Outboard Motor Cooling With Distributed Dual Water Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outboard motors face challenges in improving cooling efficiency while preventing an increase in size, particularly when increasing the power source output leads to higher heat generation and the need for larger pumps, which in turn increases the motor's volume and resistance during navigation.
Innovation Solution
The outboard motor incorporates a first and second pump driven by the drive shaft, arranged in a distributed manner to supply cooling water to the power source, utilizing small pumps that occupy existing empty spaces within the motor design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the discharge amount of the pump is increased to improve cooling effect, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the volume of the pump and outboard motor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single pump is divided into multiple pumps (first pump and second pump). Each pump has a smaller impeller diameter and handles a portion of the total cooling water flow requirement. The multiple pumps are distributed in different regions of the outboard motor, allowing them to work in parallel to achieve the required total discharge amount without increasing the size of individual pumps or the overall motor housing.
2Productivity
If the diameter and height of the impeller are increased to increase pump discharge amount, then the cooling water flow rate is improved, but the pump volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large impeller, the patent uses multiple smaller impellers in separate pumps. Each impeller has a smaller diameter and height, but collectively they provide the required total discharge amount. This segmentation allows the pumps to be compact and fit within the existing outboard motor housing without requiring an enlarged case.
3Device complexity
If a single pump is used to reduce device complexity, then the structure is simpler, but the reliability of cooling water supply decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling water supply system is segmented into multiple independent pump units. Each pump can operate independently to supply cooling water to the power source. This segmentation provides redundancy: if one pump fails or malfunctions, the other pump(s) can continue to operate and maintain adequate cooling water flow, thereby improving the reliability of the cooling system without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
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 configuration enhances cooling efficiency by increasing the flow rate of cooling water without enlarging the motor's size, while also ensuring redundancy in cooling water supply even if one pump fails.
Implementation Method 1
a first pump configured to be driven by rotation of the drive shaft and to supply the water taken in from the water intake passage to the power source as cooling water; and a second pump configured to be driven by rotation of the drive shaft
Data Source
AI summary
An outboard motor includes a power source, a drive shaft, a propeller shaft, a propeller attached to the propeller shaft, a case covering the power source, the drive shaft, and the propeller shaft, a water intake passage provided in the case, through which water is taken into the case from an outside of the outboard motor, a first pump configured to be driven by rotation of the drive shaft and to supply the water taken in from the water intake passage to the power source as cooling water, and a second pump configured to be driven by rotation of the drive shaft and to supply the water taken in from the water intake passage to the power source as the cooling water. The first pump and the second pump are arranged in a distributed manner in the outboard motor.