US2847966A

US2847966A - Outboard motor pump

Info

Publication number: US2847966A
Application number: US553084A
Authority: US
Inventors: James A Mcintosh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-12-14
Filing date: 1955-12-14
Publication date: 1958-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 1975-08-19

Description

.1. A. MOINTOSH OUTBOARD MOTOR PUMP Aug. 19, 1958 2,847,966

Filed Dec. 14, 1955 2 Sheets$heet 1 Aug. 19, 1958 J. A. MOINTOSH 2,847,956

OUTBOARD MOTOR PUMP Filed Dec. 14, 1955 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. JIMi-S' A. M //V7'0J// B 3 Y /MM W WM United States Patent OfiFice Patented Aug. 19, 1958 OUTBOARD MOTOR PUMP James A. McIntosh, Detroit, Mich. Application December 14, 1955, Serial No. 553,084 20 Claims. (Cl. 115-17) This invention relates to outboard motors such as are used for propelling boats and particularly to means for converting such an outboard motor into a water pump.

Outboard motors which are used to propel boats generally are mounted on the side of boats and comprise a small internal combustion engine and a housing which is adapted to project over the side of the boat downwardly into the Water and enclose the driving connections to a propeller mounted on a generally horizontal shaft in the lower part of the housing. The propeller includes a hub and blades projecting radially therefrom. The blades have a configuration such that rotation of the propeller produces a propelling force on the motor normal to the plane of rotation of the propeller. Such motors often include an exhaust tube which generally projects downwardly into the water and to the rear of the propeller.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mechanism for converting such an outboard motor to use as a water pump.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such means which may be readily mounted and removed from the outboard motor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a means which may be mounted and dismounted from the outboard motor without disassembly of the motor.

Basically, the invention comprises providing a housing surrounding the path of rotation of the propeller, and providing an inlet to said housing adjacent the axis of the propeller. In addition, the housing includes an outlet along the periphery thereof. When the housing is submerged in water and the internal combustion engine is operated to rotate the propeller, water is drawn in through the axial inlet and discharged out of the peripheral outlet at a high pressure.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational view of an outboard motor embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional view on an enlarged scale of one form of the invention, a portion of the outboard motor being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 6.

As shown in Fig. 1, an outboard motor 10 comprises a small internal combustion engine 11 and a drive housing 12 projecting downwardly from the engine 11 and enclosing driving connections to a propeller 13 mounted on a short shaft 15 at the lower end of the housing 12. The shaft 15 on which the propeller 13 is mounted is operatively connected to the engine 11 by driving connections (not shown) enclosed in the drive housing 12. The propeller includes a hub 16 and blades 17 projecting radially therefrom. The configuration of the blades is such, as well known in the art, that rotation of the prope1- ler produces a propelling force on the motor normal to the plane of rotation of the propeller. The portion 14 of the drive housing 12 into which the shaft 15 projects is generally elliptical. The engine also usually includes an exhaust tube 18 which is connected to the engine 11 and directs the exhaust gases to one side of the plane of rotation of the propeller 13. The engine is provided with a mounting bracket 19 whereby it may be attached to the side of a boat or the like with the housing 12 projecting downwardly into the water so that the propeller 13 and the end of the exhaust tube 16 are submerged in the water.

When the engine is operated to rotate the propeller 13, a thrust is provided such that the engine and, in turn, the boat to which it is attached, is propelled in a direction perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the propeller 13. The exhaust gases are directed rearwardly of the direction of movement by the exhaust tube 18.

The aforementioned construction is typical of outboard motors which are well known in the art.

