Abstract:
A method of flushing internal water passages of a motorboat engine having the steps of attaching a water supply to a power head of the motorboat engine and flushing the internal water passages of the motorboat engine using a water flow which flows in a substantially downward direction after the water enters the motorboat engine.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/362,022 filed on Jul. 7, 2010. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present application relates generally to the field of engine flushing systems, and more specifically, relates to a fresh water flushing system for cleaning the internal passages of a cooling system of a marine outboard engine. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In any engine-driven mechanical device, heat generated by the components can pose serious problems to the engine. Overheating of the engine can cause the engine to fail, either rendering the engine temporarily out of commission, or in a worst case scenario, completely destroying the engine. To combat heat in an engine, cooling systems are used to cool down the components. In a car, a coolant reservoir, such as water, is contained in the car, and is drawn through the engine block to cool the components. In a marine craft, water from the lake, river, ocean etc. is drawn through a port in the bottom of the engine, using a pump, and then expelled. The pump system constantly draws water into and through the cooling system. The constant influx of new water helps keep the engine cool, and eliminates the need for a radiator (normally used in an automobile cooling system). 
         [0004]    While water helps keep the internal components of the engine cool, the water being drawn through can contain many harmful, corrosive materials. While the water may be drawn through the motor and expelled, matter and particulate are left behind inside of the motor. This can include sand, chemicals, other matter, and worst of all, salt water. Salt water, especially salt water with a high salinity level, is very corrosive and can cause severe damage to the components inside of the marine motor. If the salt water is left inside for too long, many motors become completely inoperative, and the motor would have to be replaced. 
         [0005]    In caring for, and maintaining, a marine motor, manufacturers recommend that the engine be flushed after each use. Any matter and particulate, especially salt water, should be immediately expelled to prevent damage to the motor. Flushing an engine prolongs the life of the motor, lowers the maintenance cost, and protects the significant investment made in the motor. In many states, it is a crime not to flush your outboard engine when you operate the boat in a fresh water lake or river. All organic matter must be flushed before leaving the boating area. The transportation of organic matter, such as salvinia, from lake to lake is a crime punishable by a fine. 
         [0006]    Traditional engine flushing systems attach a fresh water connection, such as a hose, to the port that is used to draw in water for the cooling system, which is located towards the bottom of the motor. Using the water pressure from the hose, or by running the engine to allow the pump to circulate the water, fresh water is drawn through the cooling system to remove matter and particulate. The process can take anywhere from 15-20 minutes, and is done after each use of the motor. 
         [0007]    A disadvantage of traditional engine flushing systems is that they cannot get enough water into the motor block to properly flush the engine. This allows the matter and particulate to build up over time, decreasing the life of the motor. 
         [0008]    Another disadvantage of traditional engine flushing systems is that fresh water never reaches the power heads, where it is needed the most, since the traditional devices work by covering the intake vents in the lower end. 
         [0009]    Another disadvantage of traditional engine flushing systems is that overheating is possible as it may be necessary to run the engine during the operation. Engine overheating is extremely harmful to the motor&#39;s life, and may cause immediate and permanent damage to the motor. 
         [0010]    Another disadvantage of traditional engine flushing systems is that it is often ineffective, resulting only in the relocation of salt, minerals, and organic residues from one location inside the motor to another location, rather than expelling the matter. 
         [0011]    Another disadvantage of traditional engine flushing systems is that it is time consuming, requiring a relatively long amount of time to perform a fairly ineffective flushing. 
         [0012]    Another disadvantage of traditional engine flushing systems is that the system cannot deliver enough volume of water to properly flush the engine. The weak flow of water may have little or no effect on the salt build-up inside of the engine block. 
         [0013]    Another disadvantage of traditional engine flushing systems is that the system may be difficult to operate, and it can be difficult to attach the hose. In order to configure the engine for flushing, the user is required to affix muffs over the intake valves on the lower unit of the engine. It is very dangerous to hang over the stern of the boat to hold the muffs in place while flushing the marine engine for a minimum of 15 minutes. 
