Marine engine flushing and lubricating accessory

An improved flushing system accessory that comprises a connector and a lubricating-fluid vessel. The connector has a threaded first intake port connected to a water supply hose, and a second intake port coupled to a non-vented bottle containing lubricating fluid. The connector further includes a threaded outlet port sized for connection to a marine engine flushing accessory. The connector has an internal chamber to draw fluid from which is divided by a partition wall into a first passageway and a second passageway. The intake and outlet ports are in fluid communication with the interior chamber. Lubricating fluid supplied by the lubricating-fluid vessel, and water supplied by a water supply hose, enter through a first and second intake port, respectively. They then pass through the connector outlet port and into an attached marine engine flushing accessory.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to marine engine servicing, and more specifically, to an accessory flushing device for marine engines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Marine engines are internal combustion engines which generate a great deal of heat during use. The heat is a result of fuel combustion and associated friction produced by moving parts. For this reason, most outboard and inboard/outboard motors and the like marine engines have a cooling system for purposes of dissipating heat. Typically, the cooling system is based upon a raw water pump for circulation of water through the engine; the raw water coming from a lake, river, or ocean which the boat is operated on. Engine heat is dissipated into the water and the water is discharged from the engine. As a result, the engine temperature is kept within an acceptable range.

Marine engines are typically flushed after use as regular and preventive maintenance. This is especially important when the engine is used in salt water. Salt water is highly corrosive and can quickly cause internal rusting of marine engines, such as inboard/outboard engines, and lead to corrosion problems thought the entire cooling system of any marine engine. Operation of the boat in fresh water can also cause problems if the fresh water is high in matter such as silt, sand, or vegetation. All such matter can clog an engine leading to overheating. Should the matter be allowed to dry inside the engine, the matter can clog heat exchanges, oil coolers, transmission coolers and the engine jacket, all of which have small orifices. If sand or silt is left to dry inside the engine, starting of the engine may lead to overheating, and the gritty material may irreparably harm the raw water pump and/or circulation pump.

Like the rest of the motor, maintenance of the water pump ensures effective operation and prevents unexpected break downs. Proper maintenance includes inspection of the pump impeller and periodic lubrication of water pump parts. Lubrication will insure that the pump is circulating water efficiently and removing as much heat as possible.

While the water pump and the cooling system maintenance is very important, it can be difficult to perform. For example, motor flushing requires that a continuous supply of fresh water be directed into the lower unit of an outboard or other marine engine such as wave runners, I/O engines, top engine flushes, or any other marine engine having a fresh water hookup. By way of example, one of the most commonly-used flushing devices is a pair of rubber sealing cups that are held in place by a U-shaped bracket. The cups are placed over the intake water ports on the outside of the lower unit. One of the suction cups has a threaded aperture or conduit to which a conventional garden hose may be attached. By placing the suction cup conduit over a marine engine water intake port, water may be directed from the hose, through the conduit, and into the marine engine lower unit. Directing water into the lower unit in this fashion while the motor is running will flush the motor, removing the above-described unwanted deposits. Proper marine engine maintenance includes, among other things, regular flushing with fresh water and routine water pump lubrication. U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,836 was directed to a boat motor flushing and lubricating accessory comprising a connector for securing a vented lubricating-fluid vessel. The vent for the lubricating-fluid vessel extends through the wall of a bottle, and is used to prevent the creation of a vacuum within the bottle during flushing. The vented bottle containing a lubricant must be punctured at the time of use with care, so as not to spill the lubricating fluid stored within the bottle. Alternatively, in the case of a previously formed vent hole, a seal must be attached to the vent hole to prevent leakage during storage. In either situation, the bottle must be positioned correctly to prevent loss of the lubricating fluid when the aperture is open.

Accordingly, the improvement submitted is a device that allows marine engine flushing and lubricating by use of a valve mechanism that eliminates the need for a vented bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device designed to be used during the flushing of marine engines as part of the motor's maintenance. The device employs a one-piece connector which has two intake ports and one outlet port, with a selector valve and a siphon chamber. The connector is substantially hollow, and the interior chamber of the connector is divided by a partition wall into two separate passageways. Lubricating fluid is supplied by a disposable bottle attached to one of the intake ports with a siphon chamber that flows through the first passageway. Water, provided via a hose connected to a continuous water supply, flows through the second passageway. The exit from the first passageway and the exit from the second passageway form complementary portions of the connector outlet port, with a draw of lubricating fluid from the bottle. The connector outlet port attaches to an intake inlet, which passes through one of the sealing cups typically found in an open “earmuff”-type marine engine flushing apparatus. With the present invention attached to an earmuff-type flushing apparatus, lubricating fluid can be drawn from a bottle without a vent, and water may be fed simultaneously to the lower unit of a marine engine that is being flushed.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a marine engine flushing accessory that allows for the lubrication of the water jacket, water pump, and any other area that is exposed to raw water, using a lubricant that is stored in a vent less bottle.

It is another objective of the invention to provide an outboard motor flushing accessory using a vent less bottle.