My invention comprises adapting such an outboard motor so that it may be readily used as a pump for pumping water.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the invention generally comprises providing a pump housing 20 around and in close proximity with the propeller 13. The pump housing 20 consists of two

complementary halves

21 and 22 which substantially encase and enclose the entire path of rotation of the propeller 13. As shown in Fig. 2, the outer half 21 of the pump housing 20 comprises a generally fiat central portion 23 extending substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of the propeller 13 and a curved peripheral portion 24 having a circumferential lip 25. The half 21 also is provided with an opening 26 positioned centrally of the portion 23 adjacent the hub 14 of the propeller 13. The inner half 22 of the pump housing 20 comprises two

complementary sections

27, 28 which interengage at overlapping

portions

30, 31 to form a frusto-conical ring. The

sections

27, 28 are provided with an inwardly turned rim 29 at the outer periphery thereof which engages with the lip 25 of the outer half 21.

The pump housing 20 is mounted in fixed position relative to the drive housing 12 of the outboard motor by means of a bracket 32 removably connected to the housing 12 and the pump housing 20.

The bracket 32 comprises

complementary bracket sections

33, 34 adapted to engage the generally elliptical portion of the driving housing 12. The

bracket sections

33, 34 are generally curved to conform to the shape of the elliptical portions and include complementary

engaging portions

35, 36 at one end thereof and spaced

collars

37, 38 flaring outwardly at the other end thereof. The

collars

37, 38 are provided with inwardly turned flanges 39 at the periphery thereof which engage with and hold the

sections

27, 28 of inner half 22 of the pump housing 20. The

bracket sections

33, 34 are held in position, and thereby maintain the pump housing 20 in position, by means of bolts 40 passing through short

upstanding Walls

41, 42 on the

sections

33, 34, respectively. The

bracket sections

33, 34 are also provided with

openings

43, 44, respectively, adjacent the spaced

collars

37, 38, which serve as inlets in order that the water may enter the pump housing 20. The portions of the brackets between the

openings

43, 44 form inwardly directed

tabs

46, 47 which engage the driving housing 12 and maintain the pump housing 20 in axial alignment with the propeller shaft 15. The pump housing 20 is also provided with an outlet 45 at the periphery thereof along the curved portion 24 of the outer path 21. This outlet 45 maybe threaded so that a hose may be readily attached or detached thereto.

In operation, with the pump housing 20 in position, the motor and pump housing are submerged in water. When the internal combustion engine of the outboard motor is operated and the propeller 13 is rotated water will be drawn into the housing through the

inlets

43, 44 andforced outwardly under pressure through the outlet 45. The opening 26 in the outer half 21 of the pump housing 20 may also serve as an inlet. The provision of the opening 26 prevents any bearing contact of the hub 14 on the housing.

As an example of the efficiency of the pumping operation, I have forced a stream of water eighty feet into the air by using an outboard motor having a nine inch propeller and operated at full load speed of 2800 R. P. M.

Although I do not wish to be bound by the theory involved, I believe that the pressure with which the water is forced outof the outlet 45 is produced by the combined thrust and centrifugal action of the propeller on the water. The pumping action which results is greater than the pumping action produced by a pump of similar size which operates on a centrifugal principle or a pump of similar size which operates on the water wheel principle.

The housing 20 and bracket 32 may be economically and easily manufactured by stamping relatively thin sheet metal.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 wherein the pump housing 50 comprises an outer half 51 and an inner half 52 having the same general configuration when in assembled position as the path of revolution of the propeller 13. In this form of the invention, the inner half 52 is adapted to be mounted on the housing 12 after removal of the propeller. The propeller is then again mounted in position and the outer half 51 brought into complementary relationship with the inner half 52 and attached thereto by bolts 54 passing through peripheral flanges 55, 56 in the

halves

51, 52, respectively. The inlet to the housing is provided by openings 57 adjacent the hub of the propeller. The outlet is formed along the periphery of the housing by complementary grooves 58, 59 which form an outlet opening when the

halves

51, 52 are in complementary assembled relationship.

The housing 50 may be made by casting each half thereof separately.

It can thus be seen that I have provided means for readily converting an outboard motor to use for pumping water which means can be easily mounted or removed from the outboard motor.