         [0014]    Another disadvantage of traditional engine flushing systems is that the engine may need to be operated while the flushing occurs. This decreases the overall life of the engine, and can be very noisy to the person operating the flushing system. 
         [0015]    What is desired therefore, is an inexpensive engine flushing system that does not require the engine to be operated while the flushing occurs. Another desire is for an engine flushing system with increased water pressure and volume to remove the matter and particulate. Another desire is for an engine flushing system that is easy to operate. Another desire is for an engine flushing system that significantly decreases the amount of time necessary to perform the flushing. Another desire is for an engine flushing system that can remove all, or almost all, of the matter and particulate, preventing build-up in the engine. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The invention is directed toward an engine flushing system and method for quickly, and effectively, removing matter and particulate, such as salt water, from the cooling system of an outboard marine motor. The system can be temporarily or permanently attached to upper portion of the motor (the power head) to allow quick flushing or back flushing of the engine, which increases the effectiveness of the flushing. 
         [0017]    These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by provision of a method of flushing internal water passages of a motorboat engine comprising the steps of attaching a water supply to a power head of the motorboat engine and flushing the internal water passages of the motorboat engine using a water flow which flows in a substantially downward direction after the water enters the motorboat engine. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the step of attaching the water supply to the power head of the motorboat engine comprises attaching an engine flushing apparatus to the motorboat engine and the water supply. In some embodiments of the present invention, the engine flushing apparatus includes a hose having a first end and a second end; a first end of a fitting is attached to the first end of the hose, the second end of the fitting is attached to the motorboat engine, the first end of a hose adaptor is attached to a second end of the hose, and a garden hose is attached to a second end of the hose adaptor. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the step of attaching the engine flushing apparatus to the motorboat engine comprises attaching the engine flushing apparatus to an upper portion of the motorboat engine. In some embodiments of the present invention, the water supply is detached from the engine flushing apparatus while the engine flushing apparatus is left attached to the motorboat engine, and the water supply is reattached to the engine flushing apparatus to flush the motorboat engine a further time. In some embodiments of the present invention, the hose adaptor includes a valve and the flow of the water through the engine flushing apparatus is regulated by adjusting the valve in the hose adaptor. In some embodiments of the present invention, the step of attaching the second end of the fitting to the motorboat engine comprises attaching the second end of the fitting to an access plug of the motorboat engine. In some embodiments of the present invention, the step of attaching the water supply to the power head of the motorboat engine comprises attaching a garden hose to the motorboat engine. In some embodiments of the present invention, the motorboat engine is flushed while the motorboat engine is off. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment of the present invention is an engine flushing apparatus comprising a hose having a first end and a second end, a fitting having a first end that attaches to the first end of the hose and having a second end that attaches to a power head of a motorboat engine, and a hose adaptor having a first end that attaches to the second end of the hose and having a second end that connects to a garden hose. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the hose adaptor includes a valve for regulating a flow of water through the engine flushing apparatus. In some embodiments of the present invention, the valve is a ball valve. In some embodiments of the present invention, the engine flushing apparatus includes a first clamp for clamping the first end of the hose to the fitting and a second clamp for clamping the second end of the hose to the hose adaptor. In some embodiments of the present invention, the second end of the fitting is adapted to connect to an access plug of the power head of the motorboat engine such that water flows in a substantially downward direction after entering internal water passages of the motorboat engine. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the fitting is a brass fitting, the first end of the fitting has a barbed portion, and the second end of the fitting has a threaded portion. In some embodiments of the present invention, the threaded portion is a ¼″ national pipe thread. In some embodiments of the present invention, the hose attaches to the barbed portion. In some embodiments of the present invention, the fitting is a t-junction. In some embodiments of the present invention, a second hose is attached to the t-junction. In some embodiments of the present invention, the hose adaptor comprises a female hose fitting and an on/off ball valve. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is partially exposed view of the engine flushing apparatus attached to the back of a marine engine. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the engine flushing apparatus from  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is perspective view of an engine flushing apparatus permanently installed on an outboard engine. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the related appended drawings, wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are related to an apparatus for flushing an outboard engine. Specifically, the apparatus attaches to an upper portion of the power head of the engine and flushes the internal cooling components of the engine. The exemplary embodiment is described with reference to an outboard motor, but those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be implemented on any motor that requires flushing of the internal passages of the cooling system. 
