Abstract:
A boat has an outboard motor that is mounted to a hull and has a fuel system. The outboard motor has a cowling housing an engine. The fuel system includes a fuel pump disposed within a sealed container. The sealed container provides a physical and thermal barrier to seawater and engine heat that may otherwise degrade fuel pump operation. The sealed container can also include an internal insulator.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-113772, filed on Apr. 17, 2006, the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to fuel systems for a boat having an outboard motor. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Known outboard motors have a fuel pump for supplying fuel between the fuel tank and the engine (see Patent Document JP-A-11-091689). A cowling typically surrounds the motor, and fuel pump is located within the cowling and is exposed to engine heat. An insulator wound around the fuel pump inhibits the fuel from vaporizing due to the engine heat. However, seawater can enter the cowling and accumulate near the fuel pump. The structure described in Patent Document JP-A-11-091689 cannot completely prevent the accumulated seawater from passing through gaps in the insulator and contacting the fuel pump. This contact may lead to corrosion of the fuel pump. In the fuel system above, there is also a risk that the insulator itself may deteriorate due to sea water exposure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A need exists for a fuel system that reduces the chance of moisture contacting the fuel pump and the insulator in order to extend the life of these components. 
         [0007]    An aspect of the invention involves an outboard motor for a boat that outboard motor includes a cowling defining an engine compartment and houses an engine. The compartment includes a fuel delivery conduit which supplies fuel to the engine. The outboard motor includes a fuel pump disposed within the fuel delivery conduit. The fuel pump delivers the fuel to the engine from a hull side of the boat. The fuel pump is enclosed by a sealed container that is disposed at a bottom of the engine compartment. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the invention involves a boat that includes a hull and an outboard motor mounted to the hull. The boat includes a cowling that houses an engine. The boat further includes a sealed container in the cowling and a fuel pump disposed in the sealed container. 
         [0009]    An addition aspect of the invention involves a fuel system for an outboard motor having an engine. The fuel system includes a sealed container disposed inside the outboard motor and a fuel pump disposed in the sealed container. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will now be described in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, in reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely an example and are not intended to limit the invention. The following is a brief description of the drawings. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an outboard motor configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated as attached to a transom of a boat with some internal components shown in phantom lines. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged side sectional view of an upper portion of the outboard motor from  FIG. 1  showing and engine and an associated fuel supply system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the outboard motor from  FIG. 2  showing the V-shape arrangement of the engine of the outboard motor. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the outboard motor from  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partial top plan view of the upper portion of the outboard motor of  FIG. 3  including a sealed container, a vapor separator and a canister, 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a partial top plan view of an upper portion of another outboard motor that has a fuel supply system configured in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 7  and through a heat insulator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    The following detailed description is now directed to certain specific embodiments of the invention, In this description, reference is made to the drawing wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout the description and the drawing. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a boat having a fuel system configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The boat includes a hull  20  and an outboard motor  1 . The outboard motor  1  is mounted to the hull  20  by a bracket  21 . The clamping bracket  21  is fixed to a transom board  20   a  of the hull  20 . A tilt shaft  23  couples a swivel bracket  22  with the clamping bracket  21  so that the clamping bracket  21  supports the swivel bracket  22  for pivotal movement about an axis of the tilt shaft  23 . 
         [0021]    A front side of the outboard motor  1  is positioned on a hull side of the boat, while a rear side of the outboard motor  1  is positioned on the opposite side of the hull  20 . The horizontal direction is generally the direction of travel for the boat. The vertical direction is generally perpendicular to the horizontal direction. 
         [0022]    The outboard motor  1  includes a propulsion unit  2 . The swivel bracket  22  carries the propulsion unit  2  for pivotal movement about an axis of a steering shaft  24 . The housing of the propulsion unit  2  is formed by a cowling  3 , an upper casing  4 , and a lower casing  5 . The cowling  3  encloses an engine  10 . The engine  10  includes a crankshaft  10   a.    