I claim:

1. In an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on the side of a boat or the like and comprising a small internal combustion engine, a housing projecting downwardly from said engine when the engine is mounted on the boat, a propeller mounted on the lower end of the housing and including a hub and vanes projecting generally radially outwardly from the hub, the configuration of said vanes being such that rotation of the propeller causes the boat to be propelled along the water, said engine having an exhaust pipe directing the exhaust gases of combustion toward one side of the plane of rotation of the propeller, the combination comprising a pump housing surrounding the propeller and having a configuration similar to the solid of revolution generated by the rotation of said propeller, said housing being substantially imperforate and having an inlet opening'generally axially of said propeller on the side of said propeller opposite said exhaust pipe, an outlet opening along the periphery of said housing, and an opening adjacent said hub on the side of said housing opposite said inlet opening, and means for mounting and supporting said housing in position surrounding said propeller, whereby when the housing is mounted and supported in position and the propeller is rotated, the boat remains stationary in the water and water is pumped through said inlet opening into said housing and out of said outlet opening.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting comprises a bracket engaging said engine housing and supporting said pump housing.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said bracket comprises complementary halves surrounding said engine housing and adapted to support said pump hous- 4. In an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on the side of a .boat or the like and comprising a small internal combustion engine, a housing projecting downwardly from said engine when the engine is mounted on the boat, a propeller mounted on the lower end of the housing and including a hub and vanes projecting generally radially outwardly from the hub, the configuration of said vanes being such that rotation of the propeller causes the boat to be propelled along the water, said engine having an exhaust pipe directing the exhaust gases of combustion toward one side of the plane of rotation of the propeller, the combination comprising a pump housing surrounding the propeller, said housing comprising complementary halves, one said half comprising a generally fiat portion and a curved peripheral portion and having an opening located generally centrally thereof, the other said half comprising a multiplicity of curved sections which interengage to form a frusto-conical surface, said halves having interengaging surfaces to thereby define a hollow housing having a configuration similar to the solid of revolution generated by the rotation of the propeller, the innermost edge of said half which defines a frustoconical surface being spaced from the propeller such as to provide an inlet opening, and a bracket for mounting said pump housing on the drive housing of the engine.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said drive housing of the engine includes generally elliptically curved surfaces adjacent the propeller, said bracket comprising complementary elliptical sections adapted to contact said elliptically curved surfaces of the drive housing.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said bracket and said housing are formed with interengaging surfaces.

7. In an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on the side of a boat or the like and comprising a small internal combustion engine, a housing projecting downwardly from said engine when the engine is mounted on the boat, a propeller mounted on the lower end of the housing and including a hub and vanes projecting generally radially outwardly from the hub, the configuration of said vanes being such that rotation ofv the propeller causes the boat to be propelled along the water, said engine having an exhaust pipe directing the exhaust gases of combustion toward one side of the plane of rotation of the propeller, the combination comprising a pump housing surrounding the propeller, said housing E671- prising complementary halves, one said half comprising a generally fiat portion and a curved peripheral portion and having an opening located generally centrally thereof, the other said half comprising a multiplicity of curved sections which interengage to form a frusto-conical surface, said halves having interengaging surfaces to thereby define a hollow housing having a configuration similar to the solid of revolution generated by the rotation of the propeller, the innermost edge of said half which defines a frusto-conical surface being spaced from the propeller such as to provide an inlet opening, said outer half having a peripheral lip extending generally radially outwardly from the curved peripheral portion, and said curved sections which form the inner half being provided with an inwardly turned rim adapted to engage the lip on said outer half, and a bracket for mounting said pump housing on the drive housing of the engine.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said bracket comprises complementary half sections adapted to engage said drive housing.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said curved sections of the inner half are formed with a peripheral lip extending radially outwardly from the innermost portion thereof and said bracket sections are formed with inwardly turned flanges which engage with said lip on said inner half sections to support said pump housing in proper spaced relationship with said propeller.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said bracket sections are provided with means for clamping said sections in position on said drive housing.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said brackets are provided with inlet openings adjacent said pump housing.

12. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein each said bracket section comprises a generally elliptically curved section, complementary engaging portions at one end thereof and a housing engaging portions at the other end thereof.

