and the intermediate speed reducer 35 via universal joints 36 and 37 at both ends.

  In the present embodiment, the intermediate speed reducer 35 includes a pair of input side bevel gears connected to the drive shaft 34 and an output side bevel gear meshing with these input side bevel gears. The output side bevel gear is connected to the second drive shaft in the drive shaft case 38, and the intermediate speed reducer 35, the drive shaft case 38, and the swivel bracket 39 are integrally coupled to each other. The second drive shaft extends downward from the intermediate speed reducer 35. These swivel brackets 39 and the like are rotatably supported by the case body 101 through a bearing 40 as will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 10 and the like, the propulsion unit 15 is disposed below the drive shaft case 38. The propulsion device 15 includes a gear case 41 containing a gear for driving a propeller, and has a fin shape as a whole. A propeller 42 is mounted on the rear end portion of the gear case 41. The second drive shaft extends further downward through the drive shaft case 38 and extends into the gear case 41. A final reduction gear is configured in the gear case 41, and the propeller 42 can be rotationally driven through the final reduction gear.

  Further, a tilt mechanism and a steering mechanism for the propulsion device 15 are provided. Although a detailed description thereof will be omitted here, first, the intermediate speed reducer 35, the drive shaft case 38, and the entire propulsion unit 15 can be rotated up and down around the tilt axis by the tilt mechanism. The tilt axis T is set coaxially with the drive shaft 34, and the propulsion unit 15 can tilt around the tilt axis T as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. The tilt mechanism may include a so-called power trim tilt (PTT) or the like, and an electrohydraulic tilt mechanism may be configured.

  Further, the propulsion unit 15 can be rotated around the steering shaft S in the yaw direction (left-right direction) (yawing) by the steering mechanism as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. In this steering mechanism, for example, it has a steering cylinder that is hydraulically driven in an electro-hydraulic manner, and the propulsion unit 15 rotates in the left-right direction, that is, performs a steering operation by reciprocating along a steering rod using a hydraulic pump as a hydraulic source. be able to.

  The main components of the outboard motor 10 described above are mounted and supported on the frame 16 as shown in FIG. The frame 16 is formed using a material such as a steel pipe so as to have an outer shape substantially along a rectangular parallelepiped of a casing constituting the engine case 100 as shown in FIG. A plurality of engine mounts 43 for mounting and supporting the engine unit 11 are disposed at predetermined portions of the frame 16, and the engine unit 11 is mounted on the frame 16 through the engine mounts 43. A main bracket 44 to which a bearing 40 for supporting the swivel bracket 39 and the like described above is attached is attached to the rear portion of the frame 16.

  Further, a plurality of transom bolts 45 are attached to the front portion of the frame 16 facing the front. Outboard motor components such as the engine unit 11 are mounted on the frame 16, and the frame 16 mounting them is housed in the engine case 100. The transom bolt 45 passes through the front surface portion of the case body 101 of the engine case 100 and is fastened to the transom board 2, whereby the entire engine case 100 can be fastened and fixed to the transom board 2. The transom bolt 45 protruding from the case main body 101 is fitted with a seal or packing to ensure water tightness.

  Now, the engine case 100 will be described in more detail. As described above, the engine case 100 includes the case main body 101 that houses the engine unit 11 and its peripheral components, and the case cover 102 that covers the upper opening 101 a of the case main body 101. When the case cover 102 is closed with respect to the case main body 101, the inside of the engine case 100 becomes a substantially sealed space, and high water tightness is ensured. In this case, the constituent members of the outboard motor 10 are supported by the frame 16, and the frame 16 holds the engine unit 11 and is responsible for the propulsive force and steering force of the propulsion unit 15, that is, the load on the engine case 100 itself. Does not take. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the engine case 100 also functions as an exterior member of the outboard motor 10 and is mounted on the outboard motor 10 so as to exhibit a unity appearance as a whole.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and the like, on the rear surface side of the case main body 101, in the region from the rear surface portion to the bottom surface portion, it is formed to be recessed inward of the case main body 101 at the center in the ship width direction. A recess 103 is provided. Around this recess 103, a propulsion unit 15 constituting the propulsion device, its tilt and steering mechanism, and the like are disposed. The recess 103 is formed from the rear side of the case main body 101 toward the front, and is necessary so that the tilt mechanism and the steering mechanism or peripheral devices and members thereof do not interfere with the case main body 101 when the tilt or steering operation is performed. A sufficient gap is provided.

