US2756736A

US2756736A - Wrap around cowl for an outboard motor

Info

Publication number: US2756736A
Application number: US455492A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer C Kiekhaefer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-09-13
Filing date: 1954-09-13
Publication date: 1956-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1973-07-31

Description

y 31, 1956 E. c. KIEKHAEFER 2,756,736

WRAP AROUND COWL FOR AN OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed Sept. 13, 1954 3 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I F162. Brit. 41M

ATTORNEY y 1956 E. c. KIEKHAEFER WRAP AROUND COWL FUR AN OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed Sept. 15, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAE/V701? ELMER 6. MEWEFER FIG. 3.

ATTORNEY linited States Patent WRAP AROUND COWL FOR AN OUTBOARD MOTOR Elmer C. Kiekhaefer, Cedarburg, Wis.

Application September 13, 1954, Serial No. 455,492

15 Claims. (Cl. 123-198) This invention relates generally to a protective shield or cover for a machine and more specifically to an improved cowl for an outboard motor,

Heretofore, a cowl encasing the engine, commonly referred to in the industry as a power head, has been provided for outboard motors to protect the power head from the entry of foreign matter such as rain and water spray causing engine failure and rusting of the parts thereof, and to protect boat occupants from receiving electrical shocks and burns by inadvertent physical contact with the power head. The prior art outboards were relatively noisy, since the cowls were not constructed to materially mufl'le the noise produced by the power head. Applicant provides an improved cowl of novel construction which can be easily assembled and disassembled and which completely encloses the power head to protect the power head from entry of foreign matter, and materially mutiles the noise produced therein.

it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved cowl for an outboard motor that materially muflles the noise produced by the power head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cowl for an outboard motor that is less resonant than prior known cowls.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cowl for an outboard motor that is easier to assemble and disassemble than prior known cowls.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view with portions thereof in section of a part of an outboard motor embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section view of Fig. 1 taken along line 2-2; and

Fig. 3 is a segmental view of a part of an outboard motor embodying the invention shown partly in elevation and partly in section taken along line 33 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated as applied to a part of an outboard motor having a segmental drive shaft housing 4 and a power head 5 mounted on the drive shaft housing 4.

Attachment means comprising a clamp bracket 6 and a swivel bracket 7 is provided as shown in Fig. 3 for attaching the outboard motor pendantly to the transom 3 of a boat, not shown. The clamp bracket 6 is shown as having a pair of spaced inverted U-shaped clamps 9, only one of which is seen in Fig. 3 adapted to engage over the upper edge of the transom 3. The clamps 9 each comprise a pair of downwardly extending arms 11, one of which contains an opening at the upper end thereof, and carries a clamping screw 13 at the lower end adapted to engage on the inside of the transom 8 to clamp the transom between the end of the screw 13 and the other arm 11 of the clamp 9.

The swivel bracket 7 of the attachment means is a ice generally L-shaped upwardly and forwardly directed bracket having an opening at the upper end thereof. The swivel bracket 7 is pivotably connected to the clamp bracket 6 by means of a horizontal bolt 14 passing through the openings of the clamp bracket 6 and swivel bracket 7. The swivel bracket 7 is further pivotably mounted to the housing 4 by means of a longitudinal rod 16 passing through a suitable opening, not shown, in the swivel bracket 7 and engaging bushings, not shown, in the housing 4.

The power head 5 is shown as being completed enclosed in a cowl indicated generally at 17 having a lower part 18 in the form of a generally upwardly dished member mounted between the drive shaft housing 4 and the power head 5. The lower part 8 has an annular flange 19 along the top thereof provided with a shoulder portion 21 to form an annular seat portion. An upper part 22 of the cowl 17 in the form of a generally downwardly dished member has projections 23 connected to the power head 5 by any suitable means such as bolts 24 as shown in Fig. 3 and forms a cover for the power head 5. The upper part 22 is further provided with an annular flange 26 and shoulder portion 27 forming an annular seat portion along the bottom thereof registering with the annular flange 19 of the lower part 13. An intermediate part 28 of the cowl 17 is wrapped around the lower and

upper parts

18, 22 respectively with the edges of the part 28 supported by the annular flanges 19, 26 and mating with the shoulder portions 2i, 27 provided by the annular flanges 19, 26 to enclose and protect the power head 5. The intermediate part 28 of the cowl 17 is preferably a rectangularly shaped corrugated piece of sheet metal of approximately 26 gauge having crimped ends 29 spot welded to form cylindrical openings as shown in Fig. 2 through which pins 31 are inserted, and is preferably constructed of a rust and corrosion resistant metal such as stainless steel.