         [0027]    As best seen in  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an engine flushing apparatus  115  attached to an outboard marine engine  100  is shown. Marine engine  100  is a standard outboard engine with a tapping access plug  110  on the power head  105  of the engine. Engine  100  can be of varying sizes and varying horsepower output. For instance, engine  100  can be a Yamaha 40 hp, 50 hp, 60 hp, 70 hp, or 90 hp outboard engine, for example the Yamaha 2.6 Litre H.P.D.I or engine  100  can be an Evinrude E-TEC 115 hp or 130 hp motor. 
         [0028]    During normal operating of engine  100 , internal components of the engine can become very hot to the point of permanently damaging the engine. To prevent engine  100  from overheating, a water cooling system (not shown) is used. Water is drawn through an inlet port located towards the bottom of the engine. The water is drawn from the body of water the engine is operated in. For example, engine  100  can be used in salt water or freshwater. In either case, the water is drawn into internal passages of the engine to cool the internal components. The water, however, may contain matter or particulate that may be damaging to the internal components of engine  100  if left inside of the passages. 
         [0029]    To clean, or flush, the internal passages of the cooling system, fresh water, generally from a garden hose, is cycled through the internal passages to flush out any salt water or particulate that may be present. To flush out engine  100 , access plug  110 , located on the power head  105 , is removed, providing access to the internal passages of the cooling system. An engine flushing apparatus  115  (described in more detail below) is attached to access plug  110 . A garden hose  120  is attached to the engine flushing apparatus  115 , and fresh, clean, water is used to flush the internal passages of the engine cooling system. After a short amount of time of continuously flushing the engine, for example, 5 minutes, the garden hose  120  is disconnected from the engine flushing apparatus  115 , the engine flushing apparatus  115  is removed from the power head  105 , and the access plug  110  is replaced. It is recommended that engine  100  be flushed after each use of the engine, and on subsequent flushings, engine flushing apparatus  115  is attached to the back of the power head  105 , and the engine  100  is flushed. 
         [0030]    As best seen in  FIG. 2 , an exploded view of engine flushing apparatus  115  is shown. Engine flushing apparatus has a fitting  205 . Fitting  205  can be a brass fitting, or any other type of fitting with similar components to a brass fitting. Fitting  205  has a threaded portion  210  on one end. Threaded portion  210  is adapted to be screwed into a corresponding threaded portion on power head  105 . Threaded portion  210  may be a ¼″ national pipe thread, or of a similar type of thread. Fitting  205  has a barbed portion  215 . Barbed portion  215  is adapted to fit inside of hose  225 . Barbed portion  215  allows for a more secure, and watertight, seal between fitting  205  and hose  225 . 
         [0031]    Hose  225  can be of any length and of any diameter. The size of fitting  205 , specifically the size of barbed portion  215 , may change depending on the diameter of the hose. Conversely, the size of the hose may depend on the size of fitting  205 . Hose  225  is preferably of a smaller diameter than a standard garden hose, allowing for an increase in the pressure through hose  225 , increasing the flushing effectiveness of engine flushing apparatus  115 . 
         [0032]    To further enhance the watertight seal between fitting  205  and hose  225 , a clamp  220  may be used. Clamp  220  fits over hose  225 , specifically over the portion of hose  225  that fits over barbed portion  215  of fitting  205 . Clamp  220  can be a screw-type clamp or clamp  220  can be in the form of a zip tie. Clamp  220  can be screwed to tighten the clamp, providing a more reinforced watertight seal, or in the case of a zip tie, clamp  220  may be pulled tightly to clamp hose  225  to fitting  205 . Clamp  220  provides a sturdier connection between hose  225  and fitting  205 , preventing hose  225  from detaching from fitting  205  if someone were to accidentally pull on hose  225 . 
