Abstract:
A marine illumination system is provided for illumination of outlet fluids pumped out of watercraft, including a watercraft motor and bilge pump. A fluid stream from the bilge pump or watercraft motor is illuminated by a light source. The light source can be a light emitting diode.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to marine lighting but more specifically to lighting the water output of a bilge pump or outboard motor. 
         [0003]    Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    The output water stream of an outboard motor is critical to the cooling of the engine and it is common for a watercraft operator to routinely glance at the output water stream to ensure that the engines water pump is functional. In fact, this outlet stream is called the tell-tale stream because it serves as an indicator that the engine&#39;s pump is working correctly. An issue arises in low light and no light conditions because the water craft operator no longer has the ability to view the tell-tale stream rendering it useless. Currently, a watercraft operator would commonly use a hand held light to confirm that the tell-tale stream is operating as expected. This results in the watercraft operator taking a hand off the steering controls as he points a hand held light at the engine to confirm the tell-tale stream. 
         [0005]    A similar issue exists with a conventional bilge pump inside the watercraft. The bilge pump is used to pump water out that collects in the bottom of a boat. It is difficult to confirm that a bilge pump is working without verifying the exit stream. Conventional bilge pumps have display signed of being operational with alarms, such as having the pump vibrate or providing an audible noise. However, a defective pump can display those same signs. Therefore, viewing of the conventional pump may not be adequate for detecting a defective pump. Additionally, the bilge pump is typically difficult to view since it is located in the lowest point of the hull. It is desirable to provide a device to illuminate the fluid streams exiting a watercraft to enable operators to easily and expeditiously verify functioning of the watercraft engine&#39;s pump or the bilge pump in low light and no light conditions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention relates to a marine illumination system that can illuminate output streams from marine apparatus of a watercraft. In one embodiment, a water pump output stream from an outboard engine of the watercraft is illuminated. Light from the marine illumination system can illuminate the fluid stream before the stream exits the outboard engine enclosure or the watercraft. In addition or alternatively, the marine illumination system can also be used to illuminate an output stream from a bilge pump. 
         [0007]    In accordance with the present invention, a marine illumination system is provided to aid in confirming the operation of respective pumps. The marine illumination system includes a light source. In one embodiment, the light source is an electrical light source that can be powered by an existing watercraft electrical system. The marine illumination system can illuminate fluid of respective streams by having the fluid flow around the light source and the light source is pointed in the direction of flow. In one embodiment, light is provided in as near a laminar flow as possible and not reducing the area of the flow of the fluid at any point, thereby providing minimal pressure drop within the associated pump. 
         [0008]    The marine illumination system can be wired to an existing circuit of the engine in order to power the marine illumination system when the watercraft engine is running. In one embodiment, the marine illumination system can be wired to an electrical circuit of a bilge pump to allow the marine illumination system to be powered whenever the bilge pump is powered on. Alternatively, the marine illumination system can be operated by a manual switch to allow an operator to select activation of the marine illumination system. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, input fluid into the marine illumination system comes from an outlet of the bilge pump or an outboard motor. In this embodiment, the marine illumination system is separate from the pump or motor. The marine illumination system can be retrofitted to a conventional bilge pump or watercraft motor. The marine illumination system can be permanently or removably mounted to a shell of an outboard motor or a hull of a water craft. 
         [0010]    Alternatively, the light source is embedded into an outlet port of a watercraft or watercraft motor. The light source is positioned in close proximity to an outlet of the marine illumination system to allow the light to travel in the direction of the fluid exiting the marine illumination system and provide maximum brightness for the light. The illumination of the fluid stream exiting the watercraft assists in providing visual confirmation that the bilge pump or watercraft motor is operating correctly. The illuminated fluid stream can be aesthetically pleasing and add an interesting design feature to the watercraft. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, a watercraft motor includes the light source embedded in an outlet. The watercraft motor can be an outboard engine. The outboard engine often pumps water in from the surrounding body of water and out of the engine to aid in cooling the engine. Constant water flow is critical for engine cooling and engine health. Illuminating the water outlet of the watercraft motor provides visual confirmation that the watercraft motor is operating correctly. The invention will be more fully described by reference to the following drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the marine illumination system of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the marine illumination system of the present invention in an alternate embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the marine illumination system of the present invention in combination with a bilge pump and a watercraft outboard motor. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the marine illumination system of the present invention incorporated into a watercraft outboard motor. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a photograph of a high pressure small diameter outlet from an outboard motor, with the water stream illuminated by the marine illumination system of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a photograph of a larger diameter outlet from a bilge pump with the water stream illuminated by the marine illumination device of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of marine illumination system  10  in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Housing  12  includes inlet  14  and outlet  15 . Marine apparatus  16  includes fluid source  17  which pumps fluid  18 . Inlet  14  of housing  12  is in fluid communication with fluid  18 . Fluid  18  flows in housing  12  from inlet  14  to outlet  15  through conduit  19 . For example, fluid  18  can be water. In this embodiment, conduit  19  includes inlet  14  coupled or integral to outlet  15  through junction section  20 . Inlet  14  is angled from outlet  15  in junction section  20 . For example, inlet  14  can be angled at an Angle A 1  range of about 90 degrees to about 120 degrees from outlet  15 . In an alternate embodiment, inlet  14  is positioned substantially parallel to outlet  15  as shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, inlet  14  can be angled at an angle A 1  in the range of about 120 to about 180 degrees. 
         [0020]    Light source  30  is positioned in the flow of fluid  18  in the direction D 1  towards outlet  15 . Preferably, light source  30  is positioned between inlet  14  and outlet  15  so as not to reduce the area flow of fluid  18  within conduit  19  and to maintain substantially laminar flow of fluid  18  within conduit  19 . Light source  30  can be a light-emitting diode. 
         [0021]    The light-emitting diode can emit one or more colors. Example colors include red, blue, green, purple, orange and yellow. 
         [0022]    Fluid source  17  can be bilge pump  50  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Fluid  18  can flow from bilge pump  50 . Bilge pump outlet  52  of bilge pump  50  is in fluid flow communication with inlet  14 . Fluid  18  from bilge pump outlet  52  is received at inlet  14 . Light source  30  can be powered by bilge pump power source  54 . 
         [0023]    Fluid source  17  can be from watercraft motor  60 . Fluid  18  can flow by pressurization from watercraft motor  60 . Fluid  18  is received from outlet  62  of watercraft motor  60 . Light source  30  is powered by watercraft motor power source  54 . 
         [0024]    Housing  12  can be permanently or removably attached to watercraft hull  70 . Alternatively, housing  12  can permanently or removably mounted to watercraft motor  60  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Suitable mountings for housing  12  can include brackets, being supported by a plumbing connection, integral as a part of a water outlet, secured to watercraft hull  70  of watercraft motor  60  using a bonding compound or physical fastener. 
         [0025]    In an alternate embodiment, light source  30  can be embedded in outlet  100  of watercraft motor  60  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Light source  30  is positioned in the flow of fluid  18  in the direction D 2  towards outlet  100 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a photograph of a high pressure small diameter outlet from an outboard motor, with the water stream illuminated by the marine illumination system of the present invention. This condition is common for an outboard motor at above idle speeds. 
         [0027]    For example, in this embodiment, outlet  15  can have a diameter in the range of about 0.1 inches to about 0.25 inches. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a photograph of a larger diameter outlet from a bilge pump with the water stream illuminated by the marine illumination device of the present invention. 
         [0029]    For example, in this embodiment, outlet  15  can have a diameter in the range of about 0.375 inches to about 1 inch. 
         [0030]    It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.