JPH04266592A - Device for ship - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a duct extended between a front part of a cover of an outboard engine and a boat wall part extended generally in the longitudinal direction and positioned not at the front part of the outboard engine but at the side part of the outboard engine. CONSTITUTION: This marine apparatus 10 is provided with a boat 14 comprising a wall part extended generally in the longitudinal direction and having therein an air outlet opening. The marine apparatus 10 is also provided with a propulsion unit 166 mounted on the boat 14 and having a propeller shaft 182; an engine 190 connected to the propeller shaft 182 so as to drive the propeller shaft 182; a cover 198 surrounding the engine 190 and having an air inlet opening; and a duct means 220 communicating between the air outlet opening and the air inlet opening.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a marine propulsion system, and more particularly to a structure for supplying combustion air to an outboard motor.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of flexible conduits extending between the transom of a boat and the cover or shroud of an outboard motor to supply combustion air to the outboard motor engine is well known. Examples of such structures are disclosed in the following US patents:

US Patent Number Inventor Issue Date 4,37
1,348 Blanchard 198
February 1, 3rd year 4,375,356 Steve
ens March 1, 1983 4,3
95,238 Payne
July 26, 1983 4,927,392
Makihara et al. May 22, 1990 See also the structure of the duct disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,753,619.

See also US Patent Application No. 631,408, filed July 16, 1984, entitled ``Pivotal Air Induction for Marine Propulsion Units.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a boat that extends substantially in the front-rear direction and is located on the side of the outboard motor rather than in the front of the outboard motor. providing a conduit extending between the wall of the

Another object of the invention is to provide an accordion-shaped conduit that is connected to an outboard motor only by a threadless engagement between the conduit and the cover. That is, the conduit is not threadedly connected to the cover, and is not threadedly connected to the cover, or by adhesive, a spring clamp as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,356, or U.S. Pat.
The conduit is connected to the cover without any additional fastening means such as the fastening structure disclosed in '356. Preferably, the portion of the cover surrounding the air inlet opening of the cover is constrained between a pair of endless ribs of the conduit.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A marine vessel device according to the present invention includes a boat having a wall extending substantially in the longitudinal direction and having an air outlet opening, a propeller shaft mounted on the boat, and a propeller shaft. a propulsion unit having an engine connected to the propeller shaft to drive the propeller shaft, a cover surrounding the engine and having an air inlet opening, and a duct communicating between the air outlet opening and the air inlet opening. equipped with the means.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, claims, and drawings.

[0009]

[Example] Before describing one embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is necessary to understand that the application of the present invention is not limited to the details of the structure and configuration of each element shown in the following description or drawings. There is. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Further, the terms and terminology used herein are used for the purpose of explanation and should not be construed as limiting.

A marine vessel system 10 embodying the invention is shown in the drawings. Ship equipment 1, except as described below.
0 is substantially identical to the device described in the specification of the United States Patent Application filed January 4, 1991 and incorporated herein by reference.

Apparatus 10 includes a recreational boat 14, which includes a hull 18 and is preferably a fiberglass boat. The hull 18 (see FIG. 2) includes a fiberglass bottom 22 that includes generally parallel spaced first and second or port and starboard support members or longitudinal supports. Parts of the longitudinal members 26 and 30 are supported, and each of the longitudinal members extends in the front-rear direction. The stringers 26, 30 are preferably formed from plywood and are preferably coated on all sides with fiberglass to prevent deterioration and to provide additional strength. Each longitudinal member 26, 30 has an aft portion whose inner surface is coated with additional fiberglass, thereby providing a pair of opposing first and second ie port and starboard side members. Inner walls 42, 46 are each formed and extend generally vertically and in an anteroposterior direction. Additional glass fibers are added to the longitudinal members 26
, has 30 dyes to hide the plywood. Wall part 42
, 46 define therebetween a cavity adapted to accommodate an outboard motor.

The boat's hull 18 also has opposing walls 4
2, 46 (see FIG. 1). Wall portion 54 has a height approximately equal to the height of walls 42 and 46.

The hull 18 also includes port and starboard outer walls (only the port outer wall 56 is shown in the drawings) located outwardly of the inner walls 42, 46, respectively. Figure 2
reference). Each of the outer walls has an upper end.

