Marine Engine Cooling Water Sprayer Strainer Accessibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing marine engine cooling systems face challenges with strainer accessibility and clogging, particularly when operated in debris-rich waters, leading to compromised cooling functionality and increased risk of engine overheating.

Innovation Solution

A cooling water sprayer system with a strainer located above the adapter plate, featuring a quick connector for easy access and a dual sprayer configuration using multiple water sources to reduce the likelihood of plugging, allowing for efficient straining and cooling of exhaust gases without requiring tools for maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a strainer is installed in the cooling system to filter debris, then the cooling reliability is improved, but the strainer becomes inaccessible for maintenance and prone to clogging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling reliabilityVSAvoidstrainer accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is divided into separate functional sections with the strainer positioned in an accessible location independent from the main cooling passages. This segmentation allows the strainer to be removed and serviced without disassembling the entire cooling system, resolving the contradiction between maintaining cooling reliability through filtration and ensuring ease of maintenance access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a single water source is used for cooling sprayers, then the system simplicity is maintained, but the risk of total plugging and cooling failure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidcooling system reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different sections of the cooling system are supplied from different water sources based on their specific needs. The exhaust manifold cooling passages receive water from one source while the sprayer system receives water from another source. This local differentiation ensures that if one water source becomes plugged, the other sections continue to function, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Temperature

If cooling water is sprayed directly into the exhaust conduit, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the risk of plugging from debris increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexhaust cooling effectivenessVSAvoidsprayer plugging resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The strainer is positioned upstream in the water supply line before water reaches the sprayer nozzles, performing preliminary filtration of debris. This preliminary action removes potential plugging materials before they can block the sprayer openings, allowing the system to maintain high cooling effectiveness through direct spraying while preventing plugging issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The system provides improved accessibility and reduced risk of overheating by facilitating easy maintenance and straining, while the dual sprayer arrangement minimizes the chance of total plugging, ensuring effective cooling of marine engines.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling water sprayer that sprays a first flow of cooling water into the exhaust conduit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a cooling jacket that conveys a second flow of cooling water alongside the exhaust conduit so that the second flow of cooling water cools the exhaust conduit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

a strainer is disposed in the cooling jacket and configured to strain the second flow of cooling water prior to being sprayed into the exhaust conduit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10501160B1Cooling arrangements and cooling water sprayers for marine engines

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 BRUNSWICK CORP

AI summary

A marine engine has an internal combustion engine; an exhaust conduit that conveys exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine; a cooling water sprayer that sprays a first flow of cooling water into the exhaust conduit; and a cooling water jacket that conveys a second flow of cooling water alongside the exhaust conduit so that the second flow of cooling water cools the exhaust conduit. The first flow of cooling water and at least part of the second flow of cooling water are merged and then sprayed together into the exhaust conduit via the cooling water sprayer.