  As described above, equipment such as a fuel tank and a battery is provided on the hull 1 side, and these equipment and the outboard motor 10 are connected or coupled. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of through-holes 104 are formed in the form of making a hole between the front portion of the casing 101 and the transom board 2. That is, a through hole 104A for inserting the intake pipe 25 for supplying combustion air to the engine, a through hole 104B for inserting a fuel pipe for supplying fuel from the fuel tank to the engine, and the inside of the engine case 100 A through-hole 104C for passing a cylinder for ventilation air for ventilating the air is formed. Further, a cord or cable for electrically (including a control signal) or mechanical connection between a device or equipment or member in the engine case 100 and the control device on the hull 1 side is inserted. A hole 104D is formed. These through holes 104 are provided with watertight holding means (seal or the like) when the intake pipe 25 or the like is mounted.

  The case cover 102 constitutes an upper surface portion of the engine case 100, and is coupled to be rotatable via a hinge 105 in the vicinity of the rear upper end of the case main body 101 as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the case cover 102 is rotated around the hinge 105 and opened to open the inside of the engine case 100, and thus the exposed engine unit 11 and the like inside the engine case 100 can be freely accessed. Become. The case cover 102 can be opened to easily check the inside, and the convenience of this type of work can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a seal 106 is laid on the closing portion or mating surface of the case main body 101 and the case cover 102, and the case cover 102 is closed with respect to the case main body 101, so that the engine case 100 has high water tightness. Secured / held. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the seal 106 is laid over the entire circumference along the mating surfaces of the case main body 101 and the case cover 102. When the case cover 102 is closed, the case cover 102 is sandwiched between the case body 102 and the closed portion of the case main body 101, thereby obtaining high water tightness with respect to the engine case 100.

  In addition, when the case cover 102 is closed with respect to the case main body 101, a lock mechanism 107 is provided for fixing and holding the case cover 102 in its closed state. The lock mechanism 107 includes, for example, a handle 108 rotatably attached to the case main body 101 and a handle receiver 109 provided on the case cover 102. By rotating the handle 108 with respect to the handle receiver 109, both can be easily held in a locked state, and the locked state can be released if necessary.

  In the above case, the upper surface of the engine case 100, that is, the upper surface of the case cover 102 is flattened, so that the outboard motor 10 is smoothly and continuously connected from the hull 1 functionally and as a boat deck extension. Integrate to The upper surface of the case cover 102 is provided with a non-slip, and due to its anti-slip effect, it is possible to take in nets, catch fish caught, or take in personnel during rescue, which was impossible with conventional outboard motors. Not only is this possible, but it is possible to get on and off the boat from the stern by bringing the stern closer to the pier. In addition, as an anti-slip | skid, an unevenness | corrugation of a moderate magnitude | size may be provided in the upper surface of the case cover 102, or a separate anti-slip rubber etc. may be attached.

  Next, the muffler 29 is installed on the lower surface and outside of the case body 101 as described above. As shown in FIG. 13, the pair of mufflers 29 are arranged so as to correspond to the isosceles of a substantially isosceles triangle so that the pair of mufflers 29 have a substantially “C” shape when viewed from below. In this case, the muffler 29 connected to the right engine unit 11 has a rear side upstream of the exhaust gas flow flowing through the muffler 29, and the muffler 29 connected to the left engine unit 11 has a front side upstream of the exhaust gas flow. Are arranged so that The central portion of the lower surface of the case main body 101 on which these mufflers 29 are disposed is substantially flat, and both the left and right sides of the central portion are inclined upward appropriately. The exhaust hose 30 connected to the right muffler 29 is disposed along the side of the muffler 29 and connected to the exhaust outlet 31 near the lower portion of the rear surface of the case body 101.

