Outboard Motor Tie Bar Bracket with Integrated Cooling Outlet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outboard motor mounting systems and cooling systems face challenges in efficiently coupling adjacent outboard motors and effectively conveying cooling water, particularly in maintaining visibility of cooling system indicators amidst the mechanical components.
Innovation Solution
A tie bar mounting bracket system that rigidly couples the outboard motor to an adjacent motor, with a telltale outlet for the cooling system integrated into the tie bar apparatus, allowing for clear visibility and operation without obstruction, utilizing resilient mounts to absorb vibrations and maintain structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the telltale outlet is integrated into the tie bar apparatus, then the cooling system indicator visibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling system telltale outlet with the tie bar apparatus by integrating the outlet directly into the mounting bracket structure. This merging of functions allows the cooling indicator to be visible through the tie bar structure without requiring separate mounting components, thereby improving visibility while minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tie bar mounting bracket is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural coupling between outboard motors, supports the cooling system telltale outlet, and maintains visibility of cooling indicators. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
2Reliability
If resilient mounts are used to absorb vibrations, then the structural integrity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient mounts are integrated directly into the tie bar mounting bracket structure, combining the vibration absorption function with the structural coupling function. This integration allows vibration damping without requiring separate mounting components, thereby improving reliability while minimizing additional complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the tie bar mounting bracket rigidly couples adjacent outboard motors, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket incorporates resilient mounts that provide dynamic vibration absorption while maintaining rigid structural coupling. The resilient elements allow for controlled flexibility in absorbing operational vibrations and thermal expansion, while still providing stable motor positioning and coupling.
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 solution provides a robust and functional tie bar apparatus that efficiently connects adjacent outboard motors while ensuring the cooling system's telltale outlet is visible, enhancing operational control and visibility without obstructing the cooling water discharge.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient mount coupling the powerhead to the supporting cradle and being configured to absorb vibrations of the powerhead
Implementation Method 2
A cooling system conveys cooling water through the outboard motor
Implementation Method 3
has a telltale outlet that discharges cooling water through the tie bar mounting apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
An outboard motor has a powerhead; a supporting cradle supporting the powerhead, the supporting cradle having port and starboard sides extending alongside opposite sides of the outboard motor; a resilient mount coupling the powerhead to the supporting cradle and being configured to absorb vibrations of the powerhead; and a tie bar mounting bracket having a head portion located aftwardly of the supporting cradle and further having port and starboard arms extending forwardly from the head portion alongside the opposite sides of the outboard motor and being coupled to the port and starboard sides of the supporting cradle, respectively. A cooling system conveys cooling water through the outboard motor and has a telltale outlet that discharges cooling water through the tie bar mounting apparatus.