A fastening means shown as a toggle clamp 32 in Figures 1 and 2 is provided for drawing the ends 29 of the intermediate part 28 toward one another when the intermediate part 28 is properly positioned around the lower and

upper parts

18, 22 of the cowl 17 to provide a relatively air tight cowl 17. The toggle clamp 32 is shown as a link arrangement having a pair of spaced plates 33 with one end of each of the plates 33 pivotably mounted around the pin 31 in one of the ends 29 of the intermediate part 28. The other ends of the plates 33 are pivotably attached to a pivot pin 34 passing through a hole in the intermediate portion of an actuating member 36. The actuating member 36, having a generally U- shaped cross section, is provided with an opening at one end into which a peg 37 having a threaded opening is pivotably positioned, and provided with a handle 38 at the other end. A latch member 39 is provided having one end 41 threaded for engagement with the threaded opening of the peg 37 and the other end defining a hook 42 for engaging a corresponding opening positioned adjacent the pin 31 in the other end of the intermediate part 23. The amount of tension to which the intermediate part 28 is subjected is regulated by varying the amount the threaded end 41 of the latch member 39 is threaded into the peg 37. The toggle clamp 32, as is well known in the art, is constructed to be self locking by positioning the opening of the actuating member 36, in which the peg 37 is located, so that the opening is olf center with respect to the ends of the intermediate part 28 and the hole enclosing the pivot pin 34 so that the tension of the parts forces the handle 38 against the latch member 39 when the actuating member 36 is closed.

With the intermediate part 28 of the cowl 17 in its assembled position, a space exists between the ends 29 thereof through which intake air is drawn into the cowl 17.

This space is covered by an L shaped member 43 shown in Fig. 3 having a flange 44- at one end adapted to pivotably engage a suitable pivot means 45 positioned in the upper part 22 of the cowl 17. The flange 44 has a rib portion 46 adapted to engage a slot 47 in the upper part 22 of the cowl 17 to prevent sidewise movement of the member 43. The other end of the member 43 has an opening passing therethrough with a threaded bolt 48 adapted to pass through the opening to engage a tapped opening presented by the lower part 18 of the cowl 17 to securely mount the member 43 to the cowl 17. The sides of the member 43 are corrugated as shown at 49 to provide a plurality of openings for entry of air into the cowl l7.

increased mufiiing properties of applicants invention appears to be attributable mainly to two factors, one, the fact that the sheet metal intermediate part 28 is corrugated, and two, that the intermediate part 28 is subjected to tension by the fastening means 32. These factors incorporated into a cowl structure 17 produces a novel cowl arrangement that completely encloses the power head of an outboard motor and is non-resonant thereby considerably reducing the noise emitted by the power head 5.

in assembly of the cowl 1"], the lower part 18 is positioned on the drive shaft housing 4 and the power head 5 placed on the lower part 13. The power head 5 is mounted to the drive shaft housing 4 by bolts 50 passing through aligned openings, not shown, in the drive shaft housing 4 and lower cowl 18 and engaging tapped openings, not shown, in the power head 5. The upper part 22 of the cowl 17 is mounted to the power head 5 by means of the projections 23 and the bolts 24, only two of which are shown. The intermediate part 28 of the cowl 17 is placed around the flanges 19, 26 of the lower and upper parts 22 respectively with the edges of part 28 mating with the shoulder portions 21, 2'7, and the ends 29 are drawn together by the toggle clamp 32 to secure the intermediate part 23 on the lower and

upper parts

18, 22. The flange 4d of the member 43 is placed in engagement with the pivot means 45 and the member 4-3 fastened to the cowl 17 by the threaded bolt 43 to complete the cowl assembly.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes and modifications of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