13. In an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on the side of a boat or the like and comprising a small internal combustion engine, a housing projecting downwardly from said engine when the engine is mounted on the boat, a propeller mounted on the lower end of the housing and including a hub and vanes projecting generally radially outward from the hub, the configuration of said vanes being such that rotation of the propeller causes the boat to be propelled along the water, the combination comprising a pump housing surrounding the propeller and having a configuration similar to the solid of revolution generated by the rotation of said propeller, said housing being substantially imperforate and having an inlet opening generally axially of said propeller, an outlet opening along the periphery of said housing, and means for 'mounting and supporting said housing in position surrounding said propeller, whereby when the housing is mounted and supported in position and the propeller is rotated, the boat remains stationary in the water and water is pumped through said inlet opening into said housing and out of said outlet opening.

14. In an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on the side of a boat or the like and comprising a small internal combustion engine, a housing projecting downwardly from said engine when the engine is mounted on the boat, a propeller mounted on the lower end of the housing and including a hub and vanes projecting generally radially outwardly from the hub, the configuration of said vanes being such that rotation of the propeller causes the boat to be propelled along the water, the combination comprising a pump housing surrounding the propeller, said housing comprising complementary halves, one said half comprising a generally flat portion and a curved peripheral portion and having an opening located generally centrally thereof, the other said half comprising a multiplicity of curved sections which interengage to form a frusto-conical surface, said halves having interengaging surfaces to thereby define a hollow housing having a configuration similar to the solid of revolution generated by the rotation of the propeller, the innermost edge of said half which defines a frusto-conical surface being spaced from the propeller such as to provide an inlet opening, and a bracket for mounting said pump housing on the drive housing of the engine.

15. In an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on the side of a boat or the like and comprising a small internal combustion engine, a housing projecting downwardly from said engine when the engine is mounted on the boat, a propeller mounted on the lower end of the housing and including a hub and vanes projecting generally radially outwardly from the hub, the configuration of said vanes being such that rotation of the propeller causes the boat to be propelled along the water, the combination comprising a pump housing surrounding the propeller, said housing comprising complementary halves, one said half comprising a generally flat portion and a curved peripheral portion and having an opening located generally centrally thereof, the other said half compris- 6 ing a multiplicity of curved sections which interengage to form a frusto-conical surface, said halves having interengaging surfaces to thereby define a hollow housing having a configuration similar to the solid of revolution generated by the rotation of the propeller, the innermost edge of said half which defines a frusto-conical surface being spaced from the propeller such as to provide an inlet opening, said outer half having a peripheral lip extending generally radially outwardly from the curved peripheral portion, and said curved sections which form the inner half being provided with an inwardly turned rimadapted to engage the lip on said outer half, and a bracket for mounting said pump housing on the drive housing of the engine.

16. In an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on the side of a boat or the like and comprising a small internal combustion engine, a housing projecting downwardly from said engine when the engine is mounted on the boat, a propeller mounted on the lower end of the housing and including a hub and vanes projecting generally radially outwardly from the hub, the configuration of said vanes being such that rotation of the propeller causes the boat to be propelled along the water, the combination comprising a pump housing surrounding the propeller, said housing comprisingcomplementary halves, one said half comprising a generally flat portion and a curved peripheral portion, the other said half having a frusto-conical surface, said halves having interengaging surfaces to thereby define a hollow housing having a configuration similar to the solid of revolution generated by rotation of the propeller, said housing being substantially imperforate and having an inlet opening generally axially thereof on the forward side of the propeller, an outlet opening along the periphery thereof, and means for mounting said housing in position surrounding said propeller.

. 17. In an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on the side of a boat or the like and comprising a small internal combustion engine, a housing projecting downwardly from said engine when the engine is mounted on the boat, a propeller mounted on the lower end of the housing and including a hub and vanes projecting generally radially outwardly from the hub, the configuration of said vanes beingsuch that rotation of the propeller causes the boat to be propelled along the water, said engine having an exhaust pipe directing the exhaust gases of combustion toward one side of the plane of rotation of the propeller, the combination comprising a pump housing surrounding the propeller, said housing comprising complementary halves, one said half comprising a generally fiat portion and a curved peripheral portion, the other said half comprising a multiplicity of curved sections which interengage to form a frusto-conical surface, said halves having interengaging surfaces to thereby define a hollow housing having a configuration similar to the solid of revolution generated by the rotation of the propeller, the innermost edge of said half which defines a frusto-conical surface being spaced from the propeller such as to provide an inlet opening, and a bracket for mounting said pump housing on the drive housing of the engine.

18. In an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on the side of a boat or the like and comprising a small internal combustion engine, a housing projecting downwardly from said engine when the engine is mounted on the boat, a propeller mounted on the lower end of the housing and including a hub and vanes projecting generally radially outwardly from the hub, the configuration of said vanes being such that rotation of the propeller causes the boat to be propelled along the water, said engine having an exhaust pipe directing the exhaust gases of combustion toward one side of the plane of rotation of the propeller, the combination comprising a pump housing surrounding the propeller, said housing comprising complementary halves, one said half comprising a generally fiat portion and a curved peripheral portion, the other said half comprising a multiplicity of curved sections which interengage to form a frusto-conical surface, said halves having interengaging surfaces to thereby define a hollow housing having a configuration similar to the solid of revolution generated by the rotation of the propeller, the innermost edge of said half which defines a frusto-conical surface being spaced from the propeller such as to provide an inlet opening, said outer half having a peripheral lip extending generally radially outwardly from the curved peripheral portion, and said curved sections which form the inner half being provided with an inwardly turned rim adapted to engage the lip on said outer half, and a bracket for mounting said pump housing on the drive housing of the engine.

19. In an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on the side of a boat or the like and comprising a small internal combustion engine, a housing projecting downwardly from said engine when the engine is mounted on the boat, a propeller mounted on the lower end of the housing and including a hub and vanes projecting generally radially outwardly from the hub, the configuration of said vanes being such that rotation of the propeller causes the boat to be propelled along the water, the combination comprising a pump housing surrounding the propeller, said housing comprising complementary halves, one said half comprising a generally fiat portion and a curved peripheral portion, the othersaid half comprising a multiplicity of curved sections which interengage to form a frusto-conical surface,said halves having interengaging surfaces to thereby define a hollow housing having a configuration similar to the solid of revolution generated by the rotation of the propeller, the innermost edge of said half which defines a frusto conical surface being spaced from the propeller such as to provide an inlet opening, and a bracket for mounting said pump housing on the drive housing of the engine.

20. In an outboard motor adapted to be mounted on the side of a boat or the like and comprising a small internal combustion engine, a housing projecting downwardly from said engine when the engine is mounted on the boat, a propeller mounted on the lower end of the housing and including a hub and vanes projecting generally radially outwardly from the hub, the configuration of said vanes being such that rotation of the propeller causes the boat to be propelled along the water, the combination comprising a pump housing surrounding the propeller, said housing comprising a generally flat portion and a curved peripheral portion, the other said half comprising a multiplicity of curved sections which interengage to form a frusto-conical surface, said halves having interengaging surfaces to thereby define a hollow housing having a configuration similar to the solid of revolution generated by the rotation of the propeller, the innermost edge of said half which defines a frusto-con-ical surface being spaced from the propeller such as to provide an inlet opening, said outer half having a peripheral lip extending generally radially outwardly from the curved peripheral portion, and said curved sections which form the inner half being provided with an inwardly turned rim adapted to engage the lip on said outer half, and a bracket for mounting said pump housing on the drive housing of the engine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 572,383 Smith Dec. 1, 1896 2,473,603 Miller June 21, 1949 2,551,371 Grigg May 1, 1951 2,702,516 Tinker Feb. 22, 1955 2,733,679 Winkelman Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 494,649 Germany Mar. 26, 1930