Outboard Motor Intake Apparatus Water Separation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intake apparatuses for outboard motors face challenges in suppressing intake noise and preventing water entry into the engine while maintaining a compact size and improving intake packing efficiency, as they often lead to increased fuel consumption and reduced engine output due to air warming and size enlargement.

Innovation Solution

The proposed intake apparatus arranges the intake manifold, throttle body, and intake silencer box on one side of the engine block, with a duct communicating the intake introduction port to the silencer box, and includes water separation parts to prevent water entry and noise reduction, while maintaining a compact design by using the side space and arranging components to avoid heat-induced air warming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the exterior air is allowed to flow in the space in the vicinity of the engine, then the air is warmed up, but the engine output is lowered and fuel consumption is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair temperatureVSAvoidengine output

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the air intake path from the engine compartment, creating a separate direct intake path that bypasses the engine vicinity. The air intake port is positioned to draw air directly into the engine without passing through the warmed engine bay space, thus preventing unwanted heating while maintaining engine performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the exterior air is directly supplied to the throttle body without warming up, then the engine output is improved and fuel consumption is improved, but intake noise is likely to occur and water entry is likely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine outputVSAvoidintake noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an air intake port and associated components as intermediary elements between the exterior air and the engine. These components serve as a controlled interface that allows direct air supply for improved performance while simultaneously providing noise reduction and water prevention functions, thus mediating between the direct intake benefits and harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the intake apparatus is configured to suppress intake noise and prevent water entry, then reliability is improved, but the apparatus size is likely to be enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater preventionVSAvoidapparatus size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the air intake port and associated components to perform multiple functions simultaneously: air intake, noise reduction, and water prevention. By integrating these functions into a single compact structure rather than using separate components, the system achieves high reliability without significantly increasing apparatus size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Use of energy by moving object

If the air intake port is positioned to allow direct air supply, then fuel consumption is improved, but the apparatus size may be enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidapparatus size

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the local positioning and configuration of the air intake port to achieve direct air supply for improved fuel consumption. The intake port is strategically positioned and shaped to create an efficient direct flow path, allowing performance improvement without requiring a complete redesign that would increase overall apparatus size.

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 effectively suppresses intake noise and prevents water entry into the engine, improves intake packing efficiency, and maintains a compact size, enhancing engine output and fuel efficiency without enlarging the apparatus main body.

Implementation Method 1

a second water separation part is provided below a duct part of the intake duct, and the second water separation part is formed by providing a drain hole at a bottom part of a resonator chamber part configured to communicate with the duct part to reduce an intake noise

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic resonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

the second water separation part is formed by providing a drain hole at a bottom part of a resonator chamber part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity separation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9586663B2Intake apparatus of engine for outboard motor

Publication Date: 2017.03.07 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP

AI summary

There is provided an intake apparatus of an engine for an outboard motor. An intake manifold, a throttle body and an intake silencer box are arranged at one of right and left sides of an engine block which is configured such that an axial direction of a cylinder coincides with a front and rear direction of the outboard motor. An intake duct communicating with an intake introduction port provided at an upper part of an engine cover is coupled to an upstream end of the intake silencer box. A first water separation part is arranged between the intake introduction port and the intake duct. A second water separation part is provided below a duct part of the intake duct. The second water separation part is formed by providing a drain hole at a bottom part of a resonator chamber part communicating with the duct part to reduce an intake noise.