Patent ID: 8133087

Claim:
An outboard motor cooling water distribution system, comprising: an internal combustion engine; a vertical crankshaft supported by said internal combustion engine for rotation about a generally vertical axis; a water circulation system disposed in thermal communication with an oil sump disposed in fluid communication with oil conduits of said internal combustion engine, said water circulation system being configured to receive water from a body of water in which said outboard motor cooling water distribution system is operating; a container configured to receive water from said water circulation system; a drain opening formed through a bottom surface of said container and configured to conduct a portion of said water out of said container; and a conduit having a first inlet opening, a second inlet opening, and an outlet opening, said first inlet opening being spaced apart from said drain opening and disposed at a first location which induces a first water flow which causes a first group of debris to move relative to said drain opening and become entrained within said first water flow, said second inlet opening disposed at a second location which induces a second water flow which causes a second group of debris to become entrained within said second water flow, said outlet opening being disposed at a third location, said conduit being configured to direct a majority of said first water flow, a majority of said second water flow, at least some of said first group of debris, and at least some of said second group of debris through said outlet opening and away from said container.