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an upper portion of the outboard motor  1  from  FIG. 1  showing the fuel system. As most clearly shown in  FIG. 2 , the crankshaft  10   a  is positioned between the hull  20  and the cylinders  10   b  of the engine  10 . A power transmission mechanism  11  and exhaust passages (not shown) extend from the engine  10  and through the upper casing  4  and the lower casing  5 . The power transmission mechanism  11  includes a driveshaft  12 , a mode shifting mechanism  13  and a propeller shaft  14 . The power from the engine  10  rotates a propeller  6  through the power transmission mechanism  11 . 
         [0024]    The cowling  3  defines an engine compartment  15  and includes a top cowling member  3   a  and a bottom cowling member  3   b . The top cowling member  3   a  includes an air intake opening  3   a   1 . Air entering the intake opening  3   a   1  is routed to the engine  10  and engine compartment  15 . An exhaust guide  16  is disposed at a top end of the upper casing  4 . The engine  10  is fixed to a top surface of the exhaust guide  16 . 
         [0025]    In the illustrated embodiment, an apron  17  is attached to a top portion of the upper casing  4  and to the exhaust guide  16 . The top cowling member  3   a  covers the engine  10  and preferably is removably attached to the bottom cowling member  3   b . The bottom cowling member  3   b  is fixed to the exhaust guide  16 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the outboard motor  1  from  FIG. 2  showing the V-shape arrangement of the engine  10  of the outboard motor  1 .  FIG. 4  is a front view of the outboard motor  1  from  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the exemplary engine  10  is a four stroke, V-type, eight-cylinder engine. Of course the invention is not limited to a specific engine type or arrangement of cylinders. 
         [0027]    The outboard motor  1  is mounted to the transom board  20   a  of the boat  20  so as to be movable between a running position, in which the crankshaft  10   a  extends substantially in a vertical direction, and a tilt-up position, in which the propeller  6  is raised out of the water. 
         [0028]    A crankcase  31  is attached to a front mating surface of a cylinder block  30  of the engine  10 . A crankcase cover  31   a  is attached to the crankcase  31 . Cylinder heads  32  are attached to the rear mating surfaces of the cylinder block  30 . A head cover  33  covers an opening to each cylinder head  32 . The head covers  33  and the cylinder heads  32  are directed generally in a rearward direction away from the hull  20 . 
         [0029]    The cylinder block  30  includes right and left cylinders  10   b . The cylinders  10   b  are arranged in a V-shape and extend toward the crankshaft  10   a . Each cylinder head  32  has one or more intake valve openings  32   a  and exhaust valve openings  32   b  for the respective cylinder. The respective intake valve openings  32   a  and the exhaust valve openings  32   b  communicate with combustion chambers  32   d  defined in the V-shaped banks. 
         [0030]    Exhaust gas exits the exhaust valve openings  32   b  and is routed to a space defined between the V-shaped banks through respective exhaust ports  32   c . The exhaust gases from each bank are merged into individual exhaust manifolds  34  located in the space. Exhaust gases are discharged through the exhaust manifolds  34  and to the body of water below the engine. The intake manifolds  36  have been omitted from  FIG. 2 . 
         [0031]    The intake valve openings  32   a  for the respective banks are in flow communication with intake ports  32   e  passing through the respective cylinder heads  32 . An intake manifold  36  connects to each outside connecting opening  32   f  of the respective intake port  32   e . The intake manifold  36  may include a bent portion  39  that is in flow communication with the intake port  32   e  and a surge tank  200 . As is shown most clearly in  FIG. 3 , intake passages “A” extend in a forward direction. 
         [0032]    The illustrated embodiment includes a throttle body  37  that contains a throttle valve (not shown). The throttle body  37  connects to the surge tank  200 . An intake silencer  38  is connected to an upstream portion of the throttle body  37 . Of course the invention is not limited to a specific type of fuel delivery system and may be employed with fuel systems that include a carburetor or another type of fuel injection (e.g. direct injection). 