it is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. in an outboard motor having an engine supported by a drive shaft housing, the combination of: a lower generally upwardly dished cowl member mounted on said outboard motor; an upper generally downwardly dished cowl member mounted on said engine in register with said lower cowl member; an intermediate member having end portions, said member being wrapped around said lower cowl member and said upper cowl member to connect said lower cowl member to said upper cowl member to enclose said engine with said end portions spaced apart to define an air inlet for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine; and means mounted on said intermediate member for urging said end portions of said member toward one another subjecting said member to a tensile stress.

2. in an outboard motor having an engine mounted on a drive shaft housing, the combination of: a lower generally upwardly dished cowl member mounted on said drive shaft housing; an upper generally downwardly dished cowl member mounted on said engine in register with said lower cowl member; an intermediate member comprising a sheet metal element having end portions, said element being wrapped around said lower cowl member and said upper cowl member to connect said lower cowl member to said upper cowl member to enclose said engine with said end portions spaced apart to define an air inlet opening for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine; means for urging said end portions of said member toward one another; and means for covering said end portions and said air inlet opening to prevent entry of Water and spray therethrough to said engine, said last named means being spaced from said intermediate member to form an air passageway connect ing said air inlet opening for the production therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

3. In an outboard motor having an engine mounted on a drive shaft housing, the combination of: a lower generally upwardly dished cowl member interposed between said engine and said drive shaft housing; an upper generally downwardly dished cowl member mounted on said power head in register with said lower cowl member; an intermediate member comprising a corrugated sheet stat element having end portions, said element being wrapped around said lower cowl member and said upper cowl member to connect said lower cowl member to said upper cowl member to enclose said engine with said portions spaced apart to define an air inlet opening for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine; and means mounted on one end portion of said element adapted to engage said other end portion of said element whereby said end portions of said element are urged toward one another subjecting said element to a tensile stress.

4. in a cowl including an engine enclosed thereby, the combination of: a first member connected to one end of said engine, a second member connected to the opposite end of said engine and spaced from said first member and in register therewith; an intermediate generally rec tangular member connecting said first member to said second member to enclose said engine, said intermediate member having end portions spaced apart from one another to form an air inlet opening into said cowl for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said englue.

5. In a cowl including an engine enclosed thereby, the combination of: a first member connected to one end of said engine; a second member connected to the opposite end of said engine and spaced from said first member and in register therewith; an intermediate generally rectangular flexible sheet metal member connecting said first member to said second member to enclose said engine, said intermediate member having end portions spaced apart from one another to form an air inlet opening into said cowl for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine; and means mounted on said intermediate member for urging said end portions toward one another to subject said intermediate member to a tensile stress.

6. In a cowl including an engine enclosed thereby, the combination of: rigid first member connected to one end of said engine and having a first flange along its periphery; a rigid second member connected to the opposite end of said engine and spaced from said first member and having a second flange in register with said first flange; an intermediate generally rectangular flexible member wrapped around said first flange and said second flange to connect said first member to said second member to enclose said engine, said intermediate member having end portions spaced apart from one another to form an air inlet into said cowl for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine; and fastening means mounted on said intermediate member for urging said end portions toward one another to subject said intermediate member to a tensile stress.

7. In a cowl including an engine enclosed thereby, the combination of: a rigid generally dished first member connected to one end of said engine and having a first seat portion along the periphery thereof; a rigid generally dished second member connected to the opposite end of said engine and spaced from said first member and having a second seat portion along the periphery thereoi in register with said first seat portion of said first member; an intermediate generally rectangular flexible member wrapped around said first and second members to enclose said engine, said intermediate member having edges mating with said first and said second seat portions and having end portions spaced apart from one another to form an air inlet into said cowl for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine; fastening means mounted on one end portion of said intermediate member and coacting with means on said other end portion for urging said end portions toward one another to subject said intermediate member to a tensile stress; and means for covering said end portions and said air inlet opening to prevent entry of water and spray therethrough to said engine, said last named means being spaced from said intermediate member to form an air passageway connecting said air inlet opening for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

8. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housing member; an engine member supported at one end by said drive shaft housing; a lower cowl element connected to one of said members adjacent to said one end of said engine; an upper cowl element connected to the opposite end of said engine in register with said lower cowl element and spaced therefrom; an intermediate cowl element wrapped around said lower and upper cowl elements to enclose said engine; means for removably securing said inermediate cowl element to said lower and upper cowl elements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

9. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housing member; an engine member supported at one end by said drive shaft housing; a lower cowl element connected to one of said members adjacent to said one end of said engine; an upper cowl element connected to the opposite end of said engine in register with said lower cowl element and spaced therefrom; an intermediate cowl element comprising a generally rectangular flexible sheet metal member Wrapped around said lower and upper cowl elements to enclose said engine; means for removably securing said intermediate cowl element to said lower and upper cowl elements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

10. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housing member; an engine member supported at one end by said drive shaft housing; a lower upwardly dished cowl element connected to one of said members adjacent to said one end of said engine; an upper downwardly dished cowl element connected to the opposite end of said engine in register with said lower cowl element and spaced therefrom; an intermediate cowl element wrapped around said lower and upper cowl elements to enclose said engine; means for removably securing said intermediate cowl element to said lower and upper cowl elements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

11. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housing member; an engine member supported at one end by said drive shaft housing; a lower upwardly dished cowl element connected to one of said members adjacent to said one end of said engine, said lower cowl element having a first seat portion along the periphery thereof; an upper downwardly dished cowl element connected to the opposite end of said engine in register with said lower cowl element and spaced therefrom, said upper cowl element having a second seat portion along the periphery thereof; an intermediate cowl element wrapped around said lower and upper cowl elements with edges of said intermediate cowl element mating with said first and second seat portions to enclose said engine; means for removably securing said intermediate cowl element to said lower and upper cowl elements; and means pro- 6 vided by one of said cowl elements for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

12. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housing member; an engine member supported at one end by said drive shaft housing; a lower cowl element connected to one of said members adjacent to said one end of said engine; an upper cowl element connected to the opposite end of said engine in register with said lower cowl element and spaced therefrom; an intermediate cowl element comprising a generally rectangular corrugated flexible sheet metal member wrapped around said lower and upper cowl elements to enclose said engine; means for removably securing said intermediate cowl element to said lower and upper cowl elements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engme.

13. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housing; an engine mounted on said drive shaft housing; a first cowl element interposed between said engine and said drive shaft housing; a second cowl element mounted on said engine in register with said first cowl element and spaced therefrom; a third cowl element wrapped around said first and second cowl elements to enclose said engine; means for removably securing said third cowl element to said first and second cowl elements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

14. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housing; an engine mounted on said drive shaft housing; a first upwardly dished cowl element interposed between said engine and said drive shaft housing; a second downwardly dished cowl element mounted on said engine in register with said first cowl element and spaced therefrom; a third cowl element comprising a generally rectangular flexible sheet metal member wrapped around said first and second cowl elements to enclose said engine; means for removably securing said third cowl element to said first and second cowl elements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

15. In an outboard motor, the combination of: a drive shaft housing; and engine mounted on said drive shaft housing; a first upwardly dished cowl element interposed between said engine and said drive shaft housing, said first cowl element having a first seat portion along the periphery thereof; an upper downwardly dished cowl element mounted on said engine in register with said first cowl element and spaced therefrom, said second cowl element having a second seat portion along the periphery thereof; a third cowl element comprising a generally rectangular corrugated flexible sheet metal member wrapped around said first and second cowl elements with edges of said third cowl element mating with said first and second seat portions to enclose said engine; means for removably securing said third cowl element to said first and second cowl elements; and means provided by one of said cowl elements for the introduction therethrough of combustion air to said engine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,723,851 Gumpper Aug. 6, 1929 1,752,134 Woodman Mar. 25, 1930 1,826,918 Bell Oct. 13, 1931 1,976,209 Ashe Oct. 9, 1934 2,676,559 Davies Apr. 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 569,897 Great Britain June 13, 1945