It is another objective of the invention to provide a marine engine flushing device that eliminates the need for the vertical positioning of a bottle containing a lubricant.

Still another objective of the invention is to provide a marine engine flushing device that allows for refilling and reuse of a bottle for holding lubricant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference toFIG. 1, set forth is the flushing accessory10of the prior art shown attached to a motor14extending from the rear or stern16of the boat12. The flushing accessory10, described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,836, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference, is formed from a connector20for securing a disposable bottle22to a marine engine flushing accessory formed from a U-shaped ear-muff bracket66. The connector20has a first intake port26, a second intake port28, and a single outlet port30. The connector20is coupled to a first sealing cup64placed against a marine engine water cooling jacket inlet located on the lower unit18of the outboard motor. The first sealing cup64is connected, via the U-shaped bracket66, to a second sealing cup65positioned on the opposite side of the outboard motor lower unit18. The first and second sealing cups64,65of the U-shaped bracket66cooperate to secure the outlet port30against the marine engine water inlet. The first intake port26contains threads sized to engage a disposable bottle22containing a lubricating fluid; the disposable bottle22having a vent opening50that extends through the bottom wall52of the bottle22to prevent creation of a vacuum within the bottle when fluid is drawn out of the bottle. When the outlet port30is fluidly coupled with the marine engine water inlet, lubricating fluid and a continuous supply of water passes through the connector20and enters the marine engine lower unit18. Operating the marine engine water pump as the lubricating fluid and water are introduced, will simultaneously lubricate and flush the marine engine, lengthening the operating life of the motor. The use of a vented bottle requires a vent opening to be formed before use. The vent must be positioned in a location that prevents leakage. Further, if over-pressurization of the incoming water occurs, lubricating fluid can be pushed out the vent.

Referring now toFIGS. 2-8, the flushing system accessory of the instant invention comprises a connector housing100having a first intake port102securable to a source of pressurized water, such as a conventional garden hose103. In the preferred embodiment, an on-off valve104is positioned between the first intake port102and the garden hose103. The on-off valve104has a threaded socket inlet105and a threaded male outlet106, using a manually rotatable handle108to adjust the flow of water from the source of pressurized water. The threaded socket inlet105is constructed for receipt of a conventional garden hose103of a length and diameter having a threaded first end sized to engage the threads on the inlet105and a second end, not shown, constructed and arranged to engage a source of water, such as a conventional water spigot used on residential and commercial properties. The first intake port102has a threaded inlet110. A second intake port112, having a threaded inlet114, is constructed and arranged to receive a bottle116storing a lubricant118. The bottle116is non-vented, with the only aperture being a threaded opening120securable to the threaded inlet114. The use of a non-vented bottle116allows for secure shipping and storage by eliminating the need for a preformed vent aperture, as required on the known prior art. Further, a non-vented bottle116eliminates the need for vent forming at the time of use, which otherwise requires the use of a sharp tool to puncture the bottle. In addition, a non-vented bottle116can be refilled and reused indefinitely, further reducing the cost of the flushing operation. The connector housing100includes an outlet port122having a threaded surface124for direct securement to an outboard motor flushing accessory formed from a U-shaped ear-muff bracket66having a sealing cup64,65that engages each side of the lower unit18of the outboard motor14.

Referring in particular toFIG. 5, set forth is a cross sectional view of the connector100having a directional wall140forming a first passageway142for bleeding a predetermined amount of pressurized water into the second intake port112that secures to the bottle116. A second passageway144receives the majority of the pressurized water which passes the directional wall140end146, which has an angled lip148, causing a draw of lubricating fluid118from the bottle116into a mixing chamber150through a third passageway152. The first passageway142refills the bottle116as the lubricating fluid118is being drawn through the third passageway152. The first passageway142is constructed and arranged to match the flow rate through the mixing chamber150, providing a mix of a predetermined ratio. The lubricating fluid118from said bottle116and the pressurized water directed through the second passageway144is admixed in the mixing chamber150and directed through the outlet port122to the outboard motor flushing accessory10.

Referring toFIG. 6, illustrated is a top view of the connector100depicting the second end154of the directional wall140forming an opening156along the end of the first passageway142, and an opening158along the beginning of the second passageway144. In a preferred embodiment, a restriction member160is positioned between the connector100and the on-off valve104. The restrictor160is preferable made of rubber, and provides a flexible gasket to accommodate various flow rates and pressures from the water source. The restriction member160has an outer diameter d1of 1 inch, a sidewall diameter d2of 0.20 inches, an inner diameter d3of 0.60 inches, and a thickness of 0.10 inches. A predefined inner diameter d3forms an aperture161restricts the amount of pressurized water entering the first passageway142and second passageway144, as depicted inFIG. 8. The restriction member160is sized to allow the insertion of water into the bottle at a rate equal to or exceeding a rate of fluid flow through the second passageway, so as to avoid the creation of a vacuum condition in the bottle.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more” or “at least one.” The term “about” means, in general, the stated value plus or minus 5%. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.”