         [0033]    Fuel injectors  40  are located in the intake ports  32   e  of the cylinder heads  32  in the respective cylinders. An injection nozzle of each fuel injector is directed toward the respective combustion chamber  32   d . Tubular fuel delivery rails  41  are disposed in such a manner that each rail  41  is oriented toward the crankshaft  10   a  and is positioned outside of the respective cylinder head  32 . 
         [0034]    A fuel supply device  50  supplies fuel to the fuel injectors  40 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fuel supply device  50  includes a fuel filter  57 , a low pressure primary pump  52  built in a sealed container  58 , and a vapor separator  53 . 
         [0035]    The low pressure primary pump  52  delivers fuel from a fuel tank  55  to the vapor separator  53 . The pump  52  creates positive pressure in the fuel lines, pushing the fuel to the engine. The pump  52  includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet. For an electric fuel pump, an electric motor and impeller may be located within the housing. The electric motor drives the impeller which causes fuel to enter the inlet and exit via the outlet. 
         [0036]    The fuel passes through a low pressure fuel delivery conduit  54   a , a fuel filter  57 , and a low pressure fuel delivery conduit  54   b  before reaching the vapor separator  53 . Surplus fuel is expelled from a discharge port  52   a  of the primary pump  52  and returned to a suction port  52   c  of the primary pump  52  through a return passage  52   b.    
         [0037]    The primary pump  52  delivers the fuel through a fuel delivery conduit  56  to a high pressure secondary pump  42 . The fuel pressurized by this secondary pump  42  is delivered to the ends of the right and left fuel delivery rails  41  through a high pressure fuel delivery conduit  43  and a right-left bifurcated hose  44 . The fuel is injected into each combustion chamber  32   d  during a period in which the injection nozzle of the respective fuel injector  40  is opened. 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  is a partial top plan view of the outboard motor  1  from  FIG. 3  and shows a sealed container  58 , a vapor separator  53 , and a canister  60 .  FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 . The sealed container  58  includes a container body  58   a  and a container lid  58   b . The container body  58   a  and container lid  58   b  can be made of resin or other suitable material, and can of the same material that forms at least part of the cowling  3 . The container body  58   a  and the container lid  58   b  are tightly coupled together preferably using bolts  58   c  and an O-ring  90 . The container body  58   b  and the container lid  58   b  can be decoupled from each other. 
         [0039]    In the illustrated embodiment, the primary pump  52  is disposed near the center of the sealed container  58 . The fuel is expelled through a discharge port  52   a  of the primary pump  52 . Fuel from a filter  91  is pumped to the vapor separator  53  through the fuel delivery conduit  56 . The filter  91  preferably removes at least a portion of any foreign substances in the fuel. The return passage  52   b  preferably extends along a lateral side wall of the sealed container  58 . 
         [0040]    A regulator  92  is disposed in the return passage  52   b . The regulator  92  maintains a constant pressure in the fuel delivery conduits. Because of the pressure adjustment with the regulator  92 , a surplus amount of fuel expelled from the primary pump  52  is returned to the suction port  52   c  of the primary pump  52 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 , the illustrated embodiment of the container body  58   a  includes mount portions  58   a   1 ,  58   a   2  near its corners. Bolts  58   d  fasten the front mount portions  58   a   1  to mount bosses  3   b   3  in the bottom cowling member  3   b . Bolts  58   e  fasten the rear mount portions  58   a   2  to mount bosses  3   b   4  on the bottom cowling member  3   b . As a result, the sealed container  58  can be disposed at the bottom of the engine compartment  15 . The sealed container  58  may be positioned on the opposite side of the cylinder heads  32  with respect to the crankshaft  10   a  of the engine  10  and fixed to the bottom cowling member  3   b  in the cowling  3 . Further, the sealed container  58  may be positioned on the left side of the crankcase  31  of the engine  10  with a portion of the sealed container  58  being located in front of the crankcase  31  in the cowling  3 . This arrangement allows a worker, user, or mechanic to easily remove the top cowling member  3   a  while standing in the boat to access the sealed container  58 . This also allows the worker to more easily perform maintenance on the sealed container  58 . 
