Boat Propulsion Cooling Layout for Slim Gear Case Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boat propulsion machines face challenges in downsizing or slimming the gear case to improve navigation performance and facilitating easy detachment and attachment of the gear case due to the integration of cooling device components within the gear case.
Innovation Solution
The boat propulsion machine design relocates the cooling device components, including the tank, pump, and heat sink, to above the gear case, allowing the gear case to be downsized or slimmed, and enables easy attachment and detachment by eliminating the need for disassembly of cooling device parts within the gear case.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the cooling device components (cooling water pump and cooling water pipe) are disposed within the gear case, then the cooling function is integrated, but the gear case cannot be downsized or slimmed
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling water pump and cooling water pipe are extracted from the gear case and relocated to positions above the water surface. The cooling water pump is disposed above the water surface, and the cooling water pipe connects the water intake to the water jacket without entering the gear case, thereby reducing the gear case volume while maintaining the cooling function.
2Ease of operation
If the cooling device components are integrated within the gear case, then the structure is compact, but the gear case detachment and attachment operations become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling water pump and cooling water pipe are extracted from the gear case structure. The cooling water pump is disposed above the water surface, and the cooling water pipe is routed externally, allowing the gear case to be detached and attached without disassembling or connecting cooling device components, thereby simplifying maintenance operations.
3Productivity
If the gear case is downsized to improve navigation performance, then water resistance is reduced, but the cooling device cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device components are relocated from the vertical space within the gear case to the horizontal space above the water surface. The cooling water pump and cooling water pipe are disposed in the upper portion of the outboard motor, utilizing the dimensional space above the water line, thereby allowing gear case downsizing without compromising cooling functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces water resistance, enhances navigation performance, and simplifies maintenance by allowing the gear case to be easily attached and detached, while effectively cooling the power source using circulating cooling liquid.
Implementation Method 1
a heat sink configured to cool the cooling liquid
Implementation Method 2
a pump configured to pump the cooling liquid to circulate through the cooling liquid passage between the power source and the heat sink
Data Source
AI summary
A boat propulsion machine includes a power source, a drive shaft, a propeller, a gear mechanism, a gear case, a tank configured to store a cooling liquid for cooling the power source, a heat sink configured to cool the cooling liquid, a cooling liquid passage connecting the power source and the heat sink, and a pump a pump configured to pump the cooling liquid to circulate through the cooling liquid passage. The power source, the tank, and the pump are provided at an upper portion of the boat propulsion machine. The gear case is provided at a lower portion of the boat propulsion machine. The drive shaft extends in an upper-lower direction between the power source and the gear mechanism. The heat sink is provided at a position lower than the power source and higher than the gear case in the boat propulsion machine.