  The muffler 29 and the exhaust hose 30 are arranged so as not to protrude from the lower surface of the case main body 101. In order to arrange in this way, a housing part 110 for housing the muffler 29 and the exhaust hose 30 is formed on the lower surface of the case body 101. The accommodating portion 110 is recessed from the outer bottom surface of the case body 101 toward the inside of the case body 101, and has a convex shape inward at the bottom surface of the case body 101. The accommodating portion 110 has a generally “C” shape corresponding to the arrangement of the muffler 29 and the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the muffler 29 and the exhaust hose 30 are accommodated and disposed so as to fit completely into the accommodating portion 110. In that case, the outer periphery of the muffler 29 is pressed with an appropriate force by the mounting bracket 111, and the muffler 29 is accurately fixed in the housing portion 110. The mounting bracket 111 is fastened and fixed by bolts 112.

  The muffler 29 and the like arranged in the accommodating portion 110 as described above are covered with a muffler cover 113 as shown in FIG. The muffler cover 113 is engaged around the bottom of the case main body 101 and is fastened and fixed by a bolt 114 in this state. By attaching the muffler cover 113, the lower surface of the engine case 100 becomes a very smooth surface. Incidentally, the muffler cover 113 is also formed in a substantially flat shape corresponding to the central portion of the lower surface of the case main body 101, and a water drain hole 113a is formed as shown in FIGS.

  Further, a bilge pump, which will be described later, is disposed in the case main body 101, and water accumulated in the case main body 101 is collected and discharged by the bilge pump. As shown in FIG. 17, the bilge pump 115 has a water inlet 115 a typically disposed at the lowest portion of the bottom surface of the case body 101. For example, it may be close to the side of the accommodating portion 110 that is convex on the bottom surface of the case body 101. On the other hand, along the outside of the exhaust hose 28 arranged substantially vertically in the case body 101 as shown in FIG. A partition wall 116 is attached so as to have A gap 117 between the outer peripheral surface of the exhaust hose 28 and the partition wall 116 communicates with the outside of the case body 101, and this gap 117 serves as a drainage guide passage and can be drained through the gap 117.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 17, the water supply pipe 118 absorbed by the bilge pump 115 is extended to the gap 117 inside the partition wall 116, and the water accumulated in the case body 101 in this way is once at the upper end of the partition wall 116. It is lifted up to the bottom of the partition wall 116 and extended below the partition wall 116, and then discharged. As shown in FIG. 17, the feed pipe 118 may be provided for the right exhaust hose 28, and may be provided for the left exhaust hose 28, or both. In any case, water around the muffler 29 does not enter the engine case 100 even if the draft position is higher than the bottom surface of the engine case 100, such as when stopped (during mooring).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 12, recesses 119 are provided on both side edges of the front surface of the case body 101. On the other hand, corresponding to these recesses 119, through holes 6 are formed in the transom board 2 as shown in FIG. The through hole 6 is set at a considerably high position from the ship bottom 7 of the hull 1 and is located above the water line W.

  The water accumulated on the floor surface of the hull 1 is discharged out of the ship through the through hole 6 opened in the transom board 2 and further guided downward between the transom board 2 and the recess 119 of the case body 101. Thus, the water accumulated on the ship floor 3 can be guided downward through the recess 119 and discharged out of the ship.

  In the above case, in addition to the constituent members of the outboard motor 10 described above, an electric signal or electric power is transmitted / received between the cooling piping system of the engine unit 11, the hydraulic piping system for driving the tilt mechanism and the steering mechanism, or between the members. An electric signal line or a cord for performing the operation is routed to an appropriate position in the engine case 100, and auxiliary machinery necessary for operating the outboard motor 10 is provided. An appropriate operation of the outboard motor 10 is performed through these piping systems or the like, or by operating auxiliary machinery.

  Next, the main configuration and its operation in the present invention will be described in summary. First, in the present invention, the outboard motor 10 on which the horizontal engine is mounted is attached to the transom board 2 of the hull 1 using the transom bolt 45. The engine case 100 is opened only upward, that is, its front surface, side surface, rear surface and bottom surface are integrally formed to have a watertight structure. The engine case 10 is covered with a case cover 102 at the top. Further, when the case cover 102 is opened, the engine unit 11 can be removed while the engine case 100, the frame 16, and the propulsion unit 15 are attached to the hull 1.

  Two mufflers 29 are arranged on the outside (lower side) of the lower surface of the engine case 100. These mufflers 29 are arranged so as to be accommodated in the muffler mounting accommodating portion 110. The muffler cover 113 is composed of a smooth surface without irregularities, and does not disturb the water flow flowing on the bottom surface of the ship bottom 7. In addition, since the accommodating part 110 produces an uneven bead part in the bottom face structure of the case main body 101, this bead shape can increase the rigidity around the bottom face of the case main body 101 without using a reinforcing component such as a special bracket. it can.

Further, the water pressure transmitted through the muffler cover 113 while the boat is sliding and the own weight reaction force of the hull 1 transmitted from the pedestal via the muffler cover 113 when the boat is placed on the muffler cover 113 without increasing the weight. Can be loaded.
The muffler 29 is watertightly attached to the case main body 101 with bolts 112 via the fittings 111. Even when the muffler cover 113 is removed for maintenance or the like, the muffler 29 can be supported by being suspended from the engine case 100 side. Thus, it is excellent in usability and usability and improves convenience.

  Exhaust hoses 28 and 30 are connected to the front and rear of the muffler 29, and the accommodating portion 110 of the muffler 29 is formed so as to substantially conform to the shapes of the muffler 29 and the exhaust hoses 28 and 30. The space between the muffler 29 and the exhaust hoses 28 and 30 and the accommodating portion 110 is minimized. Such a space is filled with water because it is located below the surface of the water when mooring (stops on the water), but is located above the surface of the water when sliding, and the water is discharged from the drain hole 113a. Since the amount of discharged water is small, the mass (water) that moves forward with the hull 1 is reduced, and acceleration is improved.

  Further, the exhaust from the engine unit 11 is connected to an exhaust hose 28 via an exhaust manifold 26 and an exhaust pipe 27 and is connected to a muffler 29. In this case, the exhaust manifold 26 and the exhaust pipe 27 are made of metal having a water jacket, and are configured to cool the exhaust portion of the downstream flow with seawater injected inside the exhaust pipe 27 (wet exhaust method).

In particular, according to the present invention, the case main body 101 and the case cover 102 that covers the opening 101a of the case main body 101 are provided, so that the engine unit 11 accommodated in the engine case 100 and its engine fittings are covered with water. It can be effectively protected from the environment. Further, by holding the engine unit 11 itself, the propulsive force of the propulsion unit 15, the rudder force, etc. by the frame 16, the engine case 100 itself realizes a material and structure specialized in watertightness and design, and is inexpensive. .
In addition, since the engine case 100 is close to the water surface and the bottom and side surfaces that require more strict water tightness are not opened, the water tightness can be secured with a simple structure. Further, the engine unit 11 can be suspended and attached while the engine case 100 and the frame 16 are attached to the hull 1 of the boat, and attachment and removal are extremely simple.

  Further, the muffler 29 is installed outside the case lower surface of the engine case 100, and the accommodating portion 110 for accommodating the muffler 29 and its exhaust hose 30 is formed on the case lower surface. Thus, by arranging the heavy wet muffler at the bottom of the engine case 100, the center of gravity of the outboard motor 10 as a whole can be lowered.

  Further, a water absorption pump is installed at an appropriate position on the bottom surface of the engine case 100 so that water can be absorbed by the water absorption portion arranged at the lowest portion of the case bottom surface, that is, the water intake port 115a. In this case, a partition wall 116 is provided along the substantially vertical direction inside the engine case 100, and a water suction / feed pipe is routed between the upper end portion of the drainage guide passage set inside the partition wall 116 and the water suction pump. . Thereby, since the drainage path does not directly contact the outside from the engine case 100, it is not necessary to consider the watertightness from the contacting part.

In addition, a recess provided on both side edges of the front surface of the case and a through hole formed in the transom board corresponding to the recess are communicated, and water accumulated on the floor of the hull is guided downward through the recess and discharged.
Thereby, the water on the hull floor can be discharged from a place where the eyes are not touched, which is advantageous in terms of design.

  Also, a muffler cover 113 that covers the muffler 29 and is engaged with the case bottom of the engine case 100 is installed. Thus, the muffler 29 is not directly exposed to the fluid in the water, and the case lower surface is covered with the smooth muffler cover 113 so that the fluid does not hit the muffler 29. In addition, since the bottom surface of the case is made smooth, the water flow that rises from the rear end of the hull 1 of the pre-sliding boat is received, the transition to the sliding is facilitated, a large engine output is not required, and the fuel efficiency is improved.

Further, the muffler cover 113 has a shape that is consistent with the case main body 101 to realize an integrated design. The volume of the muffler chamber (the volume around the muffler) can be reduced, and when the muffler chamber is located on the water surface during sliding or landing, the water around the muffler 29 can be discharged in a short time.
Furthermore, uneven beads are generated on the case bottom surface of the engine case 100, and the rigidity of the case bottom surface portion can be enhanced. The bottom surface of the case and the muffler cover 113 are joined at a portion other than the muffler 29, and by making a two-layer structure, it becomes easier to transmit the force caused by the water flow from the muffler cover 113 to the engine case 100, and the rigidity of the muffler cover 113 can be substantially reduced Weight reduction can be achieved.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated with various embodiment, this invention is not limited only to these embodiment, A change etc. are possible within the scope of the present invention.
In the above embodiment, an example in which two engine units are mounted has been described. However, one engine unit may be used, and three or more propulsion units may be added correspondingly.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hull, 2 Transom board, 3 Ship floor, 5 Handle, 6 Through-hole, 7 Ship bottom, 10 Outboard motor, 11 Engine unit, 12 Intake system, 13 Exhaust system, 14 Power transmission mechanism, 15 Propulsion machine, 16 Frame, 17 Crankcase, 18 Cylinder block, 19 Cylinder head, 22 Air cleaner, 23 Intake manifold, 24 Intake pipe, 25 Intake pipe, 26 Exhaust manifold, 27 Exhaust pipe, 28 Exhaust hose, 29 Muffler, 31 Exhaust outlet, 32 Reducer, 33 Casing, 34 Drive shaft, 35 Intermediate reduction gear, 36, 37 Universal joint, 38 Drive shaft case, 39 Swivel bracket, 40 Bearing, 41 Gear case, 42 Propeller, 43 Engine mau 44 Main bracket, 45 Transom bolt, 100 Engine case, 101 Case body, 102 Case cover, 103 Recess, 104 Through hole, 105 Hinge, 106 Seal, 107 Lock mechanism, 110 Housing part, 111 Mounting bracket, 113 Muffler cover 115 Bilge pump 116 Bulkhead 117 Gap 118 Feed pipe 119 Recess.

Claims (6)

An engine case of an outboard motor that houses an engine inside the case and has a propulsion device outside the case,
An engine case for an outboard motor, comprising: a case main body that houses an assembly of the engine and its peripheral components; and a case cover that covers an opening in the upper portion of the case main body.   2. An engine case for an outboard motor according to claim 1, wherein a muffler is installed outside the case lower surface, and an accommodating portion for accommodating the muffler and its exhaust hose is formed on the case lower surface.   The engine case for an outboard motor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a water absorption pump is installed at an appropriate position on the bottom surface of the case, and water can be absorbed by the water absorption portion disposed at the lowest part of the bottom surface of the case. .   A partition wall is provided along the substantially vertical direction inside the case, and a water suction / feed pipe is routed between an upper end portion of a drainage guide passage set inside the partition wall and the water suction pump. Item 4. The outboard motor case according to Item 3.   A dent provided on both side edges of the front of the case and a through-hole formed in the transom board corresponding to the dent are communicated, and water accumulated on the hull floor is guided downward through the dent and discharged. The engine case of the outboard motor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the engine case is provided.   The outboard motor engine case according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a muffler cover that engages with a bottom portion of the case and covers the muffler is installed.

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