         [0042]    The mount bosses  3   b   4  preferably are longer than the mount bosses  3   b   3  so that the sealed container  58  is generally level even though a center portion of the bottom cowling  3   b  is lower than a peripheral portion thereof. The primary pump  52  enclosed in the interior of the sealed container  58  is also generally level or horizontal. The discharge port  52   a  may be positioned on the rear side of the primary pump  52 . The fuel delivery conduit  54   b  extends through the container lid  58   b  and is connected to the suction port  52   c  on the front side thereof. The discharge port  52   a  through which the fuel is discharged is positioned to be directed generally rearward in the outboard motor. 
         [0043]    The primary pump  52  preferably is electrically operable. An electric fuel pump  52  may be more easily located within the sealed container  58  since the engine  10  need not drive the electric fuel pump. In same embodiments, however, the fuel pump can be driven by power supplemented by the engine  10 . 
         [0044]    The sealed container  58  encloses the primary pump  52 . The sealed container  58  may also be disposed at the bottom of the engine compartment  15  away from the engine  10 . Even though water may enter and accumulate in the engine compartment  15 , the sealed container  58  protects the primary pump  52  from moisture which may corrode or seize the pump improving durability. 
         [0045]    The sealed container  58  may also insulate the primary pump  52  from engine heat. Because the sealed container  58  is positioned at the bottom of the engine compartment  15 , any water that may accumulate in the bottom of the engine compartment  15  advantageously cools the sealed container  58  and the primary pump  52 . 
         [0046]    As most clearly shown in  FIG. 2 , air “X” flows from the air intake opening  3   a   1  toward the intake air silencer  38 . Air heated by the engine  10  “Y” also flows toward the air intake opening  3   a   1 . Because the primary pump  52  is positioned out of the path of the heated air “Y”, the primary pump  52  is less likely to be heated by the air flowing along the X and Y paths. Also, because the primary pump  52  extends generally horizontally, the entire pump can be positioned lower in the engine compartment  15  and further from the heated air. 
         [0047]    In addition, the discharge port  52   a  of the primary pump  52  is preferably disposed as the rearward side of the pump  52  in the engine compartment  15 . When the outboard motor  1  is in a tilt-up position, for example when the associated boat is moored, the discharge port is placed at a higher position so that vaporizing gasses do not stay in the primary pump  52 . In this position, fuel is less likely to reverse flow. 
         [0048]    The sealed container  58  may be mounted to the bottom cowling member  3   b  and positioned on the opposite side of the cylinder head  32  with respect to the crankshaft  10   a  of the engine  10  in the cowling  3 . The sealed container  58  can be efficiently cooled since the sealed container  58  is spaced apart from the exhaust system. A worker, a user, a mechanic or the like can easily remove the top cowling member  3   a  from the bottom cowling member  3   b  and also decouple the container lid  58   b  from the container body  58   a  of the sealed container  58  to set the primary pump  52  even while standing in the hull since the sealed container  58  is positioned at the side of the engine  10  closer to the hull in the cowling  3 . That is, the assembling work and any replacement or maintenance work on the primary pump  52  is easier to perform. Because the sealed container  58  encloses at least the filter  91  and the regulator  92 , the filter  91  and regulator  91  are insulated from engine heat, 
         [0049]    Preferably, the primary pump  52 , the filter  91  and the regulator  92  are assembled within the single sealed container  58  so as to reduce the number of assembly steps. The primary pump  52  may be positioned anywhere between the fuel tank  55  on the side of the hull and the vapor separator  53  which provides design flexibility. More preferably, the primary pump is positioned within the cowling  3  of the outboard motor  1 . 
