Outboard Marine Engine Syphon Conduit for Complete Cooling Water Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outboard marine engines face challenges in completely draining cooling water from the cooling water circuit when trimmed up, leading to potential freeze damage due to water accumulation in isolated areas that do not drain by gravity.
Innovation Solution
A syphon conduit is integrated into the cooling water circuit, configured to drain cooling water by gravity initially and then utilize a syphon force to remove remaining water from these isolated areas when the engine is not operating and trimmed up.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the outboard marine engine is trimmed up for storage or transport, then the engine is protected from water damage and easier to store, but cooling water accumulates in isolated areas of the cooling water circuit that cannot drain by gravity, leading to potential freeze damage
Solution Approach 1:
The syphon conduit is pre-configured with a higher elevation section and downward slope to automatically initiate syphon action as soon as cooling water enters the isolated area, preventing freeze damage before it can occur during storage or transport
Solution Approach 2:
The syphon conduit acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cooling water circuit and the external environment, using atmospheric pressure and gravity to create a syphon effect that removes water from isolated areas where gravity alone cannot drain it
2Ease of manufacture
If a traditional gravity drainage system is used for the cooling water circuit, then the system is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot completely drain cooling water from isolated areas when the engine is trimmed up
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is segmented into two distinct phases within the syphon conduit: initial gravity drainage for bulk water removal, and subsequent syphon action for complete drainage of isolated areas, combining the benefits of simplicity and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The syphon conduit introduces a vertical dimension with a higher elevation section that gravity drainage alone cannot achieve, enabling water removal from isolated areas by creating a syphon effect that operates in a different gravitational dimension
3Use of energy by moving object
If the syphon conduit is configured to drain by gravity first, then the initial drainage is simple and energy-efficient, but remaining water in isolated areas requires additional syphon force to be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The syphon conduit is self-activating; once initial gravity drainage occurs and water reaches the higher elevation section, the syphon effect automatically initiates without external energy input, using the kinetic energy of the flowing water and atmospheric pressure to remove remaining water
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
Effectively removes cooling water from all areas of the outboard marine engine, preventing freeze damage by ensuring complete drainage even when gravity is ineffective, thereby protecting engine components.
Implementation Method 1
the syphon conduit first drains the cooling water from the cooling water circuit by gravity
Implementation Method 2
then removes the cooling water from the cooling water circuit via a syphon force
Data Source
AI summary
An outboard marine engine comprises an internal combustion engine, a cooling water circuit that supplies cooling water for cooling at least one component of the outboard marine engine, and a syphon conduit connected to the cooling water circuit and configured to syphon the cooling water from the cooling water circuit when the outboard marine engine is not operating.