         [0033]    Hose  225  is connected to a hose adaptor valve  265 . Hose adaptor valve  265  is comprised of a hose adaptor  240  and a valve  250 . Hose adaptor  240  is designed to connect hose  225  to a standard garden hose  120 . Hose adaptor  240  has a barbed portion  235  designed to mate with hose  225 . A second clamp  230  fits over hose  225  to clamp hose  225  to hose adaptor  240 . Hose adaptor  240  has an internal threading, and is designed to mate with a standard garden hose connection. In one embodiment, hose adaptor  240  may not be connected to valve  250 , and garden hose  120  may be directly connected to hose adaptor  240 . To regulate the flow of water, the person performing the flushing can adjust the pressure at the spigot where garden hose  120  is connected. 
         [0034]    In certain advantageous embodiments, hose adaptor  240  is connected to valve  250 . Valve  250  has a threaded portion  245  designed to mate with the threaded portion of hose adaptor  240 . Valve  250  has a second threaded portion  255  designed to mate with a standard garden hose  120 . Valve  250  includes a handle  260  for regulating the flow of water. Valve  260  can be a ball valve, or any other known type of valve for regulating the flow of a fluid. To operate the engine flushing apparatus handle  260  can be rotated to the off position, preventing the flow of water through valve  250 . A garden hose  120 , having a threaded portion  270 , is connected to threaded portion  255  of valve  250 . The spigot that garden hose  120  is connected to is turned on, however no water can flow past valve  250  as handle  260  is in the off position. to flush the engine, handle  260  is rotated to allow the water to pass through valve  250 . Handle  260  may be completely opened, or handle  260  may only be partially opened depending on the water pressure required to flush engine  100 . It should be noted that the above embodiment uses a standard garden hose as a water supply, and the connections are sized for a standard garden hose; however, all sizes of engine apparatus  115  may be changed to accommodate a hose, or a water supply, having a larger or smaller diameter. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, engine flushing apparatus  310  is attached to engine  100  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Engine flushing apparatus  115  can be attached and removed from engine  100 , as previously described, for each flushing of the internal passages of the cooling system. However, engine flushing apparatus  310  may be installed on engine  100 , and completely covered by the cover of power head  105 . To install engine flushing apparatus  310 , engine flushing apparatus  310  is attached to power head  105  through access plug  110 , and the remaining portion of engine flushing apparatus  310  is attached to engine  100 . Once engine flushing apparatus  310  is installed, the user only needs to attach a garden hose to the end of engine flushing apparatus  310  for all flushings of the internal passages of the cooling system. This decreases the amount of time necessary to flush engine  100 . 
         [0036]    Engine flushing apparatus  310  can also be installed with an existing hose connection  305 . Existing hose connection  305  can be a water pressure gauge, or any other known device that can connect to access plug  110 . If hose connection  305  has been previously attached, a t-junction  315  is used instead of fitting  205 . T-junction  315  may have 2 barbed ends, one for each hose, or t-junction  215  may have a threaded portion to connect to the two hoses. In case a threaded portion is used, a second hose adaptor may be connected to hose  225  to allow hose  225  to connect to t-junction  315 . In this embodiment, engine flushing apparatus  115  can be installed on engine  100  for quick flushing of engine  100 , alongside additional equipment connected to hose  305 . 
         [0037]    This apparatus has the advantage in that it is more efficient and effective than traditional engine flushing systems. Traditional systems use the same inlet port as used in the engine cooling system. This port is located towards the bottom of the engine. To flush the engine, the engine flushing system has to work against gravity to flush the internal passages. Much of the time the fresh water does not make it to the top of the engine. The present invention uses gravity, by attaching to the upper portion of the engine, to flush the system. This provides for a much more effective cleansing of the internal passages of the cooling system. Additionally, traditional engine flushing systems take, at minimum, 15 minutes to flush the engine, while not providing an effective flushing. In contrast, the present invention takes only 5 minutes to perform, while providing a much more effective flushing. As it is recommended to flush the engine after each use of the boat, this can save a lot of time over the course of the engine&#39;s lifetime. 
         [0038]    It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification can be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention. All such modification and changes are intended to be covered hereby.