         [0050]    A canister  60  is attached securely to the vapor separator  53 . The canister  60  includes a case  60   a . The case  60   a  is connected to the vapor separator  53  and is filled with an absorbent  60   b  such as, for example, active carbon. Vapors in the vapor separator  53  enter the canister  60  and are absorbed by the absorbent  60   b . The air from which the fuel is separated by absorption is discharged through a discharge pipe  61  to the interior of the cowling  3 . 
         [0051]    In the illustrated embodiment, the canister  60  is disposed below the lower most portion of the intake manifold  36  and on the left side. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the vapor separator  53  and the canister  60  are disposed in a dead space K 1  formed by the V-shaped banks on the left side of the cylinder block  30 . The area occupied by the fuel system components is reduced by positioning the canister  60  below the intake manifold  36 . This arrangement further allows the width of the top cowling member  3   a  to be reduced. 
         [0052]    As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the fuel filter  57  may be positioned on the opposite side of the cylinder heads  32  with respect to the crankshaft  10   a  of the engine  10  within the cowling  3 . That is, the fuel filter  57  is disposed on the side of the surge tank  200  closer to the hull  20 . The fuel filter  57  is preferably positioned lower than the air intake opening  3   a   1  in the top cowling member  3   a . Preferably, the fuel filter  57  is positioned adjacent to a bottom opening  3   a   2  in the top cowling member  3   a.    
         [0053]    With respect to  FIGS. 2-4 , the fuel filter  57  includes a body section  57   a , a cap section  57   b  and a filter section  57   c . The body section  57   a  is preferably fastened to a bracket  59 . The bracket  59  is fixed to the side of the surge tank  200  closer to the hull  20 . A female screw may be formed in a recess  57   a   4  of the body section  57   a , while a male screw may be formed on an attaching portion of the cap section  57   b . The cap section  57   b  thus is detachably fixed to the body section  58   a  by the screwed structure. The body section  57   a  has an inlet port  57   a   2  and an outlet port  57   a   3 . The low pressure fuel delivery conduit  54   a  is connected to the inlet port  57   a   2 , while the low pressure fuel delivery conduit  54   b  is connected to the outlet port  57   a   3 . 
         [0054]    An insulating section  70  of heat insulating material preferably covers the fuel filter  57 . For example, the insulating section  70  may be made of foam rubber or the like. The insulating section  70  preferably has a shape similar to the outer shape of the fuel filter  57 . The insulating section  70  may be formed from one or more pieces. For example, a first piece  70   a  may cover the body section  57   a  while a second piece  70   b  covers the cap section  57   b . The first piece  70   a  covering the body section  57   a  may have a shape that matches the outer shape of the body section  57   a , while the second piece  70   b  that covers the cap section  57   b  has a shape that matches the outer surface of the cap section  57   b.    
         [0055]    The fuel filter  57  is insulated by the heat insulating section  70  from engine heat to avoid fuel vaporization. Preferably the inside surface of the heat insulating section  70  matches the outer surface of the fuel filter  57  to minimize gaps between the two surfaces which improves the heat insulation efficiency. The piece  70   a  covering the body section  57   a  and the piece  70   b  covering the cap section  57   b  can be separately and easily attached to the associated sections  57   a ,  57   b  of the fuel filter  57 . Also, when the cap section  57   b  is removed for cleaning from the body section  57   b  or when the filter section  57   c  is replaced, the insulating section  70  is easily attached to the fuel filter  57 . Thus, assembly and maintenance work is easier. 
         [0056]    Because the fuel filter  57  is positioned on the side of the engine  10  closer to the hull in the cowling  3 , a worker, a user, a mechanic or the like can easily attach the fuel filter  57  by removing the top cowling member  3   a . The assembling work can be done easily, and the replacement or maintenance work on the filter  57  is also easy to perform. Preferably, the fuel filter  57  is spaced apart from the exhaust manifolds  34  to reduce any heating of the fuel filter  57  by the engine  10 . 