Hull 18 also includes a fiberglass deck 60 supported on the upper ends of stringers 26, 30 and the upper ends of the outer walls of hull 18 (see FIG. 2). The deck 60 includes a first or port side inner wall 6 that extends vertically upward from the port side wall 42 and in a substantially fore-and-aft direction.
4, and a port side outer wall 6 extending upward from the outer wall 56.
8, an upper port side wall extending between deck walls 64, 68, and a second or starboard side inner wall extending vertically upwardly and generally fore-and-aft from starboard wall 46; 7
6, a starboard side outer wall (not shown) extending upward from the starboard side outer wall of the hull, and a starboard side upper wall. Walls 64 and 76 are connected to walls 42 and 4, respectively.
6 or an extension of these walls. The upper surfaces of the walls 72, 80 preferably serve as stepping stones for swimming. Wall 68 has an air inlet opening 84 and wall 64 has an air outlet opening 88. The reason for providing the openings 84 and 88 will be described later.

The marine apparatus 10 also includes means 90 coupled to the walls 42, 46 for pivotally supporting the propulsion unit about a generally horizontal tilting axis 92 (FIG. 2) relative to the boat 14. , in the illustrated embodiment, the tilting axis intersects the walls 42,46. The means 90 includes the wall portion 42,
It is preferred to have a mounting bracket 94 connected to 46 and pivotable relative to the walls about a tilt axis 92 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

The marine device also includes mounting brackets 94.
An outboard motor 150 is also provided, which is mounted on the wall and located between walls 42 and 46 or between walls 64 and 76 (FIG. 1).
and Figure 2). The outboard motor 150 can have various suitable structures, but in the illustrated structure, the outboard motor 150
0 includes a propulsion unit 166 mounted to the mounting bracket 94 for pivoting relative to the mounting bracket 94 about a substantially vertical steering axis 70 (
(see Figure 1). The propulsion unit 166 includes a drive shaft housing 174, a propeller shaft 182 rotatably supported by the drive shaft housing 174, and a propeller 186 attached to the propeller shaft 182. Propulsion unit 166 also includes an engine 190 supported by drive shaft housing 174 and connected to drive propeller shaft 182 via a conventional power transmission 194. Propulsion unit 166
It also includes a baffle plate or cover or shroud 198 that is mounted to the upper end of the drive shaft housing 174 and surrounds the engine 190. The cover 198 is
having side walls or lateral portions 200 extending in a fore-and-aft direction generally vertically and generally parallel to the deck wall 64 (the cover wall 200 is not strictly flat but somewhat curved); The sidewall has an air inlet opening 204 for receiving combustion air for the engine 190 (see FIG. 3).

The marine device 10 further includes a cover 214 extending above the outboard motor 150 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The cover 214 is mounted to the hull 18 for pivotal movement relative to the hull 18 about a generally horizontal axis 222 . In the illustrated construction, cover 214 is pivotally connected to walls 42, 46 at a point near the aft end of boat 14.

Marine apparatus 10 further includes duct means 220 communicating between air outlet opening 88 and air inlet opening 204.
(See Figure 2). Although any suitable ducting means may be used, in the construction shown in FIGS. 1-4, the ducting means 220 comprises an accordion-shaped flexible conduit 224 which extends longitudinally. It has a plurality of longitudinally spaced endless ribs 228 that alternately define a plurality of spaced endless peaks 232 and a plurality of longitudinally spaced endless valleys 236. (See Figure 3). Conduit 224 is preferably formed from a resilient material such as rubber or neoprene.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 1-4, conduit 224 is connected to outboard motor cover 198 only by a threadless engagement between conduit 224 and cover 198; is connected to the boat wall 64 only by a threadless engagement between the conduit 224 and the wall 64. "Only by threadless interlock" means a connection without the use of additional connection means such as adhesives, screws or spring clamps. As shown in FIG. 3, a portion 208 of the outboard motor cover 198 surrounding the air inlet opening 204 is constrained between a pair of conduit ribs 228. That is, the portion 2 of the outboard motor cover 198 surrounding the air inlet opening 204
08 is located within one of the conduit valleys 236. Conduit 224 is similarly connected to boat wall 64. That is, the boat wall 6 surrounding the air outlet opening 88
4 is constrained between a pair of ribs 228 of the conduit, ie, located within one of the valleys 236 of the conduit.

Conduit 224 is constructed by collapsing the end of conduit 224, inserting the collapsed end of conduit 224 into air inlet opening 204 until the conduit is in the desired position, and inflating the end of conduit 224. Cover 19 surrounding air inlet opening 204
By making the portion 208 of the outboard motor 8 restrained between the pair of ribs 228 as described above,
98. Conduit 224 is similarly connected to boat wall 64.

The marine vessel 10 also includes means for communicating between the air inlet opening 84 and the air outlet opening 88 for introducing air therebetween. Although any suitable introduction means may be used, in the illustrated construction boat 14 defines a chamber 250 communicating between openings 84 and 88 (see FIG. 2). More particularly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, boat 14 includes an elongated U-shaped member 254 extending between walls 64 and 68; 68 and 7
2 to define a room 250. In the illustrated construction, the air inlet opening 84 further includes a grille 258 that allows air to pass through the opening 84 and substantially prevents foreign matter from entering the opening 84.
(see Figure 2).

Combustion air for engine 190 thus enters engine 190 through air inlet opening 84, through chamber 250, and then through conduit 224 and inside cover 198. Flexible conduit 224 allows outboard motor 150 to pivot through its full range of trim and tilt.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. Except as described below, this alternative embodiment is substantially identical to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, and common elements have been provided with the same reference numerals.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the means for communicating between air inlet aperture 84 and air outlet aperture 88 include a flexible conduit 260 communicating between these apertures 84,88. have. As shown in FIG.
is substantially identical to conduit 224 except for its length. Conduit 260 has an outer end that communicates with grille 258 and an outer end that communicates with conduit 2
24, and an inner end communicating with 24. More specifically,
The inner end of conduit 260 extends into the interior of the outer end of conduit 224 in a telescoping relationship, and
The outer end of grille 258 surrounds the cylindrical portion of grille 258 in a telescoping relationship with the cylindrical portion.

A second alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. Except as described below, this second alternative embodiment is substantially similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and common elements have been given the same reference numerals.

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the conduits 224, 260 shown in FIG. 300. Conduit 300 is substantially identical to conduit 224 except for its length. Conduit 300 is connected to grille 258 in a manner similar to conduit 260 in FIG.
0 is connected to cover 1 in a manner similar to conduit 224 in FIG.
98. The portion of wall 64 surrounding opening 88 is constrained between two ribs of conduit 300.

Various features of the invention are set out in the claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a partial side elevational view, partially in section, of a marine vessel embodying the invention; FIG.

2 is a right side end view, partially in section, of the device shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing a second alternative embodiment of the invention; FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Ship equipment
14 Boat 18 Hull
42, 46 Opposing wall portion 54 Transom
56 Outer wall 64 Boat wall
84 Air inlet opening 88 Air outlet opening
166 Propulsion unit 182 Propeller shaft
190 Engine 198 Cover
204 Air inlet opening 220 Duct means
228 Endless rib 232 Endless mountain
236 Endless Valley 250 Room

Claims (10)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A boat comprising a wall extending substantially in the longitudinal direction and having an air outlet opening, a propeller shaft attached to the boat, and a wall section connected to the propeller shaft so as to drive the propeller shaft. A propulsion unit comprising an engine, a cover surrounding the engine and having an air inlet opening, and duct means communicating between the air outlet opening and the air inlet opening. 2. The marine vessel apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said duct means has flexibility. 3. The marine vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover has a side wall substantially parallel to said boat wall and having said air inlet opening. 4. The marine vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein the boat has opposing first and second walls extending generally in a fore-and-aft direction, and the air outlet opening is located between the first and second walls. A marine vessel apparatus, characterized in that the propulsion unit is located on one of two walls, and the propulsion unit is located between the first wall and the second wall. 5. The marine vessel apparatus of claim 1, wherein the boat has an outer wall having an air inlet opening spaced from the wall of the boat and communicating with the atmosphere; and means for introducing air between the outlet openings and the outlet openings. 6. The marine vessel apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said introduction means has a chamber defined by said boat. 7. The marine vessel apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the introduction means includes a conduit communicating between the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening. 8. A marine vessel apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said duct means is connected to said cover only by engagement between said duct means and said cover. 9. The marine vessel apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the duct means has an accordion shape, and the duct means has a plurality of endless ribs spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, A marine vessel device, wherein the cover has an endless portion surrounding the air inlet opening and being restrained between the pair of ribs. 10. The marine vessel device of claim 9, wherein the rib defines a plurality of longitudinally spaced endless peaks alternating with a plurality of longitudinally spaced endless valleys. Marine equipment, characterized in that said portion of said cover is located within one of said valleys.