Horizontal Marine Engine Assembly for Shallow Water Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional marine outboard engine assemblies face challenges in packaging components without increasing the overall height of the engine, which can compromise shallow water operation and usable space on a watercraft when attempting to position the engine lower relative to the watercraft.
Innovation Solution
A semi-submerged marine engine assembly with a horizontally arranged engine and a high rise exhaust passage, where the engine is mounted substantially horizontally with a crankshaft axis intersecting the outer housing, and a driveshaft assembly connecting the crankshaft to the gearcase, allowing for efficient packaging and reduced height while maintaining effective propulsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the engine is positioned lower relative to the watercraft to increase usable space, then the usable room at the rear of the watercraft is improved, but the propeller extends too deeply in the water compromising shallow water operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional vertical engine arrangement to a horizontal arrangement. The engine is mounted with its crankshaft axis substantially horizontal, and the engine's longitudinal axis extends transverse to the watercraft. This dimensional change allows the engine to be positioned lower without increasing the vertical height, thereby maintaining shallow water operation while maximizing usable space at the rear of the watercraft.
2Length of stationary object
If the midsection length is reduced or eliminated to lower the engine position, then the engine height is improved, but component packaging becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging the engine horizontally with the crankshaft axis transverse to the watercraft's longitudinal axis, the patent redistributes component space from the vertical dimension to the horizontal dimension. This allows all necessary components to be packaged within the housing and gearcase without requiring a long midsection, thereby reducing engine height while maintaining proper component placement and avoiding increased complexity.
3Length of stationary object
If the engine is arranged horizontally to reduce height, then the overall height of the engine is improved, but the exhaust system configuration becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust system is configured to extend rearwardly from the horizontal engine, with the exhaust outlet positioned at the rear of the housing. This rearward extension in the horizontal dimension allows effective exhaust gas evacuation without requiring excessive vertical height, maintaining the reduced engine height while providing a functional exhaust configuration suitable for the horizontal engine arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A marine engine assembly has a housing including an outer housing having a front wall, an inner housing disposed in the outer housing and being connected to the outer housing by at least one housing fastener disposed at at least one first position, a cover removably connected to the outer housing, and a gearcase connected to a lower portion of the outer housing. An internal combustion engine has a front face connected to and supported by the inner housing by at least one engine fastener disposed at at least one second position being different from the at least one first position, and a crankshaft defining a crankshaft axis intersecting the front wall of the outer housing. The inner housing is disposed at least in part between the front face of the internal combustion engine and the front wall of the outer housing.