         [0057]    The fuel filter  57  is preferably positioned lower than the air intake opening  3   a   1  of the top cowling member  3   a  through which the air enters the engine  10 . Although the air “Y” heated by the engine  10  also flows in the engine compartment  15  of the cowling  3 , the fuel filter  57  is located out of the path of air “Y.” Therefore, the fuel filter  57  can be further inhibited from being heated by the engine  10 . 
         [0058]    Additional heat insulating sections  71 ,  72  may cover at least a portion of the fuel delivery conduit  54  connected to the fuel filter  57 , i.e., the fuel delivery conduits  54   a ,  54   b . The fuel delivery conduit  54   a  extends through a right front portion  3   b   11  of the bottom cowling member  3   b  to enter the interior thereof. The fuel delivery conduit  54   a  may have a bend in the vicinity of the surge tank  200  and extend below the surge tank  200 . The fuel delivery conduit  54   a  extends upward from below the fuel filter  57  and connects to the inlet port  57   a   2  on the left side of the fuel filter  57 . The fuel delivery conduit  54   b  is connected to the outlet port  57   a   3  on the right side of the fuel filter  57  and extends downward along the fuel filter  57 . The fuel delivery conduit  54   b  may further extend below the fuel filter  57  and connect to the primary pump  52  in the sealed container  58 . 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the low pressure fuel delivery conduit  54   a  and the low pressure fuel delivery conduit  54   b  are located within the dead space K 2  around the fuel filter  57  and below the surge tank  200 . The low pressure fuel delivery conduit  54   a  and the low pressure fuel delivery conduit  54   b  are preferably covered with the insulating sections  71 ,  72 , respectively. Thus, the insulated fuel conduit  54  inhibits the fuel from being heated. Preferably the portion of the fuel delivery conduit  54  connected to the low pressure primary pump  52  is covered with the insulating sections  71 ,  72 . The fuel delivery conduits  54   a ,  54   b  are more susceptible to generating vapors if heated because the fuel passing there through is at a negative pressure due to the low pressure primary pump  52 . Heating of the fuel can be inhibited due to the fuel delivery conduits  54   a ,  54   b  being insulated by insulating sections  71 ,  72 . 
         [0060]    The insulating sections  70 ,  71 ,  72  may be made of foam rubber or the like, Even if water enters the cowling  3 , the heat insulation and the durability of the insulators  70 ,  71 ,  72  can be maintained. In addition, the insulators  70 ,  71 ,  72  are inexpensive, and easy to assemble and attach. 
         [0061]      FIG. 7  is a partial top plan view of an outboard motor  1  having a fuel system configured in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention that includes a heat insulator  99   a .  FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 7  and through the heat insulator  99   a . In this embodiment, the structures of the primary pump  52 , the filter  91 , the regulator  92  and the return passage  52   b  are the same as those of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . The same reference numerals and symbols thus are assigned so as to omit further description. 
         [0062]    The sealed container  58  in this embodiment has a heat insulator  99   a  positioned inside the container body  58   a  and a heat insulator  99   b  positioned inside the container lid  58   b . Because the insulators  99   a ,  99   b  insulate the primary pump  52 , the regulator  92 , the filter  91  and the return passage  52   b , the fuel is inhibited form being heated by the engine. The insulators  99   a ,  99   b  may be made from, for example, foam rubber, foam polyurethane or the like. 
         [0063]    The embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  provides additional thermal isolation to the components within the sealed container  58 . This additional thermal isolation may be particularly advantageous for larger outboard motors when, for example, the temperature in the cowling  3  exceeds the temperature in the sealed container  58  due to the heat of the engine. It may also be particular advantageous when the cooling effect from water accumulating in the cowling  3  is not present. For example, water accumulation in the cowling  3  is rare when the outboard motor runs on a water surface having small waves such as on a lake. 
         [0064]    This invention provides a simple structure that can be applied to an outboard motor having a fuel supply device for supplying fuel to an engine, and can insulate and shield a fuel pump to improve the pump&#39;s durability, 
         [0065]    Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. 
         [0066]    In addition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combine with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims.