Outboard Engine Gear Casing Heat Exchanger Front Placement

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional outboard engines face inefficiencies in cooling the coolant due to the placement of the heat exchanging part at the rear, which is affected by engine heat, preventing effective cooling.

Innovation Solution

The outboard engine design positions the heat exchanging part in the front portion of the gear casing, allowing running water to directly cool the coolant flowing through internal oil channels, enhancing thermal exchange and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the heat exchanging part is installed in the rear portion of the outboard engine, then the structure is simplified and easier to manufacture, but the cooling efficiency of the coolant deteriorates due to heat generated by the engine

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidcooling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the heat exchanging part in the front portion of the gear casing instead of the rear portion. This inversion allows the heat exchanging part to be positioned where it can effectively utilize running water for cooling, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and cooling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by positioning the heat exchanging part in a specific location (front portion of the gear casing) where the cooling conditions are optimal. This localized placement ensures that the coolant is efficiently cooled by running water while maintaining the overall structural integrity and manufacturability of the outboard engine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If the heat exchanging part is positioned at the rear, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling performance deteriorates due to exposure to engine heat

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidcooling performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the heat exchanging part in the front portion of the gear casing instead of the rear portion. This inversion allows the heat exchanging part to be positioned where it can effectively utilize running water for cooling, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and cooling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by positioning the heat exchanging part in a specific location (front portion of the gear casing) where the cooling conditions are optimal. This localized placement ensures that the coolant is efficiently cooled by running water while maintaining the overall structural integrity and manufacturability of the outboard engine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 efficiently cools the cooling oil by leveraging the contact with running water, improving the overall cooling performance of the motor and extending the engine's operational lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanging part is provided inside a front portion of the gear casing, and inside the heat exchanging part, an oil channel is formed that cooling oil for cooling the motor flows through

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

running water is to touch the heat exchanging part while a vessel is travelling using the outboard engine. Therefore, by forming the oil channel in the heat exchanging part, the cooling oil flowing in the oil channel can be efficiently cooled

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20230272732A1Outboard engine

Publication Date: 2023.08.31 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

There are included: a motor contained in a top cover; a vertical shaft that is rotationally driven by the motor, the vertical shaft being contained in an extension casing; and a propeller that is rotationally driven by the vertical shaft, the propeller being provided at a gear casing, wherein a heat exchanging part is provided inside a front portion of the gear casing, and inside the heat exchanging part, there are formed an inflow-side oil channel and an outflow-side oil channel that cooling oil for